The Oxford Mysteries
2 total works
The Salvation Army has come prancing and singing from the slums of London to the poorest quarters of Oxford, but along with its red hot gospel preaching and music hall songs it brings a prohibition message which sparks immediate opposition and violence.
An Army soldier – an ex-drunk – is brutally killed and a note suggests that the Salvation Army’s shadowy enemy, the Skeleton Army, is responsible.
With the police unwilling to come between the two forces, Non Vaughan, aspiring journalist and great hope of the Oxford women’s college movement, and Basil Rice, Jesus College fellow and union-sanctioned guardian of the dead man’s family, are compelled to investigate.
But as the threats from both sides escalate, resulting in a second death, Non and Basil realise that they must stop the fighting before it results in an outright war. For with the University’s annual commemoration week fast approaching, the entire city could be engulfed in fire and blood…
An utterly compelling historical mystery, and a fascinating portrait of Victorian Oxford, perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, C. J. Sansom and Antonia Hodgson.
Oxford, 1883. Young men are being found bound, gagged and hooded at the gates of their colleges in the small hours.
Basil Rice, Jesus College fellow, is asked by the senior proctor to investigate. But matters of sexual purity are dangerous, as it lays Basil open to unwelcome scrutiny of his own private life.
Meanwhile, an undergraduate has been imprisoned on false charges, and secures the services of young academic and budding journalist, Non Vaughan, to clear her name.
The uncovering by Basil of a secret society, The Venatores, and the murder of a student, cause Non and Basil to join forces. But is justice possible in a world so unjust and dangerous?
A scintillating historical mystery from the author of CWA Historical Dagger shorlisted A Bitter Remedy.
Praise for the Oxford Mysteries series'An excellent historical mystery dripping with atmosphere that exposes the chauvinism, misogyny and bigotry of late Victorian England' The Times
'Real figures from history rub shoulders with those invented by Hawkins – and her inventiveness is prodigal' Financial Times
'Fearlessly tackles taboo attitudes of the era, taking aim at misogyny, homophobia, and sexual politics. An excellent addition to the historical mystery canon. Marvellous!' Vaseem Khan
'Brilliantly researched, rich in atmosphere and with two likeable and intriguing protagonists at the centre' Philip Gwynne Jones