I felt that this was quite slow to get started but once the investigation was truly under way, it moved along much faster. I really liked the pairing of a slightly socially awkward barrister and a relatively young, keen police officer. They had a nice chemistry that I can see would develop across a series. I’d definitely read the next one and delve more into the hidden world of the Inns of court.

Gabriel Ward is a delightful character. He loves his routine, he has his own little world and is more than happy in it. He is clearly Neurodivergent but confident enough in himself to consider what he has a blessing, which is so lovely. The best part is nobody makes fun of him or looks down on him because of these little quirks he has. Yes, there are people who sneer at him, but they do because he doesn't align with what they think he should be doing (married, more ambitious etc), and they are never cruel to him because he likes to push his door three times or avoid cracks on the pavement. He needs support just leaving the Temple grounds and he's never treated as a burden. It's wonderful.

As a sidekick Constable Wright ticks all the right boxes. Loyal, young, eager, torn between two different mentor like figures, he wants to do what is right and is curious about the world around him. There is a whiff of the golden retriever about him, he comes from a poor family and wants so badly to be a detective. I have faith he'll get there, thanks in part, to his partnership with Ward.

I loved both the mysteries in this. We have a murder, a man found without shoes, one of the most respected men in the legal world. And then we have a case where the legal ownership of a children's book is contested. At first glance they appear worlds apart, but this is a crime novel. We know better.

It lost a point for a personal bugbear of mine, the very last few pages. I don't want to spoil it, but I personally find that kind of 'gotcha' a cop out, and it's always done when the killer is the sort of person they are in this. But that is very much my personal view, this was an incredibly fun and entertaining book.

Set in 1901, 'A Case of Mice and Murder' by Sally Smith follows Sir Gabriel Ward (KC), as he is forced to investigate a murder in the Inner Temple in London. An unlikely detective, Gabriel is a man you can set your watch by. However, when the Lord Chief Justice's body is found, he is compelled to undertake the investigation, or risk losing his home in the self governed legal environs of the Temple.

Sally Smith knows the Inner Temple exceptionally well having spent most of her working life there. As a result the locations and traditions described in the novel have a high level of authenticity. Smith is also an excellent writer, who manages to create a very likeable detective in Gabriel, who despite his sheltered life, has more liberal attitudes than his contemporaries. This is a warm novel, that carries the reader along, with interesting interweaving subplots that are cleverly done. I am very much looking forward to Smith's next novel and I'm hopeful of a long series of Sir Gabriel Ward investigations.

"Suddenly, Wright said, 'I've just realised what sort of fish it was, sir...It was a herring. '
Gabriel shuffled.' So all we need to know now-'
'-is whether it was a red one?' The two men...smiled at each other and walked on, each with a sense of increasing camaraderie."

It's 1901 in the Inner Temple of Barristers on Crown Row in Blackfriars, London and Sir Gabriel Ward KC finds himself involved two mysteries: Who murdered the Lord Chief Justice of England and who wrote surprise Children’s fiction publishing hit, Millie the Temple Church Mouse. The combination of the eccentric, hermit barrister and his assigned police sidekick, keen and bright Constable Wright was brilliant. Adding depth, was the exploration of the life of Theodora Dunning (the sister of the Lord Chief Justice) and the impact of misogyny on her place in society. So much was packed into this tale that it exceeded my expectations as historical cosy crime. I learnt, laughed, pondered and sought justice!

Prepare to be whisked back to the start of the 20th century, 1901 and the mysterious enclave of London’s legal centre, the Temple, which finds itself outside the normal jurisdiction of the law. Barrister Gabriel Ward is embroiled in the case surrounding the true authorship of children’s book Millie the Temple Mouse, when he suddenly finds himself investigating the murder of the Lord Chief Justice within their very own walls. Drawing on his knowledge from within the courtroom and the help of Constable Wright, Gabriel puts to work his sleuthing skills. Full of the mysterious atmosphere of this secret inner sanctum, the nuances of the period and several red herrings, this cleverly researched and plotted story kept me on my toes to the very end. A great cosy crime. I look forward to seeing more of Gabriel.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review.

Not at all what I was expecting - given the varying quality of 'cosy crime' being published at the moment - and much the better for it! Despite the cover, this book is in no way a pastiche, instead there is an air of accuracy lacking in many of its contemporaries. Well written and sharp with a delightful sub plot, this book could have been published by Conan Doyle or indeed read and enjoyed by him.

This story is the start of a new series featuring Sir Gabriel Ward K.C. and shall look forward to meeting him again in the second instalment I will confess that it took me a while to get into the rhythm of reading it, but from the start, I found our hero to be a very likable and sympathetic character, despite his foibles. I was also fascinated with the descriptions and layouts of the The Temples compared to modern day. I very much enjoyed the side plot of Millie the Temple Church mouse and her origins, and liked how the two stories were concluded convincingly. There are now a surfeit of cosy type mysteries, and I chose this initially because of the setting. I am glad that I did and will be interested to see if Sir Gabriel continues his collaboration with P.C. Wright in the next story.

A wonderful debut novel set in the Inner Temple in 1901. We are introduced to Sir Gabriel Ward KC who is tasked with investigating the murder of the Lord Chief Justice within the Inns of Court alongside his regular duties as a barrister currently concerned with the copyright of a wildly successful children’s book. The humour, humility and knowledge of Sir Gabriel is gradually revealed alongside his agoraphobia and OCD tendencies. The sense of time and place is beautifully captured and I look forward to reading future books. Highly recommended.

A Case of Mice and Murder is a delightful and highly enjoyable read that showcases author Sally Smith’s talent as both a storyteller and a legal expert.

Set in 1901 London, this intelligent murder mystery follows barrister Gabriel Ward, a compelling, albeit diffident, hero, as he investigates the murder of a senior judge. Gabriel's humour, humility, and love of knowledge won me over and I’m looking forward to seeing how he evolves throughout the rest of this new series.
Smith, who is a barrister herself and worked as an archivist at the Inner Temple in London brings an authentic, rich backdrop to the story. With well-drawn characters and a wealth of absorbing details, the vivid descriptions and rich vocabulary made this a satisfying and original read.

A Case of Mice and Murder is a murder mystery and the first book in a new series and i had the greatest time reading it. The plot unrolls with a bit of humour and plenty of mystery.

The sense of time and pace in this books is done beautifully. The characters are very well thought and the mystery itself is an interesting one, and i couldn't guess how it was going to be solved. I was quite intrigued and i must admit i just adored the setting of London in 1901.

Overall, i was engrossed since the start and i cannot wait for more!

When barrister Gabriel Ward finds the body of a dead judge on the front steps of his chambers it’s charged to him to investigate
A fabulous new golden age eccentric sleuth in the vain of Sherlock Holmes or Rumpole of the Bailey
Well plotted, with lots of little details to keep you guessing
Thanks @sallysmith @bloomsburypublishing & @netgalley for the fabulous debut read

A Case of Mice and Murder is a captivating debut novel by Sally Smith KC. Set in London in 1901, this cosy mystery unfolds with the murder of England's Lord Chief Justice, causing a stir in The Inner Temple. Quiet and quirky Sir Gabriel Ward KC is appointed to conduct a preliminary investigation before the police can enter these prestigious halls. As the reluctant detective, he must unravel the mystery while also preparing a sensational case involving the disputed ownership of Millie, the Temple Church Mouse.

I loved this book. The writing style is charming, and the plot is wonderfully intriguing, making it a delightful read.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

This is a classic whodunnit investigated reluctantly by Sir Gabriel Ward, KC, who would much rather remain cloistered away from the rest of London in the sacred Inns of Court and work on his upcoming Moore vs Cadamy court case, which is to decide who has the publishing rights to the beloved Millie the Temple Church Mouse story. At times, this was a little difficult to read as Sally Smith divulges some of the legal technicalities and the ARC didn't have a map at the front which would, no doubt, have been useful in figuring out where the building are in relation to each other. However, despite sometimes being quite heavy in legal dealings, this was a very interesting and unique crime story. I will certainly be looking forward to reading a second,

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith is an absolute delight! Yes, it is a murder mystery, but the delight is in how very different it is while embracing the great traditions of the genre

The first in a new series, Sir Gabriel Ward is the type of anti-hero I absolutely adore. A quirky barrister who I would venture is akin to Rumpole of the Bailey in his sensibilities and humour, but more naiive than cheeky? But to be introduced to the crime by the victim being placed at his very doorstep is delightfully fitting and deliciously unique

I am gobsmacked that this is a debut and I hope very much to see a lot more of this series

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Raven Books and Sally Smith for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Gabriel Ward is a man who feels comfortable in familiar surroundings, he lives in the Inns of Court and is a barrister who lives alone. When the Lord Chief Justice is found dead on his doorstep, Ward is forced to investigate in order to preserve his domestic life. Alongside this, he is representing the publisher of a hugely popular children's book who authorship is being claimed by someone who may be a fraud.
This book really improved with reading and I ended up enjoying it immensely. The plot is preposterous but rather fun and whilst the characterisation is minimal, this is a planned series so may well develop.

The murder of the Lord Chief Justice leads to an investigation to solve the crime and they mystery of his bare feet. Gabriel Ward KC is on the case to solve it as well as handling the mystery identity of a writer. Can he figure it all out?

This was a slow burn story with the mystery of the killing as well as the book mystery along the way. The mystery was interesting and i liked how it all came together. The characters are interesting though you don't get to know anyone on a deeper level in this but I believe there may be more to come. The plot was well written and laid the scene for the times really well. The ending was really well put together and tied the story. I had figured out who the killer might be before Gabriel did but I enjoyed the reveal. A fascinating historical thriller.

The first in a new series The Trials of Gabriel Ward and I absolutely loved it. Set in The Inner Temple in 1901 a place of sanctuary for the barristers and staff where even the police are unable to enter uninvited. The Lord Chief Justice of England is found dead outside the chambers by Gabriel Ward KC who is then pressured by Temple’s Treasurer to investigate the case on behalf of the Temple, and he has just 7 days! I was aware that the author was a barrister who worked in London’s Inns of Court but there is clearly been a lot of investigation into the courts during this era and I loved it.

Briefly, Gabriel is not comfortable with any of this, not only investigating his colleagues, but the fact that he will need to leave the hallowed Inn’s something he never normally does as he has lived in Kings Bench Walk, just 2 minutes walk from his chambers, for 30 years. Alongside Constable Wright his investigation starts and soon secrets of the courts and the barrister’s families start to materialise. However, Gabriel still has his day to day work to consider and Cadamy v Moore is looming - the alleged author of Millie the Temple Church Mouse by Miss Harriet Cadamy is suing the publisher who found the manuscript but published without author consent when he couldn’t trace her.

Before I go any further can I say please will the author write the Millie book. I was completely entranced by it and so want to read it! Both threads of the book were so good and I enjoyed it all. Gabriel is a great character, a Sherlock Holmes type who is married only to his job and reads extensively, I just wanted to give him a hug, and Wright as his sidekick was perfect. A wonderful read with a good plot and the red herrings fooled me. I can’t wait for book 2.

This lawyerly mystery took me a few chapters to warm up to but, once I suddenly clicked with it, I absolutely LOVED it!

Particular, buttoned-up Gabriel Ward KC and his tentative alliance/partnership with enthusiastic and amenable Constable Wright is a delight to read. And the book and main character provide a great representation of OCD, severe anxiety, agoraphobia and/or autism without every specifying a diagnosis or dwelling upon it too much. It just is what it is, and Gabriel is who he is, with all of his quiet quirks – no need for over-emphasis or dramatics.

The plot unrolls with plenty of mystery, some humour and some excellent observations of human foibles and follies, from the awkward or unusual to the endearing.

Upon finishing the story I immediately checked for more and, on not finding anything, I followed the author to ensure that I wouldn’t miss any new releases in future. I am desperate for more of this legal cosy crime.

Utterly, entertainingly readable and excellently written – I rest my case!

After finishing Sally Smith’s A Case of Mice and Murder I was delighted to find that it’s the start of a new historical mystery series, which is great news as this first book is excellent. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for a second!

The novel is set in 1901 in the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court that make up London’s legal community. Sir Gabriel Ward KC is a barrister who leads a quiet, reclusive life within the Temple grounds, only venturing into the outside world when absolutely necessary. He’s not the sort of person you would expect to become an amateur detective, but that’s what happens when he steps out of his rooms early one morning in May and stumbles across the dead body of the Lord Chief Justice. Sir Gabriel is persuaded by his superiors to investigate before the police are brought in and he reluctantly agrees, despite already being busy with a very different case.

The manuscript of a children’s book, Millie the Temple Church Mouse, had been left at the door of Herbert Moore’s publishing house with no way of identifying or contacting the author. Moore went ahead with publishing the book anyway and it has become a huge success, inspiring Millie toys and a forthcoming stage play. Now a woman has come forward claiming to be the author and Moore is in trouble! Gabriel is Moore’s lawyer and must work on establishing authorship of the book while also trying to solve the mystery of the Lord Chief Justice’s death.

When writing a novel set in the past, creating a sense of time and place is incredibly important and Sally Smith does that extremely well here. She writes in a style that is appropriate to the time period and at no point does it really feel like a ‘modern’ book. The descriptions of the Inner Temple are perfect, both in terms of the physical buildings, chambers and grounds, and the way of life with its rituals and traditions. The Inner Temple, like the neighbouring Middle Temple, is considered a local authority largely outside the jurisdiction of the City of London (hence the police needing to be invited in to investigate the murder) and it makes a fascinating and unusual setting.

Gabriel Ward is a great character and it’s interesting to see him grow as person as the story progresses. At the beginning he is a quiet, solitary man who spends most of his time in his rooms with his books and his legal work, following little routines, such as checking the door three times, that today would be called an OCD. Being forced to leave the confines of the Temple to interview suspects and witnesses from a range of social backgrounds gives Gabriel a different perspective on life and helps him to open up to new ideas. My only complaint is that Smith gives him the character trait of ‘snuffling’, a word she repeats far too often throughout the book. Looking at other reviews, I can see that many of us felt the same way, so I hope Gabriel will snuffle a bit less often in the next book!

The murder mystery is an interesting one, with a solution I hadn’t seen coming, but I found the Millie the Mouse storyline even more enjoyable. I started to have my suspicions about that second mystery by the middle of the book and was pleased to be proved right. I can’t wait to see what Gabriel’s next case will be!

What a story! This audio title was such an unexpected pleasure; excellent narration throughout and packed with characters that had me intrigued. I loved the setting, the Temple area of London in 1901. There’s a lot of period detail and it feels authentic. Gabriel Ward is such a clever and engaging character. An unlikely sleuth, he’s tasked with finding who murdered one of their own and Sally Smith has created a number of memorable characters along the way.

The story is well plotted and involves an unlikely flashpoint; legal dispute over ownership of a child’s book and spin off toys. Ward is a singular individual, driven by routine with more than a touch of OCD. His work is his life but he tackles his task with some aplomb and the help of a police officer. I was engrossed from start to finish; I bought into the characters, the sharks of humour and the whole story around copyright wrangle. Refreshing and inventive plotting in a clever and well thought out murder mystery. Cant wait for more!