The Yard – A Victorian Thriller
Set in London in 1889, The Yard by Alex Grecian is a gripping police procedural/thriller that takes place over a period of just three days.
A year after the last murder by Jack the Ripper, Scotland Yard is no closer to catching him. Morale is low and the Yard has lost the confidence of the people of London. Detective Inspector Walter Day has recently joined the Murder Squad, which was created during the Ripper case to focus attention of a small group of police officers on solving murders. However, there are more cases than the police can handle and the morgue is overwhelmed with bodies. Although new to Scotland Yard, Detective Inspector Day is given their most important case - the murder of a fellow detective, Inspector Little.
Luckily, D. I. Day is not investigating alone. He has the help of Dr. Bernard Kingsley, the Yard's first forensic pathologist, and the very capable Constable Hammersmith. Adding to the suspense of the story, the murderer narrates some chapters. As the story progresses, the reader discovers his motivation for killing Inspector Little and watches with him as the police get closer and closer. This is a fantastic story with interesting and endearing characters. The Yard is also available in Large Print and eAudiobook.
The second book featuring Day and Hammersmith has recently arrived. In Black Country, Day and Hammersmith investigate the disappearance of a family in the Midlands. It is also available in Audiobook and Talking Book (Restricted to Print Disabled Patrons).
If you prefer true crime over novels, have a look at The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale. In 1860, three-year old Saville Kent is found murdered. The
crime horrifies England and becomes a national obsession, inspiring many amateur sleuths. Inspector Jonathan Whicher, Britain's
best detective, quickly figures out that the murderer was a family member. However, Victorian society refuses to believe that one family member
would kill another. Unable to prove his circumstantial case, Whicher
returns discredited to London. Five years later, he is proven correct. This is the story of the case that inspired the rise of
the British mystery novel and the tough, intuitive detectives that we love. It is also available in Audiobook, eBook and eAudiobook.
One thought on “The Yard – A Victorian Thriller”
I haven’t read The Yard but I second the recommendation for The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. It’s a fascinating look at the era.