The Black Country (Murder Squad, Bk 2)
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
I read Grecian's first book in this series, THE YARD, a couple of years ago and finally got around to this second entry. I really enjoyed THE YARD and the exploits of Scotland Yard's Murder Squad around the time of Jack the Ripper. In this second go round, Inspector Walter Day and Sergeant Nevil Hammersmith are sent to the British Midlands to help out in trying to find a missing husband and wife and their youngest son. The Midlands is called the "Black Country" because of its extensive coal mining and the local population is full of superstitions and omens. One of these is an evil that may inhabit the mines along with a childhood poem about him:
Rawhead and Bloody Bones
Steals naughty children from their homes,
Takes them to his dirty den,
And they are never seen again.
Shortly after their arrival at the town's inn, Hammersmith is thought doomed because an owl flew into the inn and perched oh the chair he was sitting in. Other superstitions continue to pop up during the story. But what happened to the three missing persons? The story has multiple plot lines and hints on what happened are given throughout the narrative so before the end it is made pretty clear. But there are also other things afoot including an American Civil War vet who is seeking revenge upon someone in the village. The local constable who called in the Murder Squad also goes missing but doesn't really seem to be missed. An illness also plagues the townspeople and the whole town is slowly sinking into the underground mine tunnels. Not a very great place to live and make a living!
I didn't think this novel was quite as good as THE YARD. The plot was to me a little convoluted and there was one issue that was never resolved satisfactorily. Also, I didn't think the case really warranted the involvement of Scotland Yard. Not sure why they would have been called to the Midlands on a missing persons case. However, I did enjoy the return of the characters Day and Hammersmith along with Dr. Kingsley and the gentle giant, Henry, who is occupied trying to care for a baby magpie. I will be reading more in the series and have the third novel, THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP, at the top of my TBR stack.
Rawhead and Bloody Bones
Steals naughty children from their homes,
Takes them to his dirty den,
And they are never seen again.
Shortly after their arrival at the town's inn, Hammersmith is thought doomed because an owl flew into the inn and perched oh the chair he was sitting in. Other superstitions continue to pop up during the story. But what happened to the three missing persons? The story has multiple plot lines and hints on what happened are given throughout the narrative so before the end it is made pretty clear. But there are also other things afoot including an American Civil War vet who is seeking revenge upon someone in the village. The local constable who called in the Murder Squad also goes missing but doesn't really seem to be missed. An illness also plagues the townspeople and the whole town is slowly sinking into the underground mine tunnels. Not a very great place to live and make a living!
I didn't think this novel was quite as good as THE YARD. The plot was to me a little convoluted and there was one issue that was never resolved satisfactorily. Also, I didn't think the case really warranted the involvement of Scotland Yard. Not sure why they would have been called to the Midlands on a missing persons case. However, I did enjoy the return of the characters Day and Hammersmith along with Dr. Kingsley and the gentle giant, Henry, who is occupied trying to care for a baby magpie. I will be reading more in the series and have the third novel, THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP, at the top of my TBR stack.
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