Monday, July 18, 2022

Book review - "Rumpole's Return" by John Mortimer

 A novel rather than a collection of short stories. Rumpole avoided retirement at the end of The Trials of Rumpole but here it's happened. He's in Florida, which is hilarious, then escapes with Phyllida Trant makes a mistake of asking him for advice on bloodstains which he converts into an "invitation" to return.

Entertaining plots - Trant has a crush on the barrister who took over Rumpole's office, a scowling Heathcliff type; Rumpole defends an obscenity trial; Rumpole defends Guthrie's attempts at cheating on Marigold to Marigold (they did this plot already).

Unlike others in the series there's a large number of scenes not from Rumpole's POV. In particular a sequence where Nick investigates a cult.

Very funny. Plot cheats a little but it doesn't matter that much.

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