Hanging Murder

Lancashire Detective #5

by A.J. Wright

We can all stand on principles until evil pays us a visit…

The year is 1894 when Mr Simeon Crosby, a retired executioner, comes to Wigan with his wife and brother to give a talk on his life’s work.

Whilst he has an eager following, there are also many people who strongly object to Crosby’s profession and do not wish his melancholy shadow to be cast over their town. Protests have been organised and threats have been made.

Detective Sergeant Brennan is tasked with overseeing the security of the controversial visitor and all seems to be going to plan… until a murder is committed on the night of Crosby’s talk.

As Brennan and his brawny constable Fred Jaggery begin their lines of inquiry, they become overwhelmed with suspects and frustrated at the ambiguity of the evidence.

And then a second body is found.

Brennan soon discovers that both victim and killer can take many, sometimes indistinguishable, forms.

Genres: Crime

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2019

About the author

Aka Alan Wright

In 2009 A. J. Wright won the 2010 Dundee International Fiction Prize for his Victorian murder mystery Act of Murder. His writing is inspired by his two major interests: all things Victorian and classic works from the Golden Age of crime fiction. He lives near Wigan.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1894 Wigan. Simeon Crosby, retired executioner, has arrived with his wife Violet, and brother Gilbert, to give a talk about his life. But soon there will not be one death but two. Detective Sergeant Michael Brennan investigates.
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery. Another good addition to the series

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like historical novels that place you as an individual in the midst of the action; this one has the reader looking over everyone's' shoulders and holding your breath. Detective Sgt. Brennan and Constable Jaggerty have the pleasure of guarding the overall safety of a visiting lecturer that will hold a one day lecture to an audience of sold-out ticket holders. The confrontational speaker is none other than Simeon Crosby, the Royal Hangman, now retired. His wife Violet decides to finally attend his lecture this time, accompanied by Gilbert, Simeon's brother and his habit of using Simeon's reputation as a way to support himself. A group of people determined to abolish death as punishment and substitute other means. A female reporter determined to become a well-known journalist in competition with her male counterparts is not adverse to danger. She follows whatever she desires. A journalist who is ghost-writing Simeon Crosby's autobiography, a pair of travelling salesmen, an escaped inmate from a private asylum, and a case that ties them all together. A botched hanging Crosby does not like to admit as his failure and two murders create a bundle of themes woven into a basket of good reading. I won this book and reviewed it with my own opinions. I have no relationship to author or publisher. By the way, you might need to grab a pen and paper to keep up the clues revealed throughout the story.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.J. Wright's latest in his Lancashire Detective series will keep your attention to the last page. It's a story of the consequences of the life of one of the last hangmen of England. He may take pride in his work, does Mr. Crosby, but that work will lead to murder.

The author truly knows how to weave a deft tale, with the clues to follow up, witnesses to interview, and a lot of thinking to be done. The little bits of red herrings and side stories are there for readers to wonder about -- how are these people involved in the story? Detective Sergeant Brennan and his hulking Constable Fred Jaggery are dogged in their investigation, which is revealed in quite a little shocker. I had begun to realize where everything was going, but was still surprised with the identity of the murderer.

And we are given a bit of Detective Sergeant Brennan to ponder. He does remain somewhat of an enigmatic figure. I'd like to see a bit more of him revealed. Looking forward to the next book.

[John Bainbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lancashire setting of this Victorian murder mystery makes a refreshing change from London. The sense of place is so well done, you feel there on the cobbled streets of Victorian Wigan with all its sounds and smells. Detective Sergeant Brennan and Constable Jaggery are a likeable team with believable, contrasting characters. Really enjoyed the strong plot and its chilling theme of a retired public hangman. Full of interesting characters, red herrings and plausible suspects. A very satisfying mystery. Highly recommended.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good wintry Wigan-set mystery, more for the non-anachronistic setting with Victorian-era mores and manners, than the identity of the killer of the wife of a retired hangman and, later, another woman. There’s an error with dates and Brennan is slow to pick up on a few connections, but it builds to an intriguing climax at the coroner’s inquest. A local with a pub “trick’ with rats is one of several realistic working-class characters keeping a sober authenticity to the setting and Brennan is a plausible, appealing character.

[peter david mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revenge murder.

An easy five stars. An intricately plotted murder leading quickly to a second, with multiple suspects. Brennan needs to delve below the surface to solve the crimes . Full of memorable and fascinating characters with all the suspects having something to hide. A must read for crime fiction fans.

[Sylvia Lamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

A different sort of detective story to the ones I usually choose but I certainly enjoyed the change. Very well written, twists and turns all through and wonderful detail and right to the end had no idea who "dun it"

[Nicola Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent t

Another exciting installment from Brennan and Jaggery. I enjoy the twists in the plot and the genuine affection for wigan and it's history.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could have given it no stars i would totally boring