Some time back I discovered the Lake District Murders by Martin, read and thoroughly enjoyed them. Then later he popped up as consultant to the British Library Classic Crime series, introducing many of the book republished and also curating a collection of short stories for titles such as Blood on the Tracks, a collection of railway mysteries and Serpents in Eden, Countryside Crime. He is also the author of a simply superb book which nobody who is interested in Golden Age Crime should be without The Golden Age of Murder
Last year Martin published Gallows Court, a new series featuring Rachel Savernake. I am not sure that I find Rachel a particularly likeable heroine if I am totally honest, but that does not really matter if you are finding the book intriguing and full of twists and turns. I had to really concentrate when reading this, I freely admit, but it was worth it. Now Martin has another title out Mortmain Hall (incidentally I love the cover) and a copy arrived for me to review last week.
Now I am being honest and saying that I am only halfway through this title as I have been innundated with books and e-books from publishers and publicists who, because of the current situation, have to promote their clients via the internet, twitter and all over the internet as book launches and talks have been totally wiped out.
Because of this I am getting behind with my reading. OK well what else have you got to do I hear you cry, particularly as I am in lockdown and self isolating because I have reached a Certain Age and therefore vulnerable. I have plenty of time but I freely admit I am finding it hard to concentrate. So, Martin, I am apologising if this review is not as complete as it should be.
We have a brief epilogue mentioning Mortmain Hall which immediately grabs the imagination and then straight into chapter one with another intriguing opening line "the ghost climbed out of a hackney carriage". Rachel Savernake is lurking and following him as he boards a train at the private station of the London Necropolis Company (worth . I reading all about this organisation, it makes fascinating reading/ Check out this article as it will help set the scene.
She knows he is not who he says he is but a man returned from self imposed exile, a swindler and a thief, who fled abroad. His life is in danger and Rachel warns him of this but he is weary of it all and takes no notice. Two chapters later he is dead. Thrown out of the train but in a way that looks like an accident. And so the plot begins to thicken.
There is also another strand introduced when Jacob Flint, a reporter is watching a trial at the Old Bailey. Clive Danskin is accused of murder and though he is a philanderer, a cheat and drowning in debt, the case against him is purely cirumstantial. I love court room scenes and this was a goody.
"Percival Lang KC was nicknames the Tortoise. Council for the Defence exuded caution and his deliberate manner verged on lethargy. Sir Edgar, in contrast, was a born hare"
I am not giving anything away here when we find a surprise witness who provides him with an albii so that Danskin is found Not Guilty. We already know the evidence is cirumstantial so it comes as no surprise. The atmosphere Martin creates here in this court room environment is spot on. .
And this is where I am and I am looking forward to finishing and finding out just what happened at Mortmain Hall and how all these events link up. You will see from the insert that other bloggers are reviewing Mortmain Hall so do log onto them in due course and see what they have to say.
Martin Edwards has won numerous awards and is currently President of the Detection Club, and chair of the CWA so he knows all there is to know about Murder and Mayhem…..
Leave a Reply