Simon Michael: Barrister Turned Author

In this special bonus episode of Monstrous, Carrie sits down with Simon Michael—a former criminal barrister turned novelist, often called the “British John Grisham”—for a conversation rooted in real cases, courtroom tension, and the darker corners of human nature. After 37 years practicing law in the UK, including at the Old Bailey, Simon has prosecuted and defended some of the most serious criminal cases imaginable. Now an author of historical legal thrillers set in 1960s London, he draws directly from the cases he lived through—bringing a level of authenticity few writers can match. In this episode, Simon shares the story that launched his writing career, along with unforgettable moments from inside the justice system, including the eerie “waxwork corpse” case—where a body, preserved for nearly a decade at the bottom of a freezing lake, resurfaced in a way no one could have predicted. He also opens up about the psychological reality of defending people he suspected—or knew—were guilty, and the intense, sometimes dangerous moments that came with the job. Carrie and Simon explore the stark differences between UK and US legal systems, from jury selection to the unique “cab rank rule,” and what it really means to pursue justice when the system itself isn’t perfect. They also dive into Simon’s writing process, his antihero Charles Holborne, and how real-life violence, corruption, and moral ambiguity shape both his fiction and his worldview. The episode takes a true crime turn as Carrie recounts the chilling Texarkana Moonlight Murders—a 1946 killing spree by the still-infamous Phantom Killer—while Simon shares the story of London’s notorious Kray twins, whose reign of violence, political connections, and shocking crimes exposed just how far corruption could reach. Blending true crime, legal insight, and unsettling storytelling, this conversation pulls back the curtain on both the justice system and the monsters that move within it—sometimes hidden, sometimes protected, and sometimes closer than we’d like to believe. Follow Monstrous: https://linktr.ee/monstrouspod Find Simon Michael’s books: www.simonmichaelauthor.com Contact: [email protected]