Lee Mitchell is a barrister at a high-profile chambers. She has overcome prejudices in many forms to get where she is, and it has taken its toll on her personal life. When Tom, the omnipotent head clerk of chambers, dies in suspicious circumstances, it casts a shadow on the chambers. Dean, the junior clerk, is charged with Tom's death, and Lee defends him in a complex and compelling trial. The story showcases the betrayal, deceit, prejudice and pressure to succeed in the legal world. Reputation is everything and is to be protected at all costs, regardless of the collateral damage. I appreciated the authentic portrayal of the legal world, the characterisation that presents the reader with an array of characters who are believably flawed and the socio-political elements that make this story contemporary and relevant.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Tom Mannion was brusque, sexist and proud of the fact that he held secrets over many people at the barristers' Chambers where he was senior clerk. After an event where he got into an altercation with another man and after drinking heavily, Tom is found dead in an alleyway. It's not certain where it was manslaughter or an accident but the police arrest his junior clerk, Dean. Now barrister Lee Mitchell has to defend one clerk for the manslaughter of another and the prosecution is pushing hard. However as Tom's secrets start to come out in the open, friendships are pushed.
I haven't read Williams' other novels so came to this with fresh eyes. Overall it's a solid enough novel and the courtroom bits are excellent. However, there's a lot here so some areas are not explored as much as they could be. What I did really like was the angle that Williams takes, the book is focused on those who lack privilege but are making the most of their chances to improve, not just because of race but also because of class.

I was surprised to find this was the second book in a series about a lawyer called Lee as this book works well as a standalone novel. It is a slow burner but it definitely keeps you interested throughout. Here she is trying to defend a clerk at Maple Court who is accused of murder. An interesting story with a few twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the advance copy of this book.

Book 2 featuring barrister Lee Mitchell
A legal courtroom/chambers drama, filled with twists and turns.
The senior clerk from Maple Court Chambers is found dead in an alleyway, not far from the high end members bar where he had been drinking with his junior clerk, Dean Carter. Did he stumble and fall, or was he pushed?
The police are under pressure to make an arrest, despite Dean’s repeated denials he is charged with manslaughter.
Lee Mitchell from chambers knows Dean is a hard working young man from a working class family, she knows he is innocent and immediately decides to defend him.
There is an undercurrent in chambers, deception and secrets, the courtroom drama is tense, as Lee strifes to untangle the events leading up to Toms death, to steer the jury away from Dean, question who else had a motive for murder.
A clever twisty read with a brilliant conclusion.
I highly recommend this book and I will be hoping there will be a book 3
Many thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

At first I found it difficult to get into this book because I had not read the first book in this series, something I strongly recommended..
Lee Mitchell is a black female barrister working in a prestigious London chambers when the senior clerk is found dead in an alley after a firms social evening.. The police suspect murder and suspicion falls on his junior who had been seen drinking with him earlier..Lee is reluctantly drawn in to defending her colleague as secrets about the firm and its members are unearthed.. The story has several strands and the truth is found in an unlikely and surprising place. Racism, child grooming, blackmail and drug abuse are among the subjects in this sometimes dark story.. Alongside her work Lee is struggling with her personal relationships with friends and her partner.I am glad I persevered with this book as it turned out to be a very good read but as in many series would benefit from starting at book one.

If you loved watching Judge John Deed or Silk, then this is definitely a novel you must read!
When barrister Lee Mitchell ends up defending Dean, one of her colleagues, she gets more than she bargained for. The fallout from this case impacts upon everyone and everything within their Chambers, nothing will be the same again. All of it started with Tom being murdered or having an accident whilst on a night out. The case builds with circumstantial evidence against Dean, but they don't seem to want to look any further into the case as they think they've got their man!?
Would love to see this turned into a film!!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this. Highly recommend.

This book reads fine as a standalone as I had not read book 1. It is a slow burner but definitely will not lose your interest. It is based around Lee who is an upcoming lawyer and is full of intrigue. The author is very descriptive about all those who are involved in Maple Court, highlighting just what happens within the court. There are lots of characters with a great range of personalities , which adds to the story although you may not like them all !!


Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

I had no idea what to expect from this book but thoroughly enjoyed it.

Killer Instinct is a mix between a whodunnit and a court procedural and it works really well - although it does make you wonder exactly how many people end up in the system without deserving to be there.

Tom Mannion is Senior Clerk at Maple Court, a small but successful Chambers where he rules the roost. But it's not just wits or contacts that keeps Tom at the top of his game as Junior Clerk, Lee, finds out one night.

However Tom's reign at Maple Court is about to come crashing down and everyone at Chambers will be affected one way or another.

Nicola Williams has given us a tightly plotted, twisty and clever story that is hard to put down and extremely enjoyable. She's an author new to me but I'll definitely read more of her work.

Definitely recommended. Would make a great holiday read.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.

The second outing for barrister, Lee Mitchell, sees her defending someone from her legal Chambers - Junior Clerk, Dean. Dean's boss, Tom Mannion, was found dead in a dark alley after a night out drinking, & Dean was the last person to be seen with him. Even though the evidence, what there is of it, is mostly circumstantial, the police & judiciary seem oddly keen to prosecute the case. Lee knew Tom too & knows that there are many others who had reason to dislike Tom but did they dislike him enough to kill?

I enjoyed this one slightly more than the first book. It was frustrating but true to life, to see the rich & [en]titled with their private clubs & 'old boys' networks conspire to focus attention on working class Dean. If there's a criticism, i would say that again the solution to the case literally walks through the door, it's not really found by Lee as such. I spent most of the book wondering why no-one had looked for the CCTV on the bus Dean caught back home, because it wasn't even mentioned until almost three-quarters of the way through. It's a solid legal thriller though & I'm kind of warming to Lee.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin UK/Hamish Hamilton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This is the second book featuring black female barrister Lee Mitchell. I can never resist a legal thriller and William’s background as a criminal barrister is used to great effect in this gripping read.

When Senior Clerk at Maple Court Chambers Tom Mannion is found dead in an alley, suspicion falls on junior clerk Dean who was the last person seen with him. When Dean is charged with his manslaughter, Lee, a member of chambers, agrees to represent him - but his defence becomes complicated as it soon becomes clear that Tom was a man privy to many secrets and no shortage of enemies ….

Whilst this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first book, Until Proven Innocent, as this will give you some more insight into Lee and the challenges she has faced in her career at the Bar.

This is a story of race, privilege and corruption. Told from multiple perspectives, we get to know the cast of characters and see the machinations of a Chambers threatening to implode, weighed down by political manoeuvring and deceit. And things ramp up when we reach the courtroom and the trial takes place - and the threads begin to come together as it reaches its dramatic conclusion.

If you enjoy twisty courtroom dramas written with authenticity by someone who knows, then this is a series I recommend - and I look forward to hearing more from Lee Mitchell.

This is the first book by Nicola Williams that I have read but if this one is anything to go by it will not be my last. A very good thriller with an interesting insight into courtroom procedures. Tom Mannion, the chief clerk of a reputable legal chambers in London, is found dead after a night out and the finger of suspicion falls on the last person to be with him, his junior clerk Dean Carter. As Carter is well known and liked in chambers he has no shortage of lawyers wanting to take on his case. Mannion, on the other hand was feared more than liked. He had a "little black book" filled with the names of many people in and around chambers and their misdemeanours which could end the careers of many of them.
As a result there was a lot of characters in this storyline which made it a little confusing at first but the author cleverly brought all the loose ends together. With many different twists and turns this turned out to be a very good thriller as the wheels of justice turned. Reading this book I had no idea that it was the second on the series. Not reading the first one did not detract from my enjoyment of it

An enjoyable book. I have not read the first in the series and did find it a bit difficult getting my head round all the characters. Tom the chief clerk at the Chambers is found dead - possibly murdered or just fallen and hit his head. Dean, the junior clerk is arrested as he was the last person known to have seen Tom even though there is no evidence.
The murder happens quickly in the book then the story lags. The end is then rushed. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Tom Mannion, chief clerk of Maple Court Chambers, is a man not to be trifled with. He is ambitious, antagonistic, and he doesn’t care who he upsets. Unfortunately, after attending a reception, Tom has appeared to upset someone just a little too much. The last person to be seen with Tom alive is his junior clerk, Dean Carter. Poor Dean rolls into work with the hangover from hell to find that not only is his senior clerk dead, but he, Dean, is now the principal suspect in Tom’s murder. Lee Mitchell, an up-and-coming star barrister in Maple Court Chambers, leads Dean’s defence. This brings her up against her old sparring partner, DCI Danny Wallace.

What follows is a legal thriller par excellence. Although reasonably slow-paced, the story itself never feels slow as it is packed full of intrigue and twists and turns. There are some first-class courtroom scenes. I especially liked the way Nicola Williams got to the heart of what it takes to be a barrister, and that winning a case may not necessarily involve the truth. There is certainly plenty of corruption in this story, and ultimately, a satisfying conclusion.
A well-constructed plot combined with brilliant writing equals 5 stars from me.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Nicola Williams and especially to Penguin for a the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

An intriguing read. Lee Mitchell is defending the Junior Clerk from their Chambers. He’s accused of murdering the Senior Clerk. .There is so much more going on in this novel. Some not so nice characters featured , powerful people they are too. I’m enjoying this series and look forward to reading more .

Excellent court room read.
Very strong characters, brilliant storyline, I really felt for Dean,a murder pinned on him. Other potential suspects but wealth really does play a part in how you are treated and for working class Dean things are not really going his way.
Plenty of backstories as to why people do what they do.
I almost read this in one sitting so invested in the outcome was I.
Loved it!

This is book two in this series and, if you are going to read book one, I suggest you do that first as this book heavily refers to events contained therein. Actually, I would suggest you read it anyway as certain characters in this book have complicated relationships to others and I think you would benefit from having the complete backstories.
So... this book is focused around the death of Tom Mannion, the Head Clerk of the Maple Court Chambers where our MC, Barrister Lee Mitchell, works. It occurs soon after a heated argument between him and the speaker at an event the Chambers was sponsoring. But it is not to him that the Police turn. No, instead their focus is nudged towards his junior, Dean Carter. When they come to take him away, Lee is disheartened by head of chambers Giles who appears to be throwing him under the bus so she decides to defend him.
And so begins a cracking story which as well as being interesting, intriguing, and compelling, also includes great insight into both the working of a Chambers and also a Court Case. Both of which I am fascinated by. My boss at work's wife is a high profile civil and human rights barrister so I am already well familiar with the way things happen and found this to be wholly credible as well as highly entertaining.
Lee tries simultaneously to defend Dean and work out who actually killed Tom, if indeed it was murder and not an accident which is still in the room. There are also several other minor threads that meander around and about until eventually mostly all converging to an ending that I have to admit I never actually saw coming. I had suspicions about certain characters but never worked out the whole picture. Well done!
The characters are what really made this book pop for me. I love Lee and her backstory, her grit and determination to overcome the double minority she faces - being black and a women - in a white male dominated field. But the things that could have set her back, and her determination to succeed probably make her a better Barrister. She actually cares about what she does. It was also nice to catch up again with other familiar faces - DCI Danny Wallace for one.
What I also loved about this book was its portrayal and highlighting of privilege. Something I can easily believe is rife in the world still, despite any effort to clamp down. It still amazes me how they could prosecute Dean on the flimsy reasons they gave and I was horrified by a certain conversation Lee overheard at the end of the book. I would love to expand further but I can't.
All in all, a cracking follow up to what was already a well impressive series opener. I really can't wait for book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

love a court room drama and this one had it all.... though we had to slog through half the book before we got to the court room but once there it soon hotted up nicely

tom is head clerk at chambers but that didnt stop him from being murdered....

who has it in for him the most....

with an array of suspects the one that is arrested is a junior clerk who also works at chambers

is he innocent or guilty .... lee doesnt think he is guilty at all and agrees to represent him

but lee has her work cut out for her... its not going to be easy.....

not a bad read... this is the 2nd book in the series its well worth a read if court room dramas are your thing

I really enjoyed this series there are 2 books and it kept me reading until the early hours!!!

Blurb

When the Head Clerk at her Chambers is murdered, Lee Mitchell doesn’t know who she can trust.

One of the last people to see him alive, the crime is pinned on Junior Clerk Dean who ‘seems like the type’. Working-class and still living on the estate where he grew up, he has the most to gain from Tom’s death.

But Lee knows how easily prejudices can snowball into convictions – and steps in to defend him. As the trial progresses, people Lee has worked with for years become suspects as her Chambers crumbles into a world of chaos and deceit.

And, what of the diary, whispered about by those at Chambers? The one Tom used to blackmail Lee’s friends and enemies alike to do his bidding? The one containing secrets some might kill to keep hidden?

Maybe finding it will be the key to solving his murder. Or maybe some secrets are better left buried . . .

Lee Mitchell #2

When the Head Clerk at the Chambers is murdered, Lee Mitchell doesn't know who she can trust. One of the last people to see him alive, the crime is pinned to Junior Clerk Dean who "seems like the type." Working-class and still living on the same estate where he grew up, he has the most to gain from Tom's death. But Lee knows how easily prejudices can snowball into convictions - and steps in to defend him. As the trial progresses, people Lee has worked with for years become suspects as her Chambers crumbles into a world of chaos and deceit.

There were quite a lot of characters to remember. This is also a good legal trial where Junior Clerk Dean is defended by Lee Mitchell. The pace is on the slow side and it is told from multiple perspectives. Lee is such a feisty and intelligent character. The story covers corruption and race. Some of the characters you'll like while others you definitely won't. This book could be read as a standalone.

Published 19th July 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinGeneralUK and the author NicolaWilliams for my ARC of KillerInstinct in exchange for an honest reeview.

I read her first book in the series and I’ve waited for this one to come out. Another legal thriller in the barristers chambers. It’s fascinating, compelling, interesting, and murder at its best
I love her books and this is a brilliant read.