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  • Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
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Rumpole defends Charles Hearthstoke against charges of keeping bawdy houses, in the form of his chain of massage parlors. The case has become quite a scandal since many customers were prominent members of the community and, to Rumpole's astonishment, paid with credit cards. Guthrie Featherstone, who sought a massage for an injury, now thinks that may be identified as one of the patrons, and Rumpole cunningly arranges for him to preside at Hearthstoke's trial. 

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • Excellent Rumpole, very enjoyable and entertaining

  • By MillenniumMike on 11-02-13
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  • Rumpole's Return

  • By: John Mortimer
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    4.5 out of 5 stars 30
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    5 out of 5 stars 23
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    4.5 out of 5 stars 22

Where is Rumpole, that eccentric barrister famous for his knowledge of bloodstains, blood groups, and forgery by typewriter? He is supposed by one and all to be enjoying his well-earned retirement in the Florida sunshine with his son, Nick; daughter-in-law, Erica; and, of course, She Who Must Be Obeyed. But Rumpole is made of sterner stuff, and the nearest whiff of a tricky blood case and he abandons the pleasure of Florida orange juice and descends on the dear old Chambers to take command once again.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • Rumpole Forever

  • By John Bull US on 06-22-17
Rumpole and the Alternative Society audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole and the Alternative Society

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
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    4.5 out of 5 stars 8
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Our Horace Rumpole, the most traditional of traditionalists, defends a hippie-like schoolteacher on a drugs charge. Quite unexpectedly, he finds himself attracted to her and to her unusual lifestyle. 

  • 2 out of 5 stars

  • Uneventful

  • By C. Graham on 04-28-12
Rumpole and the Man of God audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole and the Man of God

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
  • Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
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Known as “The Bailey Hack” for his chain smoking, the irrepressible Rumpole is engaged to defend a church vicar who is accused of theft and whose only defense for now is “divine intervention”. Meeting up with old friend George Frobisher for after-work drinks, Rumpole can't help but notice that George's female companion looks suspiciously familiar. 

  • 4 out of 5 stars

  • The inimitable Leo McKern does Rumpole

  • By fussyreader on 10-09-16
Rumpole and the Blind Tasting audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole and the Blind Tasting

  • By: John Mortimer
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  • Length: 1 hr and 25 mins
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    5 out of 5 stars 20
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Rumpole again defends a member of the Timson clan on a charge of possession of stolen goods - namely, he is caught with a garage full of expensive wine. Rumpole is concerned that Timson's explanation that he purchased the wine from some unknown individual he met in a pub will not go down well with Mr. Justice Graves, who has heard these stories many times before. 

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • The real Rumpole

  • By Amazon Customer on 05-18-18
Rumpole a la Carte audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole a la Carte

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
  • Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
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    5 out of 5 stars 23
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Rumpole unenthusiastically accompanies Hilda and her cousin to a very fashionable restaurant. Rumpole hates the ostentatious ambiance and pretentious food with its scant portions. He requests steak and kidney pudding. Jean Pierre O'Higgins, the owner, is insulted that Rumpole would expect him to prepare such low-class dishes. Suddenly, pandemonium strikes when a live mouse jumps out from the serving dish at another table. Unfortunately, the diners are Erskine-Brown with an attractive colleague that he's romancing. 

Editorial Reviews

In this first volume of his classic series, author John Mortimer introduces us to the sagacious, sardonic, and Wordsworth-quoting London barrister as he ruminates on one of his old cases: the trial of the 16-year-old Jim Timson, a member of one of the most powerful families in South London, who, along with a band of hooligans, was accused of stealing a briefcase from a local business.

Leo McKern, who famously portrayed Rumpole in the iconic TV show Rumpole of the Bailey, fittingly reprises his role in this audiobook, and injects this quintessentially British character with the perfect amount of dryness and cunning wit.

Publisher's Summary

Rumpole must now defend a young member of the Timson family, an extended clan of petty thieves who are otherwise decent South London rogues. Adding to Rumpole’s anxiety, his own son now appears to be acquiring some of the less respectable Timson family traits.
©1978 John Mortimer (P)2009 Audio Holdings, LLC

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