A Trial in Three Acts

* LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA WHODUNNIT DAGGER AWARD * 'Rather splendid' - FINANCIAL TIMES 'Admirably ingenious' - THE TIMES 'A delicious mystery' - DAILY MAIL A trial is rather like a play. We wear our costumes. We perform to the audience. And on a good day no-one gets murdered. Six nights a week the cast of the smash-hit play Daughter of the Revolution performs to a sold-out audience. A thrilling story of forbidden marriage and a secret love child, the critics say it'll run for years. That is until one night the third act ends not in applause but in death, when leading lady Alexandra Dyce is beheaded live on stage. Every cast member has a motive, but it is the dead woman's co-star - and ex-husband - Hollywood legend Leo Lusk who is charged with the crime. When defence barrister Charles Konig is brought in last minute, he knows this ought to be the case of a lifetime. But Charles would rather be on his holiday trekking up K2, and he isn't interested in celebrities, especially ones that seem to be mysteriously trying to derail their own defence. But as he and his co-counsel New York lawyer Yara Ortiz sift through the evidence, it becomes clear that clues may lie in the play itself. And that Charles's only chance of victory is to identify the real murderer... A delightfully clever legal mystery with as many layers as an onion. Perfect for readers of Janice Hallett, Tom Hindle, Rob Rinder and Richard Osman. 'Multi-layered, clever and compelling' - JENNIE GODFREY 'My verdict: all rise for a future book of the year' - JANICE HALLETT 'An excellent courtroom drama' - HARRIET TYCE 'Brilliant. Charles Konig is a wonderful character' - IAN MOORE

Guy Morpuss worked as a barrister for thirty years, on cases featuring drug-taking cyclists, dead Formula 1 champions and aspiring cemetery owners. Much like his fictional creation Charles Konig he was a celebrated King's Counsel, and enjoys writing letters to The Times to see how many they'll print. He is the author of Five Minds and Black Lake Manor, and is working on a second Konig novel. Guy lives near Farnham with his wife and two sons.