John Mortimer Died Leaving Unfinished Rumpole Novel

In a follow-up on the death of mystery writer John Mortimer, the Telegraph is reporting that the author died leaving an unfinished Rumpole of the Bailey novel.

Tentatively titled Rumpole and the Younger Generation, the London barrister was to become a victim of crime, attacked by a gang following a concert in Oxford at which his niece performed.

"Sadly I don't think there is any hope of it being published now as there just wasn't enough of it, unless, of course, we could find a writer who might be prepared to take it on," said Tony Lacey, the publishing director at Penguin and Mortimer's long-standing editor.

Hmm. We are aware of several unfinished novels being completed, sometimes by a ghost writer, other times by well-known authors, and while for the most part it works out well, we would prefer that the body of Mortimer's work remain as it is. Though Rumpole was tireless in his efforts and his work was never done, the existence of an unfinished novel has its own charm and adds a quiet, ironic footnote to the series.

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