In this special bonus episode of Monstrous, Carrie sits down with Simon Michael—a former criminal barrister turned novelist, often called the “British John Grisham”—for a conversation rooted in real cases, courtroom tension, and the darker corners of human nature.

After 37 years practicing law in the UK, including at the Old Bailey, Simon has prosecuted and defended some of the most serious criminal cases imaginable. Now an author of historical legal thrillers set in 1960s London, he draws directly from the cases he lived through—bringing a level of authenticity few writers can match.

In this episode, Simon shares the story that launched his writing career, along with unforgettable moments from inside the justice system, including the eerie “waxwork corpse” case—where a body, preserved for nearly a decade at the bottom of a freezing l ...