The Murderer's Apprentice

Ben and Lizzie Ross return in “a well-plotted and compelling mystery with lively characters and a strong invocation of fog-bound Victorian England” (Promoting Crime Fiction).
 
It is March 1870. London is in the grip of fog and ice. But Scotland Yard’s Inspector Ben Ross has more than the weather to worry about when the body of a young woman is found in a dustbin at the back of a Piccadilly restaurant.
 
Ben must establish who the victim is before he can find out how and why she came to be there. His enquiries lead him first to a bootmaker in Salisbury and then to a landowner in Yorkshire. Meanwhile, Ben’s wife, Lizzie, aided by their eagle-eyed maid, Bessie, is investigating the mystery of a girl who is apparently being kept a prisoner in her own home.
 
As Ben pursues an increasingly complex case, Lizzie reveals a vital piece of evidence that brings him one step closer to solving the crime . . .
 
A spellbinding Victorian crime mystery, perfect for fans of M. R. C. Kasasian and Susanna Calkins.
 
Praise for the writing of Ann Granger
 
“A well-written, well-crafted traditional British mystery by a writer with an assured grasp of her technique.” —reviewingtheevidence.com
 
“Characterization, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent.” —The Times
 
“The story just gets more complex, mysterious and chilling.” —Good Book Guide
 
“For once a murder novel which displays a gentle touch and a dash of wit.” —The Northern Echo
 
“A clever and lively book.” —Margaret York