Under the Hammer

by John Mortimer

Vintage TV tie-in paperback

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

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

[Robert Hobkirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories contained in Under the Hammer were made into a TV series for British TV. You can get the disc from Netflix. I first saw the series, then read the book. Like Rumpole, it has a remarkable cast of characters, but the setting is an art auction house in London, rather than a law office. With expensive expensive art, there are plenty of opportunities for shenanigans. This was written later in Mortimer's life and unfortunately not much time left to carry on with this series beyond this little book. If you like wit and an author who is entirely comfortable with the English language, you'll enjoy Under the Hammer.

[Richard French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skilled entertainment.

[Rowena Onions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to on Audible. Fun listen!

[Helen Almond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story collection based in an auction house. This was an Audible book well read by Bill Wallis. Very enjoyable