Part of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, book 2
First published 2000
Mary Russell encounters an Oxford acquaintance during her London visit. This friend brings Mary into contact with Margery Childe, who leads a religious group active in the suffrage cause. The sect attracts devoted female followers, but someone begins killing these women. Mary takes on the investigation herself, determined to uncover the truth behind the deaths. Her inquiry draws her deeper into the religious community and its complex dynamics. The case becomes increasingly perilous as Mary pursues leads and confronts suspects. Each step forward brings new threats and complications she never anticipated. The investigation pushes Mary into the most serious peril of her detective career, testing both her skills and her survival instincts as the danger escalates around her.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, thriller, detective, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, perilous-investigation
Setting: London, Oxford
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
336 pages · Paperback · HarperCollins