Murder in Grub Street

Sir John Fielding has apprenticed young Jeremy Proctor to a printer on Grub Street.  However, just before Jeremy is to move in with the printer's family, the family and apprentices are all murdered in their beds.  The alleged killer has been caught red handed.   Sir John proceeds to the site of the grisly murders with the help of Jeremy.  He is puzzled by the fact that there were boot marks in the blood at the scene, yet the alleged killer did not wear any.

The day following the massacre, Fielding, in his role as magistrate holds an inquest.  The previous night, the suspect had given a different name than his true name when arrested.  When called before the inquest he gives a third name, and soundly defends the accused in third person.  Fielding consigns him to Bedlam.

Now that Jeremy has no place to go, Fielding offers the lad a place in his own household.  Jeremy continues running errands and doing other odd jobs for the household as he had in the past.

The case of the multiple murders seems to have been forgotten until the Lord Chief Justice brings the issue to the attention of Fielding.  The two justices meet with the accused in Bedlam, where he seems to have come to his senses.  He requests to be brought to trial because he is sure that there was a gang of three men who committed the murders.  But, how will Fielding be able to prove it in court?

As evidence is gathered, Fielding comes to the conclusion that it is all circumstantial, and therefore a trap must be set to get the perpetrators.

Author Bruce Alexander has put together an historical murder novel, which is slow to get off the ground, but which has plenty of action at the climax.  Lots of time is spent building up the case, but all-in-all a good read.