The Pimlico Murder

'Well-written excellent historical fiction' - Historical Novels Review Armistice Day, 1940. The nation remembers the Great War while a new and harrowing conflict rumbles on. The Blitz Detective, John Jago, must set aside his own painful memories to investigate a suspicious death in Pimlico, south-west London. The body of a young man has been discovered in an Anderson shelter, with two white poppies in his pocket. As the investigation progresses, Jago and his assistant, DC Cradock, find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico's shady underworld and connections with Mosley's fascist party. It will take all their skills to uncover the truth behind the young man's brutal death.

Armistice Day 1940. The Blitz Detective John Jago finds himself despatched to Pimlico to investigate a suspicious death. A young man, Terry Watson, has been found in an Anderson shelter, battered about the head, and with two white poppies in his pocket. As the investigation delves into Watson's background, Jago and his assistant DC Craddock find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico's shady underworld, and connections with Oswald Mosley's BUF party. It will take all their skills to uncover the truth behind the pacifist's brutal death.

To 'walk in Pimlico' is, according to the Penguin Dictionary of Historical Slang, the colloquial expression 'to be handsomely dressed'. Comedian, clog dancer, comic vocalist, actor and all-round funny fellow Corney Sage is treading the boards at the Constellation in Whitechapel when he stumbles across the body of an actress outside the theatre and catches sight of the killer as he escapes. Corney was not the only witness. Fellow actress Lucy Strong also saw what happened and when the murderer returns to the scene of the crime that same night, both fear for their lives. Corney and Lucy flee London separately, keeping in touch with each other through a series of advertisements in the trade paper, the Era. Certain they have escaped the same fate as Bessie, they settle into their new lives away from London. But the murderer - a master of disguise - is slowly closing in on them and it is only a matter of time before he pounces . . . From the drawing rooms of polite society to the back rooms of brothels, through music halls, circus rings and freak shows, Ann Featherstone brilliantly reconstructs 19th century England in this gripping psychological thriller.

Which of London's most gruesome murders happened in your street? And were they committed by Jack the Ripper, the Kray twins, the Blackout Ripper or ‘Acid Bath’ Haigh?

This book features fifty-six Victorian murder cases from the files of the Illustrated Police News.

The Little Book of Murder is a chilling compendium of intriguing, obscure and strange facts and trivia about murders and murderers from around the world. From infamous cases and serial killers, to unusual murder weapons and crime scene investigations, this book is sure to make you sit up and say, 'I never knew that!' A reference book and a quirky guide, this volume can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the murderers, the victims, the people who write about crime, and the advances in scientific detection. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for true crime and crime fiction fans alike.