Quite Honestly

by John Mortimer

Wanting to give something back in the wake of her prestigious education, steady relationship, and promising advertising career, Lucinda Purefoy joins the ranks of an organization that befriends released convicts and finds her life turned upside-down by career burglar Terry Keegan. By the author of Rumpole and the Primrose Path. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Crime

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

John Clifford Mortimer was a novelist, playwright and former practising barrister. Among his many publications are several volumes of Rumpole stories and a trilogy of political novels, Paradise Postponed, Titmuss Regained and The Sound of Trumpets, featuring Leslie Titmuss - a character as brilliant as Rumpole. John Mortimer received a knighthood for his services to the arts in 1998.

Series:
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rapstone Chronicles

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
I borrowed this book from the library, expecting a humorous mystery with characters similar to Horace Rumpole and his wife Hilda, "She who must be Obeyed." But this was a humorless book with not much mystery. It was more of a character study. A do good-er young woman, Lucy Purefoy, fresh out of college, volunteers for SCRAP, an organization dedicated to helping released convicts reintegrate into society and not re-offending. Her first case is Terry Keegan. She falls in love with him and starts thieving to be like him. She is caught and sent to prison.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Here's the story in a nutshell: Lucinda is a blithering idiot, the offspring of a mother who is mostly a lush most of the time, and a father who is a bishop in the Church of England, despite his oddly irreligious views. Lucinda graduates from college, blithering idiotness notwithstanding, and decides she should give back, do some good in the world. An annoying friend suggests she join a group who helps newly-released prisoners get re-established in the real world. Lucinda is assigned to Terry, a reasonably handsome man who was born into crime and eventually went to jail for theft.

Of course, Lucinda falls for Terry, and in an attempt to really understand him, she starts pilfering things from her friends when she's at house parties. Because she's an IDIOT. Terry, concerned about her future, tries to convince her to stop. She, being dumber than a load of bricks, thinks he's just not impressed with the small things she's taken so far, so she plans a bigger heist. Of course she gets caught, and the upshot of this colossal waste of time is that she goes to prison, and Terry goes straight. When she gets out, he will try to reform her. See that clever turnaround? If only I cared.

Quite honestly, John Mortimer should have stuck with Rumpole. Because "Quite Honestly" is a pointless story filled with unsympathetic characters and predictable plot turns, and while it does have a few laugh-out-loud moments, it's mostly lacking in the dry British humor I was expecting. Don't bother.

[David Hilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Rumple books and it probably isn't fair to compare. Just because an author writes one kind of book brilliantly, what right does his audience have to demand that all his books sparkle? None. Which is why I really should let JKR off the hook for disappointing with The Casual Vacancy, a perfectly ordinary but not horrid book that falls so far short of Harry the gulf couldn't be spanned by the Brooklyn Bridge. So, Quite Honestly is no Rumple. Still, I kind of loved it.

Quite Honestly is unambitious. It's a small story focusing on two pretty straightforward characters. It isn't deep or revelatory. But, this book is elegantly conceived and artfully executed. The writing is tight and the dialogue is convincing. I didn't laugh like I do when Rumple pokes me, but I still enjoyed this one end to end. I listened to the book on CD - 2 readers taking turns, whose solid performances enhanced the story.

Hope you like it, too!

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing she said/he said comedy, where both the hard-line and soft approaches to law and religion are gently mocked. An enjoyable light comic read.

Lagniappe: Several references to "Mad Bull" Bulligham and a cameo appearance by Mr. Frobisher.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Life couldn't be better for Lucinda Purefoy: she's college educated with a steady boyfriend and a job offer in advertising. With all this good fortune, isn't it appropriate for her to give something back to society? Armed with only good intentions and her newly minted membership in Social Carers, Reformers and Praeceptors (SCARP, for short)--a misguided organization that recruits women to become guides, philosophers, and friends to ex-convicts coming out of prison--Lucy finds herself standing outside the gates of a jail, waiting to greet a career burglar named Terry Keegan. What happens next--after a short and hostile trip to Burger King--produces a signature Mortimer tale, full of wit and surprise.
~~from the back cover

Quite honestly, I was disappointed. It wasn't at all what I expected: neither the wonderful humor of P.G. Wodehouse, nor very sly parody of do-gooders and their blindfolds. I truly expected better of John Mortimer -- definitely not up to the standard of Rumpole.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might have enjoyed it more because I bought it at the dollar store on a whim and then had a good long plane ride to get settled into it, but it was sweet. The characters were sweet, the way of writing was JUST foreign enough that it was quirky, but not difficult... I'd have to call it "charming"... it was small, but not smarmy, not brilliant, not awful. It wasn't superfluous. I was compelled to keep going back to it to see how it wrapped up, and it wrapped up solid.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really looked like a Brit on holiday while reading this book by the pool! It was predictable but OK. The UK writing style and language took some getting used to, but it wasn't terrible, just not my type of book.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frivolous fun, good entertaining read. Well written froth, with plenty of humor, and a few pokes at the justice system.

I actually read this through a second time, having read a several years ago (don't you hate it when you realize this?!), and still enjoyed it.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun light reading. I liked the voices of Lucy and Terry (which told the same story from different viewpoints) and enjoyed the array of goofy characters which peopled this book. Maybe I'll proceed to some Rumpole...

[Kaethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long Way Down or How to Be Good are better on do-gooding

[Ayny · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy Purfoy who has always wanted “to do a little good in the world" finds an a venue for her avocation when she signs on as a volunteer with SCRAP (Social Carers, Reformers, and Preceptors), a group that tries to help ex-convicts transition back into life outside prison in this satire by John Mortimer. Her first assignment is Terry Keegan a career thief who has just been released from prison with idea that freedom meant that he could run his own life. Terry and Lucy take turns narrating chapters as the question of who's reforming who becomes a bit muddled. The book was fairly witty and entertaining but in the end just seemed to miss the mark. Not bad for a light read.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little book. Many have said that it lacks substance, or is simply "airplane reading" but au contraire. It was short, witty, and the ending was, quite honestly, very amusing. I am very much in love with John Mortimer's writing style, and it is refreshing to see something published that seems to be just a little something that the author jotted down while in a pleasant mood. I highly recommend reading this, albeit with and open mind, and don't put it down without finishing the story!

[ka fi de · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's not bad

a pretty light read to be honest. easy to digest. simple story but i don't think i've read anything like it before. so that was really interesting.

i'm really glad that i have these select edition books, it has stories i would never pick up but i've had a lot of good eggs from the. this one in particular.

i won't have a lot of notes for this because it's pretty easy.

we follow two characters, each with their pov's. we start with lucy purefoy, she's described as this person who just wants to do good in the world. she gets this job from SCRAP where she's assigned to be a preceptor for a newly released inmate. she's assigned to terry keegan, a petty thief. lucy picks him up from prison and they have this important interaction where terry is a little rude and refuses help from lucy and lucy spats back which surprises him and it sort of snowballs into this friendship. terry goes to his aunt dot to live with her but he finds out that she's dead. he's devastated and spends his money on alcohol. lucy helps him out but getting him a place to stay and a job. terry was okay with this for a while until he gets jealous of lucy and her boyfriend. he quits and goes back to his old job of stealing things except now he's a bit more business savvy with it. lucy does her best to try to understand terry and in the process falls in love with him. they start to get together but now lucy is stealing as well. terry disapproves of this. lucy ends up getting caught after stealing from her ex boyfriend. she goes to jail and she's still liing in delulu land where she still wants to be close to terry. she does three years in jail and they grow apart because terry didn't like that lucy had become. three years later, lucy is released and we get the repeat of their first meeting with the roles reversed where terry is now lucy's preceptor, trying to help her be better.

that's the gisty plot of it all.

again i don't have a lot of note so i'll just get on with it. lol.

quite a few toxic masculinity bits in the book. i can sort of forgive it because this book is 20 years old and as dated as i think it is sometimes, it is what it is for the time period. i love the self awareness though.

lucy's crazy bishop dad is hilarious in every scene he's in. the world would be so much better if there were religious leaders like him.

i feel like when lucy fell in love with terry was so predictable. in the beginning when lucy was talking to (?) markby about her role as a preceptor he said that she shouldn't have sex with the client. by that point i was like they're going to have sex. the tension was palpable even at that first meeting.

when timbo was like we shouldn't pay too much attention to such old rules form the bible was actually so badass. someone tried to argue gay marriage that it was unholy or something but he flips it around and says that yes the bible does say that but the bible also says that you're committing a sin if you eat anything other than fish with scales. you have it take it all nor nothing essentially and that's something that i wish may religious people learn from.

i do have this theory as to why lucy became a criminal. i think maybe it was because she couldn't reform terry no matter how hard she tried so the only way to do it was for her to do what he did for him to see the error in his ways. sure it lost her 3 years and a lifetime with a criminal record but hey at least she did her job well and actually truly reformed terry. i think that was the plot twist that surprised me.

what was a bit funky and what i didn't like was that lucy actually wanted to do crime in order to be closer to terry. i thought it was a ploy and to realise she did everything for a man was honestly very... disappointing.

overall it was really a good read. it all came full circle anyway so it's fine.

i would recommend but i don't know if this is a book that people will be able to get these days given the many many books published. if you come across this then definitely recommend. :)

[Clifton Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Mortimer’s Quite Honestly offers a witty but somewhat bewildering take on love, crime, and the complexities of human behavior. The story centers around Lucy Purefoy, an idealistic and smart young woman freshly graduated and determined to make a difference in the world. She takes up a post with the rehabilitation service and is assigned to help an ex-convict, Terry Keegan, reintegrate into society after his release from prison. But what starts as a noble endeavor soon spirals into a chaotic and implausible series of events.

Lucy, with all her good intentions, becomes infatuated with Terry, who is the complete opposite of her in every way—cynical, morally ambiguous, and wholly uninterested in reforming. Lucy’s transformation from an altruistic do-gooder into a complicit partner in crime is one of the book’s more incredulous aspects. Her decision to abandon her privileged background and professional future to live on the run with Terry simply doesn’t feel believable, even within the satirical tone of the novel. It’s hard to reconcile her intelligence with the impulsiveness of her actions, as she disregards all logic in a misguided attempt to grow closer to Terry.

One of the book’s most striking lines is, “When you start fighting evil, you soon forget what you were fighting for.” This encapsulates Lucy’s descent into a world of petty crime and deception, as her original sense of purpose fades, replaced by her obsession with Terry. Yet, the narrative never fully unpacks this shift, leaving Lucy’s motivations feeling underdeveloped.

Mortimer, known for his sharp social commentary and humorous depictions of flawed characters, creates a memorable cast in Quite Honestly. Terry’s rogue charm and cynicism make him an engaging character, and Lucy’s parents are portrayed with Mortimer’s trademark wit, offering a sharp contrast to her rebellion. However, despite the quirky ensemble, the plot feels incomplete. Lucy’s eventual descent into crime feels abrupt and poorly justified, making the latter half of the book hard to connect with.

Another memorable quote, “Sometimes you have to live with mistakes, even if they’re not your own,” seems to reflect Lucy’s eventual realization—or lack thereof—about the consequences of her actions. She grows increasingly distant from her former life, and rather than seeking redemption or an escape from her situation, she becomes more entangled in it, which adds to the sense of disbelief surrounding her character’s arc.

While Mortimer’s humor and satirical style shine through in several moments, the story lacks the depth of his other works, leaving it feeling more like a farcical romp than a cohesive narrative. For a reader who expects more grounded storytelling, this novel may feel lacking, as the premise becomes more absurd as it progresses.

For these reasons, quite honestly, this wasn’t my favorite novel by John Mortimer. The characters are certainly memorable, but the plot feels both incomplete and incredulous. Lucy’s decisions, in particular, seem to stretch the bounds of believability, making it hard to stay invested in her journey. As a result, this novel, while enjoyable in parts, ultimately fell flat for me, earning a 3 out of 5 rating.

[Al · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just far too predictable and very often far-fetched, but nevertheless just about entertaining enough for me to read to the end in order to satisfy my curiosity that that my predictions were indeed correct. A few very drole descriptions and observations, but not a patch on the Rumpole series, which is more in line with what I was hoping for when I selected it. In fact, it was description of the goings-on in the courtroom which I found the most amusing - evidently Mr. Mortimer’s forte. I had intended to forward it to my brother who enjoys Rumpole, but won’t do so, which probably says it all. I found it unusual that Terry’s speech is not written with its inevitable cockney grammar and only intermittent cockney vocabulary, most unlikely given his background and unlike the criminals in Rumpole.

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy Purefoy is a woman on a mission to reform career criminal Terry. These two from the opposite of the tracks form a romantic relationship that comes with a twist.
I am not sure what I was expecting with this book, but what I ended up with I am still puzzled over. Lucy, comes across as a stuck up do gooder, who flits from one romance to another. The meeting of Terry is meant be to something special but all I get is that she wants to know why he steals. There just did not seem to be a chemistry between the two. Terry comes across as bemused all the time and I never get a sense of who he really is. His transformation towards the end, I just did not believe it.
There is wit, there is carefully constructed characters but after a while they are more cliched.
I have read Mortimer's works before and have enjoyed them immensely. This one did not work for me.

[Mike Heyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was “quite honestly” disappointing. It seemed amusing at first, but that soon faded and after that it was, quite honestly, just silly. Oh, it was cleverly... not written so much as cleverly contrived. So neatly packaged that it was- ho hum- pretty predictable. The characters ranged from ridiculous to downright unlikeable. One wonders why Mr. Mortimer wrote it at all. I’m glad that I got my copy in a bag of books at a library book sale. It’s not hard to imagine the author chortling at having put one over on the unfortunate people who paid good money for it at bookstores, a bit of larceny not much better than that described in the story. I must say, I actually disliked this tale. Quite honestly.

[Lynn Pribus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. Of course, hardly anything measures up to Rumpole, but this strange tale of a Sweet Young Thing doing good by trying to keep a Bad Boy Just Released from being returned to the nick was just so unlikely. Meh.

I gave up in the middle of CD #3 and took up listening to ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE on CD which I previously read in hardcover. I liked it so much, I probably sped through it and with CDs I have to slow down. I find myself returning to the beginning of a track to listen again to something really lovely.

[Ali Miremadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very late Mortimer and not his best. The structure of the plot which has the two principal characters gradually swapping places reminded me of Martin Amis’ ‘Success’, though this is a warm and forgiving novel, which no-one could say of Martin Amis’ stuff. Still, John Mortimer below his best is still a writer with whom it is enjoyable to spend time.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very different from the typical Mortimer / Rumpole mystery. Lucy is a 20-something do-gooder who becomes a volunteer for an organization that provides preceptors to ex-convicts. Her first client, Terry, is a thief with whom she falls in love and wants to fully understand. Her idea of empathy has unexpected results. Sort of a romantic comedy. Enjoyable but not great.

[BrianC75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Mortimer’s writing. It is understated, clever and ‘civilised’ - smacks of a slightly gentler time when human interaction was less frenetic. This is a clever little story with a well developed satirical rollout, culminating in the pleasing ‘twist’ at the end.
Great stuff!

[Mike Schutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the tradition of Wodehouse, but skewering criminal law, reform movements, the Church of England, and romances.

Three and a half. Hilarious, predictable, but the joke ends before the book does. Lots of great bits, and Mortimer is a riot. But 3.5 stars as a complete novel.

[Graham Robertson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reads rather like an effort from a first year student on a creative writing course. I didn't finish it.

I usually like Mortimer but think this was ill advised and shows a serious decline in his creative powers. A pity.

[Christina Gagliano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the Rumpole books better. This one was, while amusingly written, very predictable.

[Anthony R. Vecchiarelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable; not nearly as funny as advertised; a story of role reversal; it does kill time.

[Joan Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick fun read!

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading. There was never a dull moment. The whole story is Quite Funny. There were a few jokes here and there but as I read on it felt serious and funny at the same time.

[Jonathan Nieves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light-hearted read. Nothing remarkable but I enjoyed it. Felt like a classic beach read.

[Vivien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a fun audio book to pass a journey but the main female character was unreal. I can see how this made a good book but maybe a little bit too far-fetched for me.