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[[Category:New Reviews|Crime (Historical)]]__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{Frontpage|isbn=0571370977|title=The Lock-Up|author=John Banville|rating=4|genre=Crime (historicalHistorical)|summary=It's six months since the dramatic events which we read about in [[April in Spain by John Banville|April in Spain]] and Dr Quirke is now back in Dublin and living (if somewhat uneasily) with his daughter, Phoebe. The worst of his grief is over but he irrationally blames DI St John Strafford for what happened and this has made the already strained relationship between them more difficult. They're brought together by Chief Inspector Hackett when the body of a young, Jewish scholar, Rosa Jacobs, is found in a lock-up. At first, it looked as though she'd gassed herself but Quirke is convinced that it was murder rather than suicide.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1529337968__NOTOC__|title=In Place of Fear|author=Catriona McPherson|rating=5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=It's July 1948 and Helen Crowther is due to start work as a qualified medical almoner the following morning - on the day that the NHS is born. She'll be working for Dr Deuchar and Dr Strasser in their GP surgery and her job will be to help patients with those non-medical problems which affect their health. The hardest part of the job will be to persuade people that the services she offers really are free and that they don't have to do anything to qualify for them. Some of the problems will require delicate handling but Helen has a problem of her own which might give her some insight. Her marriage has never been consummated.}}{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Norman Russell057136358X|title=The Calton PapersApril in Spain|author=John Banville|rating=3.5

|summary=Philip Garamond had had an abiding interest Terry Tice was a hitman, although he didn't think of himself in botany since his teens and when we first meet him those terms. He saw what hedid as 's on his way to Sotheby's intent on a matter of making a bid for the Calton Papersthings tidy''. Sir George CaltonI couldn's papers include t resist the thought that he was an unpublished account extreme version of DarwinMarie Kondo. He enjoyed his job, something which occurred to him when he was in Burma with the army 's explorations on 'where he got the Beagle, some letters and chance to kill a geographical survey lot of the British Isleslittle yellow fellows and had a fine old time''. GaramondHe was spending a lot of time with Percy Antrobus - who couldn's ambition had always been to own t understand why Terry didn't know the purpose of a botanical garden on Madeira, but swizzle stick - surely he lacked wouldn't drink champagne with bubbles in the funds and ''morning''? It was after Percy's death that he saw the Calton Papers seemed to be as close as he would get to owning something specialbenefits of taking up a job in Spain.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089546</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cora Harrison B08Z8BMZ7H|title=Writ in Stone (Burren Mysteries)The Mystery of Healing|author=A P McGrath

|summary=Once again we are transported back to medieval Ireland, following We meet Solon in Pergamon in the second century of the life common era and times he's the physician on duty at the munus - the games put on for the amusement of the charismatic lady judgepopulace. The remuneration isn't high but the work gives the doctor a feeling of virtue and hones his skills: Solon ''wants'' the warriors to live. It's quite a spectacle: the magistri are the charge hands and when we first see them, Marra, and her fiancé King Turlough they're sprinkling gold dust onto the lions' manes to make them look more impressive. A violent The sagitarii are the archers and horrific murder sets the stage beastiarii are the condemned criminals who are going to fight for a dramatic prelude to their lives with the happy couplewild animals. Today, it's nuptials!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0727868128</amazonuk>the crocodiles.

{{Frontpage|isbn=1529337925|title=The Mirror Dance (Dandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson|rating=4.5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=It was the August Bank Holiday weekend and, as so often happened, it was cold enough to have the fire lit and Bunty the Dalmation wasn't inclined to leave it to keep Dandy Gilver warm on the sofa. The thought of work was almost cheering when Dandy took the call from Sandy Bissett in Dundee. She was the publisher of a magazine and had been told that the man running the Punch and Judy show in the local park had used copies of two of her cartoon characters - Rosie Cheek and her sister Freckle - to drum up some local interest in his show. Sandy Bissett's request was simple: she wanted Gilver and Osborne to warn the man about infringement of copyright - and Dandy and Alex would be cheaper than employing a solicitor to do the same job.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=B08LKT7HSR|title=Murder in the Belltower (A Miss Underhay Mystery)|author=Helena Dixon|rating=3.5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=In December 1933 the remains of Elowed Underhay were discovered in the cellar of the Glass Bottle Public House. Ezekiel Hamett was sought in connection with the murder of Elowed and his half-brother, Denzil Hammett, whose body was also discovered. Kitty Underhay's long search for her mother, who disappeared in June 1916 was over. Now she's determined that the man responsible for her murder will be brought to justice.}}{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Imogen RobertsonStephen Clarke|title=Instruments of DarknessThe Spy Who Inspired Me

|summary=The lively heart of this book is Harriet Westerman. Harriet is a capable woman and manager of Kate Shackleton runs her family's estate investigation agency from Batswing Cottage, ably assisted by Jim Sykes, who lives in Sussex, while Woodhouse and her husband (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 missinghousekeeper, and his second son is an alcoholicMrs Sugden. Against this background Harriet finds the body She's been approached by William Lofthouse of a dead stranger holding a ring displaying the Thornleigh armsBarleycorn Brewery in Masham. Meanwhile, in London, a young father Something is murdered in going wrong with his music shop. Harrietbusiness and he'd like Kate to look into it discreetly: he's actions uncover hoping that his nephew and right-hand man, James Lofthouse, will be back from a linktrip to Germany before long. She turns for help James went to Gabriel Crowther, an anatomist and reclusive recent arrival in the area. Their enquiries allow see what the author to paint a wide ranging picture of life in Georgian England, continental brewers were doing and what changes Barleycorn might need to tell a rollicking good tale reminiscent of Daphne du Mauriermake. Robertson uses her knowledge of the period with William is worried that James is perhaps enjoying himself a little bit ''too'' much or is going to bring back a light touch: German bride but he'd like the level of detail advances the plot without overcomplicating the storybusiness to be ship-shape before his nephew returns.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755348397</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cora Harrison 0241433568|title=The Sting of Justice (Burren Mysteries)Eight Detectives|author=Alex Pavesi|rating=45

|summary=Having recently read It's 1930 and reviewed Cora HarrisonMegan and Henry are staying with Bunny at his house in Spain. It's unbearably hot and Bunny drank too much at lunch: he's [[Michaelmas Tribute (Burren Mysteries) by Cora Harrison|second Burren mystery]], going to have a rest and then he wants to talk to Megan and Henry about something serious. Only it was with great excitement never gets that I noticed far: when Bunny doesn't emerge after his siesta his guests find that Bookbag had he's been murdered. How can that have happened? There's no one else in the third in house, so one of them must be the series available to review! I had a strong suspicion that a treat was in store for me-and I was not disappointedkiller.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092270</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cora Harrison1473682401|title=Michaelmas Tribute The Turning Tide (Burren MysteriesDandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson

|genre=Crime (Historical) |summary=Several surprising murders in Those who were with us at the kingdom end of the Burren, on the Western coast of Ireland, lead our heroine [[A Step So Grave (MaraDandy Gilver) on a tortuous quest for the truthby Catriona McPherson|A Step So Grave]] will remember that Donald was engaged to Mallory Dunnoch. They're now married and Mallory is having twins. Were When they arrive no one can doubt the killings unpremeditated - or brought about through resentmentcharms of Lavinia Dahlia Cherry and her brother, greed Edward Hugh Lachlan Gilver. There are two drawbacks: they're noisy and they're staying with Dandy and Hugh. Dandy and the desire for revenge? Aided by her scholars in the Law Schooldetective partner, Alec Osborne, Mara doggedly pursues had not taken up the truth, chance to bring 16th century justice look into a problem at the Cramond ferry when it was offered to her communitythem twice before, but suddenly the possibility of being out of the house at Gilverton seems irresistible.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330446460</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lindsey DavisSeishi Yokomizo and Louise Heal Kawai (translator)|title=AlexandriaThe Honjin Murders

|summary=It To many readers, the phrase 'locked room murder mystery' is 1860enough to make the book one to read; preferably quantified by the words 'clever' or 'good'. Constable Jeremy Faro, much to his chagrin For those who need more, here is lifted from his Edinburgh beat and dispatched to Kent to pick up the trail extra background – we're in rural Japan in the 1930s. The oldest son of an esteemed family is belatedly getting married, although the master criminalwhole affair is really not as ostentatious as it might be – hardly anybody has turned up, MacHeathwhat with it being arranged at great haste. All too aware of MacHeath's genius She only has an uncle representing her family, for evasionone thing. Either way, Faro goes through the motions of finding himcelebrations have gone ahead as planned, only for the wedded couple to become embroiled be slashed to death in their private annexe before the sun rises on their marriage. What with a local case man missing parts of petty thefthis fingers being in the neighbourhood, which might be connected to the disappearance and some mysterious use of a young girl. At traditional musical instrument at the same timeof the crime, he discovers this case has a terrifying secret lot of the peculiar about his best friend's wife-to-beit. Are all of these events connected, and has the demonic MacHeath really fled, after all?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0749079436</amazonuk>1782275002

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Andrew Martin B07XLM3SM6|title=Death on a Branch LineMurder at the Dolphin Hotel|author=Helena Dixon

|summary=Like all the best literary detectives, Jim Stringer is a mixture of know-all and knowElowed Underhay was just twenty-nothing. As an ex-railway worker he can identify seven when the local young firemen are over-stoking their engines. He can't figure out whyshe disappeared from Dartmouth in June 1916, leaving her daughter, thoughKitty, in the sweltering heat care of her grandmother. A great deal of money had been spent to find out what happened to her and the summer of 1911conclusion was that she was dead, mainly because there was no evidence to suggest otherwise. He is well used Kitty has come to solving heinous crimes – terms with this is and in 1933 she was running the fifth book he's been Dolphin Hotel in, Dartmouth with her grandmother when her grandmother had to leave to look after allher sister who was ill. But he is not used She was reluctant to criminals stopping over leave Kitty in charge - and Kitty could not understand why. She's always coped with the York station he works at as a traffic policemanmix of holidaymakers, boating people and the naval college on their way to the gallowsedge of town before - and she's done every job in the hotel. And when he asks of a condemned aristocrat if the man did it, he is certainly not used she particularly cannot understand why her grandmother's friends have been roped in to the answer being keep an eye on things ''I don't knowand''why Captain Matthew Bryant has been hired to take charge of security at the hotel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571229670</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=C J Sansom 0349423067|title=Revelation The Body on the Train (Matthew Shardlake 4Kate Shackleton Mysteries)|author=Frances Brody|rating=4.5

|summary=Matthew Shardlake is an enigmatic lawyerFrom Christmas to Easter a train ran from Leeds City Station to King's Cross, shunned and mocked by many in societyarriving before dawn so that the forced rhubarb it carried could be taken to Covent Garden. In early March 1929, one of the porters who was unloading the boxes discovered the body of a man, due to his physical deformity: he comes across as an immensely compassionate stripped naked and clever man - born ahead with no means of his timeidentification. Matthew shows immense physical Scotland Yard hit a dead end and moral courage, strongly facing up to insults called on the services of Kate Shackleton in the hope that her knowledge and taunts, at connections in Yorkshire would give them the same time lead they needed. Kate immediately found herself hamstrung: Commander Woodhead remembered her as confronting a murderous enemy, who for most of child and could not come to terms with the fact that she was now a woman experienced in dealing with murder. He was reluctant to give her all the novel has information which the upper handpolice held.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092726</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Nicola Upson 1472127110|title=An Expert in MurderIndian Summer: a Mirabelle Bevan Mystery|author=Sara Sheridan

|genre=Crime(Historical)|summary=In March 1934 author Life has changed dramatically for Mirabelle, our favourite fifties sleuth, since the war, and playwright Josephine Tey travelled from her home not always for the better. When she first settled in Scotland to London Brighton she was alone, rudderless and secretly grieving for Jack, the final week of lover who died before he could leave his wife. As time went by she found in herself an ability to solve crimes, made friends including an ebullient and determined young woman called Vesta who refused to let a little thing like racial prejudice stop her successful play ''Richard doing what she wanted, and even found consolation in the arms of Bordeaux'a rather charming policeman.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1912374439|title=The Courier|author=Kjell Ola Dahl and Don Bartlett (translator)|rating=3.5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=Nazi-occupied Oslo, 1942. There, I've given the game away. On the train she met Elspeth SimmonsFor in a book that centres around a murder, I've told you whodid it – the Nazis, coincidentallysurely? Well, was travelling that certainly has to remain to meet be seen in this volume, which splits its time between one of war, when a young woman sees her boyfriend father arrested, and their store condemned as Jewish and rushes to her best friend to help – not knowing she will never see her alive again, and the play yet againlate 1960s, when great consternation is being felt. In this timeline, a maverick agent is back in town, one who might have been fingered for murdering that female victim, even though she and he lived together with their baby as a young family, except he was thought by all to have died in the War…}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1786075431|title=Mrs Mohr Goes Missing|author=Maryla Szymiczkova and Antonia Lloyd-Jones (translator)|rating=3.5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=Meet Zofia. When they arrive at KingA socially climbing wife of a medical professor, she's Cross to Elspethintent on making herself known as a charitable lady, and keen on her husband progressing yet through his esteemed career. In 1890s Cracow, life is pretty good, but she knows it could always be better. Meanwhile, other people's delight they're met by one of life could certainly be better – cholera is nearing the stars city due to lack of the show but hygiene, and many people have to fall on charity and almshouses to keep a roof over their arrival coincides with 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 she has vanished. Only due to Zofia's help does she get found, dead and in a murder on place the trainnear-lame woman could never reach by herself.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571237703</amazonuk> Just who could be killing people in a charity home, and to what end? And why does Zofia feel the need to make a name for herself by answering those questions?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Marjorie Eccles1786893762|title=Last NocturneThings in Jars|author=Jess Kidd|rating=4.5|genre=Crime(Historical)|summary=It A child has gone missing. The detective asked to take on the case is still struggling with the shame and frustration left by a previous case, where the child was whilst she was at Evensong that Grace Thurley decided that she would not marry her fiancéfound in time. Instead she took Hardly original themes for a job as private eye thriller. And yet . . . take another look. This detective is a social secretary to recently-widowed Edwina Martagon woman, and moved to the setting is Victorian London, with all the rich and colourful paradoxes of that era: technical and scientific progress jostling for space beside superstition and a fascination with the bizarre and the downright hideous. Eliot Martagon had shot himself And before you're more than a couple of pages in his study some months earlier, leaving neither suicide note nor any indication you 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 pipe (my dear, what an utterly ''fast'' thing for a 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 was 's the ghost. Ruby Doyle, world-famous tattooed boxer (deceased) accompanies Bridie all through her investigation, and it's clear he has a problem in his lifesoft spot for the determined young woman. If he really exists, that is.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749080795</amazonuk>

 {{newreview Frontpage|isbn=0349414327|title=Death In Hellfire A Snapshot of Murder (John Rawlings MysteryKate Shackleton Mysteries) |author=Deryn LakeFrances Brody|rating=4.5

|rating=4|summary=John Rawlings, an apothecary in eighteenth century London, is set Even detectives need a task by John Fieldingbreak and for Kate Shackleton, photography gives her the founder of mental relaxation which she needs. When the Bow Street Runnerslocal Photographic Society proposed an outing, which involves Kate was keen to take the investigation of a gentleman's club. This clubopportunity to visit Haworth and Stanbury, frequented by members not least because the deeds of the upper classes, has Brontë Parsonage are being handed over so that it can become a reputation museum and her parents will be there for organising orgiesthe event. Rawlings is lucky enough What could be better than seeing her family, witnessing a momentous event and having the opportunity to attend one take photographs of the gatherings, but apart from sexual excess, can find nothing terribly setting for ''Wuthering Heights''? Nothing could go 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 Or could it? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749080760</amazonuk>