The Witness
The most authentic, twisty legal thriller, from the barrister author of In Black and White
Published on 5. June 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-7515-8338-0 (ISBN)
Description
'An intelligent and immersive courtroom drama, a compelling new voice in legal crime fiction' ANDREA MARA
THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY MURDER.
A young black man is arrested for murder. The case against him is strong - a mum and a teacher saw him standing over a body in a park, a knife still in hand.
But his up-and-coming barrister Rosa knows how people prejudge, but most of all, she suspects something is amiss. This boy comes from her neighbourhood. From a good family. So she begins to dig...
As Rosa discovers secret upon terrible secret, she moves closer to finding a testimony that could win the case - or bring the whole establishment down on her.
The Witness is a frightening thriller about a young lawyer who will do anything to set her defendant free.
'This is exactly what it's like to be a criminal barrister at the sharp end of Legal Aid work, and an important corrective to the cliche that all barristers are posh, white and loaded. An authentic, tense legal thriller from an author who knows what she's talking about'
HARRIET TYCE
'Her striking debut shows she is expert at using the form to highlight aspects of everyday ethnic minority experience: the drip-drip of countless micro-aggressions, and Rosa's daunting disadvantages when facing white middle-class opponents in court'
SUNDAY TIMES
'A gripping insight into the intricacies of the British legal system and the assumptions that are made. The Witness is a compelling story, told by an original new voice, with a breathtaking conclusion'
ROBERT GOLD
'A powerful and authentic legal thriller . . . a tense, twisty read that highlights just how frightening the legal and penal system can be when your future depends upon who the jury believes'
JO CALLAGHAN
'Fresh, eye-opening, rage-inducing, humane. A coruscating indictment of a legal system held together by Gaffer tape and bias'
TAMAR COHEN
'Alexandra Wilson's tense and very twisty crime thriller is a powerful page-turner about the importance of family, the burden of guilt, and the racism that pervades our legal systems. A superb and timely debut!'
ASHLEY TATE
'A twisty courtroom thriller that is destined to become a TV drama'
I PAPER
THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY MURDER.
A young black man is arrested for murder. The case against him is strong - a mum and a teacher saw him standing over a body in a park, a knife still in hand.
But his up-and-coming barrister Rosa knows how people prejudge, but most of all, she suspects something is amiss. This boy comes from her neighbourhood. From a good family. So she begins to dig...
As Rosa discovers secret upon terrible secret, she moves closer to finding a testimony that could win the case - or bring the whole establishment down on her.
The Witness is a frightening thriller about a young lawyer who will do anything to set her defendant free.
'This is exactly what it's like to be a criminal barrister at the sharp end of Legal Aid work, and an important corrective to the cliche that all barristers are posh, white and loaded. An authentic, tense legal thriller from an author who knows what she's talking about'
HARRIET TYCE
'Her striking debut shows she is expert at using the form to highlight aspects of everyday ethnic minority experience: the drip-drip of countless micro-aggressions, and Rosa's daunting disadvantages when facing white middle-class opponents in court'
SUNDAY TIMES
'A gripping insight into the intricacies of the British legal system and the assumptions that are made. The Witness is a compelling story, told by an original new voice, with a breathtaking conclusion'
ROBERT GOLD
'A powerful and authentic legal thriller . . . a tense, twisty read that highlights just how frightening the legal and penal system can be when your future depends upon who the jury believes'
JO CALLAGHAN
'Fresh, eye-opening, rage-inducing, humane. A coruscating indictment of a legal system held together by Gaffer tape and bias'
TAMAR COHEN
'Alexandra Wilson's tense and very twisty crime thriller is a powerful page-turner about the importance of family, the burden of guilt, and the racism that pervades our legal systems. A superb and timely debut!'
ASHLEY TATE
'A twisty courtroom thriller that is destined to become a TV drama'
I PAPER
Reviews / Votes
An intelligent and immersive courtroom drama, a compelling new voice in legal crime fiction - I can't wait to see what Alexandra Wilson does next! * Andrea Mara * This is exactly what it's like to be a criminal barrister at the sharp end of Legal Aid work, and an important corrective to the cliche that all barristers are posh, white and loaded. An authentic, tense legal thriller from an author who knows what she's talking about * Harriet Tyce * Her striking debut shows she is expert at using the form to highlight aspects of everyday ethnic minority experience: the drip-drip of countless micro-aggressions, and Rosa's daunting disadvantages when facing white middle-class opponents in court * Sunday Times * [An] engaging first novel... written with flair, the plot never flags for a second * Daily Mail * A gripping insight into the intricacies of the British legal system and the assumptions that are made. The Witness is a compelling story, told by an original new voice, with a breathtaking conclusion * Robert Gold * A powerful and authentic legal thriller . . . a tense, twisty read that highlights just how frightening the legal and penal system can be when your future depends upon who the jury believes * Jo Callaghan * Fresh, eye-opening, rage-inducing, humane. A coruscating indictment of a legal system held together by Gaffer tape and bias * Tamar Cohen * Alexandra Wilson's tense and very twisty crime thriller is a powerful page-turner about the importance of family, the burden of guilt, and the racism that pervades our legal systems. A superb and timely debut! * Ashley Tate * A twisty courtroom thriller that is destined to become a TV drama * i Paper * Atmospheric, frighteningly real and apt for the times we live in. This poignant nailbiter of a thriller is hard to shake off; hopefully, this will not be the last we hear of Rosa * Buzz Magazine * The author... is remarkable, but her talent doesn't end in a courtroom, she's a promising legal thriller writer too * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
264 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7515-8338-0 (9780751583380)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Alexandra Wilson
The Witness
The most authentic, twisty legal thriller, from the barrister author of In Black and White
E-Book
06/2024
Sphere
€5.99
Available for download
Person
Alexandra Wilson is a barrister in England and Wales, and an attorney in New York State. She grew up on the border of East London and Essex and is the eldest of four children. Her mother is white British, her father is Black British and her paternal grandparents were born in Jamaica and came to England as part of the Windrush generation.
In 2020, Alexandra published her debut book, In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System. Since she was called to the Bar in 2018, she's been a fierce advocate for greater diversity in the legal profession. She's won numerous awards and has gained international recognition for her work.
Alexandra studied PPE at the University of Oxford; law at BPP University; and recently graduated from Columbia University in New York, with a second masters degree in law. Since her undergraduate degree she's focused her research on racial disparities in the criminal justice system in both the UK and the U.S. Alexandra has received three prestigious scholarships and fellowships.
Alongside her paid legal work, Alexandra helps to facilitate access to justice by providing legal representation for disenfranchised minorities and others on a pro-bono basis.
Instagram and X: @EssexBarrister
In 2020, Alexandra published her debut book, In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System. Since she was called to the Bar in 2018, she's been a fierce advocate for greater diversity in the legal profession. She's won numerous awards and has gained international recognition for her work.
Alexandra studied PPE at the University of Oxford; law at BPP University; and recently graduated from Columbia University in New York, with a second masters degree in law. Since her undergraduate degree she's focused her research on racial disparities in the criminal justice system in both the UK and the U.S. Alexandra has received three prestigious scholarships and fellowships.
Alongside her paid legal work, Alexandra helps to facilitate access to justice by providing legal representation for disenfranchised minorities and others on a pro-bono basis.
Instagram and X: @EssexBarrister