She Treads Softly: Dissection of a Murder

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Dissection of a Murder

Dissection of a Murder Book Cover

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
5/5/26; 416 pages
Dutton

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray is a highly recommended British legal thriller, courtroom drama, and a great debut novel.

In Durham, England, Leila Reynolds, a newly qualified barrister from a working class background, is defending club bouncer and ex-con Jack Millman who is on trial for the murder of Crown Court judge Anton Smythe. Millman asked for Leila personally to represent him. The experienced and ruthless prosecutor, Leila's opponent, is her mentor and now husband, Julian Kesler. Let the games begin, where no one is seemingly telling the truth and more is going on behind the scenes than anyone will admit.

The narrative is mainly told through Leila's point-of-view with some chapters from the mysterious Witness X. Leila is clearly recognizable as an unreliable narrator, and this is proven out as the plot continues. Witness X not only knows what happened, they also know secrets from Leila's past and become increasingly threatening about exposing the secrets they know. Along the way there are details about numerous other entanglements and relationships thrown into the mix.

Dissection of a Murder opens with an explanation of the court system procedures and legal terminology in Great Britain, which is helpful. Author Murray was a Criminal Barrister so her experience provides insights about the British legal system, including the procedural peculiarities and gender inequality ingrained in it. The astute information about the inside working of the legal system are presented throughout the plot.

Then the novel is presented in two parts. Part One is The Arrest and follows events leading up to the trial. Quite frankly, this part, while playing an important, informative role in the plot, can be a little slow moving even while it builds tension and suspense. Lots of suspicions about others are raised during this part. Part Two is The Trial, which is really putting all the information together for the surprising, very twisty conclusion and revelations after the trial.

Dissection of a Murder is a great choice for everyone who enjoys legal thrillers, especially British courtroom dramas. Thanks to Dutton for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.