City of Death

'Richard James has chosen a period he clearly has great affection for as a setting. He revels in the details and in sharing what his characters see and feel around them. It's a time long-gone now, but in the hands of the author, as vibrant and full of life as it must surely once have been.' Desmond Bagley1892. Death stalks the streets of London. A collection of four stories from the casebook of Detective Inspector George Bowman. Set around the the Bowman Of The Yard series, Bowman's Casebook is a set of stand alone adventures following the investigations of Inspector George Bowman of Scotland Yard.The Smithfield Murder. When a man is found hanged among the carcasses at Smithfield Meat Market, Detective Inspector George Bowman is despatched to solve the case, but a conspiracy of silence surrounds the events of Solomon Hibbert's death. Where did his wealth come from? And who would want him dead?The Hackney Poisoning. The Hackney Workhouse is overcrowded, and death is commonplace. The workhouse's benefactor has had enough and wishes to withdraw his patronage. Within hours, he is found dead, and Bowman finds one of his own inspectors has a vested interest. Just what is Inspector Hicks' connection with the workhouse, and why is he withholding vital evidence?The Hampstead Garrotting. When the sexton is found dead in the porch of his church on a Sunday, Inspector Bowman is determined to get to the bottom of the matter. Revelations concerning the dead man's personal life shed light onto a possible motive, but just who would want him dead? Who among the congregation can be trusted? And what is the sexton's connection with the Kaiser?The Holborn Strangler. When two apparently unconnected people are found strangled in the streets of Holborn, Inspector Bowman struggles to find a link between them, while matters aren't helped by the public's distrust of Scotland Yard. Are the murders simply random, or is there a thread that connects them both?Richard James is an actor, playwright and author with many credits to his name. The Bowman Of The Yard series marks his first as an author. Books in the acclaimed series include The Devil in the Dock and The Body in the Trees.Praise for Richard James: 'A genuinely impressive debut.' Andrew Cartmel, The Vinyl Detective'Crime fiction with wit and twists.' Richard Foreman, Raffles: The Complete Innings'Wonderfully atmospheric, full of the thrills of Victorian London.' Adam Croft