A Higher Duty

By: Peter Murphy

Narrated by: Ben Elliot

Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

In Harold Macmillan's Britain of the early 1960s the Bar is dominated by white, privileged, Oxbridge men. Underneath a profession which proudly flaunts its integrity and traditions lies a world of hypocrisy and ruthless self-interest. When scandal threatens, self-preservation is the only goal and no one is indispensable.

Ben Schroeder, a talented young man from an East End Jewish family, has been accepted as a pupil into the chambers of Bernard Wesley, QC. But Schroeder is an outsider, not part of this privileged society, where wealth and an Oxbridge education are essentials. He encounters prejudice, intrigue, and scandal.

Kenneth Gaskell, a rising star of Wesley's chambers has become involved in an affair with a high-profile client and the relationship, if known, could ruin his career, and the careers of all those around him.

But Bernard Wesley has some information - he knows about a student prank that went terribly wrong. Can he use this knowledge in a desperate gamble to save his chambers and turn the tables on his old rival, Miles Overton, QC? Ben Schroeder has proved his ability, but he is no more than a pawn in this game. Can he survive in this world where nothing, not even justice, is sacred?

After graduating from Cambridge University, Peter Murphy spent a career in the law, as an advocate and teacher, both in England and the United States. His legal work included a number of years in The Hague as defence counsel at the Yugoslavian War Crimes Tribunal.

©2013 Peter Murphy (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"Weighty and impressive" (Barry Forshaw, Crime Time)

"A gripping page-turner. A compelling and disturbing tale of English law courts, lawyers, and their clients, told with the authenticity that only an insider like Murphy can deliver. The best read I've come across in a long time." (David Ambrose, novelist and playwright)

Very good book!!

It was compelling, compassionate, insightful, I couldn’t stop listening, It was a joy to listen to. Perfect narration. I wish there were many books by this author

The English legal system

First time author for me, the author it turns out has been. Judge.

The author weaves a story set on the early 1@60s as to the in and outs of how the English legal system works in law offices and courts. Diversity is on the doorstep and change is in the sit. Still the class system and privilege still plays a part.

The author does a good job with the different characters where you feel the different emotions.

For a book that doesn’t have very many ratings, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.