What do you think?
Rate this book
The Second Man
"The evidence was... damning. John Maudsley had had both motive and opportunity to strangle the elderly, wealthy aunt with whom he'd had a falling out. Around this defense of what seemed like a heartbreakingly hopeless case, Edward Grierson has constructed a novel that is taut, persuasive and appealing... The climactic events of the trial's closing hours and the maddening wait for the verdict of the jurors... are conveyed in pages of inexorably mounting tension."
-Spokane Chronicle
-Spokane Chronicle
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
39 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 11, 2022
The Second Man by Edward Grierson is my first exposure this excellent writer who wrote 5 crime novels between 1949 and 1967. He also wrote some other novels and two plays. The Second Man was published originally in 1956.
If you like a well-crafted, well-paced courtroom drama, you might like to check this story out. Australian John Maudsley is accused of murdering his English aunt at her estate in England. The motive? He needed money to start a business and she refused to give it to him. However he was the main beneficiary of her estate. Miss Maudsley's room was ransacked and jewelry was also stolen. One piece of jewelry was found in John Maudsley's rental room. A witness, Jane Birman, Miss Maudsley's lady companion claims to have seen John in the house around the time of the murder.
This is the gist of the case (of course fleshed out as the court case progresses). Marion Kerrison, new to the British Bar, and to Mr. Hesketh's legal practice, is assigned the case, along with fellow new barrister and author of this story, Mr. Irvine. This is quite unique, as Marion is the only female of the practice.
The story proceeds in a methodical manner, the original trial in front of the roving Assize court, sort of a unique phenomenon in the UK system. It then moves to the Court of Appeal in London and finally to an appeal before the Home Secretary.
I found the whole procedural aspect of the trial(s) so well-presented. It could have been dry and antiseptic but instead it held your attention and drew you in. The characters are all crafted in such an excellent way that you can see them quite clearly and the tension of the case itself is palpable at times. I enjoyed every aspect of this story; the case itself, the characters, especially Marion and their assisting solicitor, Mr. Giles and all of the surrounding characters. Grierson presents the whole story subtly but clearly and makes it both an interesting character study and a fascinating investigation and trial. Well worth trying. I've now ordered Reputation for a Song and will continue to explore Grierson's works. (4.0 stars)
If you like a well-crafted, well-paced courtroom drama, you might like to check this story out. Australian John Maudsley is accused of murdering his English aunt at her estate in England. The motive? He needed money to start a business and she refused to give it to him. However he was the main beneficiary of her estate. Miss Maudsley's room was ransacked and jewelry was also stolen. One piece of jewelry was found in John Maudsley's rental room. A witness, Jane Birman, Miss Maudsley's lady companion claims to have seen John in the house around the time of the murder.
This is the gist of the case (of course fleshed out as the court case progresses). Marion Kerrison, new to the British Bar, and to Mr. Hesketh's legal practice, is assigned the case, along with fellow new barrister and author of this story, Mr. Irvine. This is quite unique, as Marion is the only female of the practice.
The story proceeds in a methodical manner, the original trial in front of the roving Assize court, sort of a unique phenomenon in the UK system. It then moves to the Court of Appeal in London and finally to an appeal before the Home Secretary.
I found the whole procedural aspect of the trial(s) so well-presented. It could have been dry and antiseptic but instead it held your attention and drew you in. The characters are all crafted in such an excellent way that you can see them quite clearly and the tension of the case itself is palpable at times. I enjoyed every aspect of this story; the case itself, the characters, especially Marion and their assisting solicitor, Mr. Giles and all of the surrounding characters. Grierson presents the whole story subtly but clearly and makes it both an interesting character study and a fascinating investigation and trial. Well worth trying. I've now ordered Reputation for a Song and will continue to explore Grierson's works. (4.0 stars)
September 25, 2016
Second of the CWA winners. Unexpected. A real level of insight well written well plotted. Carried me through in one session.
Want to read
October 28, 2018Synopsis: Marion Kerrison is an inexperienced lawyer defending a man who appears guilty. But she does have brains; can she get him off?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews