Review of The Real Prime Suspect by Jackie Malton with Helene Mulholland

 

I was  apprehensive at first when I was approached to review The Real Prime Suspect as I had firmly in my mind Helen Mirren`s portrayal of DCI Jayne Tennyson in the television series Prime Suspect. At the time of watching the series, I was totally unaware of whom the character was based on, so it was an engrossing experience to embark on Jackie Malton`s memoir of her life in the police force.

The narrative follows Jackie through the long and difficult path of being female in law enforcement, the setbacks, downright insults and misogyny prevalent when she joined in the 1970s, aimed at female officers whose only wish was to equal their male counterparts in enforcing the law on every level. 

I enjoyed reading her humorous and, at times, heart-breaking, anecdotes about how she (and her female colleagues) were treated, they way she overcame virtually insurmountable hurdles to gain promotion to be the first  woman Detective Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police and yet retain her sense of humour, then having to leave the Job for health reasons.

What struck me most of all was her impressive honesty throughout. Mistakes made and learned from, a difficult posting to the Flying Squad which coloured her perceptions forever and made her more determined to overcome sexist attitudes in the Force: the heartbreak of losing valued colleagues, at the unsolved murder of an eight-year-old boy whose killer has never been found These are offset by her exhilaration in solving crimes and finding herself able to achieve two university degrees. There is also the despair and the pressure to deliver, which led her down the path of alcoholism – again overcome by determination, leading her to turn to helping others with the same addiction in prisons and widening the understanding of police forces country-wide concerning the relationship between drug and alcohol addiction, crime and rehabilitation.

 Jackie is a formidable woman with many strings to her bow. Approached by Lynda LaPlante to advise on Prime Suspect during her serving years, the series quickly became the model of her struggles and influenced many young women to join the Force. She also advised on The Bill, and other crime shows, drawing from her life experiences.

She continues her work in the media with the series, again called The Real Prime Suspect, outlining cases in which she has been involved. An absolute inspiration to all women.

Five stars.

Reviewed by Liz.