Murder at the Ashmolean

The pace is fast and furious with old-fashioned detection winning out against the forces of villainy - Daily Mail

1895. A senior executive at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is found in his office with a bullet hole between his eyes, a pistol discarded close by. The death has officially been ruled as suicide by local police, but with an apparent lack of motive for such action, the museum's administrator, Gladstone Marriott, suspects foul play. With his cast-iron reputation for shrewdness, formed during his time investigating the case of Jack the Ripper alongside Inspector Abberline, private enquiry agent Daniel Wilson is a natural choice to discreetly explore the situation, ably assisted by his partner, archaeologist-cum-detective Abigail Fenton.

Yet their enquiries are hindered from the start by an interfering lone agent from Special Branch, ever secretive and intimidating in his methods. With rumours of political ructions from South Africa, mislaid artefacts and a lost Shakespeare play, Wilson and Fenton soon find themselves tangled in bureaucracy. Making unlikely alliances, the pair face players who live by a different set of rules and will need their intellect and ingenuity to reveal the secrets of the aristocracy.

Perfect for fans of Mark Ellis and T.E. Kinsey

Readers love Jim Eldridge:

'The sense of time and place created is perhaps my favourite aspect of these books, and whilst I thoroughly enjoy the mystery behind the murders, which are often very visceral, despite the cozy nature of the books, I love feeling as if I am walking alongside the characters, smelling, seeing, hearing, feeling and tasting everything they are.'

'Well-written and entertaining historical mystery.'

' I fully lost myself in from the opening chapter. Memorable characters, atmosphere galore, and masterful plotting all combine into an impeccable mystery.'

'Great story, well-paced and keeps you guessing.'

Jim Eldridge is a prolific author of series such as Cathedral Mysteries series, The Hotel Mysteries series, Museum Mysteries series and more, but each book can be read individually.