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[[Category:New Reviews|Crime (Historical)]]==Crime (historical)==__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Giulio Leoni and Shaun Whiteside0571370977|title=The Kingdom of LightLock-Up|author=John Banville|rating=34

|summary=Famous poet Dante is at present It's six months since the prior of Florence, dramatic events which gives him responsibility for investigating crime. Several murders occur in quick succession - there must be a connection… but how, why? I approached this book with excitement. The underlying premise seemed to be interesting - take a famous character and place them we read about in situations unknown to us. The portents were good! (Can you feel, a ''but''?)|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099516462</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Shona Maclean|title=A Game of Sorrows|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Two years have passed since [[The Redemption of Alexander Seaton April in Spain by Shona MacleanJohn Banville|Alexander SeatonApril in Spain]] found his redemption. He and Dr Quirke is comfortably settled now back in Dublin and living (if somewhat uneasily) with his life at the Universitydaughter, about to be sent on the academic expedition Phoebe. The worst of a lifetime, his grief is over but he irrationally blames DI St John Strafford for what happened and wondering how best to ask this has made the woman he loves to be his wifealready strained relationship between them more difficult. Then a case of mistaken identity, which almost costs him his love and They're brought together by Chief Inspector Hackett when the respect body of his friends leads Alexander to discover he has a cousin young, Jewish scholar, Rosa Jacobs, is found in town – the son of his late mothera lock-up. At first, it looked as though she's brother, come from Ireland to seek his helpd gassed herself but Quirke is convinced that it was murder rather than suicide.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849162441</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=C J Sansom1529337968|title=Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake)In Place of Fear|author=Catriona McPherson

|summary=Henry VIII was not one It's July 1948 and Helen Crowther is due to ponder start work as a qualified medical almoner the following morning - on his failings but his recent invasion of France had gone completely wrong and the French fleet was preparing to cross day that the Channel NHS is born. She'll be working for Dr Deuchar and Dr Strasser in their GP surgery and invade Englandher job will be to help patients with those non-medical problems which affect their health. The only way hardest part of the job will be to persuade people that Henry could raise the money services she offers really are free and that they don't have to gather a large militia army was do anything to debase qualify for them. Some of the currency and the country was put in the grip problems will require delicate handling but Helen has a problem of raging inflation and economic crisisher own which might give her some insight. Meanwhile the English fleet gathered at PortsmouthHer marriage has never been consummated.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092734</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Simon Brett057136358X|title=Blotto, Twinks and the Dead Dowager DuchessApril in Spain|author=John Banville|rating=3.5

|summary=There is Terry Tice was a long tradition hitman, although he didn't think of country house murder novels, and Simon Brett has himself in those terms. He saw what he did as ''a glorious time parodying them in matter of making things tidy''. I couldn't resist the Blotto and Twinks seriesthought that he was an extreme version of Marie Kondo. All the stock characters are there: the dim but honourable young man He enjoyed his job, something which occurred to him when he was in Burma with the clever and emancipated young woman, army ''where he got the loyal lower orders and chance to kill a lot of the dastardly (little yellow fellows and preferably foreign) villainshad a fine old time''. Death is treated 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 most light-hearted, almost off-hand manner, and danger is as regular an occurrence as kippers for breakfast. In hands as experienced as Simon Brett''morning''? It was after Percy's this should be death that he saw the benefits of taking up a rich mine for comedy, and to some extent it is, but still, it has to be said, something is lackingjob in Spain.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849013179</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan WrightB08Z8BMZ7H|title=Act The Mystery of MurderHealing|author=A P McGrath

|summary=In 1894 Wigan was having a feast We meet Solon in Pergamon in the second century of the common era and he's the physician on duty at the munus - the games put on for the amusement of cultural entertainmentthe populace. The Morgan-Drew players from London were presenting a celebrated Victorian melodrama, remuneration isn't high but nearby the Richard Throstle Magic Lantern Company was presenting work gives the doctor a ghoulish extravaganza called feeling of virtue and hones his skills: Solon ''Phantasmagoriawants''the warriors to live. TheyIt're at opposite ends of s quite a spectacle: the cultural scale but magistri are the town was just recovering from charge hands and when we first see them, they're sprinkling gold dust onto the recent minerslions' strike and it seemed that happily there might be something for everyonemanes to make them look more impressive. It wasn't The sagitarii are the archers and the beastiarii are the condemned criminals who are going to last though as fight for their lives with the town is soon in turmoil after a gruesome murderwild animals. Detective Sergeant Samuel Slevin of Today, it's the Wigan Borough Police is called in to investigate and soon discovers that much is not as it seemscrocodiles.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971675</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Guy Fraser1529337925|title=Avenging the DeadThe Mirror Dance (Dandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson|rating=34.5|genre=General FictionCrime (Historical)|summary=It's 1863 and the Superintendent covering was the inner city area of Glasgow has his hands full. First off an alarming forgery scandal has just been discovered August Bank Holiday weekend and no sooner has he drawn breath than one, two and counting suspicious deaths occur. Instinctivelyas so often happened, I want it was cold enough to say that ithave the fire lit and Bunty the Dalmation wasn's all good, clean fun. Because t inclined to leave it isto keep Dandy Gilver warm on the sofa. The language Fraser uses is very much thought of that era which lends work was almost cheering when Dandy took the call from Sandy Bissett in Dundee. She was the book publisher of a particular old-fashioned magazine and rather twee, charm. It's all over had been told that the man running the book Punch and Judy show in spades. On almost every page. Let me give you just one endearing example of the flavour local park had used copies of the book 'None two of Mrs Maitlandher cartoon characters - Rosie Cheek and her sister Freckle - to drum up some local interest in his show. Sandy Bissett's four regulars at her superior guest house for single gentlemen request was simple: she wanted Gilver and Osborne to warn the man about infringement of copyright - and Dandy and Alex would even dream of taking another's seat be cheaper than employing a solicitor to do the same job...'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090684</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Norman RussellB08LKT7HSR|title=The Calton PapersMurder in the Belltower (A Miss Underhay Mystery)|author=Helena Dixon

|summary=Philip Garamond had had an abiding interest In December 1933 the remains of Elowed Underhay were discovered in botany since his teens the cellar of the Glass Bottle Public House. Ezekiel Hamett was sought in connection with the murder of Elowed and when we first meet him he's on his way to Sotheby's intent on making a bid for the Calton Papershalf-brother, Denzil Hammett, whose body was also discovered. Sir George CaltonKitty Underhay's papers include an unpublished account of Darwin's explorations on the Beaglelong search for her mother, some letters and a geographical survey of the British Isleswho disappeared in June 1916 was over. GaramondNow she's ambition had always been to own a botanical garden on Madeira, but he lacked determined that the funds and the Calton Papers seemed to man responsible for her murder will be as close as he would get brought to owning something specialjustice.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089546</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Cora Harrison Stephen Clarke|title=Writ in Stone (Burren Mysteries)The Spy Who Inspired Me

|summary=Once again we are transported back to medieval IrelandKate Shackleton runs her investigation agency from Batswing Cottage, ably assisted by Jim Sykes, following the life who lives in Woodhouse and times her housekeeper, Mrs Sugden. She's been approached by William Lofthouse of the charismatic lady judgeBarleycorn Brewery in Masham. 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, MarraJames Lofthouse, will be back from a trip to Germany before long. James went to see what the continental brewers were doing and her fiancé King Turlough what changes Barleycorn might need to make. A violent and horrific murder sets the stage for William is worried that James is perhaps enjoying himself a dramatic prelude little bit ''too'' much or is going to bring back a German bride but he'd like the happy couple's nuptials!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0727868128</amazonuk>business to be ship-shape before his nephew returns.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Imogen Robertson0241433568|title=Instruments of DarknessEight Detectives|author=Alex Pavesi|rating=45

|summary=The lively heart of this book is Harriet WestermanIt's 1930 and Megan and Henry are staying with Bunny at his house in Spain. Harriet is a capable woman It's unbearably hot and manager of her familyBunny drank too much at lunch: he's estate in Sussex, while her husband (going to have a naval Commodore) is away at searest and then he wants to talk to Megan and Henry about something serious. Her neighbours at Thornleigh Hall are a titled family in declineOnly it never gets that far: the owner is crippled, when Bunny doesn't emerge after his heir is missing, and siesta his second son is an alcoholic. Against this background Harriet finds the body of a dead stranger holding a ring displaying the Thornleigh armsguests find that he's been murdered. Meanwhile, in London, a young father is murdered in his music shop. How can that have happened? HarrietThere's actions uncover a link. She turns for help to Gabriel Crowther, an anatomist and reclusive recent arrival no one else in the area. Their enquiries allow the author to paint a wide ranging picture of life in Georgian Englandhouse, and to tell a rollicking good tale reminiscent so one of Daphne du Maurier. Robertson uses her knowledge of the period with a light touch: the level of detail advances the plot without overcomplicating them must be the storykiller.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755348397</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cora Harrison 1473682401|title=The Sting of Justice Turning Tide (Burren MysteriesDandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson

|summary=Having recently read and reviewed Cora Harrison's Those who were with us at the end of [[Michaelmas Tribute A Step So Grave (Burren MysteriesDandy Gilver) by Cora HarrisonCatriona McPherson|second Burren mysteryA Step So Grave]]will remember that Donald was engaged to Mallory Dunnoch. They're now married and Mallory is having twins. When they arrive no one can doubt the charms of Lavinia Dahlia Cherry and her brother, it was Edward Hugh Lachlan Gilver. There are two drawbacks: they're noisy and they're staying with great excitement that I noticed that Bookbag Dandy and Hugh. Dandy and her detective partner, Alec Osborne, had not taken up the third in the series available chance to review! I had look into a strong suspicion that a treat problem at the Cramond ferry when it was in store for me-and I was not disappointedoffered to them twice before, but suddenly the possibility of being out of the house at Gilverton seems irresistible.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092270</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Cora HarrisonSeishi Yokomizo and Louise Heal Kawai (translator)|title=Michaelmas Tribute (Burren Mysteries)The Honjin Murders

|genre=Crime (Historical) |summary=Several surprising murders To many readers, the phrase 'locked room murder mystery' is enough to make the book one to read; preferably quantified by the words 'clever' or 'good'. For those who need more, here is the extra background – we're in rural Japan in the kingdom 1930s. The oldest son of an esteemed family is belatedly getting married, although the Burrenwhole affair is really not as ostentatious as it might be – 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, on the Western coast of Irelandcelebrations have gone ahead as planned, lead our heroine (Mara) on a tortuous quest only for the truthwedded couple to be slashed to death in their private annexe before the sun rises on their marriage. Were What with a man missing parts of his fingers being in the killings unpremeditated - or brought about through resentmentneighbourhood, greed and some mysterious use of a traditional musical instrument at the desire for revenge? Aided by her scholars in time of the Law Schoolcrime, Mara doggedly pursues this case has a lot of the truth, to bring 16th century justice to her communitypeculiar about it.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330446460</amazonuk>1782275002

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lindsey DavisB07XLM3SM6|title=AlexandriaMurder at the Dolphin Hotel|author=Helena Dixon

|genre=Crime (Historical Fiction)|summary=Marcus Didius FalcoElowed Underhay was just twenty-seven when she disappeared from Dartmouth in June 1916, a professional informer working for leaving her daughter, Kitty, in the care of her grandmother. A great deal of money had been spent to find out what happened to her and the Emperor Vespasianconclusion was that she was dead, mainly because there was no evidence to suggest otherwise. Kitty has been come to terms with this and in 1933 she was running the Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth with her grandmother when her grandmother had to leave to look after her sister who was ill. She was reluctant to many places leave Kitty in his timecharge - and Kitty could not understand why. She's always coped with the mix of holidaymakers, but for once heboating people and the naval college on the edge of town before - and she's done every job in the hotel. And she particularly cannot understand why her grandmother's friends have been roped in to keep an eye on a family outingthings ''and'' why Captain Matthew Bryant has been hired to take charge of security at the hotel. Well, mostly}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0349423067|title=The Body on the Train (Kate Shackleton Mysteries)|author=Frances Brody|rating=4. An 'informal commission' 5|genre=Crime (read: no moneyHistorical) |summary=From Christmas to Easter a train ran from Vespasian finds Falco at Leeds City Station to King's Cross, arriving 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 Great Library in Alexandria uncovering his usual brand body of intriguea man, murder stripped naked and with no means of identification. Scotland Yard hit a dead end and called on the services of Kate Shackleton in the hope that her knowledge and incongruous mayhemconnections in Yorkshire would give them the lead they needed. And getting Kate immediately found herself hamstrung: Commander Woodhead remembered her as a child and could not come to know terms with the fact that she was now a crocodilewoman experienced in dealing with murder. He was reluctant to give her all the information which the police held.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846052874</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alanna Knight1472127110|title=Murder in ParadiseIndian Summer: a Mirabelle Bevan Mystery|author=Sara Sheridan|rating=4.5|genre=Crime(Historical)|summary=It is 1860. Constable Jeremy FaroLife has changed dramatically for Mirabelle, our favourite fifties sleuth, much to his chagrinsince the war, is lifted from his Edinburgh beat and dispatched to Kent to pick up not always for the trail of the master criminalbetter. When she first settled in Brighton she was alone, MacHeath. All too aware of MacHeath's genius rudderless and secretly grieving for evasionJack, Faro goes through the motions of finding himlover who died before he could leave his wife. As time went by she found in herself an ability to solve crimes, only made friends including an ebullient and determined young woman called Vesta who refused to become embroiled in let a local case of petty theftlittle thing like racial prejudice stop her doing what she wanted, which might be connected to and even found consolation in the disappearance arms of a young girl. At the same time, he discovers a terrifying secret about his best friend's wife-to-berather charming policeman. Are all of these events connected, and has the demonic MacHeath really fled, after all?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749079436</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Andrew Martin 1912374439|title=Death on a Branch LineThe Courier|author=Kjell Ola Dahl and Don Bartlett (translator)|rating=43.5

|summary=Like all the best literary detectivesNazi-occupied Oslo, Jim Stringer is a mixture of know-all and know-nothing1942. As an ex-railway worker he can identify when There, I've given the local young firemen are over-stoking their enginesgame away. He canFor in a book that centres around a murder, I't figure out whyve told you who did it – the Nazis, thoughsurely? Well, that certainly has to remain to be seen in the sweltering heat this volume, which splits its time between one of the summer of 1911. He is well used war, when a young woman sees her father arrested, and their store condemned as Jewish and rushes to her best friend to solving heinous crimes help – this is not knowing she will never see her alive again, and the fifth book he's been inlate 1960s, after allwhen great consternation is being felt. But he In this timeline, a maverick agent is not used to criminals stopping over back in the York station town, one who might have been fingered for murdering that female victim, even though she and he works at lived together with their baby as a traffic policemanyoung family, on their way to the gallows. And when except he asks of a condemned aristocrat if the man did it, he is certainly not used was thought by all to have died in the answer being ''I don't know''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571229670</amazonuk>War…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=C J Sansom 1786075431|title=Revelation Mrs Mohr Goes Missing|author=Maryla Szymiczkova and Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Matthew Shardlake 4translator)|rating=3.5

|summary=Matthew Shardlake Meet 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 esteemed career. In 1890s Cracow, life is an enigmatic lawyerpretty good, but she knows it could always be better. Meanwhile, other people's life could certainly be better – cholera is nearing the city due to lack of hygiene, shunned and mocked by many people have to fall on charity and almshouses to keep a roof over their heads. One such was Mrs Mohr, although she was rich enough to keep private lodgings and staff in societyher charitable home. I say ''was'', for she has vanished. Only due to his physical deformity: he comes across as an immensely compassionate Zofia's help does she get found, dead and clever man in a place the near- born ahead of his timelame woman could never reach by herself. Matthew shows immense physical Just who could be killing people in a charity home, and moral courage, strongly facing up to insults and taunts, at what end? And why does Zofia feel the same time as confronting need to make a murderous enemy, who name for most of the novel has the upper hand.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405092726</amazonuk>herself by answering those questions?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Nicola Upson 1786893762|title=An Expert Things in MurderJars|author=Jess Kidd

|genre=Crime(Historical)|summary=In March 1934 author A child has gone missing. The detective asked to take on the case is still struggling with the shame and playwright Josephine Tey travelled from her home frustration left by a previous case, where the child was not found in Scotland to time. Hardly original themes for a private eye thriller. And yet . . . take another look. This detective is a woman, and 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 final week downright hideous. And before you're more than a couple of pages in, 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 successful play pipe (my dear, what an utterly ''Richard of Bordeauxfast''. On the train she met Elspeth Simmonsthing for a lady to do!) is mixed with a nugget of something, whowell, coincidentallylet's say recreational, was travelling to meet created by her boyfriend and to see the play yet againchemist friend Prudhoe. When they arrive at KingThe fact that it's Cross actually meant to Elspeth's delight they're met cure bronchial problems is by one of the stars by. Her housemaid, being seven-foot-tall, is also somewhat remarkable. And then, of course, there's the show but their arrival coincides with ghost. Ruby Doyle, world-famous tattooed boxer (deceased) accompanies Bridie all through her investigation, and it's clear he has a murder on soft spot for the traindetermined young woman. If he really exists, that is.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571237703</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Marjorie Eccles0349414327|title=Last NocturneA Snapshot of Murder (Kate Shackleton Mysteries)|author=Frances Brody|rating=4.5|genre=Crime(Historical)|summary=It was whilst Even detectives need a break and for Kate Shackleton, photography gives her the mental relaxation which she needs. When the local Photographic Society proposed an outing, Kate was at Evensong keen to take the opportunity to visit Haworth and Stanbury, not least because the deeds of the Brontë Parsonage are being handed over so that Grace Thurley decided that she would not marry it can become a museum and her fiancéparents will be there for the event. Instead she took What could be better than seeing her family, witnessing a job as a social secretary to recently-widowed Edwina Martagon momentous event and moved having the opportunity to Londontake photographs of the setting for ''Wuthering Heights''? Nothing could go wrong. 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>Or could it?

{{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 Move on 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]]