Robin V. reviewed Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders (Rumpole of the Bailey, Bk 13) on + 16 more book reviews
Rumpole stories are delightful and this is one of the best. Like the Jeeves & Wooster stories they are hilarious. Nice antidote to the re serious books I read.
Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders (Rumpole of the Bailey, Bk 13) on + 813 more book reviews
Rumpole has to be the jurist doppelganger of Chandler's Philip Marlowe. Both deal with oddball crimes and defending underdogs: all with a tad of sarcastic wit (a la Evelyn Waugh) targeting the powers in place. Right up my alley! In this, one of his last Rumpoles, Mortimer finally gives us the skinny concerning this case that Rumpole flaunts in everyone's face in almost every novel, or story.
jjares reviewed Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders (Rumpole of the Bailey, Bk 13) on + 3426 more book reviews
The best part of a Horace Rumpole mystery is the wry wit; actually, he sometimes offers readers a roar of laughter. There must be more than 20 Rumpole mysteries, not including the Rumpole Christmas books and omnibuses.
Rumpole has been telling tales about the Old Bailey for some 40 years most of them talking about Rumpole hiding from the shadow of retirement. Thus, it is a delight to see a young Rumpole in this story. It is the 1950s and Horace has been a barrister for a mere 18 months.
This particular book is the story of how a young white wig Horace tackled his first important case the Penge Bungalow Murders. It is also the story of how Hilda (daughter of Horaces boss), managed to snare Rumpole into marriage.
Through an odd set of circumstances, Rumpole takes over the case and the Old Bailey is scandalized. One of the old barristers in Rumpoles group chides Horace for getting the lead chair (actually the only chair) in the trial by stating that he had been a barrister for 15 years before getting to lead a case!
Although John Mortimer was a criminal barrister in his younger days, he doesnt let the law get too heavy; theres always a joke or some pithy sarcasm around the corner. Some of the best lines in a Rumpole book are in the repartee between Horace and she who must be obeyed (aka Hilda, his wife).
Having read a number of these books, it is nice to see how Horace started his career. No matter how other barristers try to mold him into their likenesses (as self-satisfied, lazy and even corrupt lawyers), Rumpole always believes in the innocence of his client (until proven otherwise). He keeps overturning rocks until he finds all the dirty little secrets that have lead to murder.
Rumpole has been telling tales about the Old Bailey for some 40 years most of them talking about Rumpole hiding from the shadow of retirement. Thus, it is a delight to see a young Rumpole in this story. It is the 1950s and Horace has been a barrister for a mere 18 months.
This particular book is the story of how a young white wig Horace tackled his first important case the Penge Bungalow Murders. It is also the story of how Hilda (daughter of Horaces boss), managed to snare Rumpole into marriage.
Through an odd set of circumstances, Rumpole takes over the case and the Old Bailey is scandalized. One of the old barristers in Rumpoles group chides Horace for getting the lead chair (actually the only chair) in the trial by stating that he had been a barrister for 15 years before getting to lead a case!
Although John Mortimer was a criminal barrister in his younger days, he doesnt let the law get too heavy; theres always a joke or some pithy sarcasm around the corner. Some of the best lines in a Rumpole book are in the repartee between Horace and she who must be obeyed (aka Hilda, his wife).
Having read a number of these books, it is nice to see how Horace started his career. No matter how other barristers try to mold him into their likenesses (as self-satisfied, lazy and even corrupt lawyers), Rumpole always believes in the innocence of his client (until proven otherwise). He keeps overturning rocks until he finds all the dirty little secrets that have lead to murder.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Finally, I get the chance to read about Rumpole in his early days. And I always wondered how he got snared by Hilda, something he always seems to regret in his other books. Now I know how that happened.
These are mysteries with the major emphasis not on the crimes, but on how Horace gets the criminals off, or not. And then there's the wit. If you're looking for a light mystery with a jovial story, the Rumpole books are your best bet.
These are mysteries with the major emphasis not on the crimes, but on how Horace gets the criminals off, or not. And then there's the wit. If you're looking for a light mystery with a jovial story, the Rumpole books are your best bet.
