"In 1971, Jackie Malton was a no-nonsense girl from Leicestershire who joined a police force where women worked mostly to support the men. Feisty and determined, she became one of the UK’s first female detectives, serving on the Met Flying Squad and eventually becoming a Detective Chief Inspector and Hostage Negotiator. "
There’s no escaping it. In the policing world, Jackie Malton is something of a legend.
When Linda La Plante first met Jackie, I suspect she quickly realised that manna from heaven had arrived on her doorstep. This proved to be the case as, when Prime Suspect hit our TV screens with DCI Jane Tennison modelled on Linda’s new friend, the country had an instant hit series.
I’ve never met Jackie Malton but, in common with many former Met detectives, I knew her by reputation. As an investigator, she was thorough and conscientious. As a leader, she was respected, supportive and loyal. As a person, she was a force of nature; a woman who feared no man, who said what needed to be said and wasn’t afraid to stick her head above the parapet for a cause she believed to be right.
Jackie’s book, not surprisingly, pulls no punches. She bravely defends her role and the efforts of her peers during the investigation of some high profile and very contentious criminal enquiries including the New Cross fire. She tells us how it feels to be an honest police officer discovering one of their own has crossed the line into the world of criminality and how ‘doing the right thing’ often comes at considerable personal cost, she tells us how it really feels to disappoint the parents of a murdered child.
The Real Prime Suspect is full of engaging and thought-provoking stories, made all the more powerful through Malton’s story-telling ability and the authenticity she naturally transmits to the page. But that’s not where it ends because she also opens up about the personal issues generated by her sexuality, her descent into alcoholism and, finally, she contributes her realistic and experienced observations on a failing police service, and what it might take to rescue its reputation.
Top marks. A brave and engaging read. Thoroughly recommended.
| Primary Genre | Biographies & Autobiographies |
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A woman's journey through life and work.
Like many people I have watched Prime Suspect, staring the excellent Helen Mirren. This portrays a female DCI and the problems she faces in a force dominated by men. She faces misogyny all dressed up in the old boys club. While this portrays a DCI and her problems, Jackie's excellent memoir details her journey from a young police cadet to the rank of DCI and beyond.
This book is a no holds barred memoir of a woman's journey through the murky waters of law enforcement, which unfortunately was a reflection of society at that time. To paraphrase Gilbert and Sullivan a (police)woman's lot is not a happy one.... Read Full Review
As a gay woman in the Metropolitan Police her life was hard, it seemed a constant uphill struggle and I admire her quiet determination and dedicated perseverance to get to the top and her bravery in not being ashamed of recollecting just how hard it’s been for her.
“THE REAL PRIME SUSPECT” is a memoir from Jackie Malton in corroboration with Helene Mulholland and tells Jackie’s story from walking the beat, to giving advice on the production of tv shows, to her life as a female detective.
I couldn’t believe how shocking and revealing this book was, Jackie doesn’t hold anything back regarding her life as a female detective in a much male dominated world and it was quite the page-turner.
The legendary tv show “Prime Suspect” based on Lynda La Plante’s books, would not have been the same without Jackie’s input and critical eye, ensuring that crime dramas like The Bill and Life on Mars to name a few, were authentic and plausible for the viewers at home watching.... Read Full Review
A fascinating memoir of female progress in the police and in British society from the 1970s to the 1990s.
The Real Prime Suspect is a riveting and heartfelt memoir of Jackie Malton’s progress through the predominantly male police force from the 1970s to her retirement in the late 1990s. It takes in the varied areas of policing she worked in, including advising on TV series, which she continued after leaving the service.
She writes with a certain stoicism, whether about her treatment by some of her male counterparts or about the terrible crimes she investigated, but the toll of her experiences is clear. Malton speaks very honestly about the police force and does not try to hide the reality of corruption and poor treatment of minorities. She is equally honest about herself, whether it be her sexuality or her alcoholism and recovery.
Though the subject matter of the book is often dark there’s also humour and affection here.... Read Full Review
