AudioFile
Rumpole is at his irresistible best in this collection of seven stories that run the gamut from simple thievery to murder and espionage. (One even includes a discourse on fine wine.) Bill Wallis is perfect as the dry-witted and clever Rumpole, who is surrounded by Mortimer's usual delicious cast of characters, including, of course, Hilda, also known as "she who must be obeyed." The brilliance of this audio is in the voices Wallis uses to portray each individual, displaying a wide range of dialects and accents so seamless and so suited to each that the listener will forget that only one person is doing the narration. Rumpole's asides, internal meanderings, and quotations of poetry and other commentary are conveyed with the humor they deserve in this thoroughly enjoyable collection. S.S.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine