Verbal by Peter Murphy

I’m thrilled to be on the blog tour for Verbal by Peter Murphy. If you love legal thrillers, you do not want to miss the latest book in the Ben Schroeder series. It’s hot off the (digital) presses, timely, and binge-worthy! (And if you’re more into print, the paperback will be here in December, making it a perfect gift for the legal/crime thriller lover in your life.) Thanks to Anne Cater and Claire Quinlivan of No Exit Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts

In a word: enthralling.

I read this book in one afternoon, not because I’m a fast reader or because it was short. No, it was because Verbal held me in its grip and I couldn’t look away.

Peter Murphy recreates the tumultuous Sarajevo of early 1980s, and the similarly tumultuous system of London policing.

In Sarajevo, the coming Winter Olympics means more Westerners behind the Iron Curtain; it also means a larger number of “watchers” keeping their eyes and ears on them. Yugoslavia may’ve been more “liberal” by Eastern European standards–but it wasn’t safe.

In London, certain police officers “verbal” suspects. To quote a frequently given definition, a “verbal” is “an oral admission made by a defendant when interviewed by the police, which on the advice of his solicitor he later denies.” It’s a false confession/statement written by the police themselves.

Imogen Lester gets to experience both worlds. After her parents murder, Imogen and her employer/lover Julia travel to Sarajevo to find answers in the couple’s death. More questions arise, especially after she returns to London and winds up arrested for drug trafficking.

Ben Schroeder defends her in a nail-biting trial. This trial kept me riveted. At times, I couldn’t bear to look away, afraid that I would miss a key detail as Schroeder battles an arrogant prosecutor, questions police officers, and reveals the nasty reality of verballing.

Murphy skillfully raises the tension notch by notch. The suspense grows steadily throughout the story, not with explosions or violence, but through quiet revelations that shake the very foundations of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dive into 1980s Cold War politics and intelligence work behind the Iron Curtain. Murphy does a great job showing the political tensions in Sarajevo. The animosity between Serbs and Croats, rumbling beneath the surface. The realities of life in the post-Tito Yugoslavia, where everyone is a watcher and everyone is watched. The inability to trust anyone. He works in various elements that give this portrayal a feeling of authenticity without ever feeling strained or like a lesson in history. (Though it is.)

He does a similarly terrific job of explaining complex legal issues to the non-legal minded (me) without resorting to lectures. Being an American, I wasn’t as familiar with the UK legal system and I learned a lot. While some of the terms were unfamiliar, it was easy enough to look them up on the internet. It was enlightening.

This is book seven in the Ben Schroeder series. While I felt at a small disadvantage because I didn’t know Ben or other characters, this wasn’t a major problem. There’s no need to have read the earlier ones. Be forewarned: from the blurbs of previous novels, Verbal might contain spoilers to previous works in this series.

One further thought

Note: I read and reviewed Verbal prior to the death of George Floyd and the explosion of protests against police violence across America and elsewhere. Now, I’m reconsidering Murphy’s work in light of these protests.

Obviously, this book is describing a different legal system and a different type of police corruption than what is being protested. Yet I can’t help but wonder how Imogen’s case would have played out in court if she were a person of color. She’s also very fortunate to have a QC of Ben Shroeder’s stature and the funds (through Julia) to pay for this defense; many people in lower economic brackets don’t have that option available to them.

The book raises a great number of questions, including whether the corruption is the result of a few corrupt people or the result of a corrupt system. Murphy and I might disagree on that issue. Nevertheless, the book is thoughtful and timely and deserves a wide audience to engage with its ideas.

One favorite thing . . .

I liked PC Roberts, the only female police officer to be on the scene when Imogen is arrested. She behaves like a professional and displays both common sense and compassion. She’s everything that a police officer should be.

Overall, this is a fascinating legal thriller. Highly recommended.

Buy Verbal today!

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083MB2PLN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2

About Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy graduated from Cambridge University and spent a career in the law, as an advocate, teacher, and judge. He has worked both in England and the U.S., and served for several years as counsel at the Yugoslavian War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. He is the author of six historical/legal thrillers featuring Ben Schroeder, including A Matter for the Jury and And Is there Honey Still for Tea?

Follow all the reviews on this blog tour!