I mean how the hell do people come up with this shit. This was crazy and I loved it. I was in this and couldn't put this down. The main character can't remember anything and has to prove the innocence of a murderer and she has no memory of anything. Good luck getting anything done once you start this one.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced ready copy of this.

The Trials of Lila Dalton by L.J. Shepard has an interesting premise, an attorney that wakes up at the trial with no memory of who she is or what she is doing. Then it derails from there. It starts out very intriguing and you want to know what is happening and why. You get the sense that something is wrong with the town, the case, and the people but you don't know quite what it is. It gets way too political for me and the politics don't seem to even be needed in the grand scheme of the story. The political aspect drags the story down and makes it less interesting.
I found that this story is portrayed as a thriller but yet somehow it twists into a political espionage story then a sci-fi story. It feels like the author had a lot of ideas of what they wanted the book to be but couldn't decide on what plot line to stick to. I was no a fan of the story but people who like unreliable narrators may enjoy this story. People who like stories that aren't pigeon-holed into a specific genre might like this as well. It just didn't work for me. I'm giving it 3 stars because it had potential, it just didn't deliver for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

Lila Dalton finds herself in a courtroom completely unable to remember anything. She only remembers her legal knowledge.

I'm going to be honest. If this wasn't an ARC, I probably would not have finished it. It wasn't bad, but the premise was very...bizarre. I feel like it was sort of all over the place and just spun out of control with "twists and reveals".

I definitely think this book is worth reading if you want a quick, easy to read little speculative thriller, but I did not personally love it that much.

Lila Dalton has no recollection of how she got here, where she is, or who she is. She seems to be standing in a court, working a case as a barrister, but who is she protecting and why can’t she remember anything? Through a few days of intense investigation, with danger lurking at every corner, where the conspiracy theories seem more plausible than any time before, Lila’s time is running out. She has a job, a very hard one – her client is accused of a mass murder, with all the evidence pointing directly at him, she has to absolve him or lose what’s most precious to her. With this unpredictable and suspensful book, you’ll find yourself unable to put it down, with suspense and plot twists at every corner.

I have really enjoyed this book. I found it really fascinating and difficult to put down. The suspense building on was done really well, and the historical ties were also very interesting. I have enjoyed the two stories interconnecting in the book, as well, they really build up the atmosphere and delivered more background knowledge about the characters and the case at heart.

I liked the plot twists – some of them I have slightly expected, some have truly shocked me. Although, full of conspiracy theories and a lot of legal terms, the book has proven to be able to explain everything well to non-experts.

Up to the 85% of the book I was really hooked, but the ending did catch me a bit off guard. I found it rather forced and odd, it did not explain all the questions I had. While the idea of it seemed nice and interesting, the execution was a bit lacking and felt really forced. The coming-full-circle moment was a nice touch, but it still didn’t make up for the confusion caused earlier.

Overall, I found the book really interesting and I was really happy to read it, I found myself looking into many of the conspiracies and symbols later myself, to read their history and compare their use in the book with the use in real life. The book was genuinely engaging, and the final plot twist about the case (who was whom and when) was really shocking. It’s just the overall ending that felt too shallow for such a big overall revelation.

4/5 stars.

THANK YOU POISONED PEN PRESS AND NETGALLEY FOR PROVIDING ME WITH A DIGITAL COPY OF THIS BOOK.

A very unique premise and I was hooked right from the start. I will admit it was a little hard to follow at the beginning. Reality and speculative fiction were intertwined beautifully. Lila Dalton, a very skilled barrister, comes to in a court room with a judge and 12 jurors looking at her, only to discover that she is the defense attorney in a terrorist case where 27 people died in a bombing. She has no memory of anything up to that very moment. She has to question everything and put on a face that she knows everything. Assumption Island, a fictional North Atlantic location where Lila Dalton must get her client off scot-free or end up losing her daughter There is a lot going on here. This is not a quick read. But being the debut novel by this author, I am very impressed. Take your time and watch this unfold.

The premise of this book intrigued me right from the start, it was very unique and fresh and I loved how it jumped immediately into the plot, leaving the reader with the same off centre, discombobulated feeling as the main character. I also really enjoyed all the legal aspects to and I felt like details were kept a mystery for a good amount of time, leaving the reader in a perfect amount of suspense. Unfortunately the book lost me a little bit in the second half. However, the book itself is incredibly well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I really enjoyed aspects of this novel, but connected less on other aspects of it. The plot in the start was definitely strong, if not a little beyond the suspension of belief, but as we got further into the book, it took a downward turn. The legal part of this was really well written, and I feel that the mystery of the trial was kept in the dark for the perfect amount of time. There was certainly an element of reality with the speculative fiction side of things, but the speculative fiction perhaps got a little too out of control, and was very concentrated at the end of the book, as opposed to interspersed throughout.

The book was very much in two halves for me. The first half was a punchy courtroom drama, just out of the reach of belief, and would have been an easy four star. But the second half just didn't do it for me, and I was really hoping for more. The characters, initially well-constructed and interesting, ended up as plot vessels later in the day which just didn't work for me.

The writing was definitely strong, particularly at the start - I just needed more throughout to keep me going with this one, and a little less disbelief.

Whew, this book, man...! It kept me guessing! Set on a remote island with an escape room vibe, Lila Dalton comes to in a court room with a judge and 12 jurors looking at her, only to discover that she is the defense attorney in a terrorist case where 27 people died in a bombing. She has no memory of anything up to that very moment. She soon discovers that although she knows nothing about herself or her past, she is a very skilled barrister who knows the law inside and out. Her only job? Getting her client off scot-free. She knows this is her job because she begins to get creepy threats stating that if she doesn't get her client off, there will be life-altering consequences. Lila begins to feel that she is being followed and surveilled at all times. She questions everything, which is a lot when you know nothing.
Although this book could be confusing at times (maybe due to my lack of knowledge with the UK justice system), I also found myself totally enraptured and wanting to get to the bottom of this crazy case. Who was Lila? Was her client actually guilty or was it all a conspiracy theory? Find out for yourself when this book hits shelves on 08/27/24. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this arc by debut author L.J. Shepherd.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC! This one was interesting…I honestly ended up feeling very “meh” about it. It started off so great! I was very intrigued about the memory loss and I really enjoyed the courtroom scenes and drama. However, other parts of this book left me feeling very confused. I guess that’s part of the point considering the memory loss…but I just had a hard time following toward the end. Overall, not my favorite book, but if you can keep an open mind and you like intriguing premises involving memory loss and courtroom drama, it may be worth checking it out!

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. The man on trial is accused of mass murder, and she's his lawyer, but she can't remember any details of the case. She can't remember anything… Stranded on an island in the Atlantic Ocean where the most serious crimes are tried, Lila has to prove her client's innocence if she wants to go home. But how can she solve this case when she's not sure she can trust anything around her, including her own memory?

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the idea of it and I love a good mystery, but at times, I was really confused on what was happening. I did read this book all the way through and some parts multiple times, but was still confused through a lot of it, I have a feeling this is one of those books that you’ll either love or hate,
I did like the twist in the last few chapters! I also enjoyed figuring out each piece of the puzzle with Lila, but also found myself trying to hurry through it because at times it was just drawn out.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to have a chance to read this book!

I was given this book through Netgalley. Unfortunately, I only got a little past the first chapter. I wasn't enjoying it and I don't really want to continue. The writing style is just not something I enjoyed. I think the premise is interesting, I just did not prefer the writing style.

“The Trials of Lila Dalton” - A Riveting Journey Through the Labyrinth of Memory and Truth


Imagine waking up in a courtroom, facing a man accused of a horrific crime, and not knowing who you are, or why you are there. This is the chilling predicament that Lila Dalton finds herself in “The Trials of Lila Dalton”, the debut novel by L. J. Shepherd. Shepherd, a Cardiff-based barrister with experience in high-profile public inquiries, leverages her expertise to craft a riveting and intricate thriller. The novel stands out in its genre, thanks to the authenticity of its courtroom scenes and legal complexities, enriched by Shepherd’s firsthand knowledge of the legal field. The narrative is peppered with insider details such as the cab-rank rule, cross-examination techniques, and the bad character evidence rule, and more, setting it apart from other legal dramas.

This adrenaline-fueled thriller, revolved around a compelling female protagonist, captivates readers from start to finish. The narrative unfolds on Assumption Island, a fictional North Atlantic locale, where Lila Dalton, a barrister with no memory of her past, defends a suspected bomber. Lila’s only certainty is her kidnapped daughter’s existence and the need to win the case to save her. As she navigates through the labyrinth of deception and manipulation, she uncovers the island’s dark secrets and realizes the case is far from a simple bombing. The plot brims with unexpected twists as Lila unravels the truth about the case and the island. Shepherd’s vivid world-building crafts a unique setting where the island itself becomes a character with its own history and rules. The novel delves into themes like the role of the media, the corruption of the justice system, and the dangers of psychological manipulation.

While the book has a few minor weaknesses, including stereotypical secondary characters, and overly technical legal jargon, these do not significantly detract from the overall reading experience. Some plot developments and the ending might stretch the reader’s suspension of disbelief due to their convenience, overuse of abstract dialogues or lack of explanation. The novel sometimes relies on clichés and tropes, such as the evil media, corrupt government, and mysterious cult, but it also subverts and challenges them in interesting ways.

“The Trials of Lila Dalton” is a remarkable and impressive debut novel, that will delight and thrill fans of psychological thrillers, legal dramas, and dystopian twist.

I appreciate the L.J. Shepherd, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for letting me review a pre-release copy of the book and share my honest opinion.

Basic plot: Woman who finds herself in the middle of a trial has no memory of how she got there or what the trial is about. She comes to realize that she's a defense lawyer and her client has been accused of a terrorist attack. But how the heck can she defend someone when she doesn't remember how she got there or what's happening? As she unravels this bizarre mystery, she meets an assortment of odd people, follows some really weird leads, and stumbles her way to the truth.

I had high hopes for this novel but frankly, it was a hot mess. Cool premise and interesting characters, however the story rambled through some pretty dark paths (white supremacy) with way too many conspiracy references and confusing flashbacks. By the time I got to the twist ending, I was exhausted by all the false leads and unnecessary coincidences.

It reminded me of the movie Vanilla Sky and left me feeling rather deflated with the big reveal at the end - and almost as though I had just been lied to but I'm expected to accept it all with an impressed, "Ohhh, now I get it'!" Everything I thought really mattered throughout the story (including time) ended up not mattering at all, which makes a person feel as though the entire thing was a waste.

Rating this at 2 stars as I liked some of the characters, but ultimately did not like the novel as a whole.

This was wild. The plot is SO interesting but there were so many layers and no layers or action and nonsense, it was hard to follow. You will love this or hard.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

I had such high hopes for this book, but it fell short for me by a lot. The beginning was interesting, but as the story started unraveling itself, the more bored I got. It was very chaotic, much like how Lila is feeling as she lost all her memories. To be honest, I started skimming maybe half way through the story because I was so bored. Anyways, maybe this just isn’t the book for me and I’m sure other people will like it.

This is a 3.5 star rating but I wanted to round up because it kept me turning pages every night! I loved the setup - loved the forgotten memories, the weird coincidences...they were very cool but there were almost too many of them! By the time we go to the reason behind everything, I was exhausted from trying to keep it all straight in my head. But getting there was indeed a lot of eeriness, which I loved.

Definitely a book for fans of novels with unreliable narrators. Shutter Island is a good similar title.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

This was a really twisty and original read!

Set on a mysterious island, Lila finds herself in a courtroom defending a mass murderer, but can’t remember a thing about her past. Whilst looking for her lost memories she becomes aware of threats and that someone is watching her.

I enjoyed the mystery at heart of this and found the plot to be very ambitious and executed so well. The ending was unexpected and satisfying.

This book was a courtroom drama rather than a psychological thriller, I did enjoy this however this is not my usual pick up

Lila dalton is a lawyer, but while at trial suddenly her memory fades and she can’t remember who she is and what to do.
I skipped most of this book: the plot sounded interesting and i absolutely love the cover of this one. But i think i was expecting a bit more a normal family-vibe, but it was a lot of legal stuff and confusing.
I bet this will be a great book for people who enjoy lawyer MC, amnesia plot, courtroom drama, or would like to read a book where there’s barely any blood/descriptions of murder, etc. Hope it will be someone else’s next favorite read even if it wasn’t mine.

Happy reading!♥️

I really looked forward to reading this book. I love courtroom drama and this one did have a bit of it.
Locked on an island Lila had to find a way to clear her name of a murder she had no idea happened or any knowledge of her life at all.
Had a decent story line to start with but ended up in a strange twist. I really found myself trying to just get thru the book. Honestly wasn’t really the biggest fan of the book. But I just wanted to give my honest review