Books by John Fairfax

William Benson er strafferetsadvokat. Med et vist særpræg. Han er selv dømt for mord. Sidste gang, Tess de Vere så William Benson, var hun jurastuderende i praktik. Enogtyve år gammel blev Benson eskorteret væk fra anklagebænken i Old Bailey for at påbegynde afsoningen af en livstidsdom for mord. Han havde fortalt Tess, at han var uskyldig. Hun troede på ham. Seksten år senere overhører Tess et par højrøstede middagsgæster, der sidder og gør nar ad et nyankomment medlem af Londons advokatstand: et håbløst tilfælde, der kører sit eget show fra en gammel fiskehandel i Spitalfields. Samme aften træder Tess på ny ind i Bensons liv. Prisen for hans resocialisering – og adgang til advokatembedet – er en tilståelse: at påtage sig skylden for mordet på Paul Harbeton, hvis familie har svoret hævn. Benson er en udstødt. Regeringen vil lukke ham ned, og ingen rådgivende advokater vil engagere ham. Men han bliver understøttet af en mystisk velgører, og en desperat kvinde har søgt hans hjælp: Sarah Collingstone, der er mor til et barn med særlige behov, og som står anklaget for at have myrdet sin velhavende elsker. Det er en håbløs sag, og retssagen, som er Bensons første, begynder om to dage. Bevismaterialet er overvældende, men Colling­stone sværger på – ligesom Benson gjorde flere år tidligere – at hun er uskyldig. Tess slutter sig til forsvarsholdet i et forsøg på at hjælpe Benson med at overleve. Men alt imens Benson ser mordsagen vride og vende sig i snart den ene, snart den anden retning, indleder Tess i al hemmelighed sin egen efterforskning. Hun er fast besluttet på at afdække sandheden bag Paul Harbetons død en ensom aften i Soho.

'Camberley gazed at him, over-run by an abrupt compression of empathy and accusation. Her voice was barely audible: "Getting away with murder always comes at a price'

Blind Defence is another thrilling courtroom drama novel from Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger winning author John Fairfax.

The last time Tess de Vere saw William Benson she was a law student on work experience. He was a twenty-one year old, led from the dock of the Old Bailey to begin a life sentence for murder. He'd said he was innocent. She'd believed him.Sixteen years later Tess overhears a couple of hacks mocking a newcomer to the London Bar, a no-hoper with a murder conviction, running his own show from an old fishmonger's in Spitalfields. That night she walks back into Benson's life. The price of his rehabilitation - and access to the Bar - is an admission of guilt to the killing of Paul Harbeton, whose family have vowed revenge. He's an outcast. The government wants to shut him down and no solicitor will instruct him. But he's subsidised by a mystery benefactor and a desperate woman has turned to him for help: Sarah Collingstone, mother of a child with special needs, accused of slaying her wealthy lover. It's a hopeless case and the murder trial, Benson's first, starts in four days. The evidence is overwhelming but like Benson long ago, she swears she's innocent. Tess joins the defence team, determined to help Benson survive. But as Benson follows the twists and turns in the courtroom, Tess embarks upon a secret investigation of her own, determined to uncover the truth behind the death of Paul Harbeton on a lonely night in Soho.True to life, fast-paced and absolutely compelling, Summary Justice introduces a new series of courtroom dramas featuring two maverick lawyers driven to fight injustice at any cost.