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Simon Michael
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The Waxwork Corpse: A legal thriller with a chilling twist (Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers Book 5) Kindle Edition

by Simon Michael (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 719 ratings
Charles Holborne is back – with his strangest case to date! Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Robert Bailey, Michael Connelly and Robert Dugoni.

A deadly crime has been dragged to the surface…

London, 1965

Charles Holborne, maverick barrister, will never fit in at the Bar; he is too working-class, too Jewish and too dangerous.

But that makes him the perfect outsider to prosecute a shocking murder case which has already made its way to the press. By chance, a body was found, dumped in a lake.

It had clearly been there for some time, but the conditions in the water have meant that it was nearly perfectly preserved.

The police have managed to match this ‘waxwork corpse’ to a missing woman and if her husband – a senior judge – was the one who killed her, the scandal threatens to rock the British justice to its foundations.

The waxwork corpse is not the only thing to be raised from the past. The investigation also dredges up a violent mistake made by Charles in his youth which, if revealed, could put his own life at stake…

THE WAXWORK CORPSE, based on a real Old Bailey case, is the fifth crime novel in an exciting historical series, the Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers – gritty, hard-boiled mysteries set in 1960s London.

THE CHARLES HOLBORNE LEGAL THRILLERS SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Brief
BOOK TWO: An Honest Man
BOOK THREE: The Lighterman
BOOK FOUR: Corrupted
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
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  1. Book 5 of 9
    Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers
  2. Print length
    355 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    December 23, 2019
  5. File size
    1.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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There are 9 books in this series.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ZTHJVG3
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books (December 23, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 23, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 355 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 719 ratings

About the author

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Simon Michael

Simon Michael

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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.

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4.5 out of 5 stars
719 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the plots brilliant and intriguing. They enjoy the books as independent stories that stand on their own. The writing quality is also praiseworthy, with good character development and intelligent writing style.

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ReadabilityWriting quality
5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the plots brilliant and the series intriguing. The books stand alone as independent stories that are less a mystery novel and more like literary fiction. Readers appreciate the depth of background stories about Charles' life.

"...The Waxwork Corpse” is likely the best mystery in the Charles Holborne series, and that’s saying a lot, giving the quality of the stories that..." Read more

"...is very well written, full of good character development, and a pleasure to read." Read more

"...I so enjoy the wonderfully flawed characters and the depth of background stories of Charles' Iife and of the brilliant plots...." Read more

"...Each book stands as an independent story and can be read outside of the others, but it's been an intriguing journey discovering Charlie's early life..." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing quality. They say it's well-written, with good character development, and worth the wait.

"...The book is very well written, full of good character development, and a pleasure to read." Read more

"...They are so worth the wait. Michael writes intelligently and nimbly. These novels beautifully reflect the time period in which they are written...." Read more

"...This beautifully written book outshines Simon Michael's previous books - and I really loved those! Highly recommended." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Glynn Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars A series that gets better and better
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020
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    Charles Holborne, World War II hero, Cambridge graduate, and now a London barrister, grew up in London’s East End as Charlie Horowitz, son of a Jewish tailor, would-be boxer, and a young man unafraid to use his fists. With a growing defense practice spilling over to other attorneys in his chambers, Charles finds himself in an odd position. He’s being asked to prosecute a case for the Crown, and at first the solicitor bringing the case to him won’t tell him the name of the person being scrutinized for possible wrongdoing.

    The person turns out to be a high court judge. The crime is the murder of his wife, whose body has just been found submerged in a lake. She disappeared more than a decade before. The woman flaunted her affairs with a succession of men, she treated their children shabbily at best, and she alienated virtually everyone who came into contact with her. The judge had borne her infidelities for years; what could have made him kill her at that particular time?

    The home where the crime likely occurred had been sold to other people, but the police tear it apart, looking for evidence of murder. And they find it. The judge is charged, and the parties proceed to trial. Charles’s life becomes a bit more complicated when a man from his past recognizes him as someone who likely beat his friend to death during the London Blitz. And the man tries his hand at blackmail.

    “The Waxwork Corpse” by Simon Michael is the fifth in the Charles Holborne mystery and suspense series, and it’s a fascinating turn for the London barrister. As the trial is set to begin, his father moves in with him, separating from Charles’s mother after decades of marriage. Charles has been estranged from his family; they’re observant Jews and he likes nothing better than a bacon sandwich. Cut off from the family for marrying a Gentile wife, a reconciliation has only recently been brought about. But things still are tense.

    The author manages all of these threads expertly, winding them through each other so skillfully that the story seems less a mystery novel and more like literary fiction.

    Michael is the author of five novels in the Charles Holborne series, with a sixth set to be published in November. 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.

    “The Waxwork Corpse” is likely the best mystery in the Charles Holborne series, and that’s saying a lot, giving the quality of the stories that preceded it.
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  • CJ-MO
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written legal thriller with a surprising twist at the end
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2020
    Charles Holborne is a barrister in London in the 1960s and is called in on a very sensitive case. The wife of Sir Anthony Steele, one of England’s top judges, disappeared years ago. Her body has now been discovered and Sir Anthony is the prime suspect. Charles must review the evidence, determine if a case can be made, and if so, present the evidence in court for the Crown. It is essential for Charles to be sure of his facts since Sir Anthony is such an important man. While handling the most important case of his life, Charles must also face things from his own violent past coming back to haunt him as well as dealing with problems within his own family.

    “The Waxwork Corpse” is the fifth book in this series, but the first I have read. The murder mystery itself stands on its own and I really enjoyed it. I was surprised when I read in the historical note at the end of the book that parts of the book are based on an actual case. The book is well researched and well-written. The case is intriguing and the twist at the end really surprised me. I like the way Charles works with the investigators to try to get to the truth of the case. I was a little disappointed with the way things ended in the case, but appreciate the plot twist.

    I like the character of Charles and enjoyed the touching moments between him and his father. Charles has been estranged from his parents because Charles has rejected his Jewish religion and culture. The details about Jewish holidays and traditions included in the book fit in well with this storyline and are very informative and interesting. This subplot was easy to catch up on even though this is the first book I’ve read in this series. However, the subplot about Charles’s more violent past and how that time in his life leads to events in the present is harder to relate to without having read the prior books. That subplot was my least favorite part of the story. Overall, I really liked the book and am interested to see what happens next for Charles. Charles makes an interesting comment related to his personal life at the end that could affect future books and will be especially interesting to those who have been following the series from the beginning.

    I received this book through the courtesy of Sapere books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Richard Seligman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simon Michael Does It Again!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    "The Waxwork Corpse" is the fifth book in the series about Charles Holborne, British barrister who specializes in criminal law. Holborne works as a defense barrister, representing people accused of crimes, and also as a prosecutor, representing the Crown. This book includes a terrific courtroom segment where Holborne must use his very best lawyering skills to effectively prosecute a high-ranking judge who has been accused of murder. The book is very well written, full of good character development, and a pleasure to read.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another gripping story in the Charles Holborne series
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I have now read all the Charles Holborne nove!s and will be one of those impatient readers who want the next one as soon as possible. They are so worth the wait. Michael writes intelligently and nimbly. These novels beautifully reflect the time period in which they are written. I so enjoy the wonderfully flawed characters and the depth of background stories of Charles' Iife and of the brilliant plots. I highly recommend this novel along with all the novels in this series.
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  • Jill B
    4.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling crime drama
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2020
    This is the fifth in this series but my first reading of this author. It’s a good standalone but probably an excellent addition once you know the players. . Set in the sixties, this was actually based on a real-life case which was fascinating. With a hefty dose of anti-semitism our protagonist faces a case that could have major political implications. Well written, great legal analysis, and solid characters elevate above the average crime novel.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Pradeep A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars An accomplished writer
    Reviewed in India on November 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The.plot was intriguing, well.paced. The use if language sublime.

    A period well written court case grant one NY The horns.
    Hard to out down.
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  • Michelle Ryles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional, outstanding and completely brilliant, this is Simon Michael at his finest
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a huge fan of Simon Michael's Charles Holborne series and I made sure that I had this fifth instalment on preorder so that it dropped onto my kindle on release day. Although it took me a few weeks to get round to reading it, I can definitely say that it was well worth waiting for.

    Simon Michael has taken the Charles Holborne series to the next level with The Waxwork Corpse; not only do we get to see Charles at his lowest ebb but, as it says on the cover, there is a huge twist in this book. I wasn't going to refer to this at all as it feels like a bit of a spoiler, but all I will say is that it's an absolutely brilliant jaw-dropping ending to an outstanding book.

    My heart really went out to Charles in this book. The prejudice he experiences is a common theme throughout the whole series but it seems to really reach a head in The Waxwork Corpse. Not only do his peers look down their noses at him because of his Jewish ancestry and his East End upbringing, but his mother has basically disowned him because he refuses to conform to the Jewish faith. Millie Horowitz is a very bitter woman and when she stops speaking to Charles she turns her forked tongue on her long suffering husband.

    Of course, it wouldn't be a Charles Holborne legal thriller without a court case and what a case it is! Charles is not afraid to take on a high profile case, after all he has nothing to lose and this case of the murdered wife of a judge resonates with Charles as he was in a similar situation in The Brief. This time, Charles is on the prosecution rather than being the accused and I loved reading about sifting through the collection of evidence and flashbacks to the judge's past.

    I actually didn't think Simon Michael's writing had any room for improvement but oh my goodness some of the descriptions in The Waxwork Corpse gave me goosebumps. The description of Tiffen's Rock on the shore of Wastwater is simply sublime, but one sentence stood out among others and I'd like to share it here. During one of Charles' own flashbacks during the blitz, he is out with his cousin Izzy when the air raid sirens start sounding and with searchlights scanning the skies for enemy aircraft, Simon Michael writes:
    "London holds its breath."
    Never before have four words been so powerful and held such meaning. It feels like Simon Michael has carefully chosen every single one of his words and they all fit together perfectly to complete the jigsaw of The Waxwork Corpse.

    Scarily true to life The Waxwork Corpse is actually based on a real life case and you can find out more about the Lady in the Lake in Wastwater if you google it. I love that crossover between fact and fiction in novels, although we love to escape through fiction there's something special about books that feel true to life. I always love it when a book interests me so much that I end up heading off to google to find out more.

    Exceptional, outstanding and completely brilliant, The Waxwork Corpse, is Simon Michael at his finest. This phenomenal series blasts all other legal thrillers out of the water and I can't recommend it highly enough. Simon Michael, you're accused of stealing all five stars. How do you plead? GUILTY!
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  • Dr A D Buss
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another polished story in the Charles Holborne Series.
    Reviewed in Australia on June 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Expertly crafted with a very believable tale. A great read with a somewhat surprising and subtle twist.
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  • M. Donovan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoying this series of books. Easy to read. Worth starting at the beginning of the series to track Charles progress in his private and past lives
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  • Nigel Adams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Real Life + A brilliant fictional Character = one amazing story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The Waxwork Corpse Simon Michael

    Simon Michael’s books are up there with my favourites.

    This series of legal thrillers set through the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s are fictional, but, and it’s a big but, each book is set around things that actually happened.

    Readers will recognise some of the Gangland names that the Barrister Charles Holborne meets and deals with. They will recognise some of the periphery characters and will be aware of some of the crimes that took place, some of which are almost urban legend, some of which were national headlines.

    In this case Simon Michael has used a less well known case and spun his own story around it, a story that so closely resembles the real life happenings that it is almost a documentary of the crime and the court case. There is even a nod to one of the main, real life protagonists, in the name of one of the main characters in the book.

    When the body of a woman is fished from the depths of Britain’s deepest lake it has the appearance of a waxwork dummy wrapped in plastic sheeting. What it actually is, is the remains of a woman that has been missing for over 10 years.

    Her husband quickly becomes a suspect in her murder and Charles Holborne is asked to help prosecute the man.

    Charles battles with the dilemma of sitting at the prosecution table, he usually represents the defendants, and the possible outcomes of prosecuting such a high profile defendant.

    The case makes national headlines, as did the real one, and Holborne is thrust into the limelight. This brings someone from his past life, during the early years of World War Two, out of the woodwork. Somebody who Charles would rather not have to deal with.

    In another reflection of true life Charles is battling anti-Semitism inside and outside of the court. As a “lapsed” practitioner of the Jewish Faith he is also battling with his own family.

    Every page of this book brings something to the story.

    The crime and trial are addictive reading on their own, but throw in all of the issues in Charles’ own life, and it moves to a whole new level of crime writing.

    An absolutely stunning addition to what is already a brilliant series.
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