Do you read more in the summer, on the beach or in your garden?

I came across this excellent list of legal fiction on the blog of Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, Canada.

I’d like to add three suggestions of my own:

The Penge Bungalow Murders – John Mortimer finally relates the first and most famous case of the barrister Rumpole of the Bailey.

Going back in time, to when police duties overlapped with those of magistrats, I really enjoy the series of books set in 18th century Paris featuring Nicolas Le Floch, written by the diplomat Jean-François Parot. Here are the names of the English translations (also available in Spanish, Russian and Japanese), but I heartily recommend the French originals.

From a linguistic point of view, and although they are more crime than legal fiction (give or take some corrupt notaries), I just have to include the Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri. Read them in the original version if you possibly can – the author created his own special blend of a local dialect, the Sicilian language and Italian, plus other dialects (see here for further details in Italian).

Please do comment below and share your favourites, in any language!

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Credit: I found the Osgoode blog via Margaret Marks at Transblawg.