I have had problems with this book. Whilst an interesting version of a police investigation, with a thought-providing setting after the sinking of the Lucitania during the Great War, the broad sweep of history seemed rather better handled than the lives of people in London in 1915. My thinking is based on comments from my late mother, born in London in the year the book is set. The interactions, activities and opinions of the characters seem too modern, and those without jobs apparently have private means obviating the need to get paid employment speedily. There is no suggestion the Marmion household had a servant. I suspect a Detective Inspector's family would have had one; if not, Mrs Marmion's working week would have been geared round the hard drudgery of wash day, firing up the copper, mangling, starching, ironing, &c., a reason the Sunday roast would be eaten cold on Monday, and for several days after that. Before the wide availability of electrical equipment, and clean-air legislation, sweeping, dusting and beating carpets were also physically demanding for the unassisted housewife, so it is a surprise that Mrs Marmion completes both laundry and cleaning during the course of one day. The teacher daughter's consideration of her future would surely be influenced by the need for woman teachers to retire on marriage. And what was life in London like in 1915? Well, Zeppelin raids were getting ever closer so ,whilst they had yet to reach London, the threat to the civilian population must have had some impact.

Very satisfying, nice escape. I liked getting to know these characters. There was one character I didn't like a bit. He never seemed to get his comeuppance. Perhaps in a later book? This was an enjoyable mystery, not terribly memorable. ( )

The author has a lovely relaxed style for all his works. Here we have another Scotland Yard Detective, Harvey Marmion, and his more than helpful assistant, Joe Keedy, dealing with the death of a leading German Jewish tailor (hence, Bespoke) and theft from his premises as well as arson in burning them down. To add to this his daughter, Ruth, is raped as she makes her way home to escape from the trouble at her father’s shop. All of this appears to have been sparked by the sinking of the Lusitania, resulting in many German businesses being targeted, despite the length of time that their proprietors may have been naturalised in this country. Two survivors, Irene, a stewardess from the ship, and Ernie Gill, a barber, feature quite prominently in the development of the story.
There is much to enjoy, the story is well plotted and the perpetrators and their reasons take some teasing out by diligent probing by the detectives, for once supported by their commissioner. There are many likeable characters, and some who are distinctly the opposite, and whose actions in many ways are totally reprehensible.
Marmion’s daughter, Alice, a school teacher, provides some slight romantic interest in a developing relationship with Keedy, and the ending of the story is completely clear, but allows for more work on the part of our two detectives in the future.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, matching his Railway Detective novels.
( )

An enjoyable read.

The story takes place in the early 20th century and is based upon Detective Inspector Harvey Marmion and Sergeant Joe Keedy investigate the murder of Jacob, a Jewish tailor, whose shop is victim of anti-German riots after the sinking of the Lusitania. As the shop is being attacked and burn, Jacob's daughter Ruth is raped.

Jacob's killing initially is contributed to the anti-Geramn riots but when it is discovered Jacob was stabbed, his safe broken into and his daughter Ruth being raped it becomes a Scotland Yard investigation.

The characters are likable and though some come off as perhaps too wholesome it is refreshing to have a mystery that comes across as more PG-13 then having to have someone having an uncontrollable need for passionate sex, graphic details on anything from sex to grizzly murder to language that was at one time reserved for bar room boasting.

Maybe I'm old and boring and not with it but I'd rather old and boring and not with it and enjoy an entertaining book. I get enough of all the non entertaining in the news every day.

Edward Marston's entertaining approach may be 'boring' for some but is what I like in a good mystery. The second book of the Home Detective series An Instrument in Slaughter was not available but another of his series the Railway Detective's first book was and I've snatached it as my next read ( )

J’ai trouvé ce livre lors de mon avant dernier passage à W.H. Smith. Cette librairie est tout de même juste à côté du cours d’allemand bien évidemment et qu’il faut bien patienter quand on arrive en avance (Concorde – Iéna = 2km, c’est rien du tout).

C’est la couverture qui attirée mon regard car je ne suis que futilité et le résumé était prometteur pour une bonne lecture détente

May 1915. While thousands of Britons fight in the trenches, a severely depleted police force remains behind to keep the home front safe. In London, the sinking of the Lusitania sparks an unprecedented wave of anti-German riots and arson attacks across the city. Among the victims is the immigrant tailor Jacob Stein, found dead in his burn-out shop.

Detective Inspector Harvey Marmion and Sergeant Joe Keedy must take on this case of cover-ups and contradictions and track down Jacob’s killer – a hunt which carries them from the crime-ridden streets of wartime London to the chaos of the front line. But is the murder simply the result of a tragic excess of wartime hysteria, or perhaps a more premeditated crime ?

Pour ceux qui ne comprennent pas l’anglais (mais il faudra attendre la traduction), l’histoire se passe à Londres en 1915. On est donc dans un pays en guerre, où beaucoup de jeunes se sont engagés et où les femmes, jeunes et moins jeunes, travaillent. L’auteur insiste bien sur les changements sociétaux qui se sont produits au moment de la Première Guerre mondiale.

L’action se situe juste après le torpillage du Lusitania, le 7 mai 1915, par un sous-marin allemand. Les conséquences politiques et militaires ne sont pas abordées dans le roman. On est plus dans le genre roman policier que roman d’espionnage. Ce sont plutôt les conséquences intérieures qu’Edward Marston va décrire : une vague anti-allemande sans précédent. Des émeutes vont se produire, des tabassages en règle aussi, des faux de boutique vont être déclenchés. Jacob Stein, tailleur de profession, va en être une des victimes londoniennes.

C’est ce que l’on croit au début mais en réalité, il ne sera pas victime de l’incendie de sa boutique mais sera assassiné à l’aide d’un couteau ! Lorsque l’émeute a commencé, il avait envoyé sa fille chercher de l’aide à la police mais celle-ci sera violé par deux soldats alcoolisés, sur le point de partir au front.

C’est dans cette enquête que l’on fait la connaissance des deux inspecteurs récurrents de cette série : Harvey Marmion (père de famille, un fils au front, une fille, Alice, qui veut s’engager dans les Women’s Emergemcy Corps, une femme qui s’inquiète pour tout le monde) et Joe Keedy (célibataire, toujours très bien habillé, la trentaine, qui éprouve une attirance réciproque pour Alice). Pour leurs enquêtes, nos deux inspecteurs ne vont pas ménager leurs efforts : ils vont aller dans les tranchées belges, infiltrés les mouvements anti-juifs de l’époque, chasser le malfaiteur dans les rivières. L’enquête allie actions et réflexions. Il y a même une certaine liberté puisque Joe Keedy est autorisé à suivre son intuition. Les enquêteurs peuvent se tromper.

J’ai trouvé les personnages récurrents de cette série très attachants. Joe Keedy et Harvey Marmion forme un bon duo, très complémentaire aussi. C’est pourtant le premier tome de la série. Les personnages reliés à l’enquête sont aussi très bien campés car décrits par quelques traits de caractères, que l’on retrouve dans des dialogues efficaces.

L’histoire est bien faite car le mystère n’est pas résolu en faisant intervenir d’autres personnages ou sur des éléments qui n’auraient été connus que des enquêteurs. Le contexte historique est intéressant. Il ne prend pas le pas sur l’histoire mais complète habilement l’enquête.

Une très bonne lecture détente comme je le disais au début. Le deuxième tome est sortie aussi fin octobre (en ebook et en papier). Edward Marston est l’auteur d’énormément de série de romans policier historiques dont au moins une traduite en France, celle de Nick Bracewell, se passant sous Elizabeth Ire (je le sais car j’en ai un volume, que je n’ai pas réussi à finir, dans ma PAL)(je vais peut être me replonger dedans du coup). ( )