Dissection of a Murder
The Unmissable, Explosive Instant Sunday Times Bestselling Courtroom Thriller
Published on 7. May 2026
416 pages
978-1-0350-7271-2 (ISBN)
Description
'So gripping, so clever, so good. This brilliant book had me hooked from the beginning' - Alice Feeney, multimillion copy bestselling author of My Husband's Wife and Netflix TV sensation His and Hers
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
SOON TO BE SEASON 2 OF APPLE TV'S HIT SHOW PRESUMED INNOCENT
A BBC RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICK
A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE MONTH
**ALL first edition hardback copies feature beautiful sprayed edges - available while stock lasts**
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 . . .
PRAISE FOR DISSECTION OF A MURDER:
'Absolutely outstanding' - TM Logan, author of The Mother
'What a terrific read!' - Sarah Vaughan, author of Anatomy of a Scandal
'Utterly compelling' - John Marrs, author of The Family Experiment
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
SOON TO BE SEASON 2 OF APPLE TV'S HIT SHOW PRESUMED INNOCENT
A BBC RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICK
A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE MONTH
**ALL first edition hardback copies feature beautiful sprayed edges - available while stock lasts**
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 . . .
PRAISE FOR DISSECTION OF A MURDER:
'Absolutely outstanding' - TM Logan, author of The Mother
'What a terrific read!' - Sarah Vaughan, author of Anatomy of a Scandal
'Utterly compelling' - John Marrs, author of The Family Experiment
Reviews / Votes
An absolutely outstanding legal thriller - and set to be one of my books of the year -- TM Logan, bestselling author of <i> The Daughter </i> and <i> The Holiday </i> So gripping, so clever, so good. This brilliant book had me hooked from the beginning. An addictive page-turner and an exciting new voice in the genre -- Alice Feeney, author of <i>Beautiful Ugly </i> A fascinating thrill of a read which had me gasping with its reveals. I stayed up way past bedtime to find out what was happening. I loved living out the courtroom experience through the eyes of a barrister. It's an immersive, shocking, deftly plotted debut and fans of Grisham will find so much to love. What a writer to watch -- Cesca Major, author of <i>Maybe Next Time</i> A British legal thriller that combines the highwire courtroom melodrama of Scott Turow with the twistiness of a gripping suspense thriller. And with an absolute mindbender of a sting in the tail -- Vaseem Khan, author of <i> City of Destruction </i> Brilliant. One of the most suspenseful and thought-provoking novels I've read in ages. I predict it will be massive -- Nicola Sturgeon A brilliant portrayal of a murder trial through the eyes of a barrister for whom the stakes couldn't be any higher. So deftly plotted with such clever twists and reveals - I absolutely loved it -- Nikki Smith, author of <i> The Beach Party </i> What a terrific read! Deftly plotted and addictive, Dissection of a Murder is written with the confidence of someone who knows the legal world completely, and who understands how thrillers work. There's a terrific twist; sharp insights; and themes of class, power, abuse, and storytelling, all skillfully woven together -- Sarah Vaughan, author of <i> Anatomy of a Scandal </i> Everything I wanted in a court room drama and more. Utterly compelling, razor sharp tension and with whip-smart dialogue. It's Gone Girl meets The Silent Patient -- John Marrs, author of <i> The Family Experiment </i> Anatomy of a Scandal meets Gone Girl. A sexy, tense, scandalous legal thriller -- Isabelle Broom, author of <i> The Orange House </i> I finished this book marveling at its ingenious construction, wanting to reread it immediately to see just how Jo Murray does it. A truly impressive debut -- Joseph Finder, <i> New York Times </i> bestselling author of <i> The Oligarch's Daughter </i> An unputdownable courtroom thriller that packs a punch. I read it in two sittings, desperate to know what happens. The razor-sharp plot will keep you guessing right the way through. This addictive legal drama is going to be huge -- Kate Gray, author of <i> Welcome to the Family </i> A gripping legal drama driven by complex characters with emotional range. With surprising twists until the very last page, readers won't be able to put this thriller down -- Stacey Abrams, bestselling author of <i> While Justice Sleeps </i> and <i> Coded Justice </i> Fiendishly good. Captivating, clever and emotionally complex. Dissection of a Murder is a legal thriller that packs a proper punch -- Anna Mazzola, author of <i> The Book of Secrets </i> A gripping legal drama driven by complex characters with emotional range. With surprising twists until the very last page, readers won't be able to put this thriller down -- Stacey Abrams, author of <i> Coded Justice </i> Dissection of a Murder is a delicious, compulsively readable whodunit that will leave you guessing - and on the edge of your seat - until the very last page. Murray is a whip-smart thriller writer, not to be missed. She knocked it out of the park. More please! -- Sophie Strava, author of <i>Count My Lies </i> A thrilling courtroom drama which oozes with tension. As good as Grisham or Richard North Patterson. One not to be missed, Your Honour! -- Julia Chapman, author <i> Date With Destiny </i> Utterly gripping and intricately plotted, Dissection of a Murder had me hooked from the first page to the last -- Lisa Hall, author of <i> The Perfect Couple </i> So deeply satisfying: one of those books you want to read again once you know everything, just to marvel at how clever it was -- Anstey Harris, author of <i> The House of Lost Secrets </i> A page-turning, twisty and atmospheric legal thriller with a carefully calibrated murder mystery at its core and complex relationships that deliver the most shocking twist of all -- Kimberly McCreight, <i> New York Times </i> bestselling author of <i> Like Mother, Like Daughter </i> The twists and slights of hand. The gasp out loud moments! A truly heart-pounding, shock-fest of a thriller -- Cressida McLaughlin, author of <i> From Cornwall With Love </i> I tore through this compelling, propulsive courtroom thriller rich with secrets and deceit. It is an intelligent, tense and many-layered exploration of the types of power we wield over each other and it felt entirely fresh. It is cleverly and forensically written. Utterly thrilling. -- Emma Van Straaten, author of <i> Creep </i> Dissection of a Murder is a razor-sharp legal thriller that cuts far deeper than guilt or innocence. Jo Murray pulls you inside a world where justice isn't blind, and every truth has a body count . . . This story hits like a hammer: relentless, propulsive and astonishingly human. I couldn't look away -- Leslie Wolfe, author of <i> The Surgeon </i> What a book! Compelling, authentic, brilliantly written and incredibly clever . . . I absolutely loved it -- Charlotte Levin, author of <i> If I Let You Go </i> A relentless, twisting legal drama that combines courtroom suspense, unforgettable characters and a knockout ending. Jo Murray writes with the authority of a courtroom veteran and a gift for swervy storytelling. An impressive debut from a writer to watch -- William Landay, author of <i> Defending Jacob </i> Really great read. Enjoyed the twists and writing style. Vivid characters and multiple timelines. Would definitely recommend! -- Rebecca Philipson, author of <i> How to Get Away with Murder </i> Very very clever, character driven plot. With a fantastic twist that I didn't predict despite having seen it was coming from other reviews. Brilliant writing - I will absolutely look out for Jo's next book -- Rachel Downing, author of <i> Lost Little Ones </i> This clever legal thriller is so pacy, I read it in less than 24 hours * Good Housekeeping * This darkly compelling legal thriller is being adapted for the new series of Presumed Innocent, which tells you a lot about how brilliant it is * Heat * Dissection of a Murder is simply superbly plotted. You can imagine future writing workshops poring over her ending to work out how she did it * Sunday Times * This standout legal thriller is so good, it's coming to a TV screen near you! * The Sun * A magnificent debut. My crime thriller of the year which I feel is the prelude to a great career -- Jeffrey Archer, author of <i> End Game </i> The scene is set for a gripping courtroom drama, which Murray delivers in a striking debut - one of the best British legal thrillers in years, with echoes of Agatha Christie's unforgettable Witness for the Prosecution * Daily Mail *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
File size
0,59 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-7271-2 (9781035072712)
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
Jo Murray
Dissection of a Murder
(Special Limited Edition): The Unmissable And Explosive Courtroom Thriller For Fans Of Blood Orange, Apple Tree Yard And The Silent Patient
Book
05/2026
Macmillan
€21.50
Available immediately
Person
Jo Murray grew up in Teesside during the 1990s when working-class girls were told they probably shouldn't try to become barristers. Thankfully, she ignored everyone. After studying Classics at Newcastle University, she went to law school and was a criminal barrister before leaving the profession to look after her two children.
Dissection of a Murder is her debut novel.
Dissection of a Murder is her debut novel.
