Sir Gabriel Ward KC is musing over his case when he comes across, literally, the body of the Lord Chief Justice, A knife in his chest but more astonishingly his feet are sans shoes and socks.

This is the first book in a new series. Sir Gabriel lives in the Inner Temple. He works in the Inner Temple. People cou;d set their watches by him,

He has an interesting case, is the person who states they are the author of Millie the Temple Church Mouse really the one who wrote Millie's adventures? So, Sir Gabriel is not happy when the Treasurer asks him to investigate the murder. The inner Temple is rather like the Vatican in that the police can only enter by permission. Sir Gabriel is given a week to try and ascertain who the murderer is.

In this endeavour he is assisted by a young constable who is there to keep note and report back to his inspector.

The reluctant sleuth is wonderfully written. My only niggle is that of the word 'snuffle' which is used constantly and I began to think the use of the word was overused. His routines are so well embedded that the Treasurer feels he is the only one who everyone else knows is innocent!

Will I read others in the series as they are written? I think so, especially if they build on this quintessential character, take him from his safe place and let's us enter his world.

Loved this so so much.
The language style was so refreshing, nobody uses words like this anymore!

Had me hooked from chapter 2!

Murder and Mayhem at the Inns of Court. The four Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. They form an enclave set apart from the rest of London and you can only go there if you have business there. Although this book is set a hundred years ago, I would guess not much has changed since. Barrister Gabriel Ward is a funny old cove. He never leaves the Inns, lives alone and likes his own company. He is given a case involving publishing rights of a children's book about a mouse called Millie. Then there's a murder at the sacred Inns of Court! Gabriel is delegated to solve it. Full of wry humour and compassion. Looking forward to reading more about Gabriel and his policeman sidekick Constable Maurice Wright.

A Case of Mice and Murder could be categorised as 'cosy crime ' or even in some senses a 'locked room murder " but this would very much under play the quality, uniqueness and enjoyment of this historical period story by placing it under these popular categories

Set in the enclosed world of the Inner Temple- home of the highest judges and barristers - a murder has been committed - the death of the Lord Chief Justice. The crime takes place upon the doorstep of barrister Gabriel Ward- who is then assigned the task of carrying out internal enquiries to determine the perpetrator of the murder...The Temple is its own realm ( rather like the Vatican) and police may only enter the grounds with permission. The murderer can only have been somebody who was permitted within the Temple environs.

Accompanied by Constable Wright , Gabriel embarks on his task with reluctance as life beyond the temple walls are a source of anxiety and mystery; he has cocooned himself within his chambers and the legal world.

Whilst trying to explore the death of the Lord Chief Justice, he is also challenged by the curious case of determining the authorship of the hugely popular children's book, "Millie The Temple Mouse"

Sally Smith has created a wonderful protagonist and this is the start of a promising series - combining period details, the greed for power among the judiciary and their wives , creating the atmosphere of Temple life and combining a few red herrings along the way, this is an enjoyable crime/detective procedural with a twist.