Blind Justice

Bruce Alexander

6/20/2000

In mid-18th century London, Sir John Fielding, along with his brother Henry Fielding, were famous for setting up the Bow Street Runners. Sir John is a magistrate in the London courts and has a reputation of being fair and sympathetic when needed. He is very strict when he feels the crime has been committed, not a man to be crossed.

Sir John has one obvious physical problem. He is blind. He does not let that stop him. He recognizes with his ears the way most do by eyesight. In this piece of fiction, he takes on 13-year-old Jeremy Proctor when Jeremy first arrives in London. He takes Jeremy into his home as he is pulled into the investigation of a crime.

Lord Goodhope has been shot in the head in his own library. At first the apparent signs are of suicide. Sir John quickly realizes that instead the Lord was murdered. The butler and footman had had to break into the room after the shot was heard. They found him in the locked room, dead. Sir John puts Jeremy to use as eyes while he pulls the strings of the puzzle.

I enjoyed this book. It is told from Jeremy's viewpoint. Although "writing this many years later" the young Jeremy easily describes his reactions to his new surrounding and life. He lets us know he is frustrated when he is dismissed from some of the more interesting conversations. He admires Sir John. The admiration shines through even as the older Jeremy remininces. The murder was cunning. I did figure it out half way through, probably about the same time Sir John realized the truth. He had the job of proving it, though, that I didn't. Thank goodness for that! You won't be disappointed by the book.

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