A Fair Cop – Author talks
Monday, 2 January 2012
I have done dozens of author talks, literary events and the like since the publication of A Fair Cop. I have several booked in for 2012 already and I took a number of bookings over the festive period. My talks have a slightly different slant to them now, as I am in the final stages of writing and finishing The Dark Side.
If you would like me to talk at your local library, bookshop, Mother’s Union, Probus or any other group you are a member of, please contact me via the ‘contact the author’ link on my website and I will be in touch. Thank you.
Hi,
I started reading your book ‘A Fair Cop’ at around 3pm this afternoon. It is now 0.55hrs and have just finished it.
Words cannot express the disgust I feel at our so called justice system and the way it so clearly failed you.
I’m so glad you didn’t step off that chair – what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger…. or so they say. I certainly hope in your case, especially now this is true.
Take Care Michael, may i wish you all the best for your future.
Sarah
Posted by Sarah Hartles | January 3, 2012 12:58 amHi Michael,
I downloaded your book today and couldn’t put it down until I read the last word. As a retired copper, like thousands of other serving, retired, or former coppers shouldthey read the book, I thought “There but for the grace of God Go I…”
Retired from the West Midlands I now co run a successful insurance business based in the Mdlands. I am the author of the Thin Blue Line UK blog. I too am totally saddened by the sate of the British Judicial system and the decline of our society as a consequence. Approaching the subject from a somewhat different angle, my site, with the support of many serving, retired and former officers, exposes the scandals that surround crime recording and detections in the UK, that have led to the massive funding cuts and decline in morale we are witnessing.
I would be happy and feel privileged to talk with you offline sometime Michael. I too joined “the job” with idealistic goals to make a difference, only to witness a system that is badly in need of reform.
Injustice of any kind is my soap box subject, so your experiences really touched a nerve. To read of someone thrown into such a horrendous mire of adversity, then turn it into an opportunity to make a better life against all the odds is a wonderfully inspiring experience. Whilst not even close to the frightening experiences you went through, like so many others, I too have a tale to tell, of bouncing back from adversity. Perhaps the police grounding served us well after all eh?
Congratulations with the success of A Fair Cop. A well deserved tribute to your courage. I truly hope that you finally secure the justice you seek and deserve and that it goes some way to restoring our dwindling faith in the Criminal Justice System.
Posted by Steve at Thin Blue Line UK | January 22, 2012 2:01 amKind regards
Steve Bennett
Retired DC – West Midlands
Michael,
Posted by Donna Laing | January 25, 2012 11:01 amI received your book at christmas and couldn’t put it down. I am a serving police officer and am totally disgusted, although not surprised by the way you were treatd. You are an inspiration. You have been to hell and back and have come through it with your head held high.
Take care
Donna
Thank you Sarah, Steve and Donna for these supportive comments. I really appreciate them.
Posted by Michael | January 25, 2012 11:17 amI havnt been able to put your book ‘a fair cop’ down for the past couple of days, and have finally finished it. You are truly inspirational and you appear to be a very strong person, eventhough you were dragged down alot through your traumatic experience. You didn’t deserve anything that was thrown your way, yet you managed to pull through it all. Keep going strong with your head held high. Your determination is truely amazing. Take care. Jade
Posted by jade | February 13, 2012 3:53 pmDear Michael
If you didn’t have any fans in Hamburg before today, you do now and I’m your Nr.1
I’ve just finished your book, thanks by chance to hearing you on the Jeremy Vine. Overwhelming piece of work.
I’m a Brit 57-year-old Singer/Songwriter Entertainer living in Hamburg since 1984.
As I was coming to the end of your book I thought to myself this must be made into a film. Alas as I hit the last page I see it’s being written into a screen drama.
Congratulations, you deserve every success and more.
I look forward to the dark side.
Posted by David James | February 24, 2012 11:03 pmHats off
Best regards
David James
Hamburg 24.02.12
Hi, I have just finished A Fair Cop and what a saddening but also heroic read. You’re an inspiration. I hope your life is still working out well in tutoring and as your employer said, “their loss, his gain”.
I work for the ambulance service in Manchester and see many police officers on jobs and see how bloody hard they have it. I actually had a job in strangeways last might and all I could think of was you.
I wish you all the best in your future.
Olivia.
Posted by Olivia | August 16, 2012 6:21 pmDear Mr Michael Bunting
I am a law school graduate and you are an extraordinary human being to have endured such a horrendous situation, especially at such a young age. Your journey is similar to that of ‘Andy’ in Shawshank redemption. He endured being incarcerated, even though he was innocent. When he escaped from jail (I appreciate the fact that you were never a fugitive in such a manner), he experienced through freedom. He crawled through tunnels of excrement, similar to the many times upon which these substances were hurled at you. While reading your novel, you made the reader aware of the painfully slow passage of time. Your coping mechanisms exhibit your strength as a human being.
Posted by Candace | August 21, 2012 5:47 pmI still cannot comprehend how you were found guilty in a court of law.
Like many people on this site, I completed your novel in a short frame of time. I hope that your case is successful when it is reviewed by the CCRC.
I wish you the best in the long future you have ahead of you.
Candace
Thank you very much, Candace and to everyone for your kind comments. My case is currently with the CCRC….
Posted by Michael | August 21, 2012 5:52 pmI just read ‘A fair cop’ and all I can say is this: If there is any justice in this World, Michael Bunting’s conviction will surely be overturned. That’s about all I can really say, some stories leave you speechless and this is one of them, I literally picked this book up and read it straight through in one go.
Posted by David Sanderson | August 26, 2012 8:55 amBest wishes for the future.
Hi michael. Having read a fair cop for the tenth time after reading last page it says about becoming a screen drama is this true? If so when? Also can not wait to read a dark side and to be able to attend a talk again i missed the last one in huddersfield. What you went through was terrible. Take care mandy
Posted by mandy | January 30, 2013 10:55 am