I hated this book. I feel tricked. It was described as a mystery, however, this was just strange. Very sci-fi. Very, very long. DO not recommend.

I'm afraid that I found this weird. I liked the idea and was very excited to read this... however I did not love the way this went. I had to DNF.

Thank you, NetGalley!
The story was confusing and I still don't completely understand the ending of this book. I was left with more questions than answers. I feel like the premise of this book lied to me, it was not a thriller. I'm not the audience for books like these.

This book had a really intriguing premise of an attorney suddenly becoming aware of her surroundings during a murder trial where she is representing the defendant. This is where her memories begin. It's 1996 in this dystopian (?) novel set out in the Atlantic away from the British mainland, and it is definitely a slowburn at first and somewhat difficult to follow all that is happening. There's so much to figure out...lots of head shaking and "what?". I felt like the author crafted a good story in and of itself, but it was hard to like anyone (for me). Overall the political side plot was so extreme that it left a bad taste. I guess none of it is essentially plausible, but some of these ideas were beyond far-fetched.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Lila Dalton has no memory of how she came to be in this courtroom; no memory of how she got to the courthouse at all, or why she's facing a jury who seems to be waiting for her.

I really wanted to like this but it was just not very good. The writing was clunky and I didn't care about any of the characters, especially Lila.

This is a twisty, unexpected locked-room mystery that follows one woman's race against time to find a killer, clear her own name, and escape the island that threatens to keep her trapped forever. Its not my usual choice, but I enjoyed seeing how the narrative played out.

The Trials of Lila Dalton is a novel unlike what you've ever read before. You think you know what's going on, and around every corner, there's a brand new unfolding that flips everything you thought you knew on its head. Bold, mindblowingly deceptive, and yet I could not put it down!!!!!!!! Absolutely loved it! I can't wait to see what else L.J. Shepherd brings to the writers block.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

i eat books like this up, very fun and loved the setting. thank you publisher and netgalley for an opportunity to read for you

An interesting concept that had a lot of potential, it did seem a bit bland, the courtroom scenes were written really well and I was curled in. There was a lot of legal terminology.

I read this but wasn't a complete fan. It was good and some parts were bland. Just not the book for me

What a ride! You won't know until the final pages what has truly been going on with this novel - and that is great! At times fabulous court room drama, at other times a delve into the world of the occult and at others a sad tale of a girl whose memory has abandoned her just when she needs it most.

When Lila Dalton 'regains' consciousness, she is standing before a jury, defending an accused terrorist. But she doesn't know who she is, where she is or how she got there.

The resultant - ever evolving - narrative will have you questioning yourself, having you guessing just who the baddies are, and - if you are like me - have you realise you could never be a detective!!

A great read - a real page turner.

I thought it was a very interesting idea and I got sucked in for a while, but then the legal jargon just killed it for me completely. I lost all interest in continuing. The premise was there.

The Trials of Lila Dalton by L.J. Shepherd is perfect for both bookworms and binge-watchers. It’s a thrilling mix of courtroom drama, mysterious conspiracies, and eerie island vibes. It reads like a series you’d devour on Netflix, full of cliffhangers and suspense

This was an interesting one for me, because it took such a different turn to what I thought it was going to be. I don’t want to give too much away in this little review to avoid spoilers but I will say, I was a little baffled by the end! With each chapter, the story is intriguing and it does leave you questioning everything and everyone. Imagine just ‘waking up’ in the middle of a courtroom and having no idea who you are, where you are or what you need to do - it’s an immense thought. I did enjoy this one, and I kind of loved that it had a deeper undercurrent of plot line that I wasn’t expecting.. it’s definitely a thinker!

The fact that it is a courtroom drama and has some confusing narratives did not really work for me. I tried to get into it but could not and I understand that the storyline is such that it may not appeal to all readers and unfortunately, I was one of them.

I really wanted to enjoy this but this was just confusing for me. So much was over the top and unbelievable. I was really hoping to like this. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

Lila Dalton’s situation—a lawyer with no memory of her case, trapped on an island where high-stakes trials are held—creates a strong sense of disorientation that immediately pulls the reader in. The story’s amnesiac twist keeps the tension high as Lila fights to unravel the truth, not just about her client’s case but about her own circumstances. The claustrophobic setting on an isolated island adds to the suspense, amplifying the sense of urgency.

While the plot offers plenty of twists and turns, there are moments where it veers into overly convoluted territory. The revelations come fast, but some feel a bit forced or predictable. However, Lila’s character is compelling enough to carry the story through its weaker spots. Her struggle to separate reality from deception keeps the reader invested, even when the pacing becomes uneven.

The courtroom drama mixed with psychological elements makes for a gripping read, though not all the twists land with the intended impact. It’s a solid, page-turning mystery with just enough surprises to keep you engaged.

The Trials of Lila Dalton, by L.J. Shepherd, is a dark, dystopian tale of a barrister who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a criminal trial with no memories of who she is or why she is where she is. Immediately, I was pulled in and determined to discover the origin of her dilemma. Unfortunately, I was doomed to failure. The atmospherics were deliciously evil. Although the story intensified for a bit, the plot eventually circled around the same territory again and again. The protagonist was mildly sympathetic, but the supporting characters were flat and almost interchangeable. Finally, the conclusion offered no resolution at all. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Books for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC. Although I did not enjoy this novel and will not recommend it, I think this author shows promise once she conquers plotting and character development.

When our amnesiac heroine comes to, she realizes that she’s standing in a British courtroom. She quickly learns that her name is Lila Dalton and that she’s the barrister in charge of defending the man sitting in the dock. Unfortunately, she has no idea what her client is accused of, who he is or how they got to where they are now.

After successfully stalling for time, Lila uses her not inconsiderable intelligence to gather information about her circumstances. The details, however, only make her feel even more anxious about her situation. Her client is a Nazi wannabe who’s been accused of bombing Abbott House, a Home Office building in Birmingham. The prosecution has plenty of incriminating video evidence of him doing the deed, as well as reams of information found at his home on his hateful motivations. Lila would have her work cut out for her even if her memories of everything before this first day of trial were intact. Handicapped by her amnesia, she’s forced to learn as she goes, all while scrambling to hide her sudden disability. She knows enough, after all, to want to avoid accidentally torpedoing her career should her memories return as abruptly as they left her.

It’s that same ambition that drives her to do her best for her client, odious as he is. But that isn’t enough for a mysterious stranger, who’s started leaving weird messages for her both in court and at the hotel where she’s staying for the duration of the trial. Get her client off of all charges, the messages say, or face potentially dire consequences. She realizes that her tormentor isn’t joking when she’s suddenly detained on suspicion of murder and must turn to her own solicitor for help. He comes to her aid, but with no great enthusiasm. Stung, she admonishes him:

QUOTE
“I thought you were on my side,” I say.

He chuckles darkly. “That’s what all clients think, isn’t it? That we defend them because we’re on their side, because we believe them. We both know it’s not our job to believe them; it’s our job to represent them.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“How many of the fuckers we represent do you actually think are innocent?”
END QUOTE

Though she’s eventually let go for lack of evidence, Lila soon finds herself spiraling into a strange world of conspiracies and psyops. It doesn’t help that the island that she’s found herself on is deeply weird. The remote location and its insular community have little time for the officers of the court who come through in order to carry out the Crown’s business, and treat her with a barely concealed disdain. Her amnesia makes it so that she doesn’t even understand why this trial is being held here instead of on the mainland, especially given the location of the crime. An unlikely ally spells it out for her when she asks:

QUOTE
“Humor me. Why would a government want to offshore foreign criminals, and–what was it?”

“Domestic terrorists.”

“Yes. Why? Isn’t it more expensive to do it over here?”

“It is, but it’s worth it for the optics. The public hates the idea of people from abroad coming to Britain, benefiting from our NHS, our welfare system, and then betraying that trust by committing crimes, no matter how petty, no matter the mitigating circumstances. Prison, in those circumstances, isn’t enough for some people. So, the government decided to offshore them as an extra punishment.”

The UK has an island dedicated to imprisoning foreign nationals? Something about this strikes me as odd. My experience of the world is of an unsympathetic place where differences are rooted out and punished, but for the UK to treat foreign criminals as the same as terrorists seems particularly warped.
END QUOTE

As Lila works to regain her memories and defend her client, she’ll be pitted against the strange goings on of her temporary home, as alliances shift and buried secrets work their way back to the surface. Someone is determined to make Lila look like a murderer, even as she’s forced to defend a man she can’t stand. Will Lila be able to figure out what’s going on and bring a shadowy killer to justice, or will she become yet another victim lost to this uncaring island?

I learned so much about British jurisprudence while reading this legal thriller with a speculative bent. Lila is a terrific barrister whose poise despite being thrust into unthinkable circumstances is exemplary. I loved following along as she fought against an unfair prosecution and grappled with her own conscience about defending an avowed terrorist.

The speculative nature of the thriller didn’t impress me quite as much, though it was at least presented in a more convincing manner than I’ve read in other, more famous books of its type. The narrative is disjointed, of necessity, but sticking with it will provide readers with a fulfilling tale of legal maneuvers and philosophical ponderings. I still don’t understand the significance of the Eighth, but found the circular nature of the story quite satisfying overall, even as I did feel a sneaking sympathy for those people, fictional or otherwise, who are caught in the eternal hamster wheel of ensuring that justice is served as best as humanly possible.

I had to DNF this novel at 40% due to the pacing - would love to try again at a later point. I did enjoy the characters and the plot seemed intriguing at first, but the storyline pacing made me fall out of reading multiple times.