Until Proven Innocent

Description

The gripping new courtroom thriller following barrister Lee Mitchell in her most controversial case yet Lee Mitchell is a young barrister from a working-class Caribbean background- in the cut-throat environment of the courtroom, everything is stacked against her. On her doorstep in South London the 15-year-old son of the pastor at the local Black church is shot, and the local community is shattered. All evidence is pointing to infamously corrupt, racist police officer Sergeant Jack Lambert as the irredeemable suspect. His own boss - rebel-turned-copper Danny Wallace - is certain he is guilty. Against her will, Lee is strong-armed into defending him. With cries of 'Black Lives Matter!' echoing in the streets, Lee is at the centre of the turmoil as lies, anger, and mistrust spiral out of control. With the line between her personal and professional life becoming increasingly blurred, Lee keeps asking herself the same question- How can she defend the indefensible?

Nicola Williams started her career as a barrister in private practice, specialising in Criminal Law, including three successful Commonwealth death penalty appeals before the House of Lords sitting as the Privy Council. She was a legal expert on BBC World for the OJ Simpson trial verdict in 1995 and a member of the first Independent Advisory Group to the Metropolitan Police Service (following recommendations arising from the Stephen Lawrence Report 1999 ). She has been a part-time Crown Court Judge since 2010. A former winner of Cosmopolitan magazine Woman of Achievement Award, she is an active volunteer for the Speakers for Schools programme, a charity which encourages young people from disadvantaged and under-represented communities to achieve their full career potential.

Until Proven Innocent is a legal thriller with heart and soul -- Erin Kelly An authentic thought-provoking new voice in crime fiction -- Kate Ellis A great twisty, gritty investigation with wonderful characters culminating in an explosive courtroom drama! -- Ajay Chowdhury Compelling, smart, staggeringly relevant... Williams' insightful novel is pitch perfect. Outstanding -- Rachel Edwards A brilliantly taut, gritty and authentic page turner that takes you on a thrilling road from the streets of London to the courtroom -- Nadine Matheson Until Proven Innocent is nothing short of an astounding, brilliantly engaging book! Nicola has created one of the most daringly complex, intellectually and emotionally evocative crime stories I've read in quite some time -- Stephen Mack Jones