Rumpole and the Reign of Terror

Publisher Marketing: In the dark days of the war on terror, only one man can be counted on to fight injustice, defend the innocent, and insist on a fair and decent trial for all, contrary to New Labour's new anti-terrorism laws. Rumpole's wig may be yellowing at the roots, his gown might be in tatters, but the oldest inhabitant of 4 Equity Court has no use for the word "retirement."There's the larcenous Timson family to defend, suicide bombers to dodge, Pommeroy's Wine Bar to frequent, and the financing of the Rumpole household with Hilda's indulgence in luxury cleaning products to look after. But when the beautiful Tiffany Timson's husband is arrested on suspicion of terrorism, Rumpole prepares to drop everything and take on his biggest challenge yet. Horrified to learn that the accused doesn't even know what he's charged with, he determines to insist upon a fair trial for the Pakistani doctor. But battling against the new legislation, and the slippery Home Secretary, proves a tricky task. And when She Who Must Be Obeyed starts locking herself in the box room, "minding her own business," Rumpole finds himself losing the plot, clueless about the goings on, even in his own mansion flat. Is the Anglophile doctor really an Al Qaeda agent? Will Rumpole discover Hilda's secret before it's too late? Will the Timson family ever forgive him for defending a "terrorist?"" Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 09/18/2006 pg. 39 (EAN 9780670038046, Hardcover) Kirkus Reviews 09/15/2006 pg. 932 (EAN 9780670038046, Hardcover) Booklist 09/15/2006 pg. 5 (EAN 9780670038046, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Entertainment Weekly 12/01/2006 pg. 91 (EAN 9780670038046, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Mortimer, John John Mortimer was the author of the Rumpole series, many of which formed the basis for the PBS-TV series Rumpole of the Bailey. The first book featuring his most famous character, Horace Rumpole, was published by Penguin in 1980. His work also includes many novels and plays and three acclaimed volumes of autobiography. A former barrister, Mortimer, who was knighted in 1998, lived in Oxfordshire, England. He died in January of 2009. Contributor Bio:  Wallis, Bill Bill Wallis has performed in over two hundred radio series and plays, while among his numerous productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company are "The Alchemist", "The Master Builder", and "Twelfth Night". He is also a prolific film and television actor, having made numerous appearances in such productions as "Keep the Aspidistra Flying", "Midsomer Murders", "Bad Girls", "Doctors", "Poirot", and as Dr. Nick MacKenzie in "Dangerfield".