Book Review: The Suspect by Rob Rinder (Adam Green Mystery #2)

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

The second book in Rob Rinder’s Adam Green Mystery series begins with the murder of a popular television presenter captured on live television. Jessica Holby, co-host of “Wake Up Britain!”, dies from anaphylactic shock after tasting a dish prepared by celebrity chef Sebastian Brooks, a regular guest on the show. Brooks is the prime suspect after it is discovered that the dish was laced with an ingredient to which it was public knowledge that Jessica was allergic.

Though he is expected to watch and learn as they prepare for the upcoming trial, it soon becomes clear to Adam Green, now a Junior Barrister, that there might be more to the case than meets the eye and as he pursues his deep dive into Jessica’s life and her associates, it is gradually revealed that Jessica had a fair share of people in her life who possibly held a grudge. Adam is also asked by one of his seniors to help on another trial involving a teenager found in possession of illegal weapons and whose family is suspected of having criminal connections.

As with the The Trial, the plot is not particularly intense or complex, despite the parallel storyline woven into the primary narrative, but it is definitely well-written and entertaining. The narrative is consistently paced and well-structured. The mystery is well-crafted and I enjoyed following Adam’s character arc as he navigates a stressful work environment and the expectations of his seniors, tries to strike a balance between his personal life and professional friendships, struggles to venture out of his comfort zone and begins to realize that mistakes can be made in the pursuit of justice despite the best intentions. I also liked how the author describes Adam’s work environment. The characters and the setting are portrayed realistically and I liked how the author depicts the competitiveness and the work pressure and how the same affects Adam and other newcomers. I enjoyed the courtroom scenes and the investigative segments. I also appreciated the element of humor added to the narrative, in the form of his phone conversations with his mother, in chapters interspersed throughout the narrative.

The ending is indicative of a third book with what (I hope) might be a relatively more intense plotline. Overall, I enjoyed The Suspect by Rob Rinder and I eagerly await the next book in the series.

Though this is the second book in the series, it does work well as a standalone. I would, however, recommend reading the first book as it is an enjoyable read and does give you a bit more insight into Adam as a character.