A Trick of the Light

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.

Listen to a sample

What to expect

LONDON HAD SHERLOCK HOLMES.

THE DARK ALLEYS OF EDINBURGH HAD INSPECTOR McLEVY.

'DAVID ASHTON IMPECCABLY EVOKES EDINBURGH' Financial Times
ELEGANT AND CONVINCING' The Times
'ASHTON IS THE DIRECT HEIR TO ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON' Brian Cox
'EXCELLENT' The Sherlock Holmes Society
'A REAL PAGE-TURNER' Sunday Post
'DRIPPING WITH MELODRAMA AND DERRING-DO' Herald

Halloween 1881, Edinburgh, and the dead are restless.
In respectable Edinburgh society, beautiful young American spiritualist, Sophia Adler, is causing a furore with her dramatic séances. But the ghosts of the past seem hell-bent on retribution.
Inspector James McLevy finds his investigations distracted by more earthly concerns when Muriel Grierson, an outwardly genteel widow is robbed at home. Her knight in shining armour - one Arthur Conan Doyle, recently graduated from medical school - is keen to learn from such a master of detection as the renowned inspector, but McLevy is less sure that he requires a new acolyte.
A vicious murder occurs with evidence of supernatural strength and violence. Treachery revenged from a battle long ago. All roads lead to Sophia Adler and the inspector becomes involved with one of the most dangerous women he has ever encountered.

THE INSPECTOR MCLEVY SERIES
1 - Shadow of the Serpent
2 - Fall from Grace
3 - A Trick of the Light
4 - Nor Will He Sleep

(P)2016 John Murray Press

Critics Review

  • PRAISE FOR THE INSPECTOR McLEVY SERIES
    Mclevy is a sort of Victorian Morse with a heart, prowling the mean wynds and tenements of the endlessly fascinating city. David Ashton impeccably evokes Edinburgh so vividly that you feel the cold in your bones and the menace of the Old Town’s steep cobbles and dark corners

    Financial Times
  • An intriguing Victorian story… elegant and convincing

    The Times
  • McLevy is one of the greatest psychological creations and Ashton the direct heir to Robert Louis Stevenson

    Brian Cox, CBE - Award-winning actor
  • David Ashton’s writing is excellent, his characters thoroughly convincing and his narrative grabs you

    The Sherlock Holmes Society
  • Ashton’s McLevy is a man obsessed with meting out justice and with demons of his own

    Scotsman
  • A real page-turner

    Sunday Post

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.