Some time in the early 1980s I read "Suffer the Children", the Sunday Times book about the thalidomide tragedy. I considered it the last word on the matter. It never occurred to me that this was just a prequel to a story of injustice, pain and accidental heroism that would still be playing out in 2012 and beyond. Now we have Michael Magazanik's wonderful account of justice delayed, but, for some at least, finally delivered.

Magazanik skilfully weaves the personal stories of thalidomide victims and their carers with the forensic work of an army of lawyers that include himself. The story moves along with this dynamic of heart and head. Frankly it is really well told, easy to read, hard to put down.

The victims now are well into their 50s and their carers are either 75+ or long gone. Most, perhaps all, had resigned themselves to never seeing adequate support, let alone compensation. This is a fine story about the best aspects of our judicial system and how it can work in the interests of justice for the unfairly afflicted. ( )