Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders
John Mortimer
(Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
2004 Viking/Penguin Books
ISBN: 0670033561

Barrister Horace Rumpole, at last tells the tale of the case that made his reputation as a defense lawyer decades ago.

Sr. Associate Reviewer Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

Rumpole fans rejoice, the latest, actually the 14th Book in the series & the First Novel outing of Rumpole is one that's going to be devoured & enjoyed the world over. From Rumpole of The Bailey published in the late 1970s to Rumpole and the Primrose Path published a couple of years back, Rumpole has created a neat niche for himself in the world of fictional lawyers. He is to the English, what Perry Mason is to the Americans. A TV Series featuring Leo McKern as Rumpole also more popularized this series.

Good old Rumpole, the Barrister who addresses the Bench as “old darlings”s, is back……well, not exactly... in Penge Bungalow Murders we meet the young Rumpole, just out of law school & only days into active law practice. You guessed it, this one is told in flashbacks, where Rumpole reminisces about his past glory, when he succesfully defended a boy accused of killing his father, & obtained a verdict that hit newspaper headlines.

Regular Rumpole fans will no doubt have remember the legendary ‘Penge Bungalow Murders’, to which Rumpole oft refers as one of his greatest glories as a lawyer. But what actually were the Penge Bungalow murders? None of us knew…until this time.

Rumpole is only days into his practice & attached to the Chambers of C.H. Wystan, a Barrister who believes in “the finest tradition of the Bar”. His daughter Hilda has taken a liking for young Rumpole, seeing in him a glorious future. A novice at the Old Bailey, Rumpole is mystified when Wystan calls him as second counsel in a murder case involving one Simon Jerrold, accused of killing two persons -- his father & a friend of his father, both war veterans. Wystan does not believe in “innocent until proven guilty”, & considers the trial a mere formality. But not so with Rumpole -- & the first chance his Senior gives him, Rumpole creates a big impression. To the shock of the young lawyer, Simon dismisses Wystan & requests Rumpole to handle his defense. Slowly & steadily Rumpole gains confidence -- & what follows is Rumpolian action at its best, pure best vintage, culminating in the exhilarating finish Rumpole fans are accustomed to.

The novel ties up some loose ends: how Rumple met & married Hilda (She Who Must Be Obeyed), how his relation started with the notorious criminal family -- The Timsons -- all are answered here. But this seasoned Rumpole reader, one question still remains -- why & how come ‘Soapy’ Sam Ballard became the Head of the Chambers instead of Rumpole? So, Mr. Mortimer, please do tell us... in the next Rumpole book.

More from John Mortimer:
Where There's a Will: Thoughts on the Good Life
Rumpole Rests His Case
The Sound of Trumpets & many more!
(10/23/05)

Narayan
2005©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org