Easing the Passing: The Trial of Doctor John Bodkin Adams

An excellent book

Prior to this book, a judge had never written an account of case over which he presided, and this book was highly controversial when it came out. The case itself, of a doctor accused of murdering his patients to receive legacies under their wills was remarkable, and because of this, the prosecution was led by the Attorney General. Lord Devlin's account of the trial is fascinating. He describes, and is highly critical of, the Attorney's conduct of the case, which was a furthur cause of controversy, and of criticism directed toward the author. Lord Devlin answers his critics, frankly and winningly, in an afterward. Lord Devlin includes a great deal of background information on the judiciary and the traditions by which the government and judiciary operated at that time. The book is so engaging, is so informative on matters that would ordinarily never come to public attention, and the writing so well crafted, one must be grateful it was published against precedent.