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[[Category:Crime (Historical)|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Crime (Historical)]]==Crime (historical)==__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kate Williams0571370977|title=The Pleasures of MenLock-Up|author=John Banville
|rating=4
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Catherine Sorgeiul 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 a woman now back in Dublin and living (if somewhat uneasily) with burdenshis daughter, Phoebe. Living with her uncle in London’s East End during the reign The worst of Queen Victoria, hers his grief is a life that seems empty – yet in fact is full of things she is trying to push awayover but he irrationally blames DI St John Strafford for what happened and this has made the already strained relationship between them more difficult.  Filling her days has become They're brought together by Chief Inspector Hackett when the body of a problemyoung, so when a series of grisly murders beginsJewish scholar, Rosa Jacobs, Catherine is drawn to the mystery of the Man of Crows found in a way lock-up. At first, it looked as though she'd gassed herself but Quirke is convinced that seems bound to change her lifeit was murder rather than suicide.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241951399</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ben Pastor1529337968|title=Liar MoonIn Place of Fear|author=Catriona McPherson|rating=45
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Near Verona, northern Italy, autumn 1943: Captain Martin Bora It's July 1948 and Helen Crowther is due to start work as a German military policeman, known 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 have conducted previous murder investigationshelp patients with those non-medical problems which affect their health. He is asked The hardest part of the job will be to look into persuade people that the death services she offers really are free and that they don't have to do anything to qualify for them. Some of one Vittorio Lisi, the problems will require delicate handling but Helen has a prominent local fascist who was run over in his wheelchair on his problem of her own estate by a carwhich might give her some insight. The number one suspect is his widow Claretta Her marriage has never been consummated.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904738826</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gerry O'Hara057136358X|title=Sherlock Holmes and The Affair In TransylvaniaApril in Spain|author=John Banville|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Terry Tice was a hitman, although he didn't think of himself in those terms. He saw what he did as ''a matter of making things tidy''. I normally start reviews couldn't resist the thought that he was an extreme version of Marie Kondo. He enjoyed his job, something which occurred to him when he was in Burma with the army ''where he got the chance to kill a brief plot summary, but it seems almost besides lot of the point to do so for little yellow fellows and had a book entitled fine old time'Sherlock Holmes and the Affair in Transylvania'. From those seven words, He was spending a lot of time with Percy Antrobus - who couldn't understand why Terry didn't know the reader will have no doubt guessed that this is purpose of a Holmes meets Dracula story, and so we may as well move straight on to swizzle stick - surely he wouldn't drink champagne with bubbles in the burning question – is it any good''morning''?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780920369</amazonuk> It was after Percy's death that he saw the benefits of taking up a job in Spain.
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=D E MeredithB08Z8BMZ7H|title=The Devil's RibbonMystery of Healing|author=A P McGrath|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=In We meet Solon in Pergamon in the London second century of 1858, the Irish are the poorest of the poor, despised common era and feared by he's the English. They were forced to emigrate from their fatherland because of physician on duty at the famine which decimated munus - the population, and now the majority of them live in filthy, germ-ridden rookeries. Cholera is killing them off in their hundreds, and blame games put on for their terrible conditions is laid squarely at the feet amusement of their English masters, together with those Irishmen who have so far forgotten their home that they cooperate with the oppressorspopulace. And as The remuneration isn't high but the hottest summer on record drags on, and work gives the tenth anniversary doctor a feeling of the potato blight virtue and its horrific consequences approach, hones his skills: Solon ''wants'' the mood in the slums is ripe for violence and murderwarriors to live.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0312557698</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Thomas Bruce Wheeler|title=The London of Sherlock Holmes - Over 400 Computer Generated Street Level Photos|rating=3|genre=Travel|summary=Should I trust It's quite a book that has a typo on spectacle: the magistri are the FRONT cover? Would I purchase a book that practically says, as its charge hands and when we first wordssee them, they're sprinkling gold dust onto the e-book version is better than this paper thing? lions' manes to make them look more impressive. This, despite setting up very much The sagitarii are the wrong impression, is a gateway into archers and the world of Sherlock Holmes - but does, as I say, blatantly show itself up as flawed, while beastiarii are the electronic version could count as a very worthwhile app condemned criminals who are going to fight for their lives with the wild animals. Today, it's the Conan Doyle buffcrocodiles.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780922094</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Andrew Lane1529337925|title=Young Sherlock Holmes: Fire StormThe Mirror Dance (Dandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensCrime (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 estate thought of Arthur Conan Doyle has authorised Andrew Lane to write a series of books about work was almost cheering when Dandy took the call from Sandy Bissett in Dundee. She was the early years publisher of Sherlock Holmes, a magazine and if this book is typical then they made an excellent choice. Through these stories we see had been told that the development of man running the complex Punch and sometimes contradictory aspects Judy show in the local park had used copies of two of Sherlockher cartoon characters - Rosie Cheek and her sister Freckle - to drum up some local interest in his show. Sandy Bissett's personality, set in request was simple: she wanted Gilver and Osborne to warn the context man about infringement of the most thrilling adventures copyright - and Dandy and courageous acts of derring-Alex would be cheaper than employing a solicitor to do a young person could desirethe same job. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230758509</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anthony HaysB08LKT7HSR|title=The Killing WayMurder in the Belltower (A Miss Underhay Mystery)|author=Helena Dixon
|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Post-Roman invasion and Great Britain shows In December 1933 the remains of Elowed Underhay were discovered in the signs cellar of a beleagured nationthe Glass Bottle Public House. And straight away Hays gives us an historical flavour Ezekiel Hamett was sought in connection with the murder of Elowed and his half- Saxonsbrother, Picts and names such as Denzil Hammett, whose body was also discovered. Kitty Underhay'Ambrosius Aurelianuss long search for her mother, who disappeared in June 1916 was over. Now she' are mentioned early on in s determined that the bookman responsible for her murder will be brought to justice.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857890050</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Guy AdamsStephen Clarke|title=Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of GodSpy Who Inspired Me
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=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 ladies' and who works for the secret service, but in the planning side of things more than the active service. Lemming finds himself put on a mission with a female spy called Margaux, and the pair end up stranded in Normandy, with Margaux on a desperate mission to unearth traitors in the resistance network, and Lemming desperately trying to keep up with her!
|isbn=2952163855
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=0349423083
|title=Death and the Brewery Queen (Kate Shackleton Mysteries)
|author=Frances Brody
|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=A body is discovered in London. The young gentleman concernedKate Shackleton runs her investigation agency from Batswing Cottage, a Mr Hilary De Montfortably assisted by Jim Sykes, had enjoyed a good life: no money problems for example who lives in Woodhouse and as far as anyone can ascertainher housekeeper, no enemies eitherMrs Sugden. The motive is therefore fuzzy at bestShe's been approached by William Lofthouse of the Barleycorn Brewery in Masham. The state of Something is going wrong with his body when business and he'd like Kate to look into it was discovered was bizarre - it looked as if discreetly: he'd been hurled s hoping that his nephew and right-hand man, James Lofthouse, will be back from a great height, even although he'd been discovered in an open space around Grosvenor Squaretrip to Germany before long. And in James went to see what the words of Dr Watson continental brewers were doing and what changes Barleycorn might need to make. William is worried that James is perhaps enjoying himself (it a little bit ''too'' much or is going to bring back a German bride but he who narrates in 'd like the main) ' ... as varied as our capital might business to be, it will always be found wanting of mountain rangesship-shape before his nephew returns.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857682822</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tracy Revels0241433568|title=Shadowblood: A Novel Of Sherlock HolmesEight Detectives|author=Alex Pavesi
|rating=5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=For those picking up a Tracy Revels novel for the first time, she writes Sherlock Holmes fiction It's 1930 and Megan and Henry are staying with the twist that Holmes is a supernatural being, coming from the ShadowsBunny at his house in Spain. In the hugely enjoyable romp [[Shadowfall It's unbearably hot and Bunny drank too much at lunch: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes by Tracy Revels|Shadowfall]], Watson discovered this, he's going to have a rest and was plunged headlong into an adventure involving Titania, Spring-Heeled Jack, voodoo, then he wants to talk to Megan and various other dark and mysterious beingsHenry about something serious. Only it never gets that far: when Bunny doesn't emerge after his siesta his guests find that he's been murdered. That How can that have happened? There's no one ended with else in the good doctor losing his memory house, so one of them must be the story – but I was always hoping that was merely a temporary measure, and indeed, it’s not long here before he starts to recall Holmes’ true naturekiller.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780920474</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John O'Connell1473682401|title=The Baskerville Legacy: A NovelTurning Tide (Dandy Gilver)|author=Catriona McPherson
|rating=4
|genre=General FictionCrime (Historical)|summary=1900, and a man on a ship coming back from Those who were with us at the Boer War end of [[A Step So Grave (Dandy Gilver) by Catriona McPherson|A Step So Grave]] will remember that Donald was engaged to edit the Daily Express meets Mallory Dunnoch. They're now married and Mallory is having twins. When they arrive no one of his heroes in can doubt the form charms of Arthur Conan DoyleLavinia Dahlia Cherry and her brother, Edward Hugh Lachlan Gilver. With similar experiences There are two drawbacks: they're noisy and interests yet different enough to bounce off each other they take up the idea of collaborating on a plot're staying with Dandy and Hugh. When they do fix on time to do soDandy and her detective partner, it leads to literary prospectsAlec Osborne, which lead had not taken up the chance to look into a week's research together on Dartmoorproblem at the Cramond ferry when it was offered to them twice before, which leads to ''The Hound but suddenly the possibility of being out of the Baskervilles''. But perhaps in a way that only one of them intendedhouse at Gilverton seems irresistible.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907595465</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Dicky Neely Seishi Yokomizo and Paul R Spiring Louise Heal Kawai (Editortranslator)|title=The Case of the Grave Accusation: A Sherlock Holmes AdventureHonjin Murders|rating=34|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=Much in To many readers, the phrase 'locked room murder mystery' is enough to make the book one to read; preferably quantified by the way that legend says that King Arthur will return when his country needs him, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson have returned because an accusation has been made against their creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doylewords 'clever' or 'good'. The charge For those who need more, here is that the great man plagiarised 'extra background – we're in rural Japan in the 1930s. The Hound oldest son of an esteemed family is belatedly getting married, although the Baskervilles'' from his great friend Bertram Fletcher Robinson whole affair is really not as ostentatious as it might be and then went on to commit adulteryhardly anybody has turned up, blackmail and murder in order to conceal what he had donewith it being arranged at great haste. She only has an uncle representing her family, for one thing. Holmes' rooms Either way, the celebrations have gone ahead as planned, only for the wedded couple to be slashed to death in Baker Street have not changed their private annexe before the sun rises on their marriage. What with a great deal – if one can overlook man missing parts of his fingers being in the addition neighbourhood, and some mysterious use of a desktop computer and better plumbing – but it's not long before traditional musical instrument at the time of the pair are off to Dartmoor to discover crime, this case has a lot of the truthpeculiar about it.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1908218819</amazonuk>1782275002
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John BuchanB07XLM3SM6|title=The Thirty-nine StepsMurder at the Dolphin Hotel|author=Helena Dixon
|rating=4
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Ask anyone about 'The ThrityElowed Underhay was just twenty-nine Steps' seven when she disappeared from Dartmouth in June 1916, 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 I guarantee they'll be able the conclusion was that she was dead, mainly because there was no evidence to suggest otherwise. Kitty has come to tell you it's a spy story terms with this and in 1933 she was running the Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth with Richard Hannay at its hearther grandmother when her grandmother had to leave to look after her sister who was ill. Most people will be able She was reluctant to tell you how it startsleave Kitty in charge - and Kitty could not understand why. But when you ask, She'Yess always coped with the mix of holidaymakers, but what ARE boating people and the naval college on the 39 Steps?edge of town before - and she' s done every job in the hotel. most people will falterAnd 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 hotel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971985</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tracy Revels0349423067|title=Shadowfall: A Novel of Sherlock HolmesThe Body on the Train (Kate Shackleton Mysteries)|author=Frances Brody
|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=You remember Sherlock HolmesFrom Christmas to Easter a train ran from Leeds City Station to King's Cross, yes? Deerstalkerarriving before dawn so that the forced rhubarb it carried could be taken to Covent Garden. In early March 1929, pipe, leetle grey cells… (Oh, sorry, that one of the porters who was Poirot, but same kind unloading the boxes discovered the body of deductive ability)a man, stripped naked winged-woman and with no means of identification. Scotland Yard hit a dead end and called on, or at least floating above, the sofa services of Kate Shackleton in the hope that her knowledge and connections in Baker Street… wait Yorkshire would give them the lead they needed. Kate immediately found herself hamstrung: Commander Woodhead remembered her as a child and could not come to terms with the fact that she was now a minute? Seriously?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908218258</amazonuk>woman experienced in dealing with murder. He was reluctant to give her all the information which the police held.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gerard Kelly1472127110|title=The Outstanding Mysteries of Sherlock HolmesIndian Summer: a Mirabelle Bevan Mystery|author=Sara Sheridan|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=I'll spare people Life has changed dramatically for Mirabelle, our favourite fifties sleuth, since the details of Holmes war, and Watson as crime-solvers – I'm assuming anyone likely to pick this one up is probably familiar with not always for the Victorian duobetter. This is generally very faithful to the Arthur Conan Doyle originals When she first settled in Brighton she was alone, rudderless and secretly grieving for Jack, the best stories lover who died before he could leave his wife. As time went by she found in this set of thirteen sound authentic enough herself an ability to solve crimes, made friends including an ebullient and determined young woman called Vesta who refused to take their place alongside some let a little thing like racial prejudice stop her doing what she wanted, and even found consolation in the arms of the canona rather charming policeman.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908218673</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kate Workman1912374439|title=Rendezvous at the Populaire : A Novel of Sherlock HolmesThe Courier|author=Kjell Ola Dahl and Don Bartlett (translator)
|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=After chasing his archNazi-enemy Moriarty without success on occupied Oslo, 1942. There, I've given the game away. For in a book that centres around a cold night murder, I've told you who did it – the Nazis, surely? Well, that certainly has to remain to be seen in November 1882this volume, Sherlock Holmes is left maimed which splits its time between one of war, when a young woman sees her father arrested, and their store condemned as Jewish and unable rushes to her best friend to walk without help – not knowing she will never see her alive again, and the use of a canelate 1960s, when great consternation is being felt. DespondentIn this timeline, he decides to give up his career as a detective – but maverick agent is talked into taking an extra special caseback 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 Madame Giry comes across the Channel young family, except he was thought by all to beg his help with the mysterious 'ghost' which is terrorising have died in the Opera Populaire…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908218703</amazonuk>War…
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carole Bugge1786075431|title=The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Star of IndiaMrs Mohr Goes Missing|author=Maryla Szymiczkova and Antonia Lloyd-Jones (translator)
|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Meet Zofia. A woman with socially climbing wife of a distinguished scent about her appears flustered at medical professor, she's intent on making herself known as a concert recital. A famous landlady gets kidnapped while charitable lady, and keen on an innocent holiday to the west countryher husband progressing yet through his esteemed career. A malformedIn 1890s Cracow, life is pretty good, brilliant modern-day alchemist gets murderedbut she knows it could always be better. There Meanwhile, other people's life could certainly be better – cholera is only one personnearing the city due to lack of hygiene, who famously went and many people have to fall on charity and almshouses to keep a roof over a certain Alpine waterfalltheir heads. One such was Mrs Mohr, who could piece all this and more into a threat although she was rich enough to the Royalty keep private lodgings and Empire itselfstaff in her charitable home. But there is also only one personI say ''was'', who famously seemed for she has vanished. Only due to have stayed Zofia's help does she get found, dead and in going over a place the same Alpine waterfallnear-lame woman could never reach by herself. Just who could be killing people in a charity home, with and to what end? And why does Zofia feel the strength of mind need to put the whole game into play.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857681214</amazonuk>make a name for herself by answering those questions?
}}
 {{newreview|author=Philip Jose Farmer|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 - 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>}} {{newreview|author=Rory Clements|title=John Shakespeare: Prince|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>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anne Perry1786893762|title=Betrayal at Lisson Grove|rating=4.5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=After recently reading Perry's [[Acceptable Loss by Anne Perry|Acceptable Loss]] and thoroughly enjoying it, I was looking forward to reading this book and hoping it would be as good as read. The novel opens with Pitt, Special Branch, in the midst of frenzied action trying to catch a suspect. Suspected of murder, it's imperative that he's caught. They weave between crowds, duck through alleys, but their best efforts are simply not good enough. The man is not caught. He's free to strike again. This all makes for a good, old-fashioned chase as Pitt makes up his mind to board a ferry for France, believing that's where the suspect could be heading. Pitt is extremely thorough and meticulous in all matters of policing but this may very well bode ill later on in the story. We learn of deep unrest Things in parts of the world: Europe and Ireland in particular. And Perry is good at giving her readers a little palatable history here and there, to keep us all in the loop.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>075537682X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewJars|author=Anne Perry|title=Acceptable LossJess Kidd
|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=I must admit to not taking A child has gone missing. The detective asked to take on the case is still struggling with the rather stylized front cover shame and nor did I 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 to the titleanother look. I got This detective is a woman, and the initial impression that this novel was going to be setting is Victorian London, with all about heaving bosoms the rich and manly men without too much substance. Was I right though? I gave a bit colourful paradoxes of that era: technical and scientific progress jostling for space beside superstition and a sigh as I started on chapter one. Straight away we meet two of fascination with the central characters, Mr bizarre and Mrs Monkthe downright hideous. Mrs Monk (Hester) seems to have brought And before you're more than a local street urchin into her lovely homecouple of pages in, you realise just how much more unusual our heroine is than you expected. All sounds Bridie Devine may dress in half-mourning, with a bit odd widow's cap and also stout, shiny boots, but the tobacco she smokes in her pipe (my dear, what an utterly ''fast'' thing for a bit intriguing. Perry back-tracks lady to do!) is mixed with a little for the benefit nugget of something, well, let's say recreational, created by her readers and lets us know how this situation has come aboutchemist friend Prudhoe. The boy fact that it's actually meant to cure bronchial problems is streetby the by. Her housemaid, being seven-wise but he's foot-tall, is also now desperate for a warmsomewhat remarkable. And then, of course, safe bed and regular meals if hethere's luckythe ghost. He's had a dreadful life up till now and has somehow survived a terrible ordeal Ruby Doyle, world- famous tattooed boxer (deceased) accompanies Bridie all through her investigation, and yes, you could say that it's clear he has a soft spot for the stuff of nightmaresdetermined young woman. I loved his name - Scuff and I automatically called him Scruff in my headIf he really exists, every timethat is.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755376846</amazonuk>
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan Bradley0349414327|title=A Red Herring Without MustardSnapshot of Murder (Kate Shackleton Mysteries)|author=Frances Brody
|rating=4.5
|genre=Crime (Historical)
|summary=Eleven year old Flavia is 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 keen to take the youngest daughter opportunity to visit Haworth and Stanbury, not least because the deeds of the de Luce family Brontë Parsonage are being handed over so that it can become a museum and she doesn't get on all that well with her elder sisters, Feely (Ophelia) and Daffy (Daphne)parents will be there for the event. It What could be rather lonely for better than seeing her as her father is an eccentric stamp collector family, witnessing a momentous event and her mother died in having the opportunity to take photographs of the Himalayas some ten years before, but she has her faithful bicycle, Gladys, setting for company and when she's not doing some sleuthing she's tinkering in her laboratory, where she has enough chemicals and poisons to give the modern-day Health and Safety person a heart attackWuthering Heights''? Nothing could go wrong.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0752897152</amazonuk> Or could it?
}}
{{newreview|author=Cassandra Clark|title=Abbess of Meaux: The Law of Angels|rating=4|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=A widow who remarried in the Middle Ages became, once again, subject to her husband, and many women of independent means preferred, therefore, the greater financial freedom afforded by taking the veil. After the death of her husband Hildegard joins the Cistercians, one of the richest and most powerful groups in Europe at the time, and sets out to found a small convent near her childhood home. Chance leads her to investigate the death of several men whose bodies she finds on her way, and in each subsequent book in the series she finds herself yet again risking her life to investigate and solve crimes.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>074900942X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Robert Dinsdale|title=Three Miles|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 Move 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=Cracow, Poland, October 1939: The Germans have recently occupied Poland and are seeking to establish their authority. Captain Martin Bora of the Wehrmacht (the German army) has just arrived in the city from the battlefield to take up a posting to Intelligence. His boss asks Bora to drive him to a convent every day to see the renowned Abbess, rumoured to have mystic and healing powers. A few days later, though, she is found shot dead in the grounds of her convent. Bora is asked to investigate and report back. He proceeds to investigate who shot her and why, but as his investigation continues, there are more questions for Bora and the reader. Where does this case fit in with the priorities of the occupying forces?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904738664</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Frank Tallis|title=Death and the Maiden|rating=3|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=Just to clear the confusion out of the way, this book has nothing to do with the novel of the [[Death and the Maiden by Gladys Mitchell|same nameNewest Dyslexia Friendly Reviews]] by Gladys Mitchell. Both take their name from an early Schubert piece, in which Death entices the Maiden to leave the world of men. The maiden resists. It was a common enough theme at the time: the death of beauty.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846053579</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=C J Sansom|title=Dark Fire|rating=5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=1540 was the hottest summer of the sixteenth century but Matthew Shardlake was doing his best to hold his legal practice together, which was made more difficult by the fact that he believed himself to be out of favour with Thomas Cromwell. He tried to keep a low profile but when he defended the accused in a most unpopular case – that of a girl accused of brutally murdering her cousin – he found that the king's chief minister had a new assignment for him. Unless he could solve Cromwell's problem his client was likely to die a slow and nasty death.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330450786</amazonuk>}}