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THE COMPLETE INSPECTOR RAVENSCROFT MYSTERIES ten gripping Victorian historical whodunnits
In these ten gripping historical mysteries, step into the fog-filled streets of Victorian England. Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft is a weary, yet determined detective whose quiet vacation quickly becomes an investigation into a series of chilling deaths.
MEET THE INSPECTOR
Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft is an astute detective whose sharp mind is often at odds with his frail body. Single and over 40, his lungs betray him with every laboured breath, yet his determination burns hotter than most men's. With a bowler hat perched on his head and a gas lamp in hand, he works in the Whitechapel branch of the Met prowling the fog-filled streets of Victorian London, unearthing secrets buried beneath layers of soot. His cough is as familiar as his sharp, penetrating gaze, and while his asthma may slow him down, it never dulls his pursuit of justice.
Ravenscroft and his partner, Constable Tom Crabb, are a powerful crime-solving duo. Their quest to bring criminals to justice takes them to every corner of the Three Counties (Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire).
From the dark alleys of Whitechapel to the quiet town of Malvern, each book introduces a new case that pushes Ravenscroft and Crabbe's skills to the limit in over 2000 pages of thrilling investigations!
Fans of Carole Lawrence, Edward Martson, Emily Organ, E.S. Thomson, Oscar De Muriel and Karen Charlton are sure to be captivated by Tombs’s tales of intrigue, atmosphere, and suspense.
What readers are saying about The Inspector Ravenscroft Mysteries:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A must read for lovers of British Crime mysteries.” Brian
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Detecting at its best in Victorian England.” Lynne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Very absorbing and hard to put down.” Berys
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Brilliant series of books. Buy them.” Tina
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Realistic characters, interesting plot . . . kept me guessing to the very end!.” Marine
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Draws us into the seamy side of nineteenth-century London.” Sheila
Don’t miss out on this gripping series of unputdownable historical mysteries, now in one COMPLETE box set!
MEET THE INSPECTOR
Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft is an astute detective whose sharp mind is often at odds with his frail body. Single and over 40, his lungs betray him with every laboured breath, yet his determination burns hotter than most men's. With a bowler hat perched on his head and a gas lamp in hand, he works in the Whitechapel branch of the Met prowling the fog-filled streets of Victorian London, unearthing secrets buried beneath layers of soot. His cough is as familiar as his sharp, penetrating gaze, and while his asthma may slow him down, it never dulls his pursuit of justice.
Ravenscroft and his partner, Constable Tom Crabb, are a powerful crime-solving duo. Their quest to bring criminals to justice takes them to every corner of the Three Counties (Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire).
From the dark alleys of Whitechapel to the quiet town of Malvern, each book introduces a new case that pushes Ravenscroft and Crabbe's skills to the limit in over 2000 pages of thrilling investigations!
Fans of Carole Lawrence, Edward Martson, Emily Organ, E.S. Thomson, Oscar De Muriel and Karen Charlton are sure to be captivated by Tombs’s tales of intrigue, atmosphere, and suspense.
What readers are saying about The Inspector Ravenscroft Mysteries:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A must read for lovers of British Crime mysteries.” Brian
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Detecting at its best in Victorian England.” Lynne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Very absorbing and hard to put down.” Berys
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Brilliant series of books. Buy them.” Tina
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Realistic characters, interesting plot . . . kept me guessing to the very end!.” Marine
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Draws us into the seamy side of nineteenth-century London.” Sheila
Don’t miss out on this gripping series of unputdownable historical mysteries, now in one COMPLETE box set!
2294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2025
435 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Tombs
25 books67 followersKerry Tombs was born in Smethwick in 1945, and after a career in teaching in both England and Australia, moved to Malvern in 1982, where he became a genealogist, lecturer and bookseller. He has set THE MALVERN MURDERS in a variety of Malvern locations including St.Ann's Well, Malvern College, British Camp and Priory Church - and in the nearby villages of Colwall and Mathon and town of Ledbury. Kerry moved to Brittany in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 10, 2025
Pretty ordinary stuff...A lot of repetitions...look down at the floor,
So many repetitions;...: He looked down at the floor, He put his hand on his shoulder, he put hid hands on her shoulders, she looked down at the floor be walked to the window and looked out she looked out the window,etcetcetc . Felt like I had read it all before somewhere else. Read the first 3 books of a 10 book series and decided to move on.
So many repetitions;...: He looked down at the floor, He put his hand on his shoulder, he put hid hands on her shoulders, she looked down at the floor be walked to the window and looked out she looked out the window,etcetcetc . Felt like I had read it all before somewhere else. Read the first 3 books of a 10 book series and decided to move on.
October 13, 2025
Solved
A very enjoyable series of stories,well written and plotted,with very believable characters,I was sorry when l finished them,the historical descriptions added to the atmosphere of the tales,I would recommend these tales to any one who enjoys historical detective novel's,just the thing to curl up with on a cold winter's evening in front of a warm fire,highly recommended,
Sherlock
A very enjoyable series of stories,well written and plotted,with very believable characters,I was sorry when l finished them,the historical descriptions added to the atmosphere of the tales,I would recommend these tales to any one who enjoys historical detective novel's,just the thing to curl up with on a cold winter's evening in front of a warm fire,highly recommended,
Sherlock
October 18, 2025
Great stories
I enjoyed the character of Inspector Ravenscroft & those he worked with. Very fun the way the author introduced Sherlock Holmes & Conan Doyle into the story since Inspector Ravenscroft reminded me a bit of Sherlock Holmes. Each story was very well done
I enjoyed the character of Inspector Ravenscroft & those he worked with. Very fun the way the author introduced Sherlock Holmes & Conan Doyle into the story since Inspector Ravenscroft reminded me a bit of Sherlock Holmes. Each story was very well done
July 26, 2025
Enjoyed everyone of the books
I enjoy historical fiction and every one of these stories left me with a good feeling. I plan on reading more of Kerry Tombs books
I enjoy historical fiction and every one of these stories left me with a good feeling. I plan on reading more of Kerry Tombs books
August 25, 2025
a really good read.
Nicely Victorian and slow paced relaxing reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the whole series. Historical twisty-turny plots and fascinating characters.
Nicely Victorian and slow paced relaxing reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the whole series. Historical twisty-turny plots and fascinating characters.
August 26, 2025
There was at least a chapter missing.
Spoiler alert: A chapter of Lucy and Ravenscroft fell in love and married. I fell robbed that there was nothing.
Spoiler alert: A chapter of Lucy and Ravenscroft fell in love and married. I fell robbed that there was nothing.
October 22, 2025
This box set is ideal for Cadfael readers wishing to follow the work of a late Victorian detective in the Three Counties of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford. Mr.Tombs so expertly evokes his love of their rural landscape with its rolling hills and quaint market towns that one is encouraged to 'wiki' them, to see if one's imagined 'scenery' matches the reality. Inspector Ravenscroft is a morally-centred, kindly and thoroughly likeable detective who is ably assisted by Constable Crabb to whom he gives ready credit. All the cases are different and the lives of the characters progress as the series unfolds. Characterisation and motivation of the dramatis personae are not the point of these stories, they are 'page turners' and make for ideal bedtime reading. Consequently, Mr.Tombs's box set is Highly Recommended by this reader - I just wish there were more of them!
August 9, 2025
Despite the many differences between modern crime fighting and detecting in the Victorian era, there's still a common thread. Solving mysteries requires a lot of observation and thinking, plus painstaking investigation of many details. As with any scientific endeavor, one postulates theories, then discards them as more evidence becomes available.
Both the inspector and several of the other recurring characters are well drawn, consistent in their attitudes and demeanor. The people the inspector and his sidekick interview, whether villains or just bystanders, are mostly rude, uncooperative, or openly hostile, and tend to withhold information if not lying outright. The inspector sometimes has to resort to threats and intimidation at a level that would probably get him censured these days, but perhaps that's just how things were.
Lots of clues, many of them misleading, with frequent surprise twists. What fun.
Both the inspector and several of the other recurring characters are well drawn, consistent in their attitudes and demeanor. The people the inspector and his sidekick interview, whether villains or just bystanders, are mostly rude, uncooperative, or openly hostile, and tend to withhold information if not lying outright. The inspector sometimes has to resort to threats and intimidation at a level that would probably get him censured these days, but perhaps that's just how things were.
Lots of clues, many of them misleading, with frequent surprise twists. What fun.
January 3, 2026
A new favorite detective
The entire series about Detective Inspector Ravenscroft is absorbing, entertaining and filled with characters akin to Dicken’s people, but with a little more depth to the side players, that makes them more than charicatures. Then there are the near echoes of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, Ravenscroft’s favorite reading material. Altogether my current favorite Victorian detective stories, until I meet another.
The entire series about Detective Inspector Ravenscroft is absorbing, entertaining and filled with characters akin to Dicken’s people, but with a little more depth to the side players, that makes them more than charicatures. Then there are the near echoes of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, Ravenscroft’s favorite reading material. Altogether my current favorite Victorian detective stories, until I meet another.
January 14, 2026
A thoroughly wonderful set of books
With believable and likeable characters and intriguing mystery plots, this set of books will drawn you in immediately and keep you happily reading. Bravo to the author for providing a memorable reading experience.
With believable and likeable characters and intriguing mystery plots, this set of books will drawn you in immediately and keep you happily reading. Bravo to the author for providing a memorable reading experience.
January 21, 2026
Repetitive structure
I think the earlier mysteries are better. After a while they get repetitive, using the same template so you know who did or didn't commit the murder e.g. the person who is a side character and seems unrelated is the killer.
I think the earlier mysteries are better. After a while they get repetitive, using the same template so you know who did or didn't commit the murder e.g. the person who is a side character and seems unrelated is the killer.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews