Counterfeit of Murder

Sergeant Bragg & Constable Morton #5

by Ray Harrison

In the summer of 1892, Sergeant Bragg and Constable Morton begin a search for counterfeiters whose activities threaten the economic stability of London

Genres: Mystery

234 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1987

About the author

Raymond Vincent Harrison was born in the United Kingdom in 1928.

At one time he spent seven years working for the Inland Revenue Department of the British Government.

He began his Sergeant Bragg and Constable Morton series with 'French Ordinary Murder' (aka 'Why Kill Arthur Potter?) in 1983 and up to 1998 he had written 16 in the series.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Fairly good on historical details (though Merriam Webster refuses to define “growler” as a coach) but rather thin on either characters’ internal motivations or a careful crime lord’s reason for trusting an undercover detective. Plus the sex scenes were a bit much. No real desire to read the rest of the series; just piecing together the characters names and job descriptions was enough of a workout.

[Cindie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another difficult read, but also fascinating to have such detail in the making of bank notes. Bragg again relies on Morton and Morton again takes an incredible risk. There is sometimes too much detail. But the end result is a good read.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Victorian setting is admirably captured in this thriller with a difference. There is an early murder but the counterfeit bank note problem then takes centre stage and Sergeant Bragg and his cricket-playing sidekick Constable Morton investigate.

In this particular tale Morton takes the lead as he is inveigled into the counterfeit band, with horrific consequences, particularly in relation to the young lady that he was seeing.

A chase ends up at the annual St Leger race in Doncaster and then there is a particular exciting ending, all very thrilling!

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting stuff in here about printing money and the Bank of London, about ways to rip off a bank, and Victorian society. But too much sex, more than in the rest of the series I've read.