Lestrade and the Sawdust Ring

I’m a sucker for a good Victorian detective novel, and M. J. Trow’s “The Ring” seemed like it would fit the bill. Batchelor and grand are “enquiry agents,” a term they insist others adhere to, a profession they feel is more honorable than if they were performing the same duties for the police. Mr. Tr......more

This is an historical crime story that follows our two intrepid investigators as they try and track down the wife of businessman Selwyn Byng. I really liked the two detectives and the way they bounce off each other. I also liked that most of this is set in or against a Victorian Thames. It made for......more

First, a question about Trow. He's written a number of series--mostly historical, but some set in the present day--and very good they are, if a bit gruesome at times. But there are so many of them! How does any one person manage to turn out such a great quantity without compromising the quality of h......more

Set during the1870s in London, The Ring finds private inquiry agents Matthew Grand and James Batchelor hired by oddball timber merchant Selwyn Byng to find his kidnapped wife. Byng can’t involve police, or his wife will be killed. Since Byng isn’t forthcoming and there are too many holes in his stor......more

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC. In 1873 London, James Grand and Matthew Bachelor are hired by Selwyn Byng who wants them to find his kidnapped wife. A badly spelled note he received asked him to pay 5,000 pounds for the return of his wife, or she will be killed. At the same time, a......more