Kerry Tombs Book order (chronological)

"Christmas Eve, 1888. A mysterious stranger arrives in the small Herefordshire market town of Ledbury. He offers a solicitor, Anthony Midwinter, a generous sum to look after a package for him until spring, no questions asked. The stranger warns that it must remain sealed or else the very stability of England will come under threat. New Year’s Eve. The Ledbury Lamplighters see out the year with a public ceremony extinguishing the town's lamps, a local tradition. A prominent local businessman is brutally murdered in full view of the revellers. Detective Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft is reunited with his old friend and colleague, Constable Tom Crabb. They unravel a sequence of events that threatens the very political and social stability of the country. Meanwhile, the man known as the Whitechapel Murderer, returns from exile to carry out one final assignment for his new masters . . ."--Cover, page 4.

"Worchester, 1888, Nicholas Evelyn, the elderly cathedral librarian, has disappeared. A priceless medieval manuscript has been stolen. Its glass case smashed with a candlestick. Ravenscroft is sent from the grimy streets of Whitechapel to investigate. Murder in the cathedral. Aided by his trusty companion Constable Tom Crabb, Ravenscroft soon discovers that behind the cathedral's facade lurks a dark world of death and deceit. Could the murder relate to an unsolved mystery dating back nearly forty years? Meanwhile, in London, a mysterious woman in black is wreaking revenge in the dark alleyways of Whitechapel. In a spectacular climax, the two worlds of Worcester and Whitechapel meet." --

Set in Victorian England, this revised edition follows Police Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft, who, despite his cleverness and hard work, has the worst record in the force. In 1887, after allowing a murderer to escape, he is sent to the spa town of Malvern for treatment of his asthma. Shortly after arriving, he receives a dinner invitation from Jabez Pitzer, only for the maid to discover Pitzer dead at his desk before the meal begins. Ravenscroft notices two glasses on a side table, one with a powdery residue and the faint smell of bitter almonds, indicating poisoning. However, local authorities are reluctant to acknowledge a murderer in Malvern. Determined to prove himself, Ravenscroft dives into the investigation, only to find more bodies piling up among local luminaries. A mysterious woman in black is seen speaking to each victim, raising questions about her involvement and a potential local cartel of businessmen. Ravenscroft, keen to overcome his physical limitations, utilizes forthright questioning and keen observation as he travels the Three Counties with Constable Tom Crabb, seeking justice. This captivating mystery is filled with engaging dialogue, humor, and rich Victorian atmosphere, appealing to fans of historical crime fiction.