The Ring of Death

A neat take on the big hitters in the book world just over a century ago . . . Gyles is a joy to the nation * Virginia Blackburn, Daily Express *
A neat take on the big hitters in the book world just over a century ago . . . Gyles is a joy to the nation * Virginia Blackburn, Daily Express *
A clever concept spiced with great Wilde epigrams * Daily Telegraph *
A clever concept spiced with great Wilde epigrams * Daily Telegraph *
He has won great acclaim for his series of Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries . . . as witty and entertaining as his hero, Gyles is renowned for his charisma and charm * Daily Mail *
He has won great acclaim for his series of Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries . . . as witty and entertaining as his hero, Gyles is renowned for his charisma and charm * Daily Mail *
The last novel I read was The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries . . . it was very good * Nicholas Parsons, Daily Telegraph *
The last novel I read was The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries . . . it was very good * Nicholas Parsons, Daily Telegraph *
An amusing and satisfactorily unlikely story * Jessica Mann, Literary Review *
An amusing and satisfactorily unlikely story * Jessica Mann, Literary Review *
Brandreth's knowledge of fin-de-siecle London, of the social and political history of the period and, above all, of Wilde himself is most impressive. Wildean witticisms abound * Brian Maye, Irish Times *
Brandreth's knowledge of fin-de-siecle London, of the social and political history of the period and, above all, of Wilde himself is most impressive. Wildean witticisms abound * Brian Maye, Irish Times *
Terrifically well researched, it all whizzes along and the reader can have fun identifying the real Wilde's witticisms from Brandreth's * Scotland on Sunday *
Terrifically well researched, it all whizzes along and the reader can have fun identifying the real Wilde's witticisms from Brandreth's * Scotland on Sunday *
As much imaginative biography as murder mystery, this book paints a lively portrait of Wilde at the height of his fame * Irish Examiner *
As much imaginative biography as murder mystery, this book paints a lively portrait of Wilde at the height of his fame * Irish Examiner *
It's all mid-morning bracers, detections based on the shininess of shoes, hansom cabs and gems like "work is the best antidote to sorrow" as we gallivant around 1890's London. Wilde is a tough subject to make boring, but this is great escapism * Danny Wheeler, London Lite *
It's all mid-morning bracers, detections based on the shininess of shoes, hansom cabs and gems like "work is the best antidote to sorrow" as we gallivant around 1890's London. Wilde is a tough subject to make boring, but this is great escapism * Danny Wheeler, London Lite *
Brandreth really has got the measure of his subject, catching the essence of the great man at almost every turn * Yorkshire Evening Post *
Brandreth really has got the measure of his subject, catching the essence of the great man at almost every turn * Yorkshire Evening Post *
[A] deservedly well-received series * District Messenger *
[A] deservedly well-received series * District Messenger *
Gyles Brandreth has done a great job with this continuing series . . . I'm wild about Wilde * Birmingham Sunday Mercury *
Gyles Brandreth has done a great job with this continuing series . . . I'm wild about Wilde * Birmingham Sunday Mercury *
Sparking dialogue, as you would expect, mystery piled deliciously upon mystery, a plot with a pace and a panache and a London backdrop that would grace any Victorian theatre * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *
Sparking dialogue, as you would expect, mystery piled deliciously upon mystery, a plot with a pace and a panache and a London backdrop that would grace any Victorian theatre * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *
That curious, uneasy shadowland of late Victorian London, where Society, Art and Popular Entertainment overlap, is richly evoked, and the details of Wilde's life are mentioned by Sherard . . . in a perfectly natural, convincing manner: the man he presents to us is both the authentic Oscar and the authentic amateur sleuth * District Messenger *
That curious, uneasy shadowland of late Victorian London, where Society, Art and Popular Entertainment overlap, is richly evoked, and the details of Wilde's life are mentioned by Sherard . . . in a perfectly natural, convincing manner: the man he presents to us is both the authentic Oscar and the authentic amateur sleuth * District Messenger *
A good read * Woman's Way *
A good read * Woman's Way *
Utterly charming caper of murder and wit . . . my reader loves them * Bookseller *
Utterly charming caper of murder and wit . . . my reader loves them * Bookseller *
Brandreth characterises Wilde with great finesse and provides an unconventional and languid narrative to match * Tangled Web (online) *
Brandreth characterises Wilde with great finesse and provides an unconventional and languid narrative to match * Tangled Web (online) *
Brandreth writes with a light touch, but conveys a sense of the moral hypocrisy and oppressive class system of the time. What raises this book several notches above most mysteries is the authentic historical detail and the engaging portrait of Wilde . . . sparkling bits of wit and wisdom * Historical Novels Review *
Brandreth writes with a light touch, but conveys a sense of the moral hypocrisy and oppressive class system of the time. What raises this book several notches above most mysteries is the authentic historical detail and the engaging portrait of Wilde . . . sparkling bits of wit and wisdom * Historical Novels Review *
Highly acclaimed Oscar Wilde murder mysteries . . . richly described background of fin-de-siecle London * Greenock Telegraph *
Highly acclaimed Oscar Wilde murder mysteries . . . richly described background of fin-de-siecle London * Greenock Telegraph *
Engaging, entertaining and skilfully written * The Sydney Morning Herald *
Engaging, entertaining and skilfully written * The Sydney Morning Herald *
One of the most enjoyable (series) around * Diplomat Magazine *
One of the most enjoyable (series) around * Diplomat Magazine *
Gyles is a joy to the nation * International Express *
Gyles is a joy to the nation * International Express *
An enjoyable read * MX Magazine (Australia) *
An enjoyable read * MX Magazine (Australia) *
Give a big, fat, sloppy kiss to the Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, a sharply-written, deeply urbane and ongoing series * QX International *
Give a big, fat, sloppy kiss to the Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, a sharply-written, deeply urbane and ongoing series * QX International *
Plenty of cliff hangers, and twists in the tale to keep even the most avid crime buff flicking pages 'till last in the night * Birmingham Sunday Mercury *
Plenty of cliff hangers, and twists in the tale to keep even the most avid crime buff flicking pages 'till last in the night * Birmingham Sunday Mercury *
Part biography and part murder mystery with a wonderful cast of historical characters * Oswentry & Border Countries Advertiser, Teresa Eccleston *
Part biography and part murder mystery with a wonderful cast of historical characters * Oswentry & Border Countries Advertiser, Teresa Eccleston *
The plot speeds to an exciting climax . . . Richly atmospheric. Very entertaining * Woman & Home *
The plot speeds to an exciting climax . . . Richly atmospheric. Very entertaining * Woman & Home *
Irresistible . . . Elegant . . . Rich . . . Enjoyable . . . A classic Agatha Christie-style whodunit * Yorkshire Evening Post *
Irresistible . . . Elegant . . . Rich . . . Enjoyable . . . A classic Agatha Christie-style whodunit * Yorkshire Evening Post *
One of the most enjoyable crime series around . . . He slips easily into the 21st century, does this Oscar (imagine, if you can, an even higher-wattage Stephen Fry), just as, thanks to Brandreth, we as readers are able to travel effortlessly back to join him in his own age. It is well worth the journey - and I can't wait until the next one * The Scotsman *
One of the most enjoyable crime series around . . . He slips easily into the 21st century, does this Oscar (imagine, if you can, an even higher-wattage Stephen Fry), just as, thanks to Brandreth, we as readers are able to travel effortlessly back to join him in his own age. It is well worth the journey - and I can't wait until the next one * The Scotsman *
PRAISE FOR GYLES BRANDRETH
PRAISE FOR GYLES BRANDRETH
Not merely, like all the best after-dinner speakers, does he know how to spin a yarn; unlike most politicians, he has a touching access to the secrets of the human heart * The Times *
Not merely, like all the best after-dinner speakers, does he know how to spin a yarn; unlike most politicians, he has a touching access to the secrets of the human heart * The Times *
A fine and sympathetic writer * The Times Literary Supplement *
A fine and sympathetic writer * The Times Literary Supplement *
He can tell a story in the way Daphne du Maurier could . . . He creates a world and keeps you there * Sunday Express *
He can tell a story in the way Daphne du Maurier could . . . He creates a world and keeps you there * Sunday Express *
PRAISE FOR GYLES BRANDRETH'S MURDER MYSTERIES
PRAISE FOR GYLES BRANDRETH'S MURDER MYSTERIES
Brandreth's portrait of Oscar Wilde is entirely plausible; plots are ingenious and the historical background is fascinating * Scotsman *
Brandreth's portrait of Oscar Wilde is entirely plausible; plots are ingenious and the historical background is fascinating * Scotsman *
This wickedly imagined and highly entertaining series . . . intelligent, jaunty and hilarious * The Good Book Guide *
This wickedly imagined and highly entertaining series . . . intelligent, jaunty and hilarious * The Good Book Guide *
Rather fun . . . Brandreth unashamedly wheels out a cast of historical characters to die for * Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times *
Rather fun . . . Brandreth unashamedly wheels out a cast of historical characters to die for * Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times *
A carnival of cliff-hangers and fiendish twists-and-turns . . . The joy of the book . . . is the rounded and compelling presentation of the character of Wilde . . . The imaginary and the factual are woven together with devilish ingenuity. Brandreth also gives his hero speeches of great beauty and wisdom and humanity * Sunday Express *
A carnival of cliff-hangers and fiendish twists-and-turns . . . The joy of the book . . . is the rounded and compelling presentation of the character of Wilde . . . The imaginary and the factual are woven together with devilish ingenuity. Brandreth also gives his hero speeches of great beauty and wisdom and humanity * Sunday Express *
Pitch perfect. Great entertainment * Booklist *
Pitch perfect. Great entertainment * Booklist *
Excellent - a light-hearted and entertaining murder mystery * Irish Post *
Excellent - a light-hearted and entertaining murder mystery * Irish Post *
Fabulous . . . The plot races along like a carriage pulled by thoroughbreds * The Scotsman *
Fabulous . . . The plot races along like a carriage pulled by thoroughbreds * The Scotsman *
Very entertaining * Literary Review *
Very entertaining * Literary Review *
This excellent novel . . . I'd be staggered if you'd read many better whodunnits. Brandreth demonstrates supremely measured skill as a story-teller * Nottingham Evening Post *
This excellent novel . . . I'd be staggered if you'd read many better whodunnits. Brandreth demonstrates supremely measured skill as a story-teller * Nottingham Evening Post *
The murders begin. Highly theatrical ones . . . Entertaining and meticulously researched * Washington Post *
The murders begin. Highly theatrical ones . . . Entertaining and meticulously researched * Washington Post *
A cleverly plotted, intelligent and thoroughly diverting murder mystery. This novel is an educated page-turner, a feast of intriguing and light-hearted entertainment * Good Book Guide *
A cleverly plotted, intelligent and thoroughly diverting murder mystery. This novel is an educated page-turner, a feast of intriguing and light-hearted entertainment * Good Book Guide *
Inventive . . . brilliant . . . marvellous . . . glittering . . . graceful . . . intricate . . . enthralling * Booklist *
Inventive . . . brilliant . . . marvellous . . . glittering . . . graceful . . . intricate . . . enthralling * Booklist *
The latest witty installment in Gyles Brandreth's hugely enjoyable series of Victorian murder mysteries * Daily Mail *
The latest witty installment in Gyles Brandreth's hugely enjoyable series of Victorian murder mysteries * Daily Mail *
Gyles Brandreth succeeds magnificently. A plot that is intriguing throughout. A skilfully crafted story that goes all the way * Daily Mail *
Gyles Brandreth succeeds magnificently. A plot that is intriguing throughout. A skilfully crafted story that goes all the way * Daily Mail *
What sets the novel apart is Brandreth's talent for conveying time and place. The barbarism of close confinement has rarely been so graphically and movingly portrayed * Daily Mail *
What sets the novel apart is Brandreth's talent for conveying time and place. The barbarism of close confinement has rarely been so graphically and movingly portrayed * Daily Mail *
Gyles Brandreth's Murder Mysteries just get better and better . . . and this is the best so far * The Sherlock Holmes Journal *
Gyles Brandreth's Murder Mysteries just get better and better . . . and this is the best so far * The Sherlock Holmes Journal *
One of the most intelligent, amusing and entertaining books of the year. If Oscar Wilde himself had been asked to write this book he could not have done it any better * Alexander McCall Smith *
One of the most intelligent, amusing and entertaining books of the year. If Oscar Wilde himself had been asked to write this book he could not have done it any better * Alexander McCall Smith *
Genius . . . Wilde has sprung back to life in this thrilling and richly atmospheric new novel . . . The perfect topography for crime and mystery . . . magnificent . . . an unforgettable shocker about sex and vice, love and death * Sunday Express *
Genius . . . Wilde has sprung back to life in this thrilling and richly atmospheric new novel . . . The perfect topography for crime and mystery . . . magnificent . . . an unforgettable shocker about sex and vice, love and death * Sunday Express *
Brandreth has poured his...