I absolutely loved this brilliant book by the author of A case of mice and murder which was published last year.
In A Case of Life and Limb, Gabriel Ward is asked to investigate the mystery of severed limbs which have been delivered to members of the temple. He has also been asked to represent a popular actress, Tilly Tillotson as she defends her reputation against a newspaper that thrives on scandal.
It’s Christmas 1901 and Sally Smith sets the scene brilliantly as she describes the snow covered courtyards of the Inner Temple. Sometimes, historical novels don’t quite work as authors use anachronistic language or don’t give the reader a clear enough sense of the setting but there is no danger of that here. The atmosphere is perfect and all of the characters and settings feel that they are perfectly part of their time with no jarring notes to pull the reader out of the story.
Gabriel is such a brilliant character. He’s very much a product of his time and stuck in his ways however, he is also openminded about people and doesn’t judge them because they are poor or not part of his social class. I really enjoyed the way his character was developed in this book and we saw more of his OCD and the rituals that he uses to control his life such as the way he locks and unlocks the door every night.
The relationship between Gabriel and Constable Wright is a strong feature of the book. The two men should have nothing in common but are becoming friends as well as a very effective detective duo. The young constable who has ambitions to become a detective is a stronger character in this book and does a bit of investigating on his own initiative. It looked like there might be a romance developing in the last book but in this new adventure his affections have transferred completely and it will be interesting to see how this aspect of his character develops in any later novels.
The mystery of the severed limbs is brilliantly plotted and I really enjoyed the way that the investigation uncovered other secrets. The legal case was fascinating too and had modern overtones with the way that Tilly was viewed simply because of her profession. The closing scene of the trial was one of my favourite parts of the book. The author does a fantastic job at showing us other aspects of society during the investigations and Gabriel finds himself involved with characters who take him a long way out of his narrow comfort zone.
The two cases are intertwined really well and there are lots of plot twists to keep the reader on their toes. It’s not a book that’s laugh out loud funny but there were several moments that really made me smile. There are some darker sides to the story too which add depth to the story.
I loved this book every bit as much as the first book and really hope that we have more instalments in ‘The Trials of Gabriel Ward’.

This second outing for Gabriel and Wright was a delight from the first paragraph and I really didn't want the story to end! I read the first book and loved it, but this one was all the better for feeling familiar.
Everything that I hoped for and mentioned in my first review has been achieved. Gabriel continues to grow, both as a character and as a person within the story. His relationship with PC Wright is stronger than ever and we are starting to see some of the young PCs background too.
The story itself was just as clever and intricate as the first, Our sleuths uncovered old and new mysteries and went on to solve them as well as right some social wrongs in the process. The reader once again discovers secrets about the setting, this time mainly around the Temple Church.
I can't wait to see what our unlikely friends will uncover next!

I love historical crime and this has all my favourites:
A quirky lawyer detective
Set in 1901
Cosy crime vibes
Well plotted mystery
Social commentary on hypocrisies of late Victorian England
Musical hall

This is the 2nd instalment of Sally Smith’s new detective series that follows Gabriel Ward KC who, whilst solving one legal case of a libelled musical hall star has to assist the police to solve the mystery as to why body parts keep being delivered to members of the temple.

It was a well plotted double mystery with lots of humour. The resolution was excellent too with lots of twists that although I didn’t guess, were believable.
The historical setting was excellent & I really enjoyed learning about the history of the Inner temple. The author is clearly an expert and has done extensive research and this really shines through the story. She also really brought 1901 London to life, doing it justice with many excellent supporting characters (the cat!) and historical details.

I liked Gabriel Ward and thought him a good detective. His growing friendship with the police detective was heart warming and his wit and kindness won me over.

My only issue (and this is a very ‘it’s a me problem’) is that the voice of the book and of Gabriel is very….posh. You spend a lot of the book with barristers and judges of the upper class living a very privileged lifestyle and this meant it took me a while to get into and enjoy the story and connect with Gabriel. Although there are other side characters with a working class voice, the narrators posh tone meant it took a while for me to warm to.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to review.

It is Christmas 1901. Members of the Inner Temple have been receiving boxes containing body parts .body parts and there has been a death amongst their number. Gabriel Ward KC investigates. At the same time he is representing a young actress who has been defamed by a powerful newspaper.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for the Arc. my review is given voluntarily.
This is the second book in the series. it can be read as a stand alone but as the characters develop so well across the two books I recommend reading the first book.
Gabriel is a wonderfully complex character. This upper class pedant has a burgeoning friendship with a young policeman called Ward, who provides a perfect foil for him. The cast of supporting characters are wonderfully recognisable caricatures .
The Inner Temple is a rarefied setting inhabited by the upper echelons of society. Just outside the Temple's gates is the hurly burly and often brutal world of Edwardian working class London. This book is elevated above the average Cozy crime by the exploration of the stark contrast between these two worlds. Interestingly, it is the rigid thinking Gabriel who sees and exposes the injustices that prevailed at the time. This element of the book was very much in the tradition of Dickens.
The book also explores the inferior position women found themselves in at the time. However the heroines of both classes are the ones who make brave decisions and take the moral high ground.
All the while a mystery is solved. Many authors are compared rather generously to Agatha Christie. In this case the author has put the work in to deserve the comparison. Fans of Poirot will enjoy this book.

"Somehow his role as a detective had thrown him off the metaphorical bank on which he had stood for so long; not into the mainstream, but so that he was a least paddling in the shallows of life; something he had previously only observed. He wondered, very cautiously, if he might grow to like the sensation. He was not at all sure."

The second in this series see another legal trial (defending an actress's reputation) and another criminal investigation (the arrival of severed limbs at the doors of various colleagues), which sees Sir Gabriel Ward KC investigating yet again. With the same grounded Metropolitan Police companion, PC Wright and the same overbearing Master, who's only concern is reputation, Ward's task is a difficult one.

As with the first novel there is a lot to contend with (including womens' reputations, homosexuality, social class, jealousy and greed),all skillfully woven into the characters' lives and experiences in Edwardian era London. An accomplished novel that's an absolute joy to read. Highly recommended.

A Case Of Life and Limb is the second book in The Trials of Gabriel Ward series.
Sir Gabriel Ward KC is fast becoming one of my favourite characters.
Like its predecessor, this book is set in the Inner Temple London.
The treasurer, Sir William Waring, receives a box containing a mummified hand. It would seem someone has a grudge, but Sir Waring isn't the only one who receives such a box, as more parcels arrive.
Sir Gabriel (with help from Constable Wright) is tasked with finding out who is sending the macabre gifts and why.
This is a fabulous series, so far, and I highly recommend them.
Superb.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the ARC. 5*

Sir Gabriel Ward KC and Constable Wright are my new favourite detective duo, and I was thrilled to see a second murder mystery featuring them.

This cosy(ish) murder mystery is set over Christmas and New Year in London, predominantly in the grounds of The Temple, home to many of England's lawyers, and - almost - a law unto itself. There are two very different and interesting mysteries to be solved whilst the detectives also have to get on with their "day jobs", which include a sensational court case for Sir Gabriel, and his everyday policing work for Constable Wright.

I like the way in which the author develops the detectives' relationship, and also expands the story of some of the minor characters, making this novel a very satisfying read all round, covering various social issues in early twentieth century England and giving an interesting insight into the workings of the legal system.

This series would make excellent television.

This is the second book in the series and just as brilliant. Sir Gabriel Ward KC is asked to investigate boxes of dead body parts being sent to members of the Inner Temple. He is also hired by Tilly Tillotson, a show girl, to bring her libel case against a newspaper. Again, PC Wright is there to assist. Although gentle, despite dead bodies, it is not slow. Smith touches on the difference of perspectives of the poor working class and the privileged. As Gabriel reflects - he has all the pieces of the jigsaw, he just need to put them in the correct places.
A very enjoyable read. Hopefully we will meet Gabriel and Wright again soon.

Sally Smith published her excellent first book about Sir Gabriel Ward last year. I almost wept with joy when I saw that she has a sequel ready: A Case of Life and Limb. This book is also set in Inner and Middle Temple, with several characters, like Sir Gabriel, re-appearing. The Temple is a small area in London that is dedicated to the legal profession. When the book was set, in 1901, lawyers such as Sir Gabriel still lived there, as well as working there. Smith’s opening paragraph invokes Dickens with an atmospheric description of pure snow, lying “pristine on every ledge and roof of the ancient buildings” and windows through which “the soft glow of oil lamps illuminated desks, their occupants deep in studious concentration.”

That’s what I love about Smith’s Gabriel Ward books: the descriptions; the characters’ behaviour, dress and speech; their journeys - everything evokes London around 1900. That accumulation of effect is important: one anachronistic phrase can shatter the illusion of being there and thus distance the reader from the narrative, making them less invested in the characters and the outcome. That can also result in a vague dissatisfaction with the book, rather than the full-blooded enjoyment author and reader both want.

There are three strands to the plot: firstly, Sir William Waring and other senior members of Inner Temple have received gruesome dismembered body parts (a hand, a foot, etc) in parcels left on their doorsteps. Sir William insists that Gabriel must discreetly investigate and find the perpetrator. Sir William has a horror of the outside world discovering a member of the Temple could do such a thing and vetoes any suggestion that the police should be involved.

Secondly, a famous actress, Topsy Tillotson has been libelled by a newspaper and wants to sue the paper. The newspaper claims that a member of the aristocracy has successfully seduced her. Topsy denies it vehemently, stating she has never even met the man. Because Gabriel was described to her as the cleverest barrister in England, she wants him to represent her – possibly the only man who just sees her as a client, rather than a beautiful desirable woman. Since both sides insist they are telling the truth, but their statements cannot both be true, I was greatly impressed by the way Smith resolves that sub-plot. Topsy’s plea, “I thought the law was about justice” is vindicated.

Thirdly, a new barrister, John Gibson, moves into Chambers as Gabriel’s neighbour at the same time as the Reverend Master of the Temple Church takes on a new Reader as his deputy. Gibson is (reluctantly) engaged to Sir William’s daughter – another reminder of how close the legal profession is, despite members taking opposing sides in court cases.

The resolutions to the sub-plots; the atmospheric description and – perhaps, above all – the affection we feel for Sir Gabriel make this a most satisfying book. Gabriel’s OCD means that he must place the ferrule of his cane in the middle of every paving slab; he must never tread on the cracks between the slabs; his pencils and his book must be placed just so. We twenty-first century readers understand this behaviour and feel both sympathetic and protective of him. I cannot praise the book highly enough – and I do hope Sally Smith has the appetite to write more books about Sir Gabriel.

#ACaseofLifeandLimb #NetGalley

I was delighted to pick up the second book in this series and eagerly devoured it. It was worth it, very enjoyable.

Ward and his sidekick are as delightful as ever.

This was a sadder story than the previous one. I had grown fond of one of the characters who died, which is both a shame and a testament to the skill the writer has in creating characters. A story of love and loss, of love and betrayal, of love twisted and turned against itself. There are two main mysteries running alongside each other, a maybe murder case involving dead body parts and a court case where someone is suing for defamation of character.

This book digs into the unpleasant reality of 1901 when it comes to how women and gay people were treated - not that the word gay, homosexual or anything is ever actually uttered, but the subtext is very clear. And it is very ugly, but thankfully our hero, Ward, believes in the people around him rather than current morality.

A very entertaining read as ever, and I cannot wait for book three. (I also love that the series is called the 'trials of Gabriel Ward' that feels like a name that has a double meaning, poor poor Ward.)

A case of life and limb - Sally Smith due for publication 17 July 2025

Sir Gabriel Ward KC eccentric, bookish, brilliant and a loner defends the actress Topsy Tillotson in a libel case against a scurrilous rag. At the same time body parts are arriving in the Inner Temple with cryptic messages sent to a number of his colleagues and unfortunately causes the death of one of them.

Sir Gabriel teams up with his friend Constable Wright to investigate both cases.

I had not read the first in this series although I do have it on my Kindle and will certainly be reading it now as this series is definately one to keep reading.

An interesting read seeing life in the Inner Temple in 1902 and the privileged and protected life that was led there. The characters were well fleshed out and the growing friendship between two very different people was lovely to see. I loved Delphinium the cat who added some good humour to the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for a preview copy.

The second book featuring Gabriel Ward KC and set in the Inner Temple around the turn of the 20th century.. It's Christmas and members of the Inner Temple have received some unwanted boxes. Sir Gabriel is asked to look into it quietly whilst dealing with a sensational court case. This is quickly turning into a favourite series, the characters are interesting and entertaining, the historical detail is fascinating and the writing is excellent. One of the best lighter mystery reads, one to pick up and enjoy.

At first glance, A Case of Life and Limb flirts with being a touch too charming—almost verging on twee—but Sally Smith’s elegant prose and finely tuned atmosphere soon win you over. Set in the hushed, snow-covered halls of the Inner Temple in the winter of 1901, this mystery blossoms into something more substantial than its genteel surface might suggest.

Gabriel Ward KC, with his measured intelligence and quiet tenacity, makes for a compelling central figure. His partnership with Constable Wright offers a nice balance of legal insight and police procedural, but it’s the interplay between the mystery and the intricate world of class, tradition, and privilege in the Temple that gives the novel its satisfying texture.

The central conceit—a mummified hand arriving by post, followed by a series of increasingly sinister packages—is both intriguing and macabre. While the final resolution may be a touch predictable for seasoned mystery readers, the journey there is rich with historical detail, sharp dialogue, and a tightly woven plot.

Ultimately, this is a polished and thoughtful mystery—graceful rather than groundbreaking, but all the better for it. A strong start to what one hopes will be a continuing series featuring the quietly brilliant Gabriel Ward.

I enjoyed the first outing with Gabriel Ward and A Case of Life and Limb proves to be a strong follow up. It works well as a stand alone, but if you missed the first story, I’d urge you to go back to it. You won’t be disappointed. Sally Smith’s intelligence and experience as a barrister and KC is a strong foundation for much of her writing. The world of Inner Temple is so well depicted with its weird customs and intrigues ever present. It’s a strong setting and one that comes to life so well in this winter of 1901. I find it very visual and can picture the scenes. Gabriel is taking the case of a music hall star to court and this runs in parallel to the central story of desiccated body parts being delivered to chambers. Who’s responsible and why?
The plotting is skilled and very much character driven. The pace is gentle but filled with tension and surprise and along the way we learn more about Gabriel through his friendship with a young police constable. It’s an unusual alliance but it works so well as a thread to run through the dual plots in the tale. I’ve really bought in to this series. Imaginative, filled with insight about people, relationships and bitter rivalries both inside and outwith chambers. Gabriel is developing as a character and I’m longing to follow his progress . This is a cracking tale, sharp,y observed and really entertaining. I loved it. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Having read Sally Smith's first novel with Gabriel Ward as her lead character, I am delighted that her second is just as enjoyable as the first.
The setting in the Inner Temple is fascinating and the characters throughout are very well drawn. I suspect, even though the actual story is set in 1901/1902 some of the barristers' characteristcs may share similarities with 21st century characters Sally Smith has come across in her own time as a barrister and KC.
Gabriel is set the task of finding out who is responsible for sending macabre boxes containing dessicated body parts to some of his colleagues. As he starts these proceedings, he is also drawn into defending a young music hall actress from defamation of character. It is kart of the charm of the character of Gabriel Ward that he does so to the utmost of his ability even though others have already judged her to be " no better than she should be"
The more we get to know Gabriel, the kinder, wiser and non judgemental he seems to be, indeed the only person he ever judges harshly is, himself. As readers, we can see his integrity and empathy for those around him, in the novel these traits are much admired by his young, equally, honest, helper from the police force, Constable Wright.
The whole book genuinely is a delight and I very much hope there may be a third outing for the pair at some point.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Oublishers I was able to read an earc of this title

Atmospheric and steeped in Edwardian intrigue, A Case of Life and Limb is a deftly plotted historical mystery with a delightfully macabre twist. Sally Smith returns with another Gabriel Ward mystery, and it’s a thoroughly engaging tale full of intellect, eccentricity, and chilling suspense.

Set in the wintry hush of London’s Inner Temple in 1901, the story begins with the arrival of a most unsettling parcel: a mummified hand. When more packages follow – one with deadly consequences – barrister Gabriel Ward and Constable Wright of the City of London Police find themselves untangling a complex web of secrets, old grievances, and hidden motives.

Smith does a superb job of evoking the setting. The Inner Temple is practically a character in its own right – cloistered, hierarchical, and filled with whispered rivalries. There’s a great sense of place, with nods to the legal customs of the time and the contrast between the elite world within the Temple walls and the bustling, often antagonistic life of Fleet Street just beyond.

Gabriel is a strong and appealing lead, analytical and wryly observant, with a moral compass that stands firm even in the face of considerable risk. His chemistry with Constable Wright adds warmth and groundedness, providing a solid investigative partnership.

What makes this book stand out is its tone – clever without being coy, dark without being bleak. There’s something deliciously old-fashioned about the mystery itself, which plays out like a cerebral chess match with moments of real danger. The pacing is measured yet satisfying, and the mystery kept me guessing right to the end.

Perfect for fans of historical crime fiction with a touch of the gothic, A Case of Life and Limb is a rewarding read that balances character, setting, and plot with impressive finesse.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A first for me from this author but one that I thoroughly enjoyed once I'd taken on board the definitively slightly ponderous legal language. It then made the story come to life. Set in the Inner Temple, a mysterious and reclusive place to most outside the legal profession, it has its own rules and resents police investigation. Sir Gabriel Ward KC is an unusual barrister and currently working on a libel case brought by a young girl from the theatre against the press, but he is also tasked with investigating a set of grotesque 'presents' being left with colleagues. These taken the form of somewhat mummified hands, feet, ears of unknown person/s. Working with the dedicated Constable Wright the two men counterbalance each other brilliantly and each helps the other understand life within and without the Inner Temple. The stories address misogyny, double standards, class divide, homosexuality in 1901-2, ethical issues of journalism, not always that different from today. The two cases move together, then apart and finally come to a somewhat predictable ending, but satisfactory nonetheless. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I so enjoyed meeting the understated Sir Gabriel Ward KC in A Case of Mice and Murder, and loved this sequel with another mystery to solve in A Case of Life and Limb. It’s not necessary to have read the first book before this one, but I would highly recommend reading both anyway. It's Christmas, 1901. The snow is falling when introspective, gentle Barrister Gabriel Ward is called on to investigate some grisly body parts delivered as warnings to his fellow Temple barristers. Gabriel is seen as an eccentric outsider by many of his colleagues, yet his ability to not conform to societal values and judgements on women, homosexuality, snobbery and class-divides marks him as a very pure, intelligent soul. In this book, he joins forces again with the down to earth young policeman Wright, who recognises Gabriel’s foibles and anxieties and with great care and courtesy enables Gabriel to explore situations outside of his comfort zone. This is a tender, beautifully written and intelligent ‘cozy’ mystery full of puzzles and utterly engaging and entertaining characters.

If, like me, you enjoyed meeting Sir Gabriel Ward KC in last year’s A Case of Mice and Murder, you’ll be pleased to hear that he’s back again with another mystery to solve in A Case of Life and Limb! The book is again set in 1901 in and around London’s Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, where Sir Gabriel lives and carries out his work as a barrister. It’s not necessary to have read the first book before this one, but I would highly recommend reading both anyway!

Early in the novel, Gabriel is approached by Topsy Tillotson, the latest young star of the London theatrical scene, who is determined to sue a tabloid newspaper for libel. Reluctant to accept the case at first, Gabriel ends up agreeing to represent her, feeling that Topsy doesn’t deserve to have her reputation tarnished by unscrupulous journalists. However, Gabriel soon finds that he’ll have to divide his time between this and another, more sinister, case…one which really is ‘a case of life and limb’.

Sir William Waring, Master Treasurer of the Inner Temple, has received a very unpleasant gift on Christmas Eve: a severed hand, presented in a box with a card asking "Can I give you a hand?". Gabriel happens to be visiting the Treasurer when the box is opened and, due to his previous success at mystery solving, Waring asks him to investigate. As the Temple is outside the jurisdiction of the City of London, Waring hopes the crime can be solved internally without involving the police, but when more body parts start arriving, Gabriel enlists the help of his friend, Constable Wright.

These two separate cases unfold in parallel, largely separate but intersecting now and then, and I enjoyed following both. The mystery surrounding the body parts gives Gabriel a chance to further develop his skills as a detective and the reader a chance to learn more about the residents of the Inner Temple, some of whom we met in the first novel and others who are newly arrived. I particularly loved getting to know Delphinium, the Temple cat! The Topsy Tillotson storyline, like the one involving Millie the Mouse in the previous book, takes Gabriel into the wider world outside the confines of the Temple and allows Smith to explore some of the social issues of the time – in this case, the double standards and prejudices affecting women working in certain professions and the ethical responsibilities of journalism.

I think, though, that it’s Gabriel himself who makes these books such a delight to read. He’s a genuinely nice person who is very easy to like, but he also has some eccentricities and signs of obsessive-compulsive behaviour which have restricted his social opportunities. In the first book there were some hints that he was starting to gain confidence and live a less isolated life; this continues in this second book as his friendship with Constable Wright grows stronger and he spends more time with people of other classes and backgrounds such as Topsy and her colleagues. It’s always good to see a character develop as a series progresses. I can’t wait for a third book as I’m sure it will be just as much fun as the first two!

Although set in 1902 this is equally as relevant today. The secluded life of the Inner temple and it's QC's and hierarchy is still a mystery to most.
Body parts begin to be delivered to various members and finally a death occurs, who is responsible and why? Sir Gabriel and his friend Constable Wright are soon on the case and discover more than they thought possible. Sir Gabriel is also tied up in a libel case for an actress/singer who has had her reputation slandered by a local paper. Can they solve both mysteries and help other Temple residents to a satisfactory end, with the help of Delphinium, a cat, anything is possible.