I noted at the time that even in the case of murder in the novels, those decades as portrayed in the novels were a highly civilized period in England. Readers have let me know that they, also, have found relief from our woeful times in the civilized recent past described in British mystery novels.

As an aside, I cannot help but say that ideological feminists who claim the oppression of women are ignorant beyond belief. Female authors became very wealthy. Their books sold in millions of copies–and not only to women. Successful movies were made of the books. At least two and perhaps all four of those mentioned above received national recognition by being named "Dames of the British Empire." As my friend, Peter Bauer, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, told me on his elevation to the peerage, Britain has always been a society open to ability. Alas, no more, with merit displaced by race, gender, and sexual preference, the British have returned to the status-based society of the feudal era. Merit is nowhere in sight.

But I am drifting off again into our distressing era. I chose John Grisham as my author for relief from today's reality, and as soon as I did realized I have made a mistake and have again landed us in distress as John Grisham is one of the most truthful tellers of the utter corruption of our time.

I am going to go forward with it, regardless. But next time the author will be Louis L'Amour, the author of US western frontier stories that certainly are an escape from the present world.

Grisham is everywhere praised for his "storytelling abilities." But he is not telling stories. He is describing our world. Grisham is thoroughly familiar with the American criminal justice system, and justice is the last thing that it delivers.