Unlawful Killings

Judge Wendy Joseph’s gripping account of the law at work reads like a cliffhanger … Joseph is a deft deployer of suspense and nuance … She is funny too, with a keen eye for the absurdities of the human condition – Kathryn Hughes * Sunday Times *‘UNLAWFUL KILLINGS reads like a really terrific novel. It is riveting, thought-provoking, and very, very entertaining. I loved it.’ – Roddy DoyleAbsolutely superb. 5 stars for sheer readability alone. Her Honour entertains as she educates us about murder, about the law and about how we human beings are shaped as we create the culture we live with. – Philippa Perry, author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had ReadFascinating, propulsive and beautifully written, this is an extraordinary insight into the heart and mind of a judge as they witness the best and worst of humanity. I couldn’t put it down. – Sarah Langford, author of In Your DefenceFresh, compelling, well-written and unflinchingly authentic. – Emily Penninck * the i newspaper *I really enjoyed this book. If ever I was on trial I would want my judge to be this one. She is compassionate, in control and understands the reality that exists outside the courtroom. Anyone who has worked in the Crown Court would recognise how true to life the court room scenes are. The fictional crime scenarios make compelling stories. What is unique is that they are placed in a wider context which challenges the assumptions that lie behind our criminal justice policy. A great read for those who want to understand how the system works now and why it is going wrong. – Cherie Blair CBE QCI inhaled this: brilliant, clear-eyed, compassionate and fascinating. – Olivia Potts, author of A Half Baked IdeaThe most exceptional book I’ve read in a long time. As a police officer in a former life I was mostly terrified of judges, so it was incredible to have this glimpse behind the pomp and ceremony of criminal court. Readers will be intrigued by the insight into the mechanics of the law, but what really makes this sing is its humanity. I was moved to tears on more than one occasion, and am heartened to know there is such compassion among our judges. – Clare MackintoshA gripping, disturbing and deeply humane exploration of the darkest side of the human condition, from a judge who has seen it all. I devoured Unlawful Killings in a single sitting. I cannot recommend it highly enough. – The Secret BarristerBeautifully written and utterly gripping. – Joshua Rozenberg * A Lawyer Writes *

Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC was a judge at the Old Bailey until March 2022, sitting on criminal cases, trying mainly allegations of murder and other homicide. She read English and Law at Cambridge, was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1975, became a QC in 1998 and sat as a full-time judge from 2007 to 2022. When she moved to the Old Bailey in 2012 she was the only woman amongst sixteen judges, and only the third woman ever to hold a permanent position there. She was also a Diversity and Community Relations Judge, working to promote understanding between the judiciary and many different sectors of our community, particularly those from less privileged and minority groups. She mentors young people, from a variety of backgrounds, who hope for a career in law and has a special interest in helping women. Her first book, Unlawful Killings, won the Crime Writer’s Association ‘Gold Dagger’ for Non-fiction and was a Sunday Times bestseller.