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A NOTE TO THE READER
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read the fifth Charles Holborne legal thriller. I am following Charles’s story through the 1960s and another book is in the pipeline.
Those of you have been to my one-man show, “My Life in Crime”, will know that Charles and his history are based upon me and my own family. Mine was the first generation of Michaels to be born outside the sound of Bow Bells (as you will know, the test for being a “true Cockney”) since 1492, when they arrived in the Port of London as refugees from the Spanish Inquisition. Much of the series is autobiographical. Thus, Charles’s love of London and the Temple are mine; at the start of my career I experienced the class and religious prejudice faced by him; the plots are based to a greater or lesser extent on cases in which I was instructed as a criminal barrister; many of the strange and wonderful characters who populate the books are based upon witnesses, clients and barristers I have known, represented and admired respectively. I try to take no liberties at all with the operation of police procedure, the criminal justice system or the human heart; the books are as true to life as I can make them. If you find any mistakes, I shall be delighted to hear from you. I always reply, and if you’re right, I will make sure future editions are changed.
Nowadays, reviews by readers are essential to authors’ success, so if you enjoyed the novel I shall be in your debt if you would spare the few seconds required to post a review on Amazon and Goodreads. I love hearing from readers, and you can connect with me through my Facebook page, via Twitter or through my website.
I hope we’ll meet again in the pages of the next Charles Holborne adventure.
Simon Michael
www.simonmichael.uk
HISTORICAL NOTE
Some of you may remember the case on which The Waxwork Corpse is based. A respectable airline pilot killed his wife in the 1970s and dropped her body into Wastwater from a dinghy at the dead of night. I have written his book with his permission, hiding his identity in that of Sir Anthony Steele so as to protect his family. However, the basic facts of the case, in particular how the body was disposed of and most of the pathology evidence, come directly from the court documents.
ALSO BY SIMON MICHAEL
The Brief
An Honest Man
The Lighterman
Corrupted
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As always, I need to thank my patient friends and beta readers who have read and contributed to this book: Neil Cameron and Carly Jordan for their eagle-eyed attention to detail and historical accuracy; Debbie Jacobs for her deep knowledge of Judaism; and Amy Durant of Sapere Books, for her understanding of structure and her immense patience with a difficult author. As for the law and procedure in the 1960s I have relied on my own knowledge and the invaluable 35th. edition of Archbold, but I am greatly indebted to Simon Worlock and Rex Tedd QC of No 5 Chambers, who filled several important gaps. If any of the law and procedure are wrong, it’s my fault and I seek leave to appeal.
Finally, my thanks go to Simeon Maskrey QC. He probably won’t remember this, but many years ago we shared a barristers’ robing room while we awaited jury verdicts. It was his wonderful telling of this story, his feet up on the dressing table, that persuaded me that, one day, I would have to write this novel.
Published by Sapere Books.
20 Windermere Drive, Leeds, England, LS17 7UZ,
United Kingdom
saperebooks.com
Copyright © Simon Michael, 2019
Simon Michael has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places and events, other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales are purely coincidental.
eBook ISBN: 9781913335823
The Waxwork Corpse: A legal thriller with a chilling twist (Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers Book 5) Page 31