Review: Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

November 14, 2026

Synopsis:

Nothing is as it seems—and no one is telling the truth—in this page-turning thriller about a young lawyer forced to defend a man on trial for murder against the mentor who taught her her husband.

When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked by the a well-known, well-respected judge, whose death sent shockwaves through the legal community. She’s also incredulous—she’s nowhere near experienced enough to handle such a high-profile assignment—but the defendant is he wants her, and only her, to represent him.

Except he’s refusing to talk. And if that wasn’t complicated enough, Leila soon learns her opponent is the most ruthless prosecutor she’s ever her husband.

It’s an impossible situation, yet Leila is determined to sway the jury to her side—until she’s blindsided once again by a shadowy figure from her past. Suddenly, Leila finds herself fighting not only for her client and marriage, but also to keep her own secrets buried. And if she has to rewrite the rules to win, so be it.

Review:

Starting off with a very obvious scenario is always a good way to set the stage. The person responsible is quickly found. Or so it seems. Leila has no idea why she is being asked to handle this case. That is a lot of responsibility for someone who does not have experience in that area. On top of that, she has to go against her husband on the opposing side, who is already acting like he will come out on top. And everything points in that direction.

That was an amazing book. I have read my fair share of crime, mystery, and thriller novels, and this felt fresh and new to me. I was not able to put it down. That’s how good it was. I’m still shocked by that ending and wondering why it took me so long to finally pick this book up.

Leila comes across as someone who is unsure of herself, and her husband is presented as the obvious choice to come out on top. I appreciated being given a narrative that made everything feel very clear from the beginning. As the trial drew closer, it became obvious that nothing was clear. With her client pleading guilty and relying on her to find out the truth, I had no clue what was going to happen. I was rooting for her to win, obviously.

And then there is a mysterious witness who is connected to the events of the book, but it is unclear who that person is and how everything is linked to the case. Bit by bit, it became clear to me that I had been misled and, oh my, did that make for fantastic storytelling.

If you haven’t picked up this book, what are you waiting for? For a debut novel, this is everything I could have asked for and more.

🌙 Recension: Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
📚 Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
📅 Release Date: May 7, 2026
📖 Publisher: Macmillan
📱 Read as: Physical
📗 available in various formats
💸 Bought
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 416
⭐️ 5/5