Death Called to the Bar

The annual feast is being celebrated at Queen's Inn.  Unfortunately for the lawyers gathered there, one of them dies during the meal.  DCI Jack Beecham has been put in charge of what appears to have been a poisoning death.  At 32, the DCI seems too young and inexperienced for the Treasurer at Queen's in to manage such in investigation.  Lord Francis Powerscourt is called upon to conduct a private investigation for the barristers of Queen's Inn.

One of the things that Powerscourt finds out from his friend, Johnny Fitzgerald, is that the victim had failed to get a criminal off, and that the criminal after serving his time is now newly out of prison.

Some time after the death another lawyer at the Inn disappears.  The murder victim and the missing lawyer had been working on a fraud case together.  With both lawyers out of the picture it is possible that the fraud case could be delayed or not go ahead at all.  The missing lawyer is found shot to death.  Fitzgerald also finds out from his underworld connections that Powerscourt's life could be in jeopardy.

As Powerscourt continues his investigation, the number of suspects grows, rather than shrinking.  At this point in time another lawyer disappears.  Did he disappear because he is the murderer?  Author David Dickinson continues to build up tension and provides a shocking conclusion to this Edwardian murder mystery.  A good read.