Hardcastle's Mandarin (Hardcastle and Marriott Historical Mysteries)

Review The charmingly irascible DDI Ernest Hardcastle and his long-suffering sidekick, DS Charles Marriott, are back in another atmospheric historical mystery. Set in London in 1917, the story begins when Hardcastle and Marriott are called to the scene of a brutal murder at Whitehall. The victim is Sir Nigel Strang, undersecretary at the Ministry of Munitions. There are no solid leads, so Hardcastle and Marriott start the painstaking task of interviewing anyone who might have seen anything suspicious. A few days later, a man is stabbed to death on a London bus, and shortly after that, the cleaning woman who discovered Strang's body is found dead. Three victims, three very different murders--can they be related? Hardcastle and Marriott soon discover evidence that indicates the three murders may be linked to German spies and the selling of secrets to the enemy. Good historical ambience, a gripping plot, deft touches of ironic humor, and a satisfying conclusion make this yet another solid addition to Ison's series. --Booklist, 1st July 2009 About the Author