The Body on the Doorstep
A dark and compelling historical murder mystery
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Zaffre
Published:25th Aug '16
Should be back in stock very soon
Reverend Hardcastle's discovery of a dying man leads him into a dangerous investigation in The Body on the Doorstep, filled with intrigue and peril.
In The Body on the Doorstep, Reverend Hardcastle is thrust into a perilous situation when he discovers a dying man on his doorstep. Just moments before, he narrowly avoids a bullet, leaving him both shaken and curious. The victim's cryptic last words weigh heavily on him, pushing him to uncover the truth behind the man's fate. Set against the backdrop of smuggling activities along England's south-east coast, the narrative quickly leads to suspicions of a dispute among thieves.
As Hardcastle delves deeper into the mystery, he encounters the local Customs service, whose leader seems oddly hesitant to pursue the investigation. This reluctance raises questions about the integrity of those tasked with maintaining law and order. With the capable Mrs. Chaytor by his side, Hardcastle embarks on a quest for answers, navigating a landscape filled with danger and deception. The stakes escalate as he uncovers layers of conspiracy and treason lurking just beneath the surface.
The Body on the Doorstep is not just a tale of murder and smuggling; it is a gripping exploration of morality and justice in a world where loyalty is often tested. As Reverend Hardcastle races against time to catch a killer, he must confront the shadows that threaten to engulf him and his community, ultimately questioning how far he is willing to go for the truth.
An enjoyable murder mystery with engaging characters, nicely observed historical detail and gentle humour. -- Tracey Warr * Historical Novel Review *
A welcome addition to the genre... I know if the next book in the series had been published I would be reading that now. I'll have to look forward to it but in the meantime, I thoroughly recommend this to all * hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.co.uk *
A gripping, atmospheric page turner... The plot itself is extremely clever...The Body on the Doorstep is fresh and exciting in addition to being skilfully written. * The Bookbag *
An enjoyable murder mystery with engaging characters, nicely observed historical detail and gentle humour * Historical Novel Review *
This is an enjoyable read, lots of interesting historical detail, engaging characters and plenty of twists to the plot. There is definitely potential for a series based on these characters and setting, I would like to read more * A Good Read Blog *
This is a most impressive debut from a new writing team. The setting pre-dates most of the war between England and France, i.e.. pre-Bonaparte, but is beautifully realised with lots of understanding of both the politics and everyday life. The plot is cleverly put together with differing explanations and characters and motives that may or may not be true. All in all a terrific book and I want to read more! * Plucked Highbrow *
A clever and gripping atmospheric page turner, with engaging and believable characters, plenty of twists and turns, nicely observed historical detail and touches of gentle humour...The characterisation throughout is superb. The artist JMW Turner makes an interesting and sympathetic appearance and even the minor players appear authentic and individual. The background is impeccably presented and the pace picks up as the story progresses. If the showdown owes more to Christie than Le Carre it is nonetheless in keeping with the overall tone of a quite brilliant and traditional period novel * Crime Review Book Blog *
This debut mystery by MacKenzie is a high-stakes, atmospheric adventure set on the colorful Kent coast and headed by two well-developed protagonists * Library Journal *
A dark and thrilling story * Visit Kent *
ISBN: 9781785761201
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 17mm
Weight: 213g
288 pages