Rumpole At Christmas

Seven festive short stories reunite readers with Horace Rumpole, John Mortimer's beloved Old Bailey hack, who approaches Christmas with characteristic grumpiness while the criminal world obliges him with far more interesting distractions. From a suspicious Father Christmas at a barristers' party to a pantomime actor's ill-timed disappearance, Mortimer wrings sharp comedy and genuine mystery from the holiday season, placing his irrepressible protagonist at the center of each caper with wit and affection. She Who Must Be Obeyed looms as large as ever, and Rumpole's sardonic observations on justice, hypocrisy, and claret remain as pointed as the best courtroom cross-examination.

Bill Wallis brings decades of familiarity with Rumpole to this performance, having voiced the character across multiple volumes, and his command of Mortimer's rhythms is seamless. The short story format suits audio particularly well, delivering complete, satisfying narratives within a brief runtime that makes individual listens feel like perfectly portioned holiday treats. At just over eighty minutes, the collection rewards both sustained listening and scattered holiday snatches.