It will stick in your throats Justice insiders, but buy Penguin's new book – writer Michael Larsen channeling the Sensible Sentencing Trust's Garth McVicar.

It's called Justice – Speaking up for Crime's Silent Victims. That title is one of the few misleading statements in the book. Because New Zealand's victims are no longer silent. As the book explains that is thanks to Garth, his wife Anne (McVicar) Wendy (Pedler) and her husband Graham, Alan Monk, Peter Jenkins, Louise Parsons, Eva Bradley, Sir Russell Pettigrew and now hundreds of other Trust activists and supporters few will have heard of.

The book is like the victim conferences SST organises every year. Objective anticipation says “why on earth would I go there, how can it be anything other than sad, depressing and enraging?"  So I steel myself to duty – and after the first I know that the conferences are not at all depressing.

The conferences are actually inspirational. It is a pleasure to be among victims supporting each other, exchanging experiences with others who genuinely have walked in their shoes. They realise that they need not remain powerless. Instead they can turn into practical politics their rage and disgust at the system of injustice run so smugly for lawyers by lawyers. They learn not to feel helpless. They can help to change the system.

Michael Larsen has done a superb job with the book. It feels more like listening than reading. You hear a professional interviewer more interested in drawing out his subject than his own ego. It is biography or auto-biography – but it is a biography of an organisation as well as of the McVicars.
I know Garth and Anne well enough to tell you it is a shimmering reflection of what SST is about, what they are like. Time with the book conveys what it feels like to spend time with Garth and the people he draws together. That is why I headed this review with the suggestion that his opponents should read it if they want to know their enemy.

The book bounces with Garth's mix of deadly serious purpose, non-stop movement toward the goal, courtesy, enjoyment of life, and celebration of what it should mean to be a New Zealander.
The chapters vary greatly in length. That too imitates time with Garth. There is a narrative, a story thread that connects it all, but also time for exploration of side paths, picnics with ideas, and to get a flavour of his constant encouragement to draw what is valuable (if possible) from everyone who offers something.

Garth's personal integrity is seen in his refusal to distance himself from David Garrett despite his fall from grace (and Parliament)  because of what David achieved.

The victim stories flow naturally, without labouring the point they explain what SST does in addition to the media statements. They give some explanation of why Garth does what he does. Horrible as some of the victim stories are, they draw the reader in to share and enjoy helping.

The apparent simplicity of the book is also insidious. Like Garth's “countrified” air it can mask a mind that has been absorbing and learning and becoming more effective and shrewd with every media experience.

If they can bring themselves to read it Garth's opponents will grind their teeth. With its mix of victim anecdote and policy history it does not even bother to engage them in the abstract discussions they so love.

Fortify yourself for some hero worship.

For more on the Sensible Sentencing Trust, search this blogsite for Sensible Sentencing