A Case of Mice and Murder

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith, read by Matthew Lloyd Davies.

‘A triumph of ingenuity’ DAILY MAIL
‘I loved it! ... A whiff of Shardlake and a pinch of Rumpole ... a joy’ S.J. BENNETT, author of THE WINDSOR KNOT
‘A guaranteed page-turner with secrets, twists and turns throughout’ WOMAN & HOME

When barrister Gabriel Ward steps out of his rooms one sunny May morning in 1901, his mind is so full of his latest case – the disputed authorship of bestselling children’s book Millie the Temple Church Mouse – that he scarcely registers the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep.

But even he cannot fail to notice the judge’s dusty bare feet, in shocking contrast to his flawless evening dress, nor the silver carving knife sticking out of his chest. In the shaded courtyards and ancient buildings of the Inner Temple, the hidden heart of London’s legal world, murder has spent centuries confined firmly to the casebooks. Until now…

As the police have no authority in the Temple, who better to investigate than a man who has dedicated his life to the law? But Gabriel soon discovers that murder is much messier outside the courtroom – and that behind the Temple’s heavy oak doors are stranger secrets than he could ever imagine.

Gabriel Ward will return in A CASE OF LIFE AND LIMB!

‘A cunning and delightful mystery with rich, wonderful characters and period detail so vivid, you can touch it’ IAN MOORE, author of DEATH AND CROISSANTS

‘Sir Gabriel Ward KC is endearingly eccentric. Intriguing, engaging, and thoroughly satisfying’ T.E. KINSEY, author of A QUIET LIFE IN THE COUNTRY

‘A total delight! ... Intelligent, insightful mystery ... all skilfully woven together with a poignant, human story. I devoured it in one sitting!’ SARAH YARWOOD-LOVETT, author of A MURDER OF CROWS

Critics Review

A charming mix between Agatha Christie and Rumpole of the Bailey . . . [which] exquisitely opens the door for readers on the history and traditions of the Inns and legal world
The Times
It is rare that an original protagonist appears in historical crime fiction but Sally Smith has created one in Gabriel Ward ... a delight from first page to last
Sunday Times
Whip-smart whodunnit ... a guaranteed page-turner with secrets, twists and turns throughout
Woman & Home
This cosy whodunnit, which has humour and a human story at its heart, is now available in paperback, making it the ideal summer read
Law Society Gazette
This five-star debut novel is entirely convincing in detail and characterisation
Daily Mail, Christmas Gift Guide
A triumph of ingenuity
Daily Mail
An absolute delight
Janice Hallett
Veteran British barrister Smith uses her knowledge of London’s centuries-old legal establishment, the Inns of Court, to create a delightfully old-fashioned mystery introducing a reluctant sleuth, barrister Sir Gabriel Ward!
Wall Street Journal
A guaranteed page-turner with secrets, twists and turns throughout
Woman's Weekly
I loved it! ... A whiff of Shardlake and a pinch of Rumpole. The plotting is brilliant and it’s a joy for any lover of literature … or justice
SJ Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot
A cunning and delightful mystery with rich, wonderful characters and period detail so vivid, you can touch it
Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants
The world of barristers living and working in the Temple in 1901 is perfectly evoked, and Sir Gabriel Ward KC is endearingly eccentric. Intriguing, engaging, and thoroughly satisfying
T.E. Kinsey, author of the Lady Hardcastle series
This was a total delight! An intriguing, intelligent, insightful mystery, giving a glimpse of a secretive society in the heart of London, all skilfully woven together with a poignant, human story. I devoured this in one sitting!
Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of the Dr Nell Ward Mysteries
Such a clever and well-constructed plot, so beautifully written and an absolute delight to slip into and be carried into the world of the Inner Temple and all the characters within. I adore Sir Gabriel Ward KC
Fliss Chester, author of the Lady Cressida Fawcett Mysteries
Obligatory legal warning: this delightfully quirky historical murder mystery, featuring an endearing KC turned sleuth to solve a most intriguing crime, is highly addictive. Five stars
Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates
I liked this book from the start; on page 55, I fell in love with it. Sally Smith has achieved something much more than a murder mystery ... a novel to warm the soul
Oskar Jensen, author of Helle and Death
In A Case Of Mice and Murder Sally Smith has created a charmingly eccentric golden age sleuth, and a compelling murder mystery. An excellent work of historic fiction which I thoroughly enjoyed!
Guy Morpuss KC, author of Five Minds
Delicious, gaslit murder. I loved it
MAUREEN JOHNSON, author of YOUR GUIDE TO NOT GETTING MURDERED IN A QUAINT ENGLISH VILLAGE
This irresistible novel is written with wit and elegance, as well as deep knowledge of the law and its practice
Literary Review
Intriguing . . . a promising start for a new crime fiction series
Set the Tape
Sally Smith’s narration in A Case of Mice and Murder flows smoothly with distracting red herrings and dashes of humour. A few of the characters given starring roles in this comedy/drama deserve sympathy; others, the most interesting ones, are diabolical
Good Reading, Australia

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
A Case of Mice and Murder.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the next instalment. A truly great combination of legal, historical and murder stories absolutely unique in its presentation.
lesley 30/09/2025

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