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Sholto Lestrade Mystery #2
Brigade: The Further Adventures of Inspector Lestrade
There is a new broom at Scotland Yard: Assistant Commissioner Nimrod Frost. His first ‘little job’ for Lestrade is to investigate the reported appearance of a lion in Cornwall, a savager of sheep and frightener of men; hardly a task for an Inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department.
Having solved that case to his own satisfaction, Lestrade returns to London and to another suspicious death and then another. All old men who should have died quietly in their sleep. Is there a connection? Is there a serial killer at work?
Lestrade clashes with his superiors and finds himself suspended from duty, but that is a mere technicality as he moves from workhouse to royal palace, from backstage of the Lyceum to regimental dinner in his search for clues.
When can his glory fade?
‘A romp it is – but Trow also has a serious side, which he shows in the first fifteen pages, giving us a sensitive historical account of the Light Brigade and the men who comprised it. Trow writes of the disastrous event with an empathy which makes this book even more exceptional.’
The Strand Magazine
Having solved that case to his own satisfaction, Lestrade returns to London and to another suspicious death and then another. All old men who should have died quietly in their sleep. Is there a connection? Is there a serial killer at work?
Lestrade clashes with his superiors and finds himself suspended from duty, but that is a mere technicality as he moves from workhouse to royal palace, from backstage of the Lyceum to regimental dinner in his search for clues.
When can his glory fade?
‘A romp it is – but Trow also has a serious side, which he shows in the first fifteen pages, giving us a sensitive historical account of the Light Brigade and the men who comprised it. Trow writes of the disastrous event with an empathy which makes this book even more exceptional.’
The Strand Magazine
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1988
5 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Trow
149 books119 followersMeirion James Trow is a full-time teacher of history who has been doubling as a crime writer for seventeen years. Originally from Ferndale, Rhondda in South Wales he now lives on the Isle of Wight. His interests include collecting militaria, film, the supernatural and true crime.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 2, 2017
Good stuff, and great fun, if not as hilarious as the first in the series. Will keep reading, though.
June 18, 2018
Spooky
A really good book i enjoyed the use of other characters such as Watson as though they are real people
A really good book i enjoyed the use of other characters such as Watson as though they are real people
September 29, 2016
Another entertaining mystery set in the late Victorian age, it had enough twists and turns to keep my interest and even a bit of a surprise at the end. I also like the fact that actual historical figures make an appearance such as Gilbert and Sullivan, and even a brief cameo from Florence Nightingale in this one. Rating: 3.5 stars.
October 3, 2010
Again, there is a theme that runs through the novel and, as an avid reader, I wanted to solve the riddle of how all of these victims fit together well before Lestrade got around to doing so within the pages of the novel. Alas, I found myself hooked by red herrings and wondering just how M. J. Truw would resolve the wonderful set-up in the first few pages. One sensed a relationship with the Light Brigade and Crimea throughout the novel, but it wasn’t obvious. Indeed, I found myself wondering about some of Lestrade’s associates before this one was over.
Frankly, I didn’t feel like the “mystery” was entirely fair to the reader. Unless I was simply totally dense, it didn’t seem as if enough foundation was laid for the eventual killer to be unmasked (as it were). It seemed like Truw spent much more effort on his labyrinthine dead-ends and cut-backs than he did on allowing the reader to solve the mystery along with Lestrade. It was a bit like my feeling about Agatha Christie novels. At times, I desperately would have liked to have been Lionel Twain in Neil Simon’s Murder By Death and wreaked revenge on all mystery novelists who do this.
On the other hand, I’ll keep reading this series because the period touches and the breaking down of the proscenium humor tends to make me forget all about the mystery per se. I love the cockney slang such as “cash carrier” for pimp, “bug hunter” as pickpocket, “cly faker” as a “roller” of drunks, “gatter” for beer, “penny gaffe” for Punch and Judy Show, and “Under and Over” as a fairground swindling game. Plus, the great cameo appearances by actual historical features are even funnier than some of the ones in the first book: Bram Stoker and Gilbert & Sullivan, as well as the mothers of Agatha Christie and Basil Rathbone. Watch for more reviews in the future; I’m addicted to this series—even if I came late to the party.
Frankly, I didn’t feel like the “mystery” was entirely fair to the reader. Unless I was simply totally dense, it didn’t seem as if enough foundation was laid for the eventual killer to be unmasked (as it were). It seemed like Truw spent much more effort on his labyrinthine dead-ends and cut-backs than he did on allowing the reader to solve the mystery along with Lestrade. It was a bit like my feeling about Agatha Christie novels. At times, I desperately would have liked to have been Lionel Twain in Neil Simon’s Murder By Death and wreaked revenge on all mystery novelists who do this.
On the other hand, I’ll keep reading this series because the period touches and the breaking down of the proscenium humor tends to make me forget all about the mystery per se. I love the cockney slang such as “cash carrier” for pimp, “bug hunter” as pickpocket, “cly faker” as a “roller” of drunks, “gatter” for beer, “penny gaffe” for Punch and Judy Show, and “Under and Over” as a fairground swindling game. Plus, the great cameo appearances by actual historical features are even funnier than some of the ones in the first book: Bram Stoker and Gilbert & Sullivan, as well as the mothers of Agatha Christie and Basil Rathbone. Watch for more reviews in the future; I’m addicted to this series—even if I came late to the party.
December 26, 2025
Fast moving up my list of favourite authors,
After my recent 5* review of the first of this series, it was never going to be long before I got onto the next.
This books concerns one of the units at the famous Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War of the late 18th century. Although the first chapter, or prologue, describes the battle and a young childs first steps on that day, the events of the story take place almost 40 years later.
Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson have never particularly got on and their recent spat sees them both on the carpet in the Assistant Commissioner's office. However the outcome is that Lestrade is sent undercover on an investigation into an apparently 'ordinary' death.
The story developes as the body count grows and Lestrade himself becomes a wanted man as a result of an earlier incident. His friends in the force are warned against helping him and even the Assistant Commissioner refuses to see him.
Although finding a way through the mystery is a most serious matter , there are still moments of humour as characters from the period, fact and fiction, are encountered.
I found an incident with a particular brand of cigarette and then much later on, a toddler and potention future star of the silver screen, cleverly worked into the story, most amusing although I fear one or maybe both could be lost on younger readers.
A period mystery produced in a Conan Doyle style particularly with motive and ending hard to predict but with the author's own subtle humour included. I know that this is a series I will continue to enjoy.
29th Oct 2025
After my recent 5* review of the first of this series, it was never going to be long before I got onto the next.
This books concerns one of the units at the famous Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War of the late 18th century. Although the first chapter, or prologue, describes the battle and a young childs first steps on that day, the events of the story take place almost 40 years later.
Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson have never particularly got on and their recent spat sees them both on the carpet in the Assistant Commissioner's office. However the outcome is that Lestrade is sent undercover on an investigation into an apparently 'ordinary' death.
The story developes as the body count grows and Lestrade himself becomes a wanted man as a result of an earlier incident. His friends in the force are warned against helping him and even the Assistant Commissioner refuses to see him.
Although finding a way through the mystery is a most serious matter , there are still moments of humour as characters from the period, fact and fiction, are encountered.
I found an incident with a particular brand of cigarette and then much later on, a toddler and potention future star of the silver screen, cleverly worked into the story, most amusing although I fear one or maybe both could be lost on younger readers.
A period mystery produced in a Conan Doyle style particularly with motive and ending hard to predict but with the author's own subtle humour included. I know that this is a series I will continue to enjoy.
29th Oct 2025
May 19, 2013
Audiobook read by the author
Quite enjoy listening to these as they are fairly easy going
Quite enjoy listening to these as they are fairly easy going
September 24, 2015
A good read, but nothing outstanding.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews