THE MALVERN MURDERS a captivating Victorian historical murder mystery: 1 (Inspector Ravenscroft Detective Mysteries)
£7.80
This is a revised and updated edition of THE MALVERN MURDERS.
Before Jack the Ripper terrorized London, Police Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft patrolled the grimy streets of Whitechapel – but he’s no Inspector Abberline.
Malvern, 1887. Clever and hard-working, Ravenscroft nonetheless has the worst record in the force. He lets a murderer escape during a chase and is banished to the spa town of Malvern for a water treatment to cure his asthma.
MURDER FOLLOWS THE INSPECTOR
Ravenscroft accepts a dinner invitation from a new acquaintance, Jabez Pitzer. Before the dinner gong can sound, the maid finds Pitzer slumped over his desk – dead. Ravenscroft sees two glasses on a small side table. One has a powdery residue at the bottom and the faint smell of bitter almonds.
A BODY IN THE LIBRARY
Ravenscroft immediately recognizes the signs – Pitzer has been poisoned. But the local authorities are reluctant to believe there is a murderer in Malvern.
He may be recovering his strength, but Ravenscroft has all his wits intact. He finds himself pulled into the investigation. Hungry to prove himself, Ravenscroft is determined to solve the case. But the bodies mount up. Someone is killing local luminaries.
WHO WILL BE NEXT?
A mysterious woman in black was witnessed speaking to each of the victims. Who is she and why does death seem to follow her? And does a local cartel of businessmen have anything to do with it?
RAVENSCROFT IS OUT OF THE SMOKE BUT MALVERN HAS ITS OWN DEADLY FIRES
THE MALVERN MURDERS is packed with delicious dialogue, sly humour and Victorian atmosphere. Perfect for fans of M.R.C. Kasasian, E.S. Thomson, Oscar De Muriel and Karen Charlton.
MEET THE DETECTIVE
Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft, unmarried and over forty, is a detective in the Whitechapel branch of the Metropolitan Police. Painfully asthmatic, he is often overlooked by his superiors in favour of his pushier colleagues. But Ravenscroft is keen to prove himself and strives to overcome his physical limitations. His tools are forthright questioning, close examination of the evidence and personal intuition. He often finds that the solution to many crimes is buried deep in the past.
With his trusty Bradshaw, Ravenscroft and his colleague Constable Tom Crabb, travel around the Three Counties, overlooked by the Malvern Hills, bringing criminals to justice.
KERRY TOMBS was born near Birmingham, but grew up in various locations in north Worcestershire. After a career teaching in both England and Australia, he moved to Malvern in 1982, where he became a local genealogist, lecturer and bookseller.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT KERRY TOMBS
“I found this story very absorbing and hard to put down.” Berys
“Kerry Tombs knows how to keep your interest until the very end.” Delin
“Another great book in the series. The author kept you guessing the entire time.” Jerry
INSPECTOR RAVENSCROFT DETECTIVE MYSTERIES SERIES
Book 1: The Malvern Murders
Book 2: The Worcester Whisperers
Book 3: The Ledbury Lamplighters
Book 4: The Tewkesbury Tomb*
Book 5: The Droitwich Deceivers*
Book 6: The Pershore Poisoners*
Book 7: The Upton Undertakers*
Book 8: The Herefordshire Hangman*
Book 9: The Bromsgrove Bookseller*
* Coming soon
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | Joffe Books (12 Dec. 2019) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 226 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1789312892 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1789312898 |
| Dimensions | 12.7 x 1.45 x 20.32 cm |
by penny
The book is a pleasant enough read, but if the characrers used more contemporary expressions when they spoke you’d be forgiven for thinking that the story took place much later than the times of Queen Victoria. There isn’t much action (apart that is from the last chapter of the book) and the plot advances mainly through interviews or conversations. Ravenscroft, the main character, is likeable but feels too modern to be a Victorian sometimes. Some minor errors can be spotted which more thorough editing woul have done away with.
by cheryl
I enjoyed this book, I liked the main characters of Ravenscroft and Crabb, one the more experienced London-based inspector and the latter, the younger but keen constable. I enjoyed the fact that the main action was centred around the area of Malvern. Having been to this area, it was easy to picture the landscape. This will keep you guessing until the end, as there are a number of twists. There is also a reason that might find Ravenscroft heading back to the area. I will read the next in the series.
by Simone Solon
This Agatha Christi’esque who-dun-it leads you through the mystery of a series of small town murders at a slow but enjoyable pace until it reaches its promised climax.
by TRIMONTIUM
A gentle rural ramble if you don’t mind the odd murder. I have moved on to the second one.
by Love Reading
I’m giving three stars for The Malvern Murders as it kept me turning the pages and I did grow fond of Inspector Ravenscroft.
I did find the writing just a little clunky and there seemed quite a few typos etc.
I was surprised a proofreader didn’t pick up the error in the old pounds, shillings and pence system. An amount of £1.10s. was mentioned (£1.50 in our money although worth a lot more in 1880’s). However, a little later it’s referred to as one pound ten pence. This did pull me out of the story a little.
But it was an enjoyable novel and I liked the way Ravenscroft had his failings and seemed a very compassionate and caring man.
by will
as like the other books in the series well worth getting
by Mr. B. to you
Towards the end of this first book I was not really impressed. The characters are likable enough and the locations interesting but I got the ‘run of the mill’ feeling. What the last few pages of this book do is set up the next one. I had to read the second and eventually the third, so you see I was hooked in a way. The first three books are all tied together story wise. The connection between London and Ledbury is well written in its back and forth between locations and in my opinion the best story plot. At the finale of the third book, the unveiling of the culprit, it all turns on a letter the inspector received from a source – I said “what, you mean all this probing and detecting and all you needed was a letter to solve it?” “Ok, this is who did it and I get why insofar as pure greed goes but no other motive. The person had a good job was well respected and committed the crime just for more money.?” I learned a new word ‘alighted’, the author seems to like this word.
So first book so-so but it does lead into an interesting trilogy. Just the unmasking of the murderer probably would even have them saying “how the hell did you deduce that when none of your enquiries even mentioned it?”
by shep
A shame that Amazon, which made its name from book selling, could not afford to pay for a proof reader or editor. My sympathy goes out to the author, he has produced an above average story but the pages are filled with typos, very distracting. Come on Amazon, if you put your name to a product make it a quality product and send an apology to the author. My advice to the author, get a better publisher who values your talent.