When the first book in this series came out I mentioned that I love mysteries; I can add now that I love the character of Gabriel Ward. Events of this book also take place in 1901 as did those of the first story. The sensational case that began Gabriel Ward's first adventure when he found the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep has been resolved. The unassuming barrister had to push himself past the comfort of his daily routines and even learn to work with a young police constable of the London Police. Now Ward and PC Wright are back to their usual duties, one with a sense of relief and the other with disappointment that the excitement is over. Until a new series of macabre "gifts" begin to appear at the lodgings of various Inner Temple residents.
A helpful diagram shows the layout of the buildings which comprise the Inner Temple. Readers can look at the location of and the distance between the rooms where each grisly package is delivered. The boxes, each containing a body part and a rather cheeky note, cause revulsion and outrage among the Temple community. Ward understands the reactions, but also wishes the whole situation was resolved and he could retreat to his cozy home and spend his time wrangling with complicated law cases rather than searching for a possible murderer or grave robber.
Even though he has been tasked with solving yet another mystery, Ward also has his responsibilities to the legal profession. Despite his distaste for publicity, he has been pulled into another case that is making headlines. A very popular entertainer has sued a sensational newspaper for printing a story saying that a young gentleman has been intimate with her - a story she denies categorically. Ward has little exposure to flamboyant rumors or music hall performers and has to steel his nerves to leave the familiar grounds of the Inner Temple and visit his client at work. It seems that those who lead the legal community do not have any clue about how difficult it is to conduct a mystery investigation while still meeting day to day demands of the workplace. They just delegate and leave Ward to figure out the details.
This second installment in the series shows personal growth of the protagonist, as well as grounding the action firmly in the time period of the setting. It is well researched and suspensefully told. If you enjoy mysteries set in Victorian England and involving multiple persons of interest and motives galore, then you should feel right at home following Gabriel Ward through the steps of his investigation.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.
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