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MURDER AT DEEPDALE WOOD: a gripping historical British crime mystery
A SWEEPING HISTORICAL MYSTERY OF SCANDAL, BETRAYAL AND FAMILY SECRETS SET IN STAFFORDSHIRE FROM A MASTER STORYTELLER.
‘Roy Lewis is a writer who believes in keeping his readers on their toes with plenty of twists and surprises.’ Daily Telegraph
Staffordshire, 1828. Colonel Tom Symonds is found at the edge of Deepdale Wood, his face smashed beyond recognition — beaten to death with his own silver-topped cane.
He was a bully and a gambler. Nobody mourns his death. But the parish insists someone must take the blame. By nightfall, the Romany camp is burned to the ground. Their leader hanged from a tree.
Charles Fresnay, newly arrived from Bow Street to serve as parish constable, knows a scapegoat when he sees one.
What he uncovers begins forty years earlier. From the rookeries of London via the stinking prison hulks at Woolwich to a quiet Staffordshire estate. One family’s sins have been waiting patiently for their reckoning.
When Fresnay finally learns the truth, he must decide whether it should ever be spoken aloud.
Perfect for readers of Andrew Taylor, Antonia Hodgson and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.
PRAISE FOR ROY
‘Lewis skilfully ties up everything . . . smoothly written. Compassionate yet with plenty of force.’ New York Times
‘Legal shenanigans explicable, whodunit finely spun . . . A nice piece of work, in fact.’ Oxford Mail
‘Tough, salty and realistic.’ Times Literary Supplement
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Good read.’ Denise Y.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent reading.’ Bill.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wonderful story. Well written.’ Kindle Customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Five stars. Good read.’ Philip M.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Great characters and an intriguing and enjoyable plot with a wicked twist.’ Kindle Customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Roy master crime fiction writer excels once again.’ Warren H.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Like all of Roy Lewis books – twists and turns.’ David
‘Roy Lewis is a writer who believes in keeping his readers on their toes with plenty of twists and surprises.’ Daily Telegraph
Staffordshire, 1828. Colonel Tom Symonds is found at the edge of Deepdale Wood, his face smashed beyond recognition — beaten to death with his own silver-topped cane.
He was a bully and a gambler. Nobody mourns his death. But the parish insists someone must take the blame. By nightfall, the Romany camp is burned to the ground. Their leader hanged from a tree.
Charles Fresnay, newly arrived from Bow Street to serve as parish constable, knows a scapegoat when he sees one.
What he uncovers begins forty years earlier. From the rookeries of London via the stinking prison hulks at Woolwich to a quiet Staffordshire estate. One family’s sins have been waiting patiently for their reckoning.
When Fresnay finally learns the truth, he must decide whether it should ever be spoken aloud.
Perfect for readers of Andrew Taylor, Antonia Hodgson and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.
PRAISE FOR ROY
‘Lewis skilfully ties up everything . . . smoothly written. Compassionate yet with plenty of force.’ New York Times
‘Legal shenanigans explicable, whodunit finely spun . . . A nice piece of work, in fact.’ Oxford Mail
‘Tough, salty and realistic.’ Times Literary Supplement
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Good read.’ Denise Y.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent reading.’ Bill.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wonderful story. Well written.’ Kindle Customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Five stars. Good read.’ Philip M.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Great characters and an intriguing and enjoyable plot with a wicked twist.’ Kindle Customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Roy master crime fiction writer excels once again.’ Warren H.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Like all of Roy Lewis books – twists and turns.’ David
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2026
About the author
Roy Lewis
187 books79 followersJohn Royston Lewis, who published his fiction under the name Roy Lewis, was a prominent English crime writer who wrote more than 60 novels. He was also a teacher, and he taught Law for 10 years before being appointed as One of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Further & Higher Education. He lived in the north of England where many of his novels are set.
Lewis is also the author of several law texts, which he published under the name J.R. Lewis.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Lewis is also the author of several law texts, which he published under the name J.R. Lewis.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 30, 2026
Confusing
Murder at Deepdale Wood starts out like a 19th Century police investigation. Then it becomes, and remains, a Dickensian saga of intrigue and depravity, crime and passion, with no explanation of why each section deals with different people who seem to have no relationship with the events of the beginning or with each other.
In true Dickens style, all the coincidences are explained in the end but is it believable?
You have to decide for yourself.
Murder at Deepdale Wood starts out like a 19th Century police investigation. Then it becomes, and remains, a Dickensian saga of intrigue and depravity, crime and passion, with no explanation of why each section deals with different people who seem to have no relationship with the events of the beginning or with each other.
In true Dickens style, all the coincidences are explained in the end but is it believable?
You have to decide for yourself.
September 2, 2026
Sorry .. i just could not get on with this Book it starts as a Detective Story and then some Bad Cookson Novel .
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews