Dead in the Dog
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
The 1954 murder of a plantation owner in Malaya puts a newly qualified pathologist's forensic skills to the test in this mystery series debut.
As he arrives in Malaya (now Malaysia), newly qualified pathologist Tom Howden is still questioning his decision to sign on for three years in Her Majesty's Far East Land Forces. Once settling in, however, he discovers that his new home is a hotbed of scandal and intrigue. When an English plantation owner is murdered one night, the finger of suspicion naturally points at local bandits, rather than a fellow Englishman. It soon becomes clear, however, that the situation is rather more complicated—and deadly—than it first appeared.
Bernard Knight is the author of the Crowner John Mysteries series and is a member of The Medieval Murderers. Dr. Knight is one of England's foremost forensic experts. He served in Malaya during the 1950s.
"Dead in the Dog, first in this new series, further bolsters Knight's reputation as a top murder mystery author and does not disappoint." —Historical Novel Society
"The unusual setting, Perak State in 1954 British Malaya, boosts this first in a new series from Knight." —Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The unusual setting, Perak State in 1954 British Malaya, boosts this first in a new series from Knight (A Plague of Heretics and 13 other Crowner John medieval historicals). As British colonial rule wanes, a growing independence movement has resulted in an increase of terrorist acts aimed at foreigners. In addition, the desire of Malayan Chinese to have a Communist state succeed British rule has led to conflict between them and native Malays. Against this backdrop, military doctor Tom Howden, the new pathologist in the region, must solve the murder of planter James Robertson, who was gunned down in his car. The killing bears similarities to the assassination of the British high commissioner several years earlier, but given Robertson's rocky relationship with his attractive wife, Howden suspects a personal rather than a political motive. Those for whom the exotic locale is the book's chief appeal won't mind the disappointing windup.
