BOOK REVIEW/BLOG TOUR: The Waxwork Corpse by Simon Michael

Publication Date: 19 December, 2019
Sapere Books
Series: Charles Holborne #5
Format: ebook
Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller

Synopsis

A deadly crime has been dragged to the surface…

London, 1965

Charles Holborne, maverick barrister, will never fit in at the Bar; he is too working-class, too Jewish and too
dangerous.

But that makes him the perfect outsider to prosecute a shocking murder case which has already made its way to the press.

By chance, a body was found, dumped in a lake. It had clearly been there for some time, but the conditions in the water have meant that it was nearly perfectly preserved.

The police have managed to match this ‘waxwork corpse’ to a missing woman and if her husband — a senior judge — was the one who killed her, the scandal threatens to rock the British justice to its foundations.

The waxwork corpse is not the only thing to be raised from the past. The investigation also dredges up a violent mistake made by Charles in his youth which, if revealed, could put his own life at stake…

My Thoughts

I enjoyed every aspect of this novel, but what really stood out for me was the protaganist, Charles Holborne. Holborne doesn’t have the usual pedigree associated with those of the legal profession – he’s Jewish, from the East End of London, a one-time boxer with a physique to match and has an interesting connection with the criminal faction, namely the Kray twins, kings of London’s criminal underworld during the 1950s/1960s.

Holborne's personal life is a mess. He has a volatile relationship with his mother over his renouncement of the Jewish faith, which ensures family gatherings are never easy for him. He's comfortable with his East End roots and so it is a bit of a conundrum as to why he has chosen to spend his working life battling anti-semitism and the old school tie brigade on a daily basis; a conundrum that is possibly explained in the earlier books in the series.

The cold case investigation takes up the first part of the novel. Holborne is approached in a clandestine manner by a new Metropolitan police prosecutor with a possible crime involving a high profile figure. Although he is usually for the defence not prosecution, Holborne's interest is aroused and he takes the brief. A move that could make or break his career. Unfortunately, his involvement results in threats from someone aware of his past.

We get a glimpse into Holborne’s legal mind as he assists the police in building a case for the prosecution, but once the story progresses to the courtroom, Holborne’s talent as a barrister comes into effect and, despite his personal problems, he remains focused on the trial.

The Waxwork Corpse is a compelling read and, although it is the fifth in a series, it works very well as a standalone novel. The fact that it is based on an actual case makes it all the more interesting. I'm struggling to finish off my review without mentioning a spoiler, so I'll just say the twist at the end was brilliant and I thought Holborne made the right decision not to pursue the matter further.

While I enjoyed the investigation and the courtroom drama, it is the character of Charles Holborne that intrigues me and draws me to this series. Questions remain about his background so I'm eager to pick up books one to four of the series.

About the Author

Simon Michael is the author of the best-selling London 1960s noir gangster series featuring his antihero barrister, Charles Holborne. Simon writes from personal experience: a barrister for 37 years, he worked in the Old Bailey and other criminal courts defending and prosecuting a wide selection of murderers, armed robbers, con artists and other assorted villainy. The 1960s was the Wild West of British justice, a time when the Krays, the Richardsons and other violent gangs fought for control of London’s organised crime, and the corrupt Metropolitan Police beat up suspects, twisted evidence and took a share of the criminal proceeds. Simon weaves into his thrillers real events of the time, the cases on which he worked and his unusual family history in the East End.
Simon was published here and in America in the 1980s and returned to writing when he retired from the law in 2016. The Charles Holborne series, The Brief, An Honest Man, The Lighterman, Corrupted and the latest, The Waxwork Corpse, have all garnered strong reviews for their authenticity and excitement.

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