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Inspector Best #4-7

Inspector Best Historical Mysteries, Books 4-7

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Step into the bustling streets of Victorian London with Inspector Best, where suspense and intrigue lurk down every foggy back alley.

Included in this 4-book box set:

Book #4: Dead End
Book #5: Dead Fall
Book #6: Dead Loss
Book #7: Dead Centre


MEET YOUR NEW FAVOURITE DETECTIVE

Detective Inspector Ernest Best is no ordinary detective. As a man of law and order, he works at Scotland Yard in Victorian London — a city of stark contrasts, where the glitter of theatres and elegant homes masks the shadows of grimy docks and crowded streets. Best pieces together elusive clues others overlook, drawing on his mixed Italian and English heritage to navigate the diverse and often divided communities of 19th-century England.

Deeply devoted to his wife Helen and young daughter Lucy Jane, they are his steady anchor amid the turmoil of crime and corruption that surrounds him. Whether pursuing a cunning murderer or uncovering dangerous political conspiracies, Detective Best will stop at nothing to bring the truth to light — no matter the risks.

946 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2025

164 people are currently reading
3 people want to read

About the author

Joan Lock

31 books13 followers
Ex-policewoman JOAN LOCK is the author of non-fiction books and crime novels. She has been a regular contributor to the police press and the journal of the Crime Writers' Association. She has also written short stories, radio plays and radio documentaries. She lives in London.

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5 stars
31 (47%)
4 stars
22 (33%)
3 stars
10 (15%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
2 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
358 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2025
Arresting tales.

A fine, well written group of books on Victorian England featuring a Detective called Best. A man with a complicated history of personal tragedy. All sorts of famous causes are covered including the activities of bomber Fenians, angry Frenchmen struck by a blight affecting grape vines, riots with the formation of political parties working for impoverished workless poor, the efforts of the Salvation Army to help the needy, the start of superstores and so on. I admit at times the overwhelming detail seems a bit like tedious history lessons but Best himself is a likeable character and the bare plots shown of all the detail are exciting and well worked out. I enjoyed the books without being overwhelmed by them. If you like an avalanche of Victoriana, including what was worn, fashionable clothes providers, fashionable areas to live, etc., You will like these. Recommended.
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8,582 reviews123 followers
December 2, 2025
3 - 3.5 Stars

Inspector Best Historical Mysteries Series (4 Book Boxset)
I was really looking forward to this series, but unfortunately I just couldn't find my groove. Maybe I will revisit this series next year to see if I was just having an 'off-reading-day' this time around.

My full review still to come...
57 reviews
October 14, 2025
One of the better historical mysteries...

...with none of my pet peeves, so I'm grateful. Good stories, interesting and realistic characters, historically well-researched. I'll be looking for more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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