In Your Defence

Book excerpt: 'As thrilling as a detective novel.' The Times 'Powerful, moving and often captivating.' Financial Times 'A compelling read for anyone who cares about fairness, justice and humanity.' Observer The Sunday Times bestseller ___ Sarah Langford is a barrister. Her job is to stand in court representing the mad and the bad, the vulnerable, the heartbroken and the hopeful. She must become their voice. Sarah weaves their story around the black and white of the law and tell it to the courtroom. These stories may not make headlines but they will change the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary ways. They are stories which, but for a twist of luck, might have been yours. With remarkable candour, Sarah describes eleven cases which reveal what goes on in our criminal and family courts: these are tales of domestic fall out, everyday burglary, sexual indiscretion, and children caught up in the law. They are sometimes shocking and they are often heart-stopping. She examines how she feels as she defends the person standing in the dock. She also shows us how our attitudes and actions can shape not only the outcome of a case, but the legal system itself. ___ What readers are saying: ***** 'Absolutely fascinating . . . thought provoking, powerful and a compelling read.' ***** 'This book broke my heart at times but also contained humour and such poignant insights into the criminal justice system.' ***** 'Sarah writes incredibly well - she's informative while maintaining suspense and tension, and conveys so much emotion in her writing