On Appeal, by Jonathan Davies (Coronet, £5.99 in UK)

Rather endearingly old fashioned, this one

Rather endearingly old fashioned, this one. Dusty robes hanging in chambers, lawyers being polite to one another, courtroom histrionics kept to a low ebb. Hilda Forgan has been found guilty of the murder of her elderly aunt, not even the legendary skills of her defending counsel, Geoffrey Galbraith, being able to persuade the jury of her innocence. Now the case has gone to an appeal, but no one is willing to represent her. No one, that is, until Jeremy Scott steps into the breach. He follows the evidence like a dog with a bone, worrying it until it gives up some new clues. A leisurely read, to pass the length of a rainy winter day.