Second outing for Secret Barrister at Picador

Picador has bought another book from the anonymous author of The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken. 

The as-yet untitled new book promises to “reveal the stupidity, malice and incompetence behind many of the biggest legal stories of recent years” with publication slated for spring 2020. The Secret Barrister will cross-examine the evidence to build a hilarious, alarming and eye-opening defence against the abuse of law, rights and democracy, the publisher said. 

Editor Kris Doyle acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Chris Wellbelove at Aitken Alexander Associates. 

Doyle said: “Too many of us think the law is just for criminals, but there’s terrifying legal stuff going on every single day that has a direct impact on your life, as the Secret Barrister will show you. Imagine the wit, incision and no-nonsense approach of The Establishment by Owen Jones crossed with Bad Science by Ben Goldacre applied to the law and you’ll have a good idea of what’s to come.”

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken has shifted 63,016 copies across all editions since being published in March, according to Nielsen BookScan, and was in the e-hardback non-fiction top 20 for around three months as well as becoming the subject of a £12,000 crowdfunding campaign which saw the book sent to every sitting MP.

It was based on anonymous writer's candid accounts on the Secret Barrister blog, and was acquired by Pan Mac last year.