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[[Category:Crime (Historical)|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Crime (Historical)]]==Crime (historical)==__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Philip Jose Farmer0571370977|title=The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Peerless Peer|rating=4.5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=It's World War One, and Britain has got wind of some brilliant scientific research, that has created a new bacterial weapon capable of wiping out the world's supply of sauerkraut. But a dastardly German has stolen the formula. Before he can give a variant based on boiled meat, cabbage and potatoes to the kaiser, his most recent nemesis - Sherlock Holmes, no less Lock- must be brought out of beekeeping retirement. Cue an adventure and a half, as he and Watson take to the skies for the first time in their hectic lives, end up in darkest Africa, and encounter a certain yodelling, long-haired nobleman, more than up to the name of King of the Jungle...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857681206</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewUp|author=Rory Clements|title=John Shakespeare: PrinceBanville
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=This is the third in the excellent Elizabethan murder mystery series, featuring John Shakespeare, brother of Will. An inexplicable murder is linked to a much deeper plot of political dimensions, leading Shakespeare into danger and tragedy. A series of bombings, which appear to be targeting the immigrant population causes huge unrest and fear, and leads to the uncovering of further political dimensions.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848544251</amazonuk>
}}
 
{{newreview
|author=Anne Perry
|title=Betrayal at Lisson Grove
|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=After recently reading PerryIt's six months since the dramatic events which we read about in [[Acceptable Loss April in Spain by Anne PerryJohn Banville|Acceptable LossApril in Spain]] and thoroughly enjoying itDr Quirke is now back in Dublin and living (if somewhat uneasily) with his daughter, I was looking forward to reading this book and hoping it would be as good as readPhoebe. The novel opens with Pitt, Special Branch, in worst of his grief is over but he irrationally blames DI St John Strafford for what happened and this has made the midst of frenzied action trying to catch a suspectalready strained relationship between them more difficult. Suspected They're brought together by Chief Inspector Hackett when the body of murdera young, it's imperative that he's caught. They weave between crowdsJewish scholar, duck through alleysRosa Jacobs, but their best efforts are simply not good enough. The man is not caughtfound in a lock-up. He's free to strike again. This all makes for a goodAt first, old-fashioned chase it looked as Pitt makes up his mind to board a ferry for France, believing thatthough she's where the suspect could be heading. Pitt is extremely thorough and meticulous in all matters of policing d gassed herself but this may very well bode ill later on in the story. We learn of deep unrest in parts of the world: Europe and Ireland in particular. And Perry Quirke is good at giving her readers a little palatable history here and there, to keep us all in the loopconvinced that it was murder rather than suicide.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>075537682X</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anne Perry1529337968|title=Acceptable LossIn Place of Fear|author=Catriona McPherson|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=I must admit to not taking It's July 1948 and Helen Crowther is due to start work as a qualified medical almoner the following morning - on the rather stylized front cover and nor did I take to day that the titleNHS is born. I got the initial impression that this novel was going to She'll be all about heaving bosoms working for Dr Deuchar and manly men without too much substanceDr Strasser in their GP surgery and her job will be to help patients with those non-medical problems which affect their health. Was I right though? I gave a bit of a sigh as I started on chapter one. Straight away we meet two The hardest part of the central characters, Mr and Mrs Monk. Mrs Monk (Hester) seems job will be to have brought a local street urchin into her lovely home. All sounds a bit odd and also a bit intriguing. Perry back-tracks a little for persuade people that the benefit of her readers services she offers really are free and lets us know how this situation has come about. The boy is street-wise but hethat they don's also now desperate t have to do anything to qualify for a warm, safe bed and regular meals if he's luckythem. He's had a dreadful life up till now and Some of the problems will require delicate handling but Helen has somehow survived a terrible ordeal - and yes, you could say that it's the stuff problem of nightmaresher own which might give her some insight. I loved his name - Scuff and I automatically called him Scruff in my head, every timeHer marriage has never been consummated.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755376846</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan Bradley057136358X|title=A Red Herring Without MustardApril in Spain|author=John Banville|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Eleven year old Flavia is the youngest daughter Terry Tice was a hitman, although he didn't think of himself in those terms. He saw what he did as ''a matter of the de Luce family and she doesnmaking things tidy''. I couldn't get on all resist the thought that well he was an extreme version of Marie Kondo. He enjoyed his job, something which occurred to him when he was in Burma with her elder sisters, Feely (Ophelia) the army ''where he got the chance to kill a lot of the little yellow fellows and Daffy (Daphne)had a fine old time''. It could be rather lonely for her as her father is an eccentric stamp collector and her mother died He was spending a lot of time with Percy Antrobus - who couldn't understand why Terry didn't know the purpose of a swizzle stick - surely he wouldn't drink champagne with bubbles in the Himalayas some ten years before, but she has her faithful bicycle, Gladys, for company and when she's not doing some sleuthing she'morning''? It was after Percy's tinkering in her laboratory, where she has enough chemicals and poisons to give death that he saw the modern-day Health and Safety person benefits of taking up a heart attackjob in Spain.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0752897152</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cassandra ClarkB08Z8BMZ7H|title=Abbess of Meaux: The Law Mystery of AngelsHealing|author=A P McGrath
|rating=4
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=A widow who remarried We meet Solon in Pergamon in the Middle Ages became, once again, subject to her husband, second century of the common era and many women he's the physician on duty at the munus - the games put on for the amusement of independent means preferred, therefore, the greater financial freedom afforded by taking populace. The remuneration isn't high but the veil. After work gives the death doctor a feeling of her husband Hildegard joins virtue and hones his skills: Solon ''wants'' the warriors to live. It's quite a spectacle: the Cistercians, one of magistri are the richest charge hands and most powerful groups in Europe at when we first see them, they're sprinkling gold dust onto the time, and sets out lions' manes to found a small convent near her childhood homemake them look more impressive. Chance leads her The sagitarii are the archers and the beastiarii are the condemned criminals who are going to investigate fight for their lives with the death of several men whose bodies she finds on her waywild animals. Today, and in each subsequent book in it's the series she finds herself yet again risking her life to investigate and solve crimescrocodiles.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>074900942X</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert Dinsdale1529337925|title=Three MilesThe Mirror Dance (Dandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Captain Abraham Matthews is so desperate to catch the villainous Albie Crowe and bring the youngster to justice that some people would say he was obsessed. After six months, Matthews has finally tracked down his prey, and captures him just three miles from the police station. But with Albie's boys trying to rescue him, other men without Abraham's moral compass more interested in vengeance than justice, and the Luftwaffe dropping bombs on Leeds, this is set to be the longest three miles of either of their lives...
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>057126025X</amazonuk>
}}
 
{{newreview
|author=Ben Pastor
|title=Lumen
|rating=4
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=CracowIt was the August Bank Holiday weekend and, Polandas so often happened, October 1939: The Germans it was cold enough to have recently occupied Poland the fire lit and are seeking Bunty the Dalmation wasn't inclined to establish their authorityleave it to keep Dandy Gilver warm on the sofa. Captain Martin Bora The thought of work was almost cheering when Dandy took the Wehrmacht (the German army) has just arrived call from Sandy Bissett in Dundee. She was the city from publisher of a magazine and had been told that the battlefield to take up a posting to Intelligence. His boss asks Bora to drive him to a convent every day to see man running the renowned Abbess, rumoured to have mystic Punch and healing powers. A few days later, though, she is found shot dead Judy show in the grounds local park had used copies of two of her conventcartoon characters - Rosie Cheek and her sister Freckle - to drum up some local interest in his show. Bora is asked to investigate Sandy Bissett's request was simple: she wanted Gilver and report back. He proceeds Osborne to investigate who shot her warn the man about infringement of copyright - and why, but as his investigation continues, there are more questions for Bora Dandy and Alex would be cheaper than employing a solicitor to do the readersame job. Where does this case fit in with the priorities of the occupying forces?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904738664</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Frank TallisB08LKT7HSR|title=Death and Murder in the MaidenBelltower (A Miss Underhay Mystery)|author=Helena Dixon|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Just to clear In December 1933 the confusion out remains of Elowed Underhay were discovered in the way, this book has nothing to do with the novel cellar of the [[Death and the Maiden by Gladys Mitchell|same name]] by Gladys MitchellGlass Bottle Public House. Both take their name from an early Schubert piece, Ezekiel Hamett was sought in which Death entices connection with the Maiden to leave the world murder of menElowed and his half-brother, Denzil Hammett, whose body was also discovered. The maiden resistsKitty Underhay's long search for her mother, who disappeared in June 1916 was over. It was a common enough theme at Now she's determined that the time: the death of beautyman responsible for her murder will be brought to justice.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846053579</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=C J SansomStephen Clarke|title=Dark FireThe Spy Who Inspired Me|rating=54|genre=Crime (Historical)General Fiction|summary=1540 was This is a spoof spy story, that isn't about James Bond. Or Ian Fleming. But it features a man called Ian Lemming, who dresses well and 'likes the hottest summer of ladies' and who works for the sixteenth century secret service, but Matthew Shardlake was doing his best to hold his legal practice together, which was made in the planning side of things more difficult by than the fact that he believed active service. Lemming finds himself to be out of favour put on a mission with Thomas Cromwell. He tried to keep a low profile but when he defended female spy called Margaux, and the accused pair end up stranded in Normandy, with Margaux on a most unpopular case – that of a girl accused of brutally murdering her cousin – he found that desperate mission to unearth traitors in the king's chief minister had a new assignment for him. Unless he could solve Cromwell's problem his client was likely resistance network, and Lemming desperately trying to die a slow and nasty death.keep up with her!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330450786</amazonuk>2952163855
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=D E Meredith0349423083|title=DevouredDeath and the Brewery Queen (Kate Shackleton Mysteries)|author=Frances Brody
|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=It is the 1850sKate Shackleton runs her investigation agency from Batswing Cottage, ably assisted by Jim Sykes, and religion and science are at war. Hatton and Roumonde carry out investigations who lives in the morgue, Woodhouse and even at crime scenesher housekeeper, but their findings are seen as Mrs Sugden. She's been approached by William Lofthouse of little value the Barleycorn Brewery in Victorian EnglandMasham. Indeed Something is going wrong with his business and he'd like Kate to look into it discreetly: he's hoping that his nephew and right-hand man, to many of their colleaguesJames Lofthouse, what they do will be back from a trip to the human body is downright blasphemousGermany before long. They struggle on, sending begging letters James went to rich patrons so they can buy equipment, see what the continental brewers were doing and trying to persuade the police what changes Barleycorn might need to accept the findings of their autopsies, but they make slow progress. In this engrossing case, their efforts are rewarded and they are called in by Inspector Adams of Scotland Yard William is worried that James is perhaps enjoying himself a little bit ''too'' much or is going to help with the murder of Lady Blessingham, who has had her head smashed in with bring back a fossil. This immediately plunges them into a series of murders, each more bizarre and horrible than German bride but he'd like the last, which are all connected business to theories of evolution and the creation of the worldbe ship-shape before his nephew returns.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>031255768X</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stefanie Pintoff0241433568|title=In the Shadow of GothamEight Detectives|author=Alex Pavesi|rating=45
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=It'Never Judge… s 1930 and Megan and Henry are staying with Bunny at his house in Spain. It' Every time I look into the Bookbag to see if theres unbearably hot and Bunny drank too much at lunch: he's anything I fancy, I should remind myselfgoing to have a rest and then he wants to talk to Megan and Henry about something serious. Only it never gets that far: when Bunny doesn'Never judge a book by its covert emerge after his siesta his guests find that he's been murdered. PintoffHow can that have happened? There's first novel no one else in the Simon Ziele serieshouse, indeed her first published novel, 'In The Shadow so one of Gotham' is yet another of those ill-served by both its title and its cover. In fairness Americans are probably more familiar with Gotham as a nickname for New York City than we Brits – to whom it simply conjures up variations on a theme of Batmanthem must be the killer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141399708</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Giulio Leoni and Shaun Whiteside1473682401|title=The Kingdom of LightTurning Tide (Dandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson|rating=34
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Famous poet Dante Those who were with us at the end of [[A Step So Grave (Dandy Gilver) by Catriona McPherson|A Step So Grave]] will remember that Donald was engaged to Mallory Dunnoch. They're now married and Mallory is at present having twins. When they arrive no one can doubt the prior charms of FlorenceLavinia Dahlia Cherry and her brother, which gives him responsibility for investigating crimeEdward Hugh Lachlan Gilver. Several murders occur in quick succession - there must be a connection… but how, why? I approached this book There are two drawbacks: they're noisy and they're staying with excitementDandy and Hugh. The underlying premise seemed Dandy and her detective partner, Alec Osborne, had not taken up the chance to be interesting - take look into a famous character and place problem at the Cramond ferry when it was offered to them in situations unknown to us. The portents were good! (Can you feeltwice before, a ''but''?)|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099516462</amazonuk>suddenly the possibility of being out of the house at Gilverton seems irresistible.
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Shona MacleanSeishi Yokomizo and Louise Heal Kawai (translator)|title=A Game of SorrowsThe Honjin Murders
|rating=4
|genre=Historical FictionCrime|summary=Two years have passed since [[The Redemption of Alexander Seaton To many readers, the phrase 'locked room murder mystery' is enough to make the book one to read; preferably quantified by Shona Maclean|Alexander Seaton]] found his redemptionthe words 'clever' or 'good'. He For those who need more, here is comfortably settled the extra background – we're in rural Japan in his life at the University1930s. The oldest son of an esteemed family is belatedly getting married, about to although the whole affair is really not as ostentatious as it might be sent on – hardly anybody has turned up, what with it being arranged at great haste. She only has an uncle representing her family, for one thing. Either way, the academic expedition of a lifetimecelebrations have gone ahead as planned, and wondering how best to ask only for the woman he loves wedded couple to be his wifeslashed to death in their private annexe before the sun rises on their marriage. Then What with a case man missing parts of mistaken identityhis fingers being in the neighbourhood, which almost costs him his love and some mysterious use of a traditional musical instrument at the respect time of his friends leads Alexander to discover he the crime, this case has a cousin in town – lot of the son of his late mother's brother, come from Ireland to seek his helppeculiar about it.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849162441</amazonuk>1782275002
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=C J SansomB07XLM3SM6|title=Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake)Murder at the Dolphin Hotel|author=Helena Dixon|rating=54
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Henry VIII Elowed Underhay was not one to ponder on his failings but his recent invasion just twenty-seven when she disappeared from Dartmouth in June 1916, leaving her daughter, Kitty, in the care of her grandmother. A great deal of France money had gone completely wrong been spent to find out what happened to her and the French fleet conclusion was preparing that she was dead, mainly because there was no evidence to cross the Channel and invade Englandsuggest otherwise. The only way that Henry could raise Kitty has come to terms with this and in 1933 she was running the money Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth with her grandmother when her grandmother had to leave to gather a large militia army look after her sister who was ill. She was reluctant to debase leave Kitty in charge - and Kitty could not understand why. She's always coped with the currency mix of holidaymakers, boating people and the country was put in naval college on the grip edge of raging inflation town before - and economic crisisshe's done every job in the hotel. Meanwhile And she particularly cannot understand why her grandmother's friends have been roped in to keep an eye on things ''and'' why Captain Matthew Bryant has been hired to take charge of security at the English fleet gathered at Portsmouthhotel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092734</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Simon Brett0349423067|title=Blotto, Twinks and The Body on the Dead Dowager DuchessTrain (Kate Shackleton Mysteries)|author=Frances Brody|rating=34.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=There is From Christmas to Easter a long tradition of country house murder novelstrain ran from Leeds City Station to King's Cross, and Simon Brett has a glorious time parodying them in arriving before dawn so that the Blotto and Twinks seriesforced rhubarb it carried could be taken to Covent Garden. All In early March 1929, one of the porters who was unloading the stock characters are there: boxes discovered the dim but honourable young body of a man, the clever stripped naked and with no means of identification. Scotland Yard hit a dead end and emancipated young woman, called on the loyal lower orders and services of Kate Shackleton in the dastardly (hope that her knowledge and preferably foreign) villains. Death is treated connections in Yorkshire would give them the most light-hearted, almost off-hand manner, and danger is as regular an occurrence as kippers for breakfastlead they needed. In hands as experienced Kate immediately found herself hamstrung: Commander Woodhead remembered her as Simon Brett's this should be a rich mine for comedy, child and could not come to some extent it is, but still, it has terms with the fact that she was now a woman experienced in dealing with murder. He was reluctant to be said, something is lackinggive her all the information which the police held.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849013179</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan Wright1472127110|title=Act of MurderIndian Summer: a Mirabelle Bevan Mystery|author=Sara Sheridan|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=In 1894 Wigan was having a feast of cultural entertainment. The Morgan-Drew players from London were presenting a celebrated Victorian melodramaLife has changed dramatically for Mirabelle, our favourite fifties sleuth, since the war, but nearby and not always for the Richard Throstle Magic Lantern Company was presenting a ghoulish extravaganza called ''Phantasmagoria''better. They're at opposite ends of the cultural scale but the town When she first settled in Brighton she was just recovering from the recent miners' strike alone, rudderless and it seemed that happily there might be something secretly grieving for everyoneJack, the lover who died before he could leave his wife. It wasn't As time went by she found in herself an ability to last though as the town is soon in turmoil after a gruesome murder. Detective Sergeant Samuel Slevin of the Wigan Borough Police is solve crimes, made friends including an ebullient and determined young woman called in Vesta who refused to investigate let a little thing like racial prejudice stop her doing what she wanted, and soon discovers that much is not as it seemseven found consolation in the arms of a rather charming policeman.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971675</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Guy Fraser1912374439|title=Avenging the DeadThe Courier|author=Kjell Ola Dahl and Don Bartlett (translator)
|rating=3.5
|genre=General FictionCrime (Historical)|summary=ItNazi-occupied Oslo, 1942. There, I's 1863 and ve given the Superintendent covering game away. For in a book that centres around a murder, I've told you who did it – the inner city area of Glasgow Nazis, surely? Well, that certainly has his hands full. First off an alarming forgery scandal has just been discovered and no sooner has he drawn breath than to remain to be seen in this volume, which splits its time between oneof war, when a young woman sees her father arrested, two and counting suspicious deaths occur. Instinctivelytheir store condemned as Jewish and rushes to her best friend to help – not knowing she will never see her alive again, I want to say that it's all goodand the late 1960s, clean fun. Because it when great consternation isbeing felt. The language Fraser uses In this timeline, a maverick agent is very much of back in town, one who might have been fingered for murdering that era which lends the book female victim, even though she and he lived together with their baby as a particular old-fashioned and rather tweeyoung family, charm. It's except he was thought by all over the book to have died in spades. On almost every page. Let me give you just one endearing example of the flavour of the book 'None of Mrs Maitland's four regulars at her superior guest house for single gentlemen would even dream of taking another's seat ...'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090684</amazonuk>War…
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 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Norman Russell1786075431|title=The Calton PapersMrs Mohr Goes Missing|author=Maryla Szymiczkova and Antonia Lloyd-Jones (translator)
|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Philip Garamond had had an abiding interest in botany since his teens and when we first meet him heMeet Zofia. A socially climbing wife of a medical professor, she's intent on making herself known as a charitable lady, and keen on her husband progressing yet through his way to Sothebyesteemed career. In 1890s Cracow, life is pretty good, but she knows it could always be better. Meanwhile, other people's intent life could certainly be better – cholera is nearing the city due to lack of hygiene, and many people have to fall on making charity and almshouses to keep a bid roof over their heads. One such was Mrs Mohr, although she was rich enough to keep private lodgings and staff in her charitable home. I say ''was'', for the Calton Papersshe has vanished. Sir George CaltonOnly due to Zofia's papers include an unpublished account of Darwin's explorations on the Beaglehelp does she get found, some letters dead and in a geographical survey of place the British Islesnear-lame woman could never reach by herself. Garamond's ambition had always been to own Just who could be killing people in a botanical garden on Madeiracharity home, but he lacked the funds and to what end? And why does Zofia feel the Calton Papers seemed need to be as close as he would get to owning something special.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089546</amazonuk>make a name for herself by answering those questions?
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cora Harrison 1786893762|title=Writ Things in Stone (Burren Mysteries)Jars|author=Jess Kidd|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Once again we are transported back A child has gone missing. The detective asked to medieval Irelandtake on the case is still struggling with the shame and frustration left by a previous case, where the child was not found in time. Hardly original themes for a private eye thriller. And yet . . . take another look. This detective is a woman, following and the life setting is Victorian London, with all the rich and times colourful paradoxes of that era: technical and scientific progress jostling for space beside superstition and a fascination with the bizarre and the charismatic lady judgedownright hideous. And before you're more than a couple of pages in, Marrayou realise just how much more unusual our heroine is than you expected. Bridie Devine may dress in half-mourning, with a widow's cap and stout, shiny boots, but the tobacco she smokes in her fiancé King Turlough . A violent and horrific murder sets the stage pipe (my dear, what an utterly ''fast'' thing for a dramatic prelude lady to do!) is mixed with a nugget of something, well, let's say recreational, created by her chemist friend Prudhoe. The fact that it's actually meant to cure bronchial problems is by the by. Her housemaid, being seven-foot-tall, is also somewhat remarkable. And then, of course, there's the happy coupleghost. Ruby Doyle, world-famous tattooed boxer (deceased) accompanies Bridie all through her investigation, and it's nuptials!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0727868128</amazonuk>clear he has a soft spot for the determined young woman. If he really exists, that is.
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Imogen Robertson0349414327|title=Instruments A Snapshot of Darkness|rating=4|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=The lively heart of this book is Harriet Westerman. Harriet is a capable woman and manager of her family's estate in Sussex, while her husband Murder (a naval Commodore) is away at sea. Her neighbours at Thornleigh Hall are a titled family in decline: the owner is crippled, his heir is missing, and his second son is an alcoholic. Against this background Harriet finds the body of a dead stranger holding a ring displaying the Thornleigh arms. Meanwhile, in London, a young father is murdered in his music shop. Harriet's actions uncover a link. She turns for help to Gabriel Crowther, an anatomist and reclusive recent arrival in the area. Their enquiries allow the author to paint a wide ranging picture of life in Georgian England, and to tell a rollicking good tale reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier. Robertson uses her knowledge of the period with a light touch: the level of detail advances the plot without overcomplicating the story.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755348397</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Cora Harrison |title=The Sting of Justice (Burren Mysteries)|rating=4|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=Having recently read and reviewed Cora Harrison's [[Michaelmas Tribute (Burren Kate Shackleton Mysteries) by Cora Harrison|second Burren mystery]], it was with great excitement that I noticed that Bookbag had the third in the series available to review! I had a strong suspicion that a treat was in store for me-and I was not disappointed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092270</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Cora Harrison|title=Michaelmas Tribute (Burren Mysteries)Frances Brody|rating=4|genre=Crime (Historical) |summary=Several surprising murders in the kingdom of the Burren, on the Western coast of Ireland, lead our heroine (Mara) on a tortuous quest for the truth. Were the killings unpremeditated - or brought about through resentment, greed and the desire for revenge? Aided by her scholars in the Law School, Mara doggedly pursues the truth, to bring 16th century justice to her community.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330446460</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lindsey Davis|title=Alexandria|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Marcus Didius Falco, a professional informer working for the Emperor Vespasian, has been to many places in his time, but for once he's on a family outing. Well, mostly. An 'informal commission' (read: no money) from Vespasian finds Falco at the Great Library in Alexandria uncovering his usual brand of intrigue, murder and incongruous mayhem. And getting to know a crocodile.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846052874</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Alanna Knight|title=Murder in Paradise|rating=5|genre=Crime|summary=It is 1860. Constable Jeremy Faro, much to his chagrin, is lifted from his Edinburgh beat and dispatched to Kent to pick up the trail of the master criminal, MacHeath. All too aware of MacHeath's genius for evasion, Faro goes through the motions of finding him, only to become embroiled in a local case of petty theft, which might be connected to the disappearance of a young girl. At the same time, he discovers a terrifying secret about his best friend's wife-to-be. Are all of these events connected, and has the demonic MacHeath really fled, after all?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749079436</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Andrew Martin |title=Death on a Branch Line|rating=4
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Like all the best literary Even detectives, Jim Stringer is need a mixture of know-all break and know-nothingfor Kate Shackleton, photography gives her the mental relaxation which she needs. As an ex-railway worker he can identify when When the local young firemen are over-stoking their engines. He can't figure out whyPhotographic Society proposed an outing, thoughKate was keen to take the opportunity to visit Haworth and Stanbury, in not least because the sweltering heat deeds of the summer of 1911. He is well used to solving heinous crimes – this is the fifth book he's been in, after all. But he is not used to criminals stopping Brontë Parsonage are being handed over in the York station he works at as so that it can become a traffic policeman, on their way to museum and her parents will be there for the gallowsevent. And when he asks of What could be better than seeing her family, witnessing a condemned aristocrat if momentous event and having the man did it, he is certainly not used opportunity to take photographs of the answer being setting for ''I don't knowWuthering Heights''? Nothing could go wrong.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571229670</amazonuk> Or could it?
}}
{{newreview|author=C J Sansom |title=Revelation (Matthew Shardlake 4)|rating=5 |genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=Matthew Shardlake is an enigmatic lawyer, shunned and mocked by many in society, due to his physical deformity: he comes across as an immensely compassionate and clever man - born ahead of his time. Matthew shows immense physical and moral courage, strongly facing up to insults and taunts, at the same time as confronting a murderous enemy, who for most of the novel has the upper hand.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092726</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Nicola Upson |title=An Expert in Murder|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|summary=In March 1934 author and playwright Josephine Tey travelled from her home in Scotland to London for the final week of her successful play ''Richard of Bordeaux''. On the train she met Elspeth Simmons, who, coincidentally, was travelling to meet her boyfriend and to see the play yet again. When they arrive at King's Cross to Elspeth's delight they're met by one of the stars of the show but their arrival coincides with a murder Move on the train.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571237703</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Marjorie Eccles|title=Last Nocturne|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary=It was whilst she was at Evensong that Grace Thurley decided that she would not marry her fiancé. Instead she took a job as a social secretary to recently-widowed Edwina Martagon and moved to London. Eliot Martagon had shot himself in his study some months earlier, leaving neither suicide note nor any indication that there was a problem in his life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749080795</amazonuk>}} {{newreview |title=Death In Hellfire (John Rawlings Mystery) |author=Deryn Lake|genre=Crime (Historical)|rating=4|summary=John Rawlings, an apothecary in eighteenth century London, is set a task by John Fielding, the founder of the Bow Street Runners, which involves the investigation of a gentleman's club. This club, frequented by members of the upper classes, has a reputation for organising orgies. Rawlings is lucky enough to attend one of the gatherings, but apart from sexual excess, can find nothing terribly wrong until one of the club's members is found dead, apparently poisoned to death. This incident is followed by another murder. Can Rawlings find out what is going on before someone else dies? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749080760</amazonuk>}}[[Newest Dyslexia Friendly Reviews]]

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