Rumpole and the Primrose Path (Rumpole of the Bailey #12) by John Mortimer

Rumpole and the Primrose Path (Rumpole of the Bailey #12) Reviews

• 
  Jason Koivu

  A short collection of Rumpole short stories that are only loosely tied together with the thinnest of threads. But that doesn't really make a difference. The quality is still there and any fan of the Old Bailey barrister's tales of triumph will find plenty to enjoy within these pages.
• 
  Bill

  
  Rumpole and the Primrose Path is one of the latest of
  John Mortimer's Rumpole collection. Primrose Path is a collection of six short stories, all entertaining and enjoyable.
  
  Primrose Path starts with Rumpole in a care home, recovering from a heart attack. A new member of his legal practice, one Luci Gribble, hired as director of marketing is trying to organize a remembrance party for Rumpole. Rumpole escapes in the middle of the night and begins an investigation on a death in the home. The results are excellent. The rest of the stories carry on from there; a case with a modern day Fagin, a case involving privacy concerns, one with a re-offending con, etc.
  
  The familiar cast is still there and all playing their roles; Rumpole's long suffering wife, Hilda (aka She who must be Obeyed), practice head Soapy Ballard, the husband / wife team of the Erskines, Phillida now a justice, etc.
  
  Mortimer has a knack for creating nicely flowing, entertaining short stories, interesting cases with very satisfying resolutions and fun characters. Rumpole is always entertaining; curmudgeonly but smart, able to cull information from his legal briefs to get to the grit of the case and the solution. The stories aren't deep but they are fun. I enjoyed each and every one and especially the final chapter where we see that Hilda really does love and care for her recalcitrant husband. Choked me up a bit. (4 stars)
• 
  Donna

  Good old Rumpole -- he shines as a barrister and reminds us that criminals are innocent until proven guilty.
  
  These linked short stories are wonderful. The links between them are sometimes as convoluted are Rumpole's thought processes. Just brilliant. But I'm a (retired) lawyer.
• 
  Damaskcat

  This is an entertaining collection of six short stories starting with Rumpole's escape from the Primrose Path nursing home where he has been sent to recover from his heart attack brought on by a fight in court with Judge Bullingham. Rumpole fears that the body count at the Primrose Path is rather too high and decides to make his escape as speedily as possible.
  
  The other stories are equally good with Rumpole's performance clearly not impaired by his brush with death. I especially enjoyed Rumpole Redeemed in which Rumpole sees that just because a crime appears to have been committed by a particular person with a trade mark style doesn't mean it actually was committed by that person. In this story yet another of Claude Erskine-Brown's mad attractions to unlikely women is doomed to failure.
  
  There is something hugely endearing in Rumpole as a character I find even though he doesn't always suffer fools gladly. He frequently sees through outward appearances to the real people underneath - such as in the first story and Nurse Dotty. Rumpole is marvellous comfort reading even when you know the outcome of the story.
• 
  Mack

  Thoroughly enjoyable!
• 
  JZ

  Some delicious tidbits for you from the late, lamented John Mortimer, a man with a fine sense of humor.
  
  Rumpole is astounded to find out that rumors of his death had been greatly exaggerated, and it goes on from there.
  
  British short stories are my get-ready-for-the-winter accompaniment. Just like hot cocoa or mulled cider, or egg nog by the fire.
  
  Snuggle in.
• 
  Robert Hobkirk

  Another entertaining read from John Mortimer. A collection of Rumpole mysteries, one leading to the other. What a wit Mortimer was.
• 
  London Mabel

  Hadn’t read a Rumpole in awhile—they’re a breath of fresh air. And listening to these stories got my bf hooked too.
• 
  CQM

  I always finish a Rumpole book with a satisfied smile.
• 
  Priscilla

  These stories are perfect for a road trip. They are illustrative and colorful and contain clever writing. This particular audio book used multiple actors, sound effects and music, so it was more like a radio play than listening to Mom reading you a story. Prunella Scales is wonderful as SWMBO. Good to listen to, road trip or not.
• 
  Andy Gore

  Rumpole is truly priceless.
• 
  Theodore Kinni

  "No one should ever underestimate Rumpole, when he's doing a murder alone and without a leader."
• 
  Alex Shrugged

  I miss Leo McKern, but Timothy West does a good job in his part in a BBC radio drama. It contains the following episodes:
  
  o Rumpole and the Primrose Path: A convalescence home nurse is accused of murdering a patient in order to collect money from the will.
  
  o Rumpole and the Scales of Justice: Rumpole defends police official who had previously criticized defenders such as Rumpole, but now needs a good defender.
  
  o Rumpole and the Vanishing Juror: A religious fanatic is accused of murdering a lap-dancer, but as Rumpole seems to be winning over the jury, one of its members vanishes.
  
  o Rumpole Redeemed: Rumpole defends an ex-con who had benefited from a prisoner redemption program, but now seems to have returned to crime.
  
  In general the Rumpole mysteries run along two story lines intertwined and ending in a twist, that is, a surprise at the end. The stories above were less surprising than I had hoped, and the character development amongst the secondary characters was minimal. It appears that the audience is supposed to recall the personalities of the characters from previous episodes. That is fair, but it has been a while since I have revisited the Rumpole characters, so I really needed a refresher.
  
  I'll probably listen to this audio series again later in the year to make sure I simply wasn't in a bad mood while I was listening. I love the Rumpole series and I am surprised I didn't give it 5 stars.
  
• 
  A.K. Kulshreshth

  One of the pleasures of reading is dicovering a series such as this one rather late in life.
  
  I was hoping to detox from a particularly bad week at work, and Rumpole, brilliantly read by Bill Wallis, exceeded my expectations.
  
  In this collection of short stories, Rumpole first proves that rumours of his death are exaggerated, and then goes on to consistently get justice for the underdog episode by episode. The undedog can be a street urchin or a senior police official. Rumpole ensures that the wheels of justice creakingly turn the right way, even when judges themselves visibly fawn over the wrong person. In each case, he is aided heavily by coincidences, but that's all right. There's a lot that makes up for them: the lovable cast of characters, the laugh-aloud moments, the exploration of the role custard might play in love, and the rich social commentary.
  
  Delightful. And probably one of those works that are better listened to than read.
• 
  Mark Bruce

  I do miss Rumpole. This is the last book of short stories by the late John Mortimer and it shows no signs that his powers were flagging.
  In the title story—which was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America’s—Rumpole turns the tables on a dreadful convalescent home in which he was trapped (at the beginning of the story). Other tales are variations on the old and loving themes: the criminal family Timson, the Old Bull Judge Bellingham, Claude Erskine Brown’s propensity to fall in love with any woman who is not his wife.
  Horace, we hardly knew he.
• 
  Cindy

  "Rumpole and the Primrose Path" - Rumpole was at a convalescence home when one of the nurses was accused of murder. Solved.
  "Rumpole and the New Year's Resolutions" - Mrs. Fagin (as in Dickens' character) in the subway. Won.
  "Rumpole and the Scales of Justice" - Rumpole defended a policeman who had been critical towards lawyers in the TV. Won.
  "Rumpole and the Right to Privacy" - A businessman vs a local newspaper. Won.
  "Rumpole and the Vanishing Juror" - A juror held a key to solving a murder. Won.
  "Rumpole Redeemed" - A reformed convict with a unique bathroom habit. Won.
• 
  Betty

  These short stories are best read after having become acquainted with the recurring characters from the novels. For me, the actors from the television series always sprang to mind, not a bad thing but clearly a testament to the power of that production.
• 
  Simeon

  . Finished BOT "Rumpole and the Primrose Path" A/UN - with good language, and clever stories, but depended on coincidence a lot for climax
• 
  Simon

  I've been diligent, hardworking and kind for the entire twelve months.
  
  I deserve a treat. This was it.
  
  Happy to be good for another year.
• 
  Barbra

  A collection of short stories of various cases, and with wit and sly panache we find Rumpole at his grumpy best.