Author Description

A collection of four short stories from Bowman's Casebook. Set around the first novels of 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. Just how did he get so rich? What did he know? And who would want him dead? The Workhouse Poisoning ~ Hackney Workhouse is overcrowded, and death is commonplace. The workhouse's benefactor has had enough and wishes to withdraw his interest. 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 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 fu