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The remarkable debut novel by prominent young mixed-race barrister Alexandra Wilson is a moving, twisty legal thriller for the 21st century. SHE SAW IT ALL BUT SHE CAN NEVER TELL A young black man is arrested for murder. The case against him is strong - a mum and a teacher saw him standing over a body in a park, a knife still in hand. But his up-and-coming barrister Rosa knows how people prejudge, but most of all, she suspects something is amiss. This boy comes from her neighbourhood. From a good family. So she begins to dig... As Rosa discovers secret upon terrible secret, she moves closer to finding a testimony that could win the case - or bring the whole establishment down on her. The Witness is a frightening thriller about how we judge guilt, about the strength of a young woman, and is the start of a groundbreaking new series.
About the author
Alexandra Wilson is a barrister in England and Wales, and an attorney in New York State. She grew up on the border of East London and Essex and is the eldest of four children. Her mother is white British, her father is Black British and her paternal grandparents were born in Jamaica and came to England as part of the Windrush generation.
In 2020, Alexandra published her debut book, In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System. Since she was called to the Bar in 2018, she's been a fierce advocate for greater diversity in the legal profession. She's won numerous awards and has gained international recognition for her work.
Alexandra studied PPE at the University of Oxford; law at BPP University; and recently graduated from Columbia University in New York, with a second masters degree in law. Since her undergraduate degree she's focused her research on racial disparities in the criminal justice system in both the UK and the U.S. Alexandra has received three prestigious scholarships and fellowships.
Alongside her paid legal work, Alexandra helps to facilitate access to justice by providing legal representation for disenfranchised minorities and others on a pro-bono basis.
Instagram and X: @EssexBarrister
