The Second Rumpole Omnibus: Rumpole for the Defence/Rumpole and the Golden Thread/Rumpole's Last Case

I certainly don't need to review "Rumpole of the Bailey." You know all about it. So, I'll just mention that he's especially good company when you fly. You can read a well-crafted story in what, 30 minutes? Ideal for airports and airplanes. Do this, sit for an hour, do that, sit for another hour, etc.

What a way to forget the outside world and enter the charming world of Horace Rumbole, barrister. I enjoy his droll humor and uncanny way of seeing things not on the surface to defend his client.

Horace Rumpole presents himself as just an Old Bailey hack doing run-of-the-mill burglary defenses and the odd car-heist case. In reality he defends the best in the Anglo-American legal traditions against modern forces (for example, the presumption of innocence) - and this was written 20+ years ago! Rumpole is the lovable defender of the average man and foe to all stick-in-the-muds. His motto "Never plead guilty." It could just as well be comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Hilarious, warm, human, touching, self-effacing and ever-ready to pierce the pompous gasbag - that's Rumpole of the Bailey. Start with the First Rumpole Omnibus and work your way through the rest. Guaranteed to tickle your funny bone and warm your heart.

John Mortimer's Rumpole is so satisfying that this is my second copy - I wore the covers off the first SET of the three omnibuses (or is it omnibusi?) I've read every Rumpole story in existence, as far as I know. While there are tiny inconsistencies in the names of characters and small subplot variations from story to story (that only a committed Rumpolean would notice), Rumpole remains a literary sustaining gulp of claret and a warm and fuzzy blanket on a cold foggy night. Long after the belly laughs passed and every crime and misdemeanor was committed to memory, I've still enjoyed the comfortable reek of Rumpole's small cigars and the warm memory of Leo McKern in the title role of "Rumpole of the Bailey."

Mortimer gives another magnificent collection of stories with a good leavening of mystery, whimsey, and insight into the workings of the criminal justice system. One recurring theme of the stories is lawyer-client relations, which can become quite strained on occasion. As always, Horace Rumpole has a few insightful remarks to make on the subject:"People show an almost comic relief at not being locked up. They actually enjoy not having to share one chamber-pot through endless nights with vindictive, frightened, and sexually frustrated strangers.""One thing you can never guarantee about clients is that they won't behave like lunatics.""I could win most of my cases if it weren't for my clients. Clients have no tact, the poor darlings. No sensitivity. They will waltz into the witness-box and blurt out things which are far better left unblurted.""They're all guilty of something, my dear old thing. Everyone's guilty of something."And the mystery fan will be guilty of thoroughly enjoying these wonderful stories.