?A delight from start to finish' SUNDAY TIMES
'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

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...

The first in a brand-new series introducing a wonderfully eccentric sleuth, perfect for fans of S.J. Bennett, Janice Hallett and Richard Coles. Gabriel Ward will return in 2025.

?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