Not quite as loveable as some of the earlier collections, mostly due to Rumpole fatigue setting in. They're at their most enjoyable in small doses, but when you read them back-to-back a certain sameness starts setting in. Claude Erskine-Brown will be infatuated with someone, Hilda will get her back up about something, judges will be annoyingly difficult, Timsons will be innocent of whatever they got charged with (but not of other crimes), and Rumpole will eventually save the day, drink bad wine, and carry on.

So I think I must pace myself, as much as I'd been enjoying them. Even Shakespeare, Disney, or Christie (to rattle off three greats in different media) have their pet themes and go-to plot complications.

(5* = amazing, terrific book, one of my all-time favourites, 4* = very good book, 3* = good book, but nothing to particularly rave about, 2* = disappointing book, and 1* = awful, just awful. As a statistician I know most books are 3s, but I am biased in my selection and end up mostly with 4s, thank goodness.)