Happy very belated publication! Of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith was on my wish list, and when it popped up at Netgalley, I was delighted to be chosen. Thank you, Raven Books, for this opportunity.
From the Publisher:
When barrister Gabriel Ward steps out of his rooms at exactly two minutes to seven on a 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 . . .
The police can enter the Temple only by consent, so who better to investigate this tragic breach of law and order than a man who prizes both above all things? But murder doesn’t answer to logic or reasoned argument, and Gabriel soon discovers that the Temple’s heavy oak doors are hiding more surprising secrets than he’d ever imagined . . .
What I Loved:
- Gabriel Ward. Gabriel is quiet, unassuming, ridiculously smart, kind, shy, and probably mildly asexual. He is unintentionally funny and much more powerful than he realizes. Gabriel’s character growth was remarkable and yet a quiet inevitability – no one as astute and curious as he could leave a murder mystery unsolved or an innocent maid be fired. He is my new favorite featured detective. Even his relationship with Constable Wright (mentor/mentee? Nontraditional father/son trope?) is subtle in its build up.
- The Mystery. Not only was the murder mystery intriguing with enough potential suspects and no glaring red herrings, but authorship of Millie the Temple Church Mouse was a delightful subplot that tied nicely into the main plot. The overall structure was easy to follow but not a gimme by any means. I didn’t discover the exciting end to either mystery until the final couple of chapters.
- The Setting. Sally Smith is a barrister by trade and is intimately familiar with the Temple, and it absolutely shows. Every page and word makes you feel the calm and security settling over the homes in the Temple and the general rhythm of the community.
What Didn’t Work as Well:
- The Pace. The first quarter or so of Mice and Murder was a bit slow, and I almost got discouraged and stopped reading. I am so happy I didn’t. However, it is definitely a concern in the first of a series to start so slow (despite a murder on the first page).
Conclusion:
A Case of Mice and Murder was an absolute delight, a slow burn but completely worth the time. This will be on my hard copy order list. Four waves! Get your hard copy at Book Shop during the anti-Prime sale!
Books for the Beach 
Great review. I enjoyed this book. There is a second one coming out in England very soon.
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That is so exciting to hear! Can’t wait for book 2. Happy you enjoyed also 🙂
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The second one comes out in England this month. If you order from Blackwells, there is no shipping charge.
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