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The Defence

The new unputdownable murder mystery from the No. 1 bestselling author and barrister

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The Defence

By: Rob Rinder
Narrated by: Josh Dylan
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Narrated by Josh Dylan (Mamma Mia, Noughts + Crosses, The Buccaneers)

THE BRAND-NEW MURDER MYSTERY IN THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING SERIES

At MP-turned-wellness-guru Adrian Wells’s glitzy launch event for a bath salt that promises to reverse ageing, someone is about to turn up the heat. . .

As Adrian lowers himself into the architectural copper tub to showcase his miracle product in front of countless influencers, it soon becomes clear that something is amiss.

The bath salt has been poisoned. And now Adrian is dead. His long-suffering assistant Jules is the prime suspect.

Barrister Adam Green is tasked with Jules’s defence, and he quickly realises that there were many more people with a score to settle against Adrian.

Can Adam win the day, or is he in too deep?

PRAISE FOR ROB RINDER . . .

'Hugely enjoyable!' Steve Cavanagh
'Ridiculously entertaining' Tom Hindle
'I did not want it to end' Heidi Perks
'Strong storytelling with a murder mystery at its heart makes it one to treasure' Daily Mail
'A pacy and gripping read' The Sun

© Rob Rinder 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Crime Fiction Crime Thrillers International Mystery & Crime Mystery Thriller & Suspense Heartfelt Fiction Crime Murder
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I was dubious about getting this as I felt the last book was not good. This is absolutely awsome. I was shouting at Adam, 'No,' don't fall for it and at times I didn't want to continue as the suspence was beyond huge and I felt the drop off would be too much to cope with!!. Was it? no! Rob Rinder has pulled a blinder here with so much going on. The blend of humour and seriousness is so well done and the various characters old and new, take on a life of their own. Narration was excellent. If you miss this off your list, you will be missing a masterpiece.

Simply outstanding

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This was a rollercoaster for poor Adam Green the protagonist of this story, thoroughly enjoyrd it

They just keep getting better

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Great to continue this series of intelligently written stories. The characters continue to be developed well and the cases are interesting. I also appreciate the narration- again continuity of the same narrator . Well read .

Great listen

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Enjoyable. Not as good as the last ones in the series, but still enjoyable. Edit was not good. Could probably have shaved off an hour by elimination of the silences across the whole book

Predictable but easy listening

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First Rob Rinder book so no expectations.
Had listened to the Secret Barristers fiction book, hoped this would be as good but not quite.
Trial took too long to get going.
The constant conversations with his mother left me wondering is this a “cosy” book - almost abandoned it.
The reader, while he had a pleasant voice, did not do enough to distinguish between characters.
That’s the criticisms out of the way.
Once the trial (and sub-plot trial) started I really enjoyed it and am glad I stuck with it,

Slow to get going but entertaining trial

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