This is my sixth Rumpole book and I would have to say the least satisfying to date, notwithstanding the intriguing addition of a bit of Hilda point of view. The resolution felt contrived and the book's raison d'etre seemed nothing more than the author's wanting to gripe about war on terrorism hysteria. ( )

Rumpole is a comfort read for me so I was delighted when this book I had forgotten about resurfaced in the festive season of 2023. I'm sure I couldn't live with Rumpole but, on the other hand, I'd find it hard to put up with "She Who Must Be Obeyed" so I guess they are perfect for one another.

Rumpole is defending another of the Timson clan when he notices a winsome young woman gazing at him from the visitors' gallery. Tiffany Timson has never needed Rumpole's assistance before unlike most of her relatives but she has come to ask him to take on the case of her husband, Dr. Mahmood Khan. He was taken away one morning from their home by plain clothes police who mentioned as they were leaving that he was being arrested under the Terrorism Act. Dr. Khan had been born in Pakistan but came to England many years ago. He swears he has had no contact with terrorists and, in fact, loves England and the Queen passionately. England has abrogated a number of cornerstones of the common law system in recent years and Rumpole finds that people charged under the Terrorism Act don't have any right to know what they are accused of. It's rather difficult to mount a defence when the evidence of the supposed crime is withheld. Rumpole has an ace up his sleeve though provided to him by an old client and he uses it to good effect. Despite the fact that the other members of his chambers and his wife are convinced his client is guilty (why else would the police have arrested him?), Rumpole manages to get to the bottom of the matter and gets his client released and absolved of all guilt.

She Who Must Be Obeyed (aka Hilda Rumpole) is now writing her memoirs unbeknownst to Rumpole. She is also being courted by a judge and is seriously wondering if she might do better with him than with Rumpole. Rumpole is oblivious to this romance but, fortunately, Hilda comes to her senses. Now, Rumpole just has to worry about what she might put in those memoirs. ( )

My favorite bit may have been Rumpole & Hilda's trip to Brighton where they stayed at the small and unfashionable Xanadu Hotel. "The Xanadu is by no means a stately pleasure dome." ( )

British lawyer defends a Pakistani doctor accused of supporting terrorism. It was entertaining in a British Perry Mason way. ( )

My first experience with Rumpole (I've heard of the BBC/PBS series, but that was the extent of it). Quite I charming little book. I quite enjoy the character of Rumpole and his seeming quest to remain civilized in quickly changing society that has, seemingly lost of knowledge of the meaning of that word. ( )