Just out: New books

Criminal defence lawyer Ruth Mancini has written a chilling study of class, motherhood and  power. When a young mother is accused of poisoning her own child, criminal defence lawyer Sarah Kellerman sets out in desperate pursuit of the truth. But when her own child becomes unwell, Sarah realises she has been drawn into a dangerous game.

Barrister Sarah Langford offers a warts-and-all account, describing 11 cases encompassing both family and criminal law. These cases range from domestic fall-out, everyday burglary and sexual indiscretion to children caught up in the law. This page-turner gets to the heart of whether or not the legal system delivers justice, impartiality and fair judgment. As Langford writes in the foreword: ‘I hope you will also discover what it feels like to be the one in the wig, standing up before judge and jury as an instrument of the system.’