The Dymchurch Reckoning

by Emma Batten

“It is more than a touch complicated,” Sir Julian surmised. “We find Dymchurch to be at the centre of two great scandals and both involving one man – he is a thief and murder victim and all in the course of a couple of weeks!”

A brutal encounter in the churchyard raises shockwaves beyond Dymchurch as the hunt for the killer begins and a young widow celebrates a new freedom. Once more Harry Farrers finds himself in the midst of troubles caused by an old enemy, trying to balance his commitments to work and family, alongside his role as jurat.

A sequel to But First Maintain the Wall and The Whitsun Gallop, taking readers back to 18th century Dymchurch.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2023

About the author

I am a truly local author. Living in and writing about Romney Marsh means I can fully engage in the history of the area and connect with my readers. I learn about an event or custom – the great storm which changed the coastline, the body of a monk being secretly carried across the marsh, magical qualities associated with hagstones – and use these to create a whole novel. Fictional characters are put in recognisable settings as we follow the story of their lives. The eras range from the 7th to the 20th century, giving me an opportunity to explore so much of our history through writing. That local feel to my books now extends to them having distinctive covers with original artwork by artists from Greatstone and New Romney, making the books even more special for me.