The Protest by Rob Rinder: Book Review

The Protest by Rob Rinder A gripping legal drama with sharp courtroom scenes and characters that just keeps getting better.

Synopsis: The Protest

In this gripping third, instalment of the Adam Green legal thriller series, Rob Rinder once again delivers a clever and compulsively readable courtroom drama with a sharply modern edge.

At the glittering opening of a prestigious Royal Academy retrospective, celebrated artist Max Bruce takes the stage. But the glamorous evening turns deadly when a protester leaps from the crowd and douses him with blue paint—laced with cyanide. Max dies almost instantly.

The shocking incident becomes a media sensation, and the protester is immediately arrested, painted (quite literally) as the killer. But are things as straightforward as they seem?

Enter Adam Green, a newly qualified and somewhat idealistic barrister with a knack for finding himself in over his head. Adam is tasked with the seemingly unwinnable case of defending the accused protester. As he digs into the facts, he uncovers layers of envy, betrayal, and corruption beneath the world of contemporary art.

Could someone else have wanted Max Bruce dead? A spurned lover? A rival artist? A disgruntled collector? Or was the motive tied not to art, but to money—or something darker?

With biting wit, legal authenticity, and plenty of twists, The Protest is a smart, entertaining legal mystery that questions how justice really plays out—and who gets to decide what’s right and wrong.

Review: The Protest

A gripping legal drama with sharp courtroom scenes and a cast that keeps getting better.

The Protest is the third novel in Rob Rinder’s Adam Green legal thriller series, which follows a young barrister navigating the complexities of the British legal system.

In this instalment, Adam finds himself handling two major cases, both tied to a fictional overseas war with hints of real-world echoes.

The first is a high-profile murder trial at the Old Bailey: a protest against the war ends in tragedy when a world-famous artist is killed. The second takes Adam is a military court martial, defending a young soldier accused of killing a child during at the so called end of the war.

Both cases unfold in dramatically different settings, but each offers riveting tension and powerful moral stakes.

For fans of the series, the big question is: does The Protest live up to the previous books? The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, it’s arguably the strongest instalment yet, particularly in terms of the courtroom scenes, which are increasingly tense, realistic, and emotionally charged.

The military court martial chapters, in particular, showcase Rob Rinder’s growing mastery of pacing and cross-examination drama.

But the novel doesn’t just shine in court. The chapters outside the courtroom enhance both the plot and setting of the novel—especially the returning characters—giving more emotional weight to Adam’s journey. By this third book, side characters are becoming fully developed, with their motivations and histories adding a real texture to the story.

That said, while The Protest could technically be read as a standalone, new readers would be missing a lot nuance—especially the evolving dynamics and some pivotal backstory. And yes, there are spoilers from previous books, so if you care about reading in order, it’s worth starting from The Trial book one in the seriese and you can see my review here.

One of the standout elements—unexpectedly—is Adam’s mum, who pops up in phone calls throughout the novel.

She’s both comic relief and a heartfelt voice of the public conscience, always ready to nag, praise, or offer blunt wisdom. Her presence brings warmth and levity, helping to balance the novel’s weightier themes.

In short, if you’ve read the first two Adam Green books, The Protest is an essential continuation. And even if you’re new to the series and don’t mind jumping in partway, this smart, fast-paced legal thriller is well worth your time.

Conclusion

With The Protest, Rob Rinder delivers his most compelling Adam Green novel yet—a smart, emotionally resonant legal thriller that deftly balances gripping courtroom drama with character-driven storytelling.

From its dual case structure to its increasingly vivid ensemble cast, this third instalment proves the series is not just holding strong but hitting its stride.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, The Protest offers both tension and heart in equal measure—and it firmly cements Rinder as a standout voice in contemporary legal fiction.

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Mark.