The Salisbury Manuscript
A
Thomas Ansell Mystery
Philip
Gooden
Soho Constable (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-56947-512-1 (1569475121)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-512-6 (9781569475126)
Publication Date: July 2008
List Price: $24.95
Synopsis (from the publisher): In 1873 a canon dies violently while sneaking artifacts out of an ancient burial chamber on the outskirts of Salisbury. London lawyer Tom Ansell discovers the body and comes under suspicion for the murder. To clear himself, he must find the killer.
Review:
Philip Gooden introduces a new character, London attorney Thomas
Ansell, in The
Salisbury Manuscripts, the first in a series of Victorian
mysteries set in British cathedral towns.
Tom Ansell, a fledgling attorney associated with the London law firm of
Scott, Lye and Mackinzie, is summoned to Salisbury by Canon Felix
Slater on a matter of law. A box given to Felix by his older brother,
Percy, who had inherited it as part of their father’s estate,
is in question. This box contained relics, various and sundry papers,
plus a diary written by their father. This diary, in the form of a
series of manuscripts, relates the history and traditions of the Slater
family. It also has some references to some dubious escapades that
Felix now thinks should not be revealed to the public, should the
manuscripts ever be published. Percy is demanding that Felix
return the manuscripts inasmuch as it was his originally.
Felix wants to know where the law stands on this issue. Shortly after
Tom talks with Felix, Felix is murdered in his den with all his papers
and correspondence strewn across his desk and the floor. The box with
the manuscripts, not surprisingly, is gone. Because Tom was alone in
the den and the last person (besides the murderer, of course) to see
Felix alive, he becomes the police’s prime suspect. But Tom
believes there should be other suspects. Where was Felix's wife that
evening? Where were the household servants? Where was Walter,
Felix’s nephew, who lived with him?
Helen Scott, the daughter of one of the law partners and the love of
Tom's life, rushes to Salisbury. A fan of mysteries herself, she knows
that if Tom is to be cleared she, and Tom, must find the murderer and
together they are determined to do so, with, or without, the help of
the police.
It takes an incredibly long time for the plot of The Salisbury Manuscripts
to get going, as it were. Much of the first hundred pages or so seems
to have little to do with the story such that some readers may
opt to put it down before it gets interesting. Once the investigation
starts, however, the pace picks up a bit and the disparate plot threads
start to come together. Still, this mystery may only appeal to those
patient enough to keep turning the pages.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Salisbury Manuscript and to Soho Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Mysteries in this series ...
The Salisbury Manuscripts
Soho Constable (Hardcover), July 2008
ISBN-10: 1-56947-512-1 (1569475121)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-512-6 (9781569475126)
Omnimystery keywords for The Salisbury Manuscript
...
Location(s) referenced: Salisbury, England.