The Suspect by Rob RinderMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
The Suspect is the second novel from Rob Rinder - yes, Judge Rinder - and seeing as I love that man I was thrilled when I was approved to read ahead of publication.
Last year’s The Trial introduced us to junior barrister Adam Green, and The Suspect follows him as he realises the case before him is not as straightforward as it seems; the nation’s sweetheart morning TV presenter dies live on screen, a celebrity chef is the prime suspect for her murder, and a web of deceit and lies is uncovered in the quest for the truth.
I find Rob Rinder to be a completely charming man; he is funny and intelligent and successful, and comes across as a genuinely lovely person who I’d love to be friends with. I’m stipulating this because a ‘however’ is coming…
However, I wasn’t utterly thrilled with The Suspect. It seemed a bit fluffy, a bit predictable, a bit lacking, somehow, in a way I still can’t put my finger on. Adam is a likeable character, and the book being written by someone with the lived experience of being a barrister adds a richness to the story and a genuineness that you’d not get from someone who’s simply researched that world. But I don’t care for the phonecall chapters between him and his mother - to me they add nothing and feel very unnecessary - and, likeable as Adam is, for me I prefer the focus to be on the main whodunnit plot, which felt a bit lost at times.
I was expecting more from The Suspect and I’m disappointed that it fell flat for me. It’s a good way to spend a day reading, but it’s not groundbreaking and not particularly memorable. I hope book three returns to form.
Rating: ✨✨
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