Stuff Your Kindle Day: Discover books made free by authors for a limited time
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$0.00 with 100 percent savings
Digital List Price: $4.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Simon Michael
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

An Honest Man: Law and disorder in 1960s London (Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Simon Michael (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,156 ratings
Charles Holborne is back in an exciting legal thriller! Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Robert Bailey, Michael Connelly and Robert Dugoni.

Corruption is at the core of the English justice system…

London, 1963

Barrister Charles Holborne may have just escaped the hangman by proving he was framed for murder, but his life is now in ruins.

His wife is dead, his high-flying career has morphed into criminal notoriety, and bankruptcy threatens.

So it seems too good to be true when the brief of a lifetime lands on his desk – with a pay check to match.

But as Charles delves deeper into the police corruption and warring criminal gangs involved in the case, he realises his reputation – and his life – could once more be on the line…

Can Charles win the case without compromising his integrity?

Or will he fail to remain An Honest Man…?

AN HONEST MAN is the second crime novel in an exciting historical series, the Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers – gritty, hard-boiled mysteries set in 1960s London.

‘gripping and utterly compelling… Brilliant! A must read.’ – RC Bridgestock, author of the best-selling DI Dylan series

‘Michael brings something new to the crime and courtroom genre. Set against the grimy underbelly of 1960s London, his accuracy and authenticity make this an absolute must-read for crime fans who value thought and content over furious action, however spectacular.’ – Crime Review

‘a terrific story that could only be based in 1960’s London’ – Nigel Adams Bookworm Blog

‘This series excites me, it is solid, well written, well plotted and imagined. If you enjoy crime books with a bit of originality then I think you would like this one’ – Reflections of a Reader Blog

‘An exceptional novel by an exceptional writer. Charles Holborne is an utterly convincing and compelling fictional creation – I came to have the same sense of attachment to this honourable yet beleaguered barrister that I have for characters such as Philip Marlowe or Maigret… I recommend this book to all those who love fine writing, a scintillating story, and a central character that captivates both the heart and the mind; a character who will exist in the imagination of the reader long after the final page has been read’ – Mark Mayes, author of The Gift Maker

THE CHARLES HOLBORNE LEGAL THRILLERS SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Brief
BOOK TWO: An Honest Man
BOOK THREE: The Lighterman
BOOK FOUR: An Honest Man
BOOK FIVE: The Waxwork Corpse
BOOK SIX: Force of Evil
BOOK SEVEN: The Final Shot
BOOK EIGHT: Nothing But The Truth
BOOK NINE: Death, Adjourned
BOOK TEN: The Fall Guy
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 2 of 10
    Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers
  2. Print length
    299 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    July 15, 2019
  6. File size
    1.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 10 books in this series.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start over
Previous page
  4. Precipice: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
  23. The Heretic
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
Next page
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A macabre ghost ship adrift off the coast of Maine, a nest of islanders bristling with dark history, an ex-con/prodigal son and a lone cop allied against a depraved criminal network, a boy on the run from violence who must shelter a young woman who seems to have emerged from the sea itself—all woven together so deftly, and with such intensity of feeling, that the reader must simply hang on as the waves keep coming—and man do they come. An Honest Man is one hell of a ride, and Michael Koryta is a master at the helm."
 ―Tim Johnston, NYT Bestselling author of Descent and The Current

"Elegantly written, stark and gorgeous. Michael Koryta is a treasure, and his skillful wisdom with character and setting and emotion are unmatched. An Honest Man will captivate you from page one. It is wry and knowing, ridiculously immersive, and utterly heartbreaking. It's a story that feels not only truly told, but actually true...aching with the bitterness of reality, and the danger that comes not only from greed, but also from love. I will admit, Michael Koryta makes me cry every time. This is terrific book by a supremely gifted storyteller."―Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling and award-winning author

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07SM9ZFFL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 15, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 299 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913028749
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 10 ‏ : ‎ Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,156 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Simon Michael

Simon Michael

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Simon Michael, often referred to as “the British John Grisham”, is the author of the best-selling London 1960s legal crime thrillers featuring his antihero barrister, Charles Holborne. Holborne, born Charlie Horowitz, is a former heavyweight boxer and occasional criminal who was once known by his former East End associates at "the Yiddisher Brick Shithouse". Now he's a barrister, battling prejudice, entitlement and corruption in his West End profession.

Simon was published in the UK and the US in the 1980s and returned to writing when he retired from the law in 2016. The Charles Holborne series, now nine books, have garnered strong reviews for their authenticity and excitement and are under contract for a TV series.

Simon’s tales from the Bar and the plots for his novels are based on his criminal practice, his life and that of his own family. Refugees from the Spanish Inquisition, the Michael family arrived in the Port of London in 1492 and remained in the East End for the next 450 years. Simon believes himself to be the only member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple formerly to have been a council labourer, a van driver and a gardener. Once qualified he practised as a barrister for 37 years, working at the Old Bailey and other criminal courts, defending and prosecuting a wide selection of murderers, armed robbers, con artists and other assorted villainy. The era about which he writes, the 1960s, was the “wild west” of British justice, a time when the Krays, the Richardsons and other violent gangs fought for control of London’s organised crime, and the corrupt Metropolitan Police beat up suspects, twisted evidence and took a share of the criminal proceeds. Simon weaves into his thrillers real events of the time, the cases on which he worked, and his unusual family history.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,156 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Glynn Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding legal drama
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Charles Holborne is approaching desperation. He’s getting no legal cases at chambers, except where he can tag along with junior barristers. He’s behind on his rent and overdrawn at the bank. He survived being charged with the death of his wife (“The Brief”) but it seems he’s become untouchable. And then Sally, the clerk from his former chambers falls into his life, and what had been a dearth of work becomes a flood.

    The big cases is defending an elderly attorney accused of conspiring with criminals in a diamond heist. The attorney is known for close connections to various criminal enterprises, but the evidence looks planted. Charles takes the case on.

    In the meantime, his father becomes ill and appears to have had a small stroke. Charles has been estranged from his family; in college, he turned his back on his Jewish heritage and changed his name. His mother is still unhappy with him.

    “An Honest Man” is the second in the Charles Holborne Legal Thriller series by British author Simon Michaels. Set in 1960s London, it’s a time of the Profumo / Christine Keeler scandal bringing down a government, of when criminal gangs were almost out of control, and of when there were almost as many crooked as honest police officers. It’s a top-notch story, with an account of a trial that makes the book almost impossible to put down. Michael draws upon his extensive experience in and knowledge of criminal law, and he knows how to tell a riveting story.

    Michael is the author of five novels in the Charles Holborne series. He studied law at Kings College, London University and was called to the Bar in 1978. He worked primarily in the field of criminal law until the late 1990s, when he focused his practice on clinical negligence. He began writing in the 1980s and resumed it when he retired from legal practice.

    “An Honest Man” is an outstanding legal drama story, and Michael manages to keep several mysteries and story threads going simultaneously. The conflicted Jewish-by-heritage attorney will not be bought and will not be compromised, and Michael knows exactly how to play that in a criminal and often dangerous world.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Phil P.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good legal drama
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    If you like court room drama and interesting characters, this is a book for you.

    Tension between the characters and yes, twists at the red
    Helpful
     Report
  • Richard Seligman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Charles Holborne Legal Thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Simon Michael has provided us with another exceptional legal thriller, "An Honest Man." This is the second book in his series featuring barrister Charles Holborne in 1960s London. For those who appreciate excellent novels about the British legal system, this book is for you. Michael, himself a barrister, writes factually about the criminal justice system in London in the 1960s. In addition to the Old Bailey, which plays a key role in the story, and leading character, Charles Holborne, Michael has created several other characters who are fully developed and fun to read about. Harry Robeson is a solicitor whose clients include leading London criminals. Sally is a senior clerk in Holborne's old law firm and holds a position that is highly unusual for a woman in 1960s London. Detective Sargeant "Tricky" West is a "bad" cop who plays a key role in the story as it unfolds. Michael is a masterful story-teller and extremely knowledgeable writer about the criminal branch of the British legal system. Although the characters are quite different, Michael's Charles Holborne brings to mind John Mortimer's Horace Rumpole (Rumpole of the Bailey). Readers of "An Honest Man" will certainly become hooked on the other volumes in this series.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ruth M Cohen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me reading till the small hours of the night!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this, the second of the Charles Holborne thrillers! Recommended for lovers of a good crime thriller and brilliant tales of London in the '60s. Can't wait for the next in this series. Although I need to catch up some sleep first!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • A Mother’s Musings 🌹
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great gangland courtroom drama!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2017
    "An Honest Man" by Simon Michael is the second in the Charles Holborne legal thriller series. Although this can easily be read as a standalone I personally recommend you to read the first one "The Brief" (which I found absolutely brilliant!) to learn more about Charles' background and how he's arrived at his current status in life a year later. I do like and admire Charles, he's a man's man with integrity and morals and should I ever require a barrister he would be my first choice by far!!
    The story is set in the courtroom more here than in the first book and the author's personal experience working many years as a barrister himself shows expertly in the professional writing and authenticity of the excellent courtroom scenes without boring the reader with any complex legal jargon. I particularly liked how court documents and witness statements were used within the trial - this was a very novel way of keeping the reader interested and a very original idea of relaying the facts of the case. I loved the involvement of the Kray Twins in the plot, I've always been fascinated by the London gangsters and hope that the next book in the series due out later this year "The Lighterman" will feature them heavily again. I was so disappointed when the book came to an end as I was really keen to see where the author was going with the storyline - I guess I'm just going to have to wait patiently till the next one in the series is out!!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Connie Teague
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good time passer
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Easy read. Not anything you have to think about. Good way to pass a rainy day away.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Donna L. O'Donnell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Pat
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Novel
    Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book is just as interesting as the first book in this series. The author has given us a look into how the legal system was back in 1960s. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
    Report
  • mark
    5.0 out of 5 stars Honest to goodness quality
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    An exceptional novel by an exceptional writer. Charles Holborne is an utterly convincing and compelling fictional creation – I came to have the same sense of attachment to this honourable yet beleaguered barrister that I have for characters such as Philip Marlowe or Maigret.

    Set in a London of the early sixties, replete with gangland violence, turf wars, dodgy coppers, and the ever louring presence of the Kray twins, we find Charles Holborne struggling to repair his personal and professional reputation after being falsely accused of killing his wife (this being the subject of the first in the series of Charles Holborne novels, “The Brief”, which I have yet to read). Holborne is on the verge of giving up the law, when he is asked to defend a solicitor charged with involvement in a major robbery.

    One is immediately gripped by the prologue, a crime is underway, the relevance and details of which are explored as the story progresses. The violence is naturalistic, non-showy, and more repugnant for that. From the offset, you know you are in the hands of a storyteller you can trust, a writer who has clearly honed his craft over many years.

    The courtroom scenes are magnificently handled. Such clarity and economy of description, coupled with pitch-perfect dialogue and the inherent drama of a courtroom, make for an exhilarating and enticing reading experience.

    Simon Michael writes beautifully in terms of phrasing, fidelity to human psychology, and, one must say, with great panache; and never a word wasted. The characters leap off the page, are three-dimensional and wholly believable. The settings are likewise skilfully and appropriately realised. Real streets, real flats, real pubs and prison cells – authenticity is the watchword throughout.

    Both Charles’s love life and family life are explored in a sensitive and nuanced manner. The scenes of intimacy are rendered more erotic by virtue of their honesty, by their acknowledgement of the sometimes humorous awkwardness of physical love.

    As the tension mounts during the final part of the trial, one is treated to a significant dramatic turnabout, which I, for one, did not see coming. But even this is as nothing compared to the shock of the ending – which of course is not an ending, but presumably the set-up for the third in the Charles Holborne series – and what a story that promises to be!

    As well as being high-quality literature, this novel (and surely its precursor) is clearly a candidate for what would surely be a successful film or television adaptation.

    I recommend this book to all those who love fine writing, a scintillating story, and a central character that captivates both the heart and the mind; a character who will exist in the imagination of the reader long after the final page has been read.
    Report
  • Daniel Sheppard
    3.0 out of 5 stars Started it, put it aside after 2 chapters. ...
    Reviewed in Canada on October 30, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Started it, put it aside after 2 chapters.
    May go back to it.
    A million characters and slow development.
    Still, I'll probably give it another chance.
    Report
  • Andrew Gough
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great plot, compelling read and frankly can't wait for ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A relatively new author and not yet one that is up amongst the bestsellers but give him time ...

    The advantage of this is that his books are more than reasonably priced but I can tell you that Simon Michael is definitely an author to follow. An Honest Man is Simon Michael's second book following on from his superb debut novel The Brief.

    Both books centre on Charles Holborn, a barrister who through a series of events in the first book is forced to turn into a private detective to clear his own name. The setting is East end London in the Sixties with the plots skirting in and out of the notorious gangland world.

    Great plot, compelling read and frankly can't wait for the next one. Simply sumptuous.
    Report
  • Joey Dean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, gripping read,
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    After reading this I have become addicted and am currently on book 3. I have listened to them on Audible which was excellent or read them on Kindle. Great for night time reading. They are brilliant, the writer, an ex-barrister, is a genius. What he doesn’t know about the law isn’t worth knowing.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report