Hi Jo, thank you for joining us today. Please could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your book Dissection of a Murder?

Thanks so much for having me! I’m grew up on a rough estate in Teesside and, despite everyone’s insistence I’d never do it, I became a criminal barrister. Dissection of a Murder is a legal courtroom thriller about a young female barrister who defends a prolific criminal charged with murdering a local judge. Her opponent in the case is the most feared prosecutor on circuit, and the man who taught her everything she knows. He is also her husband.

Where did the idea for this book originate from?

I have always been fascinated with the criminal jury and how we, as advocates, present evidence to them in a trial. I wanted to examine whether it was possible for a barrister to manipulate a jury by twisting information to serve their own agenda.

This is such a brilliant, twisty and well-constructed book. What was your process in creating this like and how did you keep track of the different plot strands?

I planned the book like it was a trial. No stone was left unturned and I approached each plot strand from different angles to ensure I had had covered everything. My legal training helped with the plotting here!

I loved how this story is so rooted in the North East of England. Why did you choose this setting and how did it inform the story?

I knew from the outset that it would be set in the North East. As a North East girl myself, it was important that the main character, Leila, originated from the region. She has a grit and determination that is vitally important in ensuring her survival at the Bar throughout the story. Durham was a perfect setting for the book as it perfectly mirrors the archaic and respected traditions of the Bar, but there is an unsettling undertone after nightfall which I love.

What is one message or lingering thought that you’d like readers to take away from this book?

I hope this book sparks a debate about what exactly brings criminals to the courtroom, and I hope it gets people talking about what justice really means. This book should force people to assess their moral compass, and they should feel uncomfortable after reading that last chapter.

What was it like seeing your book adapted and how involved were you with the process? How do you think your background in law informs your writing?

It still doesn’t feel real! To have David E Kelley adapt my work for screen is the biggest honour as he is a writer I’ve admired since I was a teenager. I adored Ally McBeal! He trained as a lawyer himself, and I think that is why he is known to be one of the best writers of legal dramas we have. Having a background in law adds a layer of authenticity to your project, it’s in the small details.

If you could wipe your memory of the big twist and read a book for the first time again, which book would you pick?

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I was not prepared for that.

What songs or music would serve as your ideal soundtrack for Dissection of a Murder?

Music plays such a huge part in my creative process, and I have a playlist for this book. Some songs feature in the novel and they are Delilah by Tom Jones and You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and The Pacemakers, but you’ll have to read the book to find out why they’re relevant!

What books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

I really loved The Death of Us by Abigail Dean and My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney. I have also just received One Dark Summer by Sarah Hornsley and I can’t wait to dive into that one.

If possible, please can you share a little about what you are currently working on or any upcoming projects you have?

It’s another legal thriller that is quite dark in tone. It requires meticulous planning, but I love that feeling when it all clicks together.

Finally if you could only use five words to describe Dissection of a Murder, what would they be?

Shocking. Gripping. Tense. Authentic. Tragic.

Will you be picking up Dissection of a Murder? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jo Murray, Author of ‘Dissection of a Murder’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Jo Murray is a fantastic new talent that you need to have on your radar immediately. Her writing is incisive and brilliantly leads you down one path, just to wrongfoot you. It is an utterly captivating story that you get caught up in. I found it difficult to bring myself back to reality while reading because I just needed to know what happened next. This is one of the sharpest legal thrillers I have ever had the pleasure of reading. 

The characterisation is off the charts. Leila is a fascinating and flawed protagonist, brought into the case which feels like it might be way out of her league. Not only that, but she’s against her husband on the opposing counsel. Instantly, you have fascinating dynamics and fraught stakes in play but just you wait. This is a tangled knot of a book and Murray slowly unravels it to reveal new layers and elements that are complicating this case even further. Nothing is quite as it seems and Leila is at the eye of the storm. Her voice is arresting and layered as her character trajectory shifts and changes over the course of the book. She is a beguiling figure, shadowy and tricky to see in her entirety. I loved how three-dimensional and complex she was. She felt so real and raw, especially in this world that is reluctant to accept her. 

Murray delves into the injustices of the justice system in depth and makes you wonder if she’s drawing on real-life experiences from her own legal background. It is a scathing indictment at times, full of rage and passion. We particularly explore issues around class and gender and how they can intersect in the legal system to create these stereotypes and biases. This system only really wants to accept those it can see as one of them, the familiar, rather than anyone different. You see this play out in the courts and outside of them too. I also really enjoyed the setting of Durham, somewhere I’m personally very familiar with. It added a new texture for me to read and recognise certain locations. It is richly imagined and also adds a new dynamic to the discussion around class and location, with certain associated tropes. Murray plays with these with a wry smirk at times, often in very interesting ways. I liked how immersed it felt in this place but also like a timeless story at the same time. It is a love letter to Durham and you can feel like you are right there. 

This is a difficult book to discuss in its entirety because Murray has placed some of the most explosive and ingenious twists in this book. They are game-changers and truly flip the book on its head. They pair perfectly with the tight pacing and plotting of the story. Importantly, they also feel earned and believable in the context of the book. They have tangible consequences for both the characters and the readers. You feel unsettled in the best way, needing to know the truth. Murray is devious though and the story is packed full of twists right up until the final page. I am a lover of a final sting in the tale and here it is delivered perfectly. 

Dissection of a Murder is a barnstormer of a debut with twists that will sear themselves into your brain. It introduces an exciting new voice whose career I cannot wait to see unfold. 

Dissection of a Murder is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Waterstones.

Will you be picking up Dissection of a Murder? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

Breathlessly compulsive courtroom drama with expertly-crafted twists that you won’t see coming, Dissection of a Murder is the razor-sharp debut novel from Jo Murray.

A dead judge. A silent defendant. And a courtroom full of liars.

When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked at how high-profile it is: the murder of a well-respected, well-known judge. This shouldn’t be the kind of case she’s leading; it’s way beyond her expertise. But the defendant, Jack Millman, is clear. He wants her, and only her.

To make things worse, he’s refusing to talk. How is she supposed to prove herself on what appears to be an unwinnable case?

Losing is not an option. She must find the most persuasive argument. Trials aren’t won by convincing judges or fellow barristers – they’re all about convincing a jury.

Suddenly, Leila finds herself fighting not only to keep Jack out of prison, but also to keep her own secrets buried.

It’s true what they say – there are two sides to every story.

Guilty or not guilty? You decide . . .

The post Review: Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray appeared first on The Nerd Daily.