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Lizzie Martin #3
A Better Quality of Murder
London is shrouded in a pea-souper fog. Wandering in that fog, for reasons not fully established, was the beautiful Allegra Benedict, wife of an art dealer. When the fog clears, her murdered body is discovered in Green Park. How much does frightened little Miss Marchwood know? Is there any connection with charismatic preacher, Joshua Fawcett? Who - or what - is the River Wraith who preys on the prostitutes working the riverside on foggy nights?
Lizzie Martin and Ben Ross are now married and have set up home near to Waterloo Station. Ben, officially, and Lizzie, unofficially, must investigate.
Lizzie Martin and Ben Ross are now married and have set up home near to Waterloo Station. Ben, officially, and Lizzie, unofficially, must investigate.
313 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Ann Granger
80 books263 followersAnn Granger (born 1939) has worked in British embassies in various parts of the world. She met her husband, who was also working for the British Embassy, in Prague and together they received postings to places as far apart as Munich and Lusaka. They are now permanently based in Oxfordshire.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 28, 2022
3.5 stars
How does Ann Granger do it?
The woman cranks out highly readable cozy mysteries about socially relevant topics with all the ease of buttering toast for tea.
I was already a fan of her Fran Varady series which focuses on homelessness and social injustice in modern day London when I found her Ben & Lizzie Ross series, which tackles Victorian moral/ethical problems through the characters of a Scotland Yard investigator and his wife.
This installment focuses entirely on the mystery surrounding the various charities and religious groups with moral aims that abounded in Victorian England. Ben & Lizzie's private lives don't figure in hardly at all.
The story starts out as a fairly pleasant, solidly-structured cozy mystery but the more the murders are investigated, the more the Granger magic comes out.
At the end, you can't help but be pleased with the outcome, surprised by the twist and reminded once again of how much things were different back then...and how much they haven't changed.
Yes, sometimes the narrative voice is a bit simple and there are a few things you can easily predict.
Granger includes just enough historical detail to set the scene, but doesn't go into the depth of detail about clothing/things other writers do. Thankfully, she is also not adverse to adding sex into the mix and she doesn't even casually demonise homosexuality in her stories. (I'm looking at you, Anne Perry!)
How does Ann Granger do it?
The woman cranks out highly readable cozy mysteries about socially relevant topics with all the ease of buttering toast for tea.
I was already a fan of her Fran Varady series which focuses on homelessness and social injustice in modern day London when I found her Ben & Lizzie Ross series, which tackles Victorian moral/ethical problems through the characters of a Scotland Yard investigator and his wife.
This installment focuses entirely on the mystery surrounding the various charities and religious groups with moral aims that abounded in Victorian England. Ben & Lizzie's private lives don't figure in hardly at all.
The story starts out as a fairly pleasant, solidly-structured cozy mystery but the more the murders are investigated, the more the Granger magic comes out.
At the end, you can't help but be pleased with the outcome, surprised by the twist and reminded once again of how much things were different back then...and how much they haven't changed.
Yes, sometimes the narrative voice is a bit simple and there are a few things you can easily predict.
Granger includes just enough historical detail to set the scene, but doesn't go into the depth of detail about clothing/things other writers do. Thankfully, she is also not adverse to adding sex into the mix and she doesn't even casually demonise homosexuality in her stories. (I'm looking at you, Anne Perry!)
November 4, 2020
This is book #3 in a Victorian mystery series I started reading only this year in June and I really enjoy it.
It's probably not the best series in the world, however this novel was exactly what I wanted at the time I read it. I never try very hard to guess who the murderer is when I read mysteries because, if I'm patient enough, I'll know at the end ! Lazy I am.
I read this type of books for relaxation, a nice break between classics, an exotic setting (XIXth century England against my XXIst century France, it's exotic to me), it's especially comfy when you're home and it's rainy and windy outside. This book, the sofa, a cat, a warm drink, no disturbance ? Perfection.
I also loved the characters, Ben and Lizzie of course, but also Bessie, Daisy, the women in general, mean or not. I could picture everything inside my head. I'll be happy to continue the series.
It's probably not the best series in the world, however this novel was exactly what I wanted at the time I read it. I never try very hard to guess who the murderer is when I read mysteries because, if I'm patient enough, I'll know at the end ! Lazy I am.
I read this type of books for relaxation, a nice break between classics, an exotic setting (XIXth century England against my XXIst century France, it's exotic to me), it's especially comfy when you're home and it's rainy and windy outside. This book, the sofa, a cat, a warm drink, no disturbance ? Perfection.
I also loved the characters, Ben and Lizzie of course, but also Bessie, Daisy, the women in general, mean or not. I could picture everything inside my head. I'll be happy to continue the series.
July 16, 2015
Déjà fini. Que dire, c'est du Ann Granger donc du bon même du très bon. Certains points sont faciles à deviner mais ça reste vraiment excellent. Je dirai pas que c'est mon tome préféré qui reste quand même le 2 mais il n'est pas loin du tout (j'aurai peut-être pas dû le lire aussi vite et le savourer parce que maintenant, je dois avoir un an à attendre pour le prochain snif)
Read
October 30, 2015J'ai beaucoup aimé... Le retour à Londres le brouillard et comme un clin d'oeil à une future affaire qui défrayera la chronique 30 ans plus tard.... ^^
June 13, 2015
3,5*
Parce que, par rapport aux tomes précédents, ça manquait quand même de Lizzie.
Parce que, par rapport aux tomes précédents, ça manquait quand même de Lizzie.
April 19, 2020
Gas lights and a pea-souper fog... what could be more compelling for the beginning of a murder mystery! Set in London in the mid 19th century, with well drawn characters and a nicely created Victorian atmosphere.
However, there were a couple of slightly silly scenes towards the end of the book and I'm quite sure that there was no such tradition as 'Trick or Treat' in 1860s England, as the term wasn't even known until the early 1900s and was initially an American custom - which makes me slightly sceptical of the author's research processes!
Nevertheless it was a great book to snuggle up with on a cold, rainy day and I will be looking for more by this author.
(This was also a very enjoyable audio experience having the benefit of excellent narration.)
However, there were a couple of slightly silly scenes towards the end of the book and I'm quite sure that there was no such tradition as 'Trick or Treat' in 1860s England, as the term wasn't even known until the early 1900s and was initially an American custom - which makes me slightly sceptical of the author's research processes!
Nevertheless it was a great book to snuggle up with on a cold, rainy day and I will be looking for more by this author.
(This was also a very enjoyable audio experience having the benefit of excellent narration.)
January 19, 2023
I didn't like this one quite as well as the first two books in the series. There is a change that is hinted at during the end of book two but the story skips over that event and delves right in, at the start of book three. Anyway, I found it jarring along with the change in setting, so the story felt off kilter. Still a decent Victorian murder mystery novel and I'll be onto the fourth book soon.
Book #3 in the Inspector Ben Ross Mystery series
First Published: 2010
Book #3 in the Inspector Ben Ross Mystery series
First Published: 2010
August 18, 2010
I was so excited for this book to be released that I rushed out to purchase it as soon as my local book store had got a copy in. I was very let down after reading A Better Quality of Murder. I found the mystery itself to be particularly transparent. I was disappointed to find that the main characters (Lizzie Martin and her husband Ben Ross) had not evolved in any way after three novels. To be blunt, they were boring. I cannot help but imagine the authoress-- Ann Granger-- is in a bit of a funk after some thirty plus works, as her last title: Mud, Muck And Dead Things was a bit of a let down as well. Hopefully, the next title by Mrs. Granger will not disappoint.
September 12, 2013
What a boring read. Simplistic language that's almost patronizing, lame plot. Kept reading because I needed something simple during a time of bereavement. The book was rather annoying. A lesser quality of writing.
June 6, 2016
Interesting premise, but minor characters more interesting than the main ones. Somewhat predictable, with much more introspection than action, and then after the big murderer(s?) are revealed, the ending went on and on.
June 4, 2015
Mon tome préféré pour l'instant
May 19, 2023
I liked book 2 in this series but this book just didn't have the same feel or interest for me. I found Lizzie a bit annoying this time around with her insistence on going around barging into people's faces and demanding people talk to her even though she has no formal investigative status other than being the wife of the investigating inspector.
I was bored with this very quickly and did not finish it since it was a library audio book and cost me nothing to try out. Moving on to something else.
I was bored with this very quickly and did not finish it since it was a library audio book and cost me nothing to try out. Moving on to something else.
March 11, 2013
Dieses Buch hat mir definitiv einen anderen Blick auf das viktorianische London gegeben. Mit der Zeitphase um die Jack the Ripper-Morde habe ich mich schon einmal beschäftigt und weiß ein wenig Bescheid. Dieser Krimi jedoch spielt ca. 20 Jahre zuvor, in den späten 1860er Jahren und gibt einen meiner Meinung nach wudnerbaren Einblick in die Londoner Gesellschaft und in das Stadtbild.
Gerade am Anfang wird der Ort des Schauspiels, eingehüllt in dichten Nebel, in einer Art und Weise geschildert, wie ich es noch nicht kennengelernt habe. Besonders die Gerüche spielen eine große Rolle dabei, da sich der Gestank der Themse in jede Faser der Kleidung, in jede Ecke der Stadt durch alle Ritzen in Fenstern und Türen zieht, ob im Bahnhof Waterloo oder schummrigen Seitengassen. Den scharfen Kontrast dazu bildet die Idylle der vorgelagerten Ortschaften, wie beispielsweise Egham oder Clapham, die zu einem etwas späteren Zeitpunkt wichtig werden. Dort scheint die Welt noch in Ordnung.
Bemerkenswert finde ich in solch “historischen” Romanen, wie der Stand der Wissenschaft und die Rolle der Kirche in der jeweiligen Zeitspanne vermittelt wird. Besonders der Schienenverkehr ist aus dieser Erzählung nicht herauszudenken, wenn es um die Ermittlungen ausserhalb der größten Stadt der Welt geht und fester Bestandteil des Alltags vieler.
In die gesellschaftlichen Strukturen erhält man einen breit gefächerten Einblick, angefangen bei Prostituierten über Bedienste, zur Mittelschicht, zu welcher übrigens die Protagonisten gehören und schließlich zum Großbürgertum reicher Kunsthändler.
Der Krimi befasst sich mit der Lösung eines Falles durch Benjamin Martin, Inspector beim Scotland Yard, und seine Frau Elizabeth Ross. Es geht um einen Mord an der Italienerin Allegra Benedict, jung verheiratet an den Kunsthändler Sebastian Benedict. Sie verschwindet auf einem Stadtbesuch mit ihrer Gesellschafterin Miss Marchwood spurlos im Londoner Nebel und taucht erst wieder am nächsten morgen auf, als man ihren Leichnam im königlichen Greenpark findet.
Benjamin Ross wird mit der Lösung des Falls beauftragt, der sich immer weiter zu verstricken scheint, je mehr Zeugen er aus dem Umfeld des Opfers befragt. Seine Frau kann nicht anders, als ihre Nase ebenfalls in diesen Fall zu stecken und teils wagemutig auf eigene Faust zu ermitteln.Dabei stoßen die beiden nicht grade auf wenige intrigante Machenschaften, bei denen vor allem eine kirchliche Bewegung mitspielt und letztlich auch etwas mit den mittlerweile drei Morden zu tun hat.
Alles in allem gefiel mir dieses Buch wirklich ausgesprochen gut, obwohl es zunächst wochenlang seit Weihnachten unscheinbar auf seinem platz im Bücherregal gewartet hat. Was ich nur leider vermisst habe, sind jene Stellen in Büchern, die so spannend sind, dass man gar nicht schnell genug lesen kann und dabei die ein oder andere Zeile auch mal überspringt, einfach weil man wissen möchte was da nun passiert und wie die Situation ausgeht. Dieses Gefühl hatte ich hier lediglich einmal, ziemlich zum Schluss.
Empfehlen kann ich es denjenigen, die nicht auf wirklich auf jene Metzelthriller stehen, in denen literweise das Blut fließt, sondern die an klassischen Ermittlungen interessiert sind, gerne miträtseln und sich für das viktorianische London in seiner schönsten Form begeistern können.
Gerade am Anfang wird der Ort des Schauspiels, eingehüllt in dichten Nebel, in einer Art und Weise geschildert, wie ich es noch nicht kennengelernt habe. Besonders die Gerüche spielen eine große Rolle dabei, da sich der Gestank der Themse in jede Faser der Kleidung, in jede Ecke der Stadt durch alle Ritzen in Fenstern und Türen zieht, ob im Bahnhof Waterloo oder schummrigen Seitengassen. Den scharfen Kontrast dazu bildet die Idylle der vorgelagerten Ortschaften, wie beispielsweise Egham oder Clapham, die zu einem etwas späteren Zeitpunkt wichtig werden. Dort scheint die Welt noch in Ordnung.
Bemerkenswert finde ich in solch “historischen” Romanen, wie der Stand der Wissenschaft und die Rolle der Kirche in der jeweiligen Zeitspanne vermittelt wird. Besonders der Schienenverkehr ist aus dieser Erzählung nicht herauszudenken, wenn es um die Ermittlungen ausserhalb der größten Stadt der Welt geht und fester Bestandteil des Alltags vieler.
In die gesellschaftlichen Strukturen erhält man einen breit gefächerten Einblick, angefangen bei Prostituierten über Bedienste, zur Mittelschicht, zu welcher übrigens die Protagonisten gehören und schließlich zum Großbürgertum reicher Kunsthändler.
Der Krimi befasst sich mit der Lösung eines Falles durch Benjamin Martin, Inspector beim Scotland Yard, und seine Frau Elizabeth Ross. Es geht um einen Mord an der Italienerin Allegra Benedict, jung verheiratet an den Kunsthändler Sebastian Benedict. Sie verschwindet auf einem Stadtbesuch mit ihrer Gesellschafterin Miss Marchwood spurlos im Londoner Nebel und taucht erst wieder am nächsten morgen auf, als man ihren Leichnam im königlichen Greenpark findet.
Benjamin Ross wird mit der Lösung des Falls beauftragt, der sich immer weiter zu verstricken scheint, je mehr Zeugen er aus dem Umfeld des Opfers befragt. Seine Frau kann nicht anders, als ihre Nase ebenfalls in diesen Fall zu stecken und teils wagemutig auf eigene Faust zu ermitteln.Dabei stoßen die beiden nicht grade auf wenige intrigante Machenschaften, bei denen vor allem eine kirchliche Bewegung mitspielt und letztlich auch etwas mit den mittlerweile drei Morden zu tun hat.
Alles in allem gefiel mir dieses Buch wirklich ausgesprochen gut, obwohl es zunächst wochenlang seit Weihnachten unscheinbar auf seinem platz im Bücherregal gewartet hat. Was ich nur leider vermisst habe, sind jene Stellen in Büchern, die so spannend sind, dass man gar nicht schnell genug lesen kann und dabei die ein oder andere Zeile auch mal überspringt, einfach weil man wissen möchte was da nun passiert und wie die Situation ausgeht. Dieses Gefühl hatte ich hier lediglich einmal, ziemlich zum Schluss.
Empfehlen kann ich es denjenigen, die nicht auf wirklich auf jene Metzelthriller stehen, in denen literweise das Blut fließt, sondern die an klassischen Ermittlungen interessiert sind, gerne miträtseln und sich für das viktorianische London in seiner schönsten Form begeistern können.
May 31, 2016
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Un Assassinat de Qualité?
"Je continue cette petite série que je trouve sympathique et dont les couvertures sont absolument splendides. Oui, je suis faible."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Londres, 1867, le fog recouvre toute la ville. Le lendemain matin, Allegra Benedict, la belle épouse italienne d'un marchand d'art de Piccadilly, est retrouvée assassinée dans Green Park. Ben sera chargé de l'enquête mais les fils sont difficiles à dénouer quand personne ne dit rien. Heureusement sa femme Lizzie et son épouse Bessie vont l'aider à démasquer le meurtrier..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous?
"Si j'aime bien cette série, ce n'est pas non plus un coup de coeur et depuis le début, je me demande bien pourquoi. C'est pourtant plus qu'inspiré de la série des Pitt d'Anne Perry que j'adore. Cette fois-ci, j'ai enfin réussi à mettre le doigt dessus. Si Lizzy n'a déjà pas la force de caractère de Charlotte Pitt, le problème principal c'est surtout Ben qui, disons-le franchement, à la charisme d'une huître, très loin donc de Thomas Pitt. Voilà ce qui pêche dans cette série, les personnages principaux, et c'est quand même un sérieux handicape. Dans ce tome-ci, non seulement on ne suit quasiment que Ben mais en plus nous retrouvons notre couple gentiment marié et installé. Est-ce qu'on ne vient pas de nous arnaquer de la partie la plus intéressante de l'histoire? J'ai même cru un moment que j'avais dû rater un tome ou qu'il n'avait pas été traduit, mais non. Pour le reste tout y est, Londres, son brouillard, une époque qui me passionne et une enquête honnête mais il manque toujours le principal..."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini?
"Si cela reste une pâle imitation d'une de mes séries préférées, j'ai quand même bien envie de lire la suite. Je ne sais que ce n'est pas trop rationnelle mais une imitation c'est mieux que rien et en éternelle optimiste, j'ai toujours l'espoir qu'elle s'améliore."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Je continue cette petite série que je trouve sympathique et dont les couvertures sont absolument splendides. Oui, je suis faible."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Londres, 1867, le fog recouvre toute la ville. Le lendemain matin, Allegra Benedict, la belle épouse italienne d'un marchand d'art de Piccadilly, est retrouvée assassinée dans Green Park. Ben sera chargé de l'enquête mais les fils sont difficiles à dénouer quand personne ne dit rien. Heureusement sa femme Lizzie et son épouse Bessie vont l'aider à démasquer le meurtrier..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous?
"Si j'aime bien cette série, ce n'est pas non plus un coup de coeur et depuis le début, je me demande bien pourquoi. C'est pourtant plus qu'inspiré de la série des Pitt d'Anne Perry que j'adore. Cette fois-ci, j'ai enfin réussi à mettre le doigt dessus. Si Lizzy n'a déjà pas la force de caractère de Charlotte Pitt, le problème principal c'est surtout Ben qui, disons-le franchement, à la charisme d'une huître, très loin donc de Thomas Pitt. Voilà ce qui pêche dans cette série, les personnages principaux, et c'est quand même un sérieux handicape. Dans ce tome-ci, non seulement on ne suit quasiment que Ben mais en plus nous retrouvons notre couple gentiment marié et installé. Est-ce qu'on ne vient pas de nous arnaquer de la partie la plus intéressante de l'histoire? J'ai même cru un moment que j'avais dû rater un tome ou qu'il n'avait pas été traduit, mais non. Pour le reste tout y est, Londres, son brouillard, une époque qui me passionne et une enquête honnête mais il manque toujours le principal..."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini?
"Si cela reste une pâle imitation d'une de mes séries préférées, j'ai quand même bien envie de lire la suite. Je ne sais que ce n'est pas trop rationnelle mais une imitation c'est mieux que rien et en éternelle optimiste, j'ai toujours l'espoir qu'elle s'améliore."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
August 24, 2019
Moins captivant que le deuxième, surtout on ne voit pas assez Lizzie, maintenant qu'elle est mariée ! Mais j'attends quand même le 4ème !
May 28, 2017
Voici un enquête "de qualité", oserais-je dire pour paraphraser le titre du roman (titre que j'aime beaucoup d'ailleurs par son humour si british). Lizzie et Ben se retrouvent confrontés à une organisation regroupant, entre autres, des gens de la haute bourgeoisie dont le but est de lutter contre le fléau de l'alcoolisme ; celle-ci s'apparente plus à une secte où les membres "bien-pensants" ne sont pas sans rappeler certains intégristes.
J'ai bien aimé au début cette ambiance oppressante où un brouillard londonien quasi incroyable fait perdre tous les repères et compliquera par la suite la progression de l'enquête. Cette intrigue à tiroirs est bien menée ; le dénouement est surprenant mais logique et fait froid dans le dos!
J'ai bien aimé au début cette ambiance oppressante où un brouillard londonien quasi incroyable fait perdre tous les repères et compliquera par la suite la progression de l'enquête. Cette intrigue à tiroirs est bien menée ; le dénouement est surprenant mais logique et fait froid dans le dos!
May 11, 2018
Started out well - would have been better with only Lizzie and Bessie doing all the mystery solving.
All scenes involving Ben and his boss and co-workers were just a dwindling of time.
All scenes involving Ben and his boss and co-workers were just a dwindling of time.
September 10, 2022
Did I miss something? Did Lizzie Martin and Inspector Ben Ross go from “Walking out” together in book 2 to magically married in book 3? Did I miss a book? Or did Granger decide that Lizzie and Ben getting married was just too dry of a subject to include in the story? I’m so confused!
Despite the strange jump in time and wedding omission, I still enjoyed this book. These stories are slow and meant to be perused, like sipping a dry wine in the evening. Sit back, don’t think too hard, and enjoy.
Potential spoilers:
There were some extra sleazy characters in this book! Between the husband who’s so obsessed with his wife’s beauty that he refuses to sleep with her in fear of ruining her body with pregnancy, the creepy river wraith that’s haunting the riverside by trying to strangle women, several people who are willing to aide and abet a murder to further a cause, and a confidence trickster in a position of trust and philanthropy. These characters make for an interesting and unpredictable story.
Despite the strange jump in time and wedding omission, I still enjoyed this book. These stories are slow and meant to be perused, like sipping a dry wine in the evening. Sit back, don’t think too hard, and enjoy.
Potential spoilers:
There were some extra sleazy characters in this book! Between the husband who’s so obsessed with his wife’s beauty that he refuses to sleep with her in fear of ruining her body with pregnancy, the creepy river wraith that’s haunting the riverside by trying to strangle women, several people who are willing to aide and abet a murder to further a cause, and a confidence trickster in a position of trust and philanthropy. These characters make for an interesting and unpredictable story.
February 3, 2022
The third offering in this enjoyable Victorian mystery series featuring Inspector Ben Ross and his indomitable wife Lizzie. On a foggy winter evening in London Ben Ross encounters a young lady of the night fleeing from 'The River Wraith' who is terrorising women. Before long Ben is investigating the death of a well to do wife of a prominent citizen.
This is an easy read series with engaging characters set in an interesting period in history. The only 'niggle' I had was the reference to Halloween and trick or treating which was not introduced to the UK until well into the 20th century.
This is an easy read series with engaging characters set in an interesting period in history. The only 'niggle' I had was the reference to Halloween and trick or treating which was not introduced to the UK until well into the 20th century.
February 20, 2022
Ben and Lizzie Martin are recently married and living in London with young Bessie as their maid in book 3 of the series. When Bessie becomes overly involved in with a temperance group led by a charismatic young man, Lizzie attends a meeting with her to learn more. Meanwhile, Ben is investigating the death of a young lady found in Green Park, the beautiful Italian wife of a Piccadilly art dealer. Ben and Lizzie’s investigations become intertwined and together they work to solve the case. Another entertaining installment in this series.
October 28, 2023
بينما كان المفتش بن روس من سكوتلاند يارد عائداً إلى منزله في إحدى ليالي السبت في أواخر أكتوبر عام 1867، كان الضباب الذي يحوم حوله يشبه وحشًا حيًا. بحلول صباح اليوم التالي، كانت هناك امرأة مقتولة في جرين بارك. كانت أليجرا بنديكت الزوجة الإيطالية الجميلة لتاجر أعمال فنية في بيكاديللي. ولكن ماذا كانت تفعل في لندن بعد ظهر ذلك اليوم، ولماذا كانت تبيع بروشها في برلينجتون أركيد قبل ساعات قليلة من وفاتها؟ عندما يبدأ بن تحقيقه، تفحص زوجته ليزي - بمساعدة خادمتهما بيسي - حياة أليجرا الخاصة وتكشف أكثر من سبب وراء رغبة شخص ما في موتها. . .
September 1, 2021
I'm not sure I would read another in this series. Told by the husband, an inspector for Scotland Yard, and his wife a bright observant partner for the inspector. I loved their maid, she is really a strong character in her own right. The mystery was excellent, I did not guess until it was revealed. There are vile characters in this book and it almost defies your senses as to how a privileged person could be so utterly depraved. OK, after reading this review, I just might try another.
April 17, 2022
Walking home on a very foggy evening Ben Ross knocks into a lady running for her life, from someone of something she calls the River Wraith. The next day he discovers that the wife of a rich man has been found murdered in a fashionable park. Is it the Wraith, as the press think. As the bodies mount Ben, with help from Lizzie (and Bessie their maid) set about solving the mystery, bring danger to their door.
April 25, 2023
I always enjoy a murder mystery set in Victorian London and this is exactly what this involves. It focuses on the murder of a lovely young Italian girl, married to a wealthy man named Benedict, in a park in London during a thick pea soup fog. Eventually two other murders are discovered, both related to this one and it is up to the inspector to find the connections and bring the killer to justice. Quite an entertaining mystery!
February 3, 2017
Historical mystery set in London, England told from two view points, husband and wife, Ben and Lizzie Martin Ross. Who strangled the beautiful, young wife of a successful gallery owner? It had been a while since I had read this series, but I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
August 12, 2017
Another Excellent novel by Ann. This time we see Jeremiah Basset / Joshua Fawcett, Fawcett I believe the old name for a tap, and this fellow was a confidence trickster. It's not until you realise Fawcett is, we pick up on what is going on. Lizzie and Bessie really should have their own series as detectives. it's a series I am enjoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2018
Another good mystery from Ann Granger.
Anachronism alert: at one point, the Inspector uses the expression "cut to the chase". My sources indicate that this expression dates from the early days of cinema, and is first attested in the 1920s.
Continuity error: on page 153, it reads "Bessie finished warningly." Methinks it should be Daisy, not Bessie.
Anachronism alert: at one point, the Inspector uses the expression "cut to the chase". My sources indicate that this expression dates from the early days of cinema, and is first attested in the 1920s.
Continuity error: on page 153, it reads "Bessie finished warningly." Methinks it should be Daisy, not Bessie.
November 27, 2017
I was slightly disappointed with this book. So far I have really liked this author's books , but I did find this one somewhat drawn out and obvious. Ben Ross and his wife Lizzie have made an interesting couple, but I believe the stories containing them were a bit more believable than this one.
April 15, 2018
I had trouble finishing the book, because I kept losing interest. Perhaps because of the continually shifting POV, no character seems to have any personality. I just could not manage to care what happened to them
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