Jack Millman is on trial for murder in an English court. The victim? Crown Court judge Anton Smythe. As is customary, Jack has the right to legal counsel. He does not hesitate when asked who he wants to represent him: Barrister Leila Reynolds. 

Nearly anyone in Leila’s shoes would be thrilled. After all, a high-profile murder case just landed in her lap. This could be a big boost for her career. But, while Leila is well respected in the legal community, she has never handled a murder case before. And this one promises to be as tough as they come. Not only is the victim a man people looked up to, the person selected to prosecute the case is Leila’s husband, Julian Kesler. He is as good as they come. He is brilliant, shrewd, ruthless --- and hates losing. Leila knows he will do anything to win. But so will she.

"Every mystery has twists and turns, but I challenge anyone to find a novel that has as many as DISSECTION OF A MURDER. The final twists were revealed at just the right time...and I don’t think anyone will see them coming."

Then Leila is handed another blow when she goes to interview her client. Jack refuses to say anything about what happened the night the judge was killed. He’s leaving it up to Leila to figure it out for herself. How can she present a defense if she has nothing to work with? Where does she even start? This is where creativity --- and possibly some underhanded shenanigans --- comes into play. 
 
Julian taught Leila everything she knows. He was her pupil master, the one who guided her through the intense practical training it takes to become a barrister. That means that both the prosecution and the defense have some insight into how the mind of their opponent works. Will it be a big enough edge for Leila to get Jack acquitted? If only he would tell her what happened. He has said that he plans to testify on his behalf, revealing his story for the first time to the jury. No barrister would ever advise a client to do that. The risk is far too high. But Leila has no choice; Jack is adamant. 

Because of how the case is playing out, Leila is driven to make some difficult choices, which her colleagues definitely would see as questionable --- at the least. 

Just as she struggles with an impossible court case, Leila’s past is coming back to haunt her. Someone has begun sending threatening notes. And that may not be all they are doing. Is someone following Leila and spying on her? How much does this person really know? And what do they want?
 
Meanwhile, Julian observes his wife with smug satisfaction. He knows she's going to lose. Yes, he taught her everything she knows. But that won’t be enough. He’s the master here. And his case is solid. Julian never loses; he makes sure of it. She has an unwinnable case. Besides, he plays dirty. However, the toll that all of this is taking on their marriage may be too much. How did either of them think their lives together could survive head-to-head combat in the courtroom, especially when both of them have so many secrets?
 
Every mystery has twists and turns, but I challenge anyone to find a novel that has as many as DISSECTION OF A MURDER. The final twists were revealed at just the right time, what led to them well obscured early, and I don’t think anyone will see them coming. Jo Murray's debut is a stunning achievement!