The Fall Guy cover art

The Fall Guy

Rock 'n' Roll Murder in 1960s London (Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers, Book 10)

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The Fall Guy

By: Simon Michael
Narrated by: Colin Mace
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About this listen

Charles Holborne faces a new courtroom drama! Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Robert Bailey, Michael Connelly and Robert Dugoni.

London, 1969

The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who … Tin Pan Alley is the heart of London’s music scene.

It is also the dark heart of a ruthless business tainted by sex, drugs and corruption.

When a young fan is found dead from a heroin overdose at an American rock star’s accommodation and the band’s manager is charged with her murder, Charles Holborne, barrister, must defend him. But Holborne is getting married in two weeks, and for some reason DS Sean Sloane, his best man, refuses to speak to him.

Has Sloane been turned? What has a select group of corrupt Met officers known as ‘the Team’ to do with the case?

And is Holborne’s client the unscrupulous venal businessman he is portrayed or is he, perhaps, The Fall Guy?

THE FALL GUY is the tenth crime novel in an exciting historical series, the Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers – gritty, hard-boiled mysteries set in 1960s London.

THE CHARLES HOLBORNE LEGAL THRILLERS SERIES

BOOK ONE: The Brief

BOOK TWO: An Honest Man

BOOK THREE: The Lighterman

BOOK FOUR: Corrupted

BOOK FIVE: The Waxwork Corpse

BOOK SIX: Force of Evil

BOOK SEVEN: The Final Shot

BOOK EIGHT: Nothing But The Truth

BOOK NINE: Death, Adjourned

BOOK TEN: The Fall Guy

©2025 Simon Michael (P)2025 Simon Michael Thriller & Suspense Crime Fiction England Thriller

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Critic reviews

'Simon Michael’s Charles Holborne is one of crime fiction’s most compelling creations. The courtroom scenes crackle with energy, but it’s the depth of character and chilling plausibility that makes The Fall Guy unforgettable. Unflinching and superbly written' – Adam Croft, bestselling author of ‘The Rutland Crime Series’
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Love this series of books and this a latest one keeps up the momentum! Soon as I finished I felt sad that I couldn't immediately continue the story.
Can't wait for next in series!!!

GREAT SERIES

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really enjoyed this book. thought this one was very clever, takes you back to the first book. my fait runs side by side with judge pullman so this will most probably be my last adventure with charles. 🫡 its been great.

one of the best so far

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Great Narrator as always
Makes you laugh
Makes you cry
Makes you wonder just how much is fact

Brilliant story

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I have previously listened to this entire series and thoroughly enjoyed them all. This one is terrific!
I cannot wait for number 11!

Simon Michael's knowledge and experience is really brought to life in his amazing drama. Colin Mace as narrator is a perfect complement so much so that you feel like you are in the Old Bailey sitting right next to Mr Holborne.

If you have not enjoyed this series yet, please have a go. Simon Michael not only has amazing stories to tell based on real events, but also develops the characters throughout the series so that you feel you know them all personally.

It a great journey and I can't wait for it to continue. Roll on number 11!

10 out of 10 for number 10 in the series!!

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I absolutely love this series, each book as good as the last. I really hope there will be another one. Thank you Mr Michael for such an excellent read/listen. Beautifully written beautifully read, who could ask for more.

Another brilliant book.

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Can’t get enough. Finished in 48 hours. Great listen and another great book. Looking forward to the next one in the series

Another wonderful listen

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I've read all the books in the series each one is amazing. This one doesn't disappoint, each one keeps in with the fashion, music even the language of the era. thank you so much Mr Michael.

brilliant

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Yet another, great storyline from Simon Michael. More trials and tribulations, for Charles Horowitz. This is truly a most enjoyable series, superbly performed, yet again, by Colin Mace. Really looking forward to book 11.

I was waiting, quite a while, for book 10 in this series and it was well worth, the wait.

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I’ve only got a handful of go-to writers and narrators, that golden combo where the writing’s so good and the narrator (Colin Mace) delivers like he’s lived every word. The Charles Holborne series - top of the pile. No question.

Just finished Book 10, and I’m already loitering around the pre-orders like a punter outside Ronnie Scott’s hoping for a last-minute ticket. I’m properly hooked — can’t get enough of this saga.

It’s London, but not the shiny postcard one — it’s the smoky, scrappy, swinging 60s version, full of music, malice, and more than a whiff of corruption. There’s rock ‘n’ roll, dodgy gigs, the odd scandal — the lot. And in amongst the chaos, we’ve got a murder case built on what feels like fresh air... until it suddenly isn’t.

The story never lets up. Just when you think you've got the measure of it -it twists again. Characters feel real, like people you might’ve shared a pint with or crossed the street to avoid. And if you know your SERCS history, well, there’s a moment in here that'll have you muttering “Bloody typical…” out loud to no-one.

What I love is it never feels far-fetched. It’s gritty but never grim, clever without being showy, and there’s proper heart in there — loyalty, friendship, life affirming moments, and then that lift every book needs.

So yes, Simon — wherever Book 11 is headed, I’m ready.

Still “charged” from Book 10 but ready for Book 11

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Another great yarn, and a thoroughly enjoyable chapter in the Charles Holborne series. What I love about these books is the well drawn and different characters, their trials, interactions and sometimes the sheer ordinariness of their lives. It makes them more real. This installment sees our intrepid barrister defending a music promoter accused of facilitating drug taking and possibly murdering a young teenage girl. The twists and turns within the book are again cleverly disguised, though I thought the overall plot was probably weaker than previous novels in the series. That said I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the 11th book in the adventures of Charles, Sally and of course Seán Sloane.

Music is my first love!!!!

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