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lydia_hennessy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
pewterwolf's review against another edition
5.0
RTC, but utterly fascinating and gripping.
***
I am not much of a true crime fan. Funny that I'm writing that as I do listen to true crime podcasts (not many and I am very fussy over what episodes/crimes I listen to), but when I first discovered this book on an episode of a crime fiction podcast, Shedunnit, I was instantly fascinated about it. An Old Bailey's judge talking about her time being a High Court judge and talking about the law, the role of a judge and several of her cases. Took me a while to get my hands on a copy (I wanted physical or ebook, but went for audiobook in the end).
Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC (This has been changed from QC to KC due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II's death) has been a judge at the Old Bailey for over ten years. She's one of a handful of judges at the Old Bailey licensed to try murder cases at the Old Bailey and, in this, she tries to talk about the role of law, how the court works and talks about six murder and manslaughter cases, each with compassionate, humour and tries to show that, while the law is flawed and society is becoming more and more fractured, how each of us should have a cashed interest in what happens in the court room, especially when it comes to the death of a fellow human being.
This is going to be one of my favourite audiobooks of this year. So much so, I bought the ebook and I am currently looking into more UK true crime books/audiobooks that tackle the UK legal justice system (mainly The Secret Barrister and In Your Defence by Sarah Langford).
I'm tempted to say that I enjoyed myself hugely as I whizzed through this so quickly, but that would be wrong as this tackled real life cases. I found this utterly fascinating and highly gripping. Fascinating as we see the law at work from someone who knows the law and believes hugely within the upstanding of the law, but understands that the law or the system is flawed and that courts are hugely strained with everything that is happening the last few years - and this was before COVID. Gripping because how each off the six trials unfolded and we, at the same time as the judge and jury, discovered the evidence.
What surprised me hugely about this was the humour. Wendy Joseph injected humour into her thoughts and emotions as she tells each cases and, with this humour, adds a great detail of humanity to, not just the case, but to the court itself. Whether that be from the barristers, ushers, the judge and other members of the court. I have never done jury service, but I imagine that, if/when I do, I will find the courtroom and members of the legal very intimidating.
I could have so easily listened to more cases and spent more time with Her Honour Wendy Joseph KQ. Like I said, I think this is going to be one of my top reads of this year!
***
I am not much of a true crime fan. Funny that I'm writing that as I do listen to true crime podcasts (not many and I am very fussy over what episodes/crimes I listen to), but when I first discovered this book on an episode of a crime fiction podcast, Shedunnit, I was instantly fascinated about it. An Old Bailey's judge talking about her time being a High Court judge and talking about the law, the role of a judge and several of her cases. Took me a while to get my hands on a copy (I wanted physical or ebook, but went for audiobook in the end).
Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC (This has been changed from QC to KC due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II's death) has been a judge at the Old Bailey for over ten years. She's one of a handful of judges at the Old Bailey licensed to try murder cases at the Old Bailey and, in this, she tries to talk about the role of law, how the court works and talks about six murder and manslaughter cases, each with compassionate, humour and tries to show that, while the law is flawed and society is becoming more and more fractured, how each of us should have a cashed interest in what happens in the court room, especially when it comes to the death of a fellow human being.
This is going to be one of my favourite audiobooks of this year. So much so, I bought the ebook and I am currently looking into more UK true crime books/audiobooks that tackle the UK legal justice system (mainly The Secret Barrister and In Your Defence by Sarah Langford).
I'm tempted to say that I enjoyed myself hugely as I whizzed through this so quickly, but that would be wrong as this tackled real life cases. I found this utterly fascinating and highly gripping. Fascinating as we see the law at work from someone who knows the law and believes hugely within the upstanding of the law, but understands that the law or the system is flawed and that courts are hugely strained with everything that is happening the last few years - and this was before COVID. Gripping because how each off the six trials unfolded and we, at the same time as the judge and jury, discovered the evidence.
What surprised me hugely about this was the humour. Wendy Joseph injected humour into her thoughts and emotions as she tells each cases and, with this humour, adds a great detail of humanity to, not just the case, but to the court itself. Whether that be from the barristers, ushers, the judge and other members of the court. I have never done jury service, but I imagine that, if/when I do, I will find the courtroom and members of the legal very intimidating.
I could have so easily listened to more cases and spent more time with Her Honour Wendy Joseph KQ. Like I said, I think this is going to be one of my top reads of this year!
ammmiiiii's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
gabe_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The book is definitely carried by how interesting all the cases are, along with it being very easy to read. The cases were certainly picked well. The ones I liked most were the reckless driving with gang elements , the soldier with PTSD, and the abused wife who killed her husband . I'm not sure how I feel about some of her opinions that came through, she was largely very compassionate, but had what I felt were some fatalistic views on certain people. It was still interesting seeing the perspective of an Old Bailey judge, who must be non-biased while being exposed to so much of this on a daily basis.
I thought the explanations of the details of law and how cases were decided were interesting, and could have done with more of that! I also thought the way the dialogue of the cases was brought to life was well done.
I thought the explanations of the details of law and how cases were decided were interesting, and could have done with more of that! I also thought the way the dialogue of the cases was brought to life was well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment
Much of the content that may be distressing is discussed in quite a clinical, detached way of the courtroom. It has detail about things like gunshot residue. It's not gratuitous or salacious. There is a more narrative view of each case at the start, though this doesn't generally go into much detail.beyondthebindings's review against another edition
5.0
The book starts with an explanation of Court proceedings, what everyone's roles are and how a trial runs. I really appreciated this as it made it easy to understand.
We then go through the dissection of 6 harrowing cases heard at the Old Bailey by Wendy Joseph QC.
I found it an easy to follow compelling read - I listened to it in 2 days! Definitely recommend this one.
We then go through the dissection of 6 harrowing cases heard at the Old Bailey by Wendy Joseph QC.
I found it an easy to follow compelling read - I listened to it in 2 days! Definitely recommend this one.
sarahrosebooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very interesting and compelling read. I like how the author picked the subjects she covers in this book - gang-related violence, stabbings, rape, death by dangerous driving and more, all seem to point to issues that are prevalent in society now and force us to confront the question of what we can do as a society to prevent these crimes from occurring.
This is a book full of dark subjects with plenty of content warnings to be aware of, but it's very engaging and I didn't get bored at all. Even the legal speak is done in a way that makes it easy to understand. It's almost written as if we are the jury, but instead of getting all the gritty details we get the bare bones. I must admit, in many of the cases I tried to guess what the outcome would be, and I wasn't always right - especially in the last case the author talks about.
I'd really recommend this for those interested in the law and what goes in a court such as the Old Bailey. I'll definitely look out for more from this author in the future.
This is a book full of dark subjects with plenty of content warnings to be aware of, but it's very engaging and I didn't get bored at all. Even the legal speak is done in a way that makes it easy to understand. It's almost written as if we are the jury, but instead of getting all the gritty details we get the bare bones. I must admit, in many of the cases I tried to guess what the outcome would be, and I wasn't always right - especially in the last case the author talks about.
I'd really recommend this for those interested in the law and what goes in a court such as the Old Bailey. I'll definitely look out for more from this author in the future.