Inspector John McLevy is in charge of Leith, a suburb of Edinburgh. Victoria is on the throne, Disraeli her Prime Minister and an election has been called. Will Disraeli lose his position to William Gladstone? Victoria prefers Disraeli, but do the people?
A foul murder of a prostitute has been committed in Leith; she was struck down by an axe. McLevy and his constable Mulholland begin the investigation. Soon a second prostitute suffers the same fate. McLevy is now under pressure to find a serial killer. A young woman comes to him with information which points to a high ranking culprit; Gladstone himself! McLevy needs further information and proof. After watching Gladstone make a speech on the eve of the election, McLevy is prepared. He will follow Gladstone to gain the necessary proof.
Author David Ashton presents Victorian Scotland and England in vivid terms. He takes great effort to set up the crimes and the final climax. A good read.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
London Calling
As I started to read James Craig's "London Calling" I wasn't sure I would enjoy it. However, Craig's method of backtracking to the 1980's and interspersing it with the current date, was the author's way of establishing characters within the story.
It is modern times and the United Kingdom is on the verge of a general election. Edgar Carlton would appear to be set to be the next prime minister. His twin brother is his right hand man, and together they have established an impressive election machine. That is until some of their friends start to get murdered.
Inspector John Carlyle is tasked to investigate the first of the murders. He discovers as each new victim appears that each of the victims, plus the two Carlton brothers were members of the Merrion Club while at Cambridge. As each victim appears he is able to determine that the Carltons could be potential victims.
Back in the 1980's Carlyle was a young constable involved in controlling the riots that occurred as a result of the miners' strikes. It was there that he made friends with another police officer, Dominc Silver and enemy of another, Trevor Miller. Both of these men would leave the police force, one to become a drug lord and the other the head of security for the Carltons. Each will play an important part in Carlyle's investigations.
Power and money corrupts and author John Craig shows how it does in this thriller. Although, as I said, I was unsure whether I would enjoy the book, I did and I highly recommend it.
It is modern times and the United Kingdom is on the verge of a general election. Edgar Carlton would appear to be set to be the next prime minister. His twin brother is his right hand man, and together they have established an impressive election machine. That is until some of their friends start to get murdered.
Inspector John Carlyle is tasked to investigate the first of the murders. He discovers as each new victim appears that each of the victims, plus the two Carlton brothers were members of the Merrion Club while at Cambridge. As each victim appears he is able to determine that the Carltons could be potential victims.
Back in the 1980's Carlyle was a young constable involved in controlling the riots that occurred as a result of the miners' strikes. It was there that he made friends with another police officer, Dominc Silver and enemy of another, Trevor Miller. Both of these men would leave the police force, one to become a drug lord and the other the head of security for the Carltons. Each will play an important part in Carlyle's investigations.
Power and money corrupts and author John Craig shows how it does in this thriller. Although, as I said, I was unsure whether I would enjoy the book, I did and I highly recommend it.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Cold Cruel Winter
This is Chris Nickson's sequel to "The Broken Token", which I had finished earlier. I had enjoyed it so much I decided to read the sequel immediately.
Winter has set in solidly in Leeds in 1732; many people are dying of the cold. On his rounds John Sedgewick finds a body, which really doesn't surprise him because of the cold. However, when he turns the body over he discovers that a large patch of skin has been removed from his back. The body is of a well known Leeds wool merchant.
It isn't long after this that Constable Nottingham receives a book that outlines the murder and the reason for it. The murderer has long standing grievances against the merchant. Nottingham is shocked when he finds out that the book has been bound with the skin of the merchant! The book also states that it is the first of four volumes. Nottingham has suspicions who the murderer is and when he reviews the case in question, he knows whose skin two of the other three volumes will be bound with. Who can the fourth victim be?
He sets his men to watching the potential victims in hopes of catching the murderer. However, Nottingham's mind is not fully on the case because recently his eldest daughter has died. She had been married for a short time before dying. Grief has bothered Nottingham since.
Nickson has done a superb job of gaining the reader's interest and holding it throughout this historical murder mystery. A book I could not put down until I was done reading.
Winter has set in solidly in Leeds in 1732; many people are dying of the cold. On his rounds John Sedgewick finds a body, which really doesn't surprise him because of the cold. However, when he turns the body over he discovers that a large patch of skin has been removed from his back. The body is of a well known Leeds wool merchant.
It isn't long after this that Constable Nottingham receives a book that outlines the murder and the reason for it. The murderer has long standing grievances against the merchant. Nottingham is shocked when he finds out that the book has been bound with the skin of the merchant! The book also states that it is the first of four volumes. Nottingham has suspicions who the murderer is and when he reviews the case in question, he knows whose skin two of the other three volumes will be bound with. Who can the fourth victim be?
He sets his men to watching the potential victims in hopes of catching the murderer. However, Nottingham's mind is not fully on the case because recently his eldest daughter has died. She had been married for a short time before dying. Grief has bothered Nottingham since.
Nickson has done a superb job of gaining the reader's interest and holding it throughout this historical murder mystery. A book I could not put down until I was done reading.
The Broken Token
Leeds, 1731 and Richard Nottingham is the Constable. John Sedgewick is his deputy. They have a town of about 7 000 people to keep safe from pickpockets and drunks fighting. But when a whore and her customer are murdered things take a whole new turn for the team. What shocks Nottingham the most is that the whore is a young woman who once worked as a servant for him. How had she come to be in this line of work? She had married well and moved away a few years back.
When another similar set of murders occur, it would appear that one of the local drunks is the prime suspect. But shortly after the drunk is arrested another set of murders occurs, obviously they have the wrong person under arrest.
As Nottingham and Sedgewick go about their investigation, we get an insight into their lives. Nottingham is happily married with two daughters, one of whom is a bit of a concern for her father. Sedgwick's marriage, on the other hand isn't quite so happy. Their stories give some humanity to this murder mystery.
Author Chris Nickson has portrayed 18th Century Leeds very well. If you are a fan of historical murder mysteries, you will enjoy "The Broken Token".
When another similar set of murders occur, it would appear that one of the local drunks is the prime suspect. But shortly after the drunk is arrested another set of murders occurs, obviously they have the wrong person under arrest.
As Nottingham and Sedgewick go about their investigation, we get an insight into their lives. Nottingham is happily married with two daughters, one of whom is a bit of a concern for her father. Sedgwick's marriage, on the other hand isn't quite so happy. Their stories give some humanity to this murder mystery.
Author Chris Nickson has portrayed 18th Century Leeds very well. If you are a fan of historical murder mysteries, you will enjoy "The Broken Token".
Thursday, April 5, 2012
From the Dead
DI Tom Thorne's life is just about to get very busy when a private detective presents him with evidence that a murdered man is still alive. Anna Carpenter has been investigating the death of this man on behalf of his wife, who has received photos in the mail showing him well and alive. Anna realises that she is in over her head, so goes to Thorne with the evidence.
Thorne is forced to allow Anna to accompany him on his investigations by his superiors. Shortly after interviewing the man, in prison, found responsible for the murder of Alan Longford he in turn is murdered by a fellow convict. It isn't long after that that the prison guard who had been there at the time of the prisoner's death is in turn killed.
Through further investigation and cooperation with the Spanish police, Alan Longford is found to be in Spain. How will Thorne be able to bring him back to England to face justice for the string of murders he is accused of?
Mark Billingham's thriller "From the Dead" is an excellent read. Face paced and hard to put down.
Thorne is forced to allow Anna to accompany him on his investigations by his superiors. Shortly after interviewing the man, in prison, found responsible for the murder of Alan Longford he in turn is murdered by a fellow convict. It isn't long after that that the prison guard who had been there at the time of the prisoner's death is in turn killed.
Through further investigation and cooperation with the Spanish police, Alan Longford is found to be in Spain. How will Thorne be able to bring him back to England to face justice for the string of murders he is accused of?
Mark Billingham's thriller "From the Dead" is an excellent read. Face paced and hard to put down.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Revenger
John Shakespeare has had a quiet five years since his last job as an intelligencer. He and his wife Catherine have a five year old daughter, Mary. John now runs a school for young orphan boys. But that quiet life is about to be disturbed.
He is requested by Lord Essex to find a young woman who may have returned to England from the colony established by Sir Walter Raleigh at Roanoke. Shakespeare doesn't know the reason why he is to look for the woman, and decides not to, until the strong man of Essex, a certain McGunn, threatens the life of Shakespeare's wife and daughter.
Within a short time, Shakespeare is also requested by Robert Cecil to investigate Essex himself. Essex is a threat to Good Queen Elizabeth. Shakespeare can't refuse this request, so he is now a double agent. He must keep one investigation secret from the other. And, on top of that, Topcliffe continues to threaten his wife, who is a Catholic in a protestant England.
How will Shakespeare manage to balance all of this without losing the lives of his loved ones, and his own life for that matter. This is an excellent historical murder mystery thriller by author Rory Clements, and I thoroughly enjoyed it as I am sure that you will, too.
He is requested by Lord Essex to find a young woman who may have returned to England from the colony established by Sir Walter Raleigh at Roanoke. Shakespeare doesn't know the reason why he is to look for the woman, and decides not to, until the strong man of Essex, a certain McGunn, threatens the life of Shakespeare's wife and daughter.
Within a short time, Shakespeare is also requested by Robert Cecil to investigate Essex himself. Essex is a threat to Good Queen Elizabeth. Shakespeare can't refuse this request, so he is now a double agent. He must keep one investigation secret from the other. And, on top of that, Topcliffe continues to threaten his wife, who is a Catholic in a protestant England.
How will Shakespeare manage to balance all of this without losing the lives of his loved ones, and his own life for that matter. This is an excellent historical murder mystery thriller by author Rory Clements, and I thoroughly enjoyed it as I am sure that you will, too.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
The Counterfeit Madam
Pat McIntosh's Gil Cunningham has a couple of mysteries placed on his plate in this novel and somehow both seem to be tied to each other. With the help of his wife Alys, Gil is able to solve the mysteries.
Recently counterfeit silver pennies have appeared in the Glasgow area. Obviously this does not make the merchants happy. Gil wants to investigate, but has been put off it by his Archbishop.
He, his wife and father-in-law for some time now, have been looking after an orphaned boy. John Semphill had offered to make him his heir, but now his wife's godmother has offered up some land and tenancies if the lad is no longer Semphill's heir. The hope is that Semphill's wife will provide him with an heir. Gil needs to investigate the properties to check the value first. While doing so, he is hit over the head and tossed in a burn. Fortunately for him, a woman in a nearby bawdy house saw it happen, and he is taken there to recover. A short time after that the godmother is killed. Are the two events tied together? How will Gil and Alys solve these mysteries? Read on!
Recently counterfeit silver pennies have appeared in the Glasgow area. Obviously this does not make the merchants happy. Gil wants to investigate, but has been put off it by his Archbishop.
He, his wife and father-in-law for some time now, have been looking after an orphaned boy. John Semphill had offered to make him his heir, but now his wife's godmother has offered up some land and tenancies if the lad is no longer Semphill's heir. The hope is that Semphill's wife will provide him with an heir. Gil needs to investigate the properties to check the value first. While doing so, he is hit over the head and tossed in a burn. Fortunately for him, a woman in a nearby bawdy house saw it happen, and he is taken there to recover. A short time after that the godmother is killed. Are the two events tied together? How will Gil and Alys solve these mysteries? Read on!
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