The date is the 21 May 1901. Queen Victoria is dead and the coronation of Edward VII is yet to take place. Sir Gabriel Ward KC finds the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on the doorstep of his chambers. Ward’s chambers are within a gated community known as the Inner and Middle Temple, established by the crusading Knights Templar in the 12th century. It is in the City of London but is self-governing – in the same way the Vatican is in Rome. Sir William Waring, Head of the Inner Temple, has asked Ward to make initial inquiries with the assistance of a policeman assigned by the City of London Police Commissioner. They have seven days to find out who killed the Chief Justice and why.

Millie the Temple Church Mouse is a bestselling children’s book. The author’s name shown on the cover is Harriet Cadamy. Miss Susan Hatchings is suing the publisher, claiming to be Harriet Cadamy, a pseudonym. The publisher, Herbert Moore, disputes her claim. Ward is representing Moore.

We are required to split our attention between the murder inquiry and the task of finding the real author. We are given the clues; we need to work out who is telling the truth and who is telling porkies. And we have only seven days to find answers and get to the truth. The court case is looming and the Head of the Inner Temple is breathing down our necks.

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.

Reviewed by Clive Hodges

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sally Smith spent all her working life as a barrister and later King’s Counsel in the Inner Temple. After writing a biography of the famous Edwardian barrister, Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC, she retired from the bar to write full time.

A Case of Mice and Murder, her first novel, was inspired by the historic surroundings of the Inner Temple in which she still lives and works and by the rich history contained in the Inner Temple archives. A Case of Mice and Murder is the first in a series starring the reluctant sleuth Sir Gabriel Ward KC.

Read more about her books here.