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  • The Brief

  • Charles Holborne, Book 1
  • By: Simon Michael
  • Narrated by: Colin Mace
  • Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,656 ratings)
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The Brief cover art

The Brief

By: Simon Michael
Narrated by: Colin Mace
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Summary

London in the 1960s: gang wars, corrupt police, vice and pornography. Ex-boxer Charles Holborne has plenty of opportunities to build his reputation with the criminal classes as a barrister who delivers. But Charles, an East End boy made good, is not all he seems, and his past is snapping at his heels.

When his philandering wife has her throat slashed, Holborne finds himself on the wrong side of the law and on the run. Can he discover the truth of the brutal slaying and escape the hangman's noose?

Based upon real Old Bailey cases and genuine court documents, The Brief is the first in barrister Simon Michael's series of compelling criminal dramas, an evocative slice of sleazy glamour from the swinging '60s. Simon Michael delivers an authentic and addictive listen for any crime fan.

©2015 Simon Michael (P)2017 Audible, Ltd.

What listeners say about The Brief

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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VERY, VERY GOOD

Now that I have finished both books written by a barrister, and to use a cliche (and I was told never to use cliche's at Pitman's training college) ... "It blew me away".

It was the absolute perfect combination of author, Simon Michael and narrator, Colin Mace. Thank you both for creating such literary perfection and voice acting. See my review for An Honest Man. Even more superb.

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17 people found this helpful

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Interesting

Enjoyed this book story and narrator will listen to the following books and hope they will be as good

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16 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Got me hooked

Brilliant story. Excellent narration. Impressed with the accents. It kept me hooked to the very end

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Well worth listening to

Thoroughly enjoyable listen leading well into book 2. Comfortable Colin Mace territory who brings the characters alive.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent plot and a very likeable protagonist!

This book hooked me in from the first. The reader was excellent! I highly recommend.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent legal thrillers

I enjoyed The Brief, Simon Michael's first book, and I also enjoyed the sequel very much. Crime drama and courtroom drama set in 1960s London. Interesting lead character, a criminal barrister from a less privileged background. Great narration.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator had some great accents and made you feel like Charles Holborne was a living breathing character

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4 people found this helpful

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Good listen

Enjoyable story and nostalgic insight into the 60s . Well narrated and would definitely recommend . Hopefully might be a series of books

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good story well read

I enjoyed this book. It rattles along with some interesting characters. The narration was excellent.

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3 people found this helpful

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The Brief

An extremely good story told by a fantastic crime teller. Recommended to those who haven’t heard of the author, as I hadn’t.

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3 people found this helpful