Frank & Fearless

When I walked through the office door each day, I knewthat almost every decision I made would make somebody unhappy. If I decided toprosecute someone, he or she would be unhappy. If I decided not to prosecute, avictim or a police officer or both would be unhappy. If I decided to appealagainst an inadequate sentence, the prisoner would be unhappy; if I declined toappeal, the law-and-order brigade would erupt.

For sixteen-and-a-half years, Nicholas Cowdery was Directorof Public Prosecutions for New South Wales. During this time, he immersedhimself in the worst and saddest of human behaviour as he examined cases inforensic detail. And when he made unpopular decisions he had to reckon withcriticism from politicians, media, victims, perpetrators and their families.

In Frank & Fearless, Cowdery reflects on some ofthe most notorious and difficult cases of his distinguished career, includingthe headline-grabbing criminal trials of Gordon Wood, Keli Lane and JeffreyGilham. He also writes about lesser-known cases involving drugs and voluntaryassisted dying, and the need for law reform. All the while, he fights for a fair trial for all concerned. This gripping bookreveals the workings of our criminal justice system from the inside.

'Frank & Fearlessis not only the ultimate insider's account of some of the state's most sensational murder trials, it is also an account of one man's valiant battle against political and media forces to ensure that justice was done. Society owes Nick Cowdery a debt of gratitude.' - Kate McClymont

'From inside the machine - a powerful memoir of justice pursued in the face of fallible judges, law 'n' order politicians and the tabloid press.' - David Marr

'Nicholas Cowdery's candid and measured account of his more than 16 years as NSW Director of Public Prosecutions (basicallydeciding if the cases that come before him should go to court) is sobering,but a testament to his resilience in an extremely testing job...Whatcomes through amounts to a portrait of admirably calm, considered deliberation at work.'- Steven Caroll, The Sydney Morning Herald

Nicholas Cowdery AM QC was the Director of Public Prosecutions for New South Wales (known as the DPP) from 1994 to 2011. Previously he had been a barrister since 1971, working in Papua New Guinea and at the Sydney Bar. Since then he has focused on helping developing countries improve the rule of law, especially through professional prosecution systems, and giving advice on how to maintain the rule of law in Australia. Nick is a University of New South Wales visiting professorial fellow.

Rachael Jane Chin (LLB, BA, University of Adelaide) practised as a lawyer before becoming a non-fiction writer. Her first book, Nice Girl: The story of Keli Lane and her missing baby Tegan, was published in 2011. From 2002 to 2004 she was employed as a journalist by the Australian Financial Review.

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