Having read Wendy Joseph's previous book – Unlawful Killings – I was keen to see if she could repeat that excellence. I needn't have been worried – Rough Justice is every but as good.
This time, Joseph focuses on women in the criminal system – both the accused and those who work in the courts. Each case is told with compassion and not a little humour.. The humanity of the people involved is preserved and the hard decisions made clear.
Joseph does a remarkable job at revealing what really happens in a Crown Court, far better than any TV series and for that she should be applauded.

Having thoroughly enjoyed reading Unlawful Killings I was thrilled to see a new book by the save author. Continuing with the same amusing, highly informative and relatable style of writing, Rough Justice presents firsthand experience of how justice is delivered in the biggest court in the country, The Old Bailey in London. The author has many years experience as a KC and now judge and brings this extensive knowledge and passion for the legal system to readers but with an honest approach to how the complexities of life, the law, jurors and witnesses ,victims and defendants can all mean that justice can be certainly difficult to serve.
I highly recommend reading this book to give such an appreciation for the system we are fortunate to have and maybe where there is still room for its growth and improvement as times change.

Thank you to NetGallery for this advance copy of Rough Justice.

Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC writes beautifully. I previously enjoyed her debut book, Unlawful Killings.

Joseph has a knack for explaining complex law concepts succinctly for the lay person, which is clearly a skill gained from years of instructing juries. She always shows great humanity towards all who enter her court, although she doesn’t suffer fools gladly, including high level ‘silks’.

The cases she covers are complex and thought provoking, and never clear cut, which reflects the criminal justice system. The loss of one star in this review is for the lack of closure on a few of the cases she included in this book. It would have been good to know what the verdicts and sentences were in those cases.

The comparisons with historical similar cases was a good touch in terms of seeing how far our justice system has come over hundreds of years.

I enjoyed the insights of what it is like to be a juror, as well as anyone that has a role at The Old Bailey. So many people have parts to play in criminal trials, and Joseph explains and covers these parts beautifully.

It is clear that Joseph cares deeply about justice, it’s history and where it heads in the future. She raises useful and interesting points for improvement and development. An engaging and very well written read.

Four very different cases are presided over by an experienced and respected High Court Judge, Her Honour Wendy Joseph, all of which highlight the complexities and potential failings of the British legal system. Some parts are referenced back to similar cases as far back as two or three hundred years ago. Elaboration of the legal system’s procedures is explained in everyday layman’s terms which makes for an easier read.

The author has managed to include in her writing hints of non-prejudicial humour, to otherwise four very serious criminal cases at the Old Bailey, with her own unique personality in the telling. This is a truly enlightening and engaging book and has certainly made me more aware of the responsibilities and challenges faced by High Court Judges, which far exceeds their often misunderstood roles.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Random House for this e-APC. The above comments are mine alone. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who has a general interest in British law.

I love Wendy Jospeh's first book and Rough Justice is brilliant. In it she focused on women and how they are treated by the justice system and by society. I was enlightened by her role in the trial as well as jurors and the barristers/lawyers. She looks at how much we've moved on in time (sometimes not very much) but also highlights some outdated laws that only changed recently. It is fascinating seeing her thinking through the cases and looking at it from the human side but also the law side. I highly recommend it.

Old Bailey judge Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC talks the reader through four very different cases, each looking at the women in the dock and wonders how easy it is for any one of us to be in a court, whether that be a member of the jury, a witness or the person on trial. And, as she looks into these four cases, she discovers horrifying similarities between now and possible miscarriages of justice from years ago and wonders if the law has changed and how the law affects the marginalised and the easily exploited?

A few years ago, I audiobooked Unlawful Killings, Her Honour Wendy Joseph’s KC debut non-fiction and it was one of my fave reads of that year as I found it a fascinating insight into the legal system (though it did make me question if I would be the right person to do jury duty if I was ever asked, even though I would see it as my civic duty). So, when I discovered that she wrote another book, I requested it on NetGalley (even though my NetGalley Review Rating is not that great).

I am going to be honest, I didn’t like this as much as I did Unlawful Killings, but I think the reason for this is because I audiobooked Unlawful Killings and I read Rough Justice, giving them both a very different feeling. I think, if I had audiobook Rough Justice, I would have enjoyed it more as the information would have been easier for me to understand and digest. Reading this, at times, felt very overwhelming and dry.

What was a surprise (I think I forgot this was in Unlawful Killings) was the humour. It was dry and sarcastic and the type of humour I quite enjoy reading in crime. It also was a nice balance against the four cases, each looking at women being at the heart of the case. Each case is different and very dark: sexual assault of a minor, child grooming linked to County Lines, murder, domestic abuse in a marriage, PTSD, child endangerment and coercive control. Because of this, at times, reading this is uncomfortable and you had to put the book down.

I did like this and was surprised how it made me think about the law and the justice system, which is struggling in the UK due to a number of reasons (better people can explain this in far greater detail than I) and whether the law is helping vulnerable people or is making it hard for people to get justice.

I do hope Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC does write another book (though I will be listening to audiobook, me thinks) and I may, one day, be brave and try to read more non-fiction novels about the UK legal/political systems … we shall see…

A fascinating piece of work by Wendy Joseph KC. Surely the first case presented in the book is compelling evidence for media coverage of any (and all) sexual assault trials, given the outcome? Throughout the book, source material is presented in a measured and sensitive manner. Joseph gives us insight into Court process in language which makes the book accessible for all. I like the comparisons with old cases, which allows us to reflect on how (and whether) things have changed. Through writing this book, Joseph seeks to ask whether we are achieving justice. I found ‘Rough Justice’ extremely interesting and Wendy Joseph's writing style very engaging. I also appreciated the focus on women. It's a book I would highly recommend and read again.

I really enjoyed Unlawful Killings by Wendy Joseph and was thrilled to have the opportunity of an early review copy of her latest book, Rough Justice, Her Honour has a wonderful way with words; she makes complex legal issues understandable for the lay reader and writes with compassion and humour. These qualities make enjoyable reading.

We like to believe that Britain has the best legal system in the world, but numerous high profile cases have raised doubts about the way in which justice is interpreted and applied. This book examines four very different cases in detail with the legal arguments presented and the issues raised explored. She draws on comparison with earlier similar cases and raises troubling questions as to whether or how much our legal system has improved and learned from past mistakes. Her insights are authoritative and the writing throughout is assured and direct. She seems a rare in ideal who has integrity and honour in every sense. I’ve really enjoyed this book and it gives much room for thought and reflection. Absolutely brilliant.

What a wonderfully thought through and written book. Wendy Jospeh was one of the country's top barristers and judges before retirement and she is now sharing her wisdom about the criminal justice system and how it works - or doesn't.

This is her second such book and it is comprehensive, forensic and compassionate, focusing mainly on crimes by and against women and how they are dealt with by the system.

This is something that is a must read for anyone involved in or fascinated by the law and it is rare that you find quite a technical book that flows so well and imparts its message with devastating face yet is still dryly humorous when appropriate.