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Inspector Ravenscroft #2
The Worcester Whisperers
A CAPTIVATING HISTORICAL MURDER MYSTERY SET IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND
Jack the Ripper is terrifying London. Outside the capital, another killer will shock the country. It’s up to Police Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft to stop him.
Worcester, 1888.
Nicholas Evelyn, the elderly cathedral librarian, has disappeared. A priceless medieval manuscript has been stolen. Its glass case smashed with a candlestick.
Ravenscroft is sent from the grimy streets of Whitechapel to investigate.
MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL
Aided by his trusty companion Constable Tom Crabb, Ravenscroft soon discovers that behind the cathedral’s facade lurks a dark world of death and deceit.
Could the murder relate to an unsolved mystery dating back nearly forty years?
Meanwhile, in London, a mysterious woman in black is wreaking revenge in the dark alleyways of Whitechapel.
In a spectacular climax, the two worlds of Worcester and Whitechapel meet.
Perfect for fans of M.R.C. Kasasian, E.S. Thomson, Oscar De Muriel or Karen Charlton
MEET THE DETECTIVE
Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft, unmarried and over forty, is a detective in the Whitechapel branch of the Metropolitan Police. Painfully asthmatic, he is often overlooked by his superiors in favour of his pushier colleagues. But Ravenscroft is keen to prove himself and strives to overcome his physical limitations. His tools are forthright questioning, close examination of the evidence and personal intuition. The solution to many crimes is buried deep in the past.
With his trusty Bradshaw, Ravenscroft and his colleague Constable Tom Crabb, travel around the Three Counties, overlooked by the Malvern Hills, bringing criminals to justice.
KERRY TOMBS was born near Birmingham, but grew up in various locations in north Worcestershire. After a career teaching in both England and Australia, he moved to Malvern in 1982, where he became a local genealogist, lecturer and bookseller.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE WORCESTER WHISPERERS
“Once again another brilliant book by this author.” Karen
“As always this author quickly draws us into the seamy side of 19th century London.” Sheila
“Realistic characters, interesting plot; in short, a great read. Kept me guessing right up to the end.” Marine
INSPECTOR RAVENSCROFT DETECTIVE MYSTERIES SERIES
Book 1: The Malvern Murders
Book 2: The Worcester Whisperers
Book 3: The Ledbury Lamplighters
Book 4: The Tewkesbury Tomb*
Book 5: The Droitwich Deceivers*
Book 6: The Pershore Poisoners*
Book 7: The Upton Undertakers*
Book 8: The Herefordshire Hangman*
Book 9: The Bromsgrove Bookseller*
* Coming soon
Jack the Ripper is terrifying London. Outside the capital, another killer will shock the country. It’s up to Police Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft to stop him.
Worcester, 1888.
Nicholas Evelyn, the elderly cathedral librarian, has disappeared. A priceless medieval manuscript has been stolen. Its glass case smashed with a candlestick.
Ravenscroft is sent from the grimy streets of Whitechapel to investigate.
MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL
Aided by his trusty companion Constable Tom Crabb, Ravenscroft soon discovers that behind the cathedral’s facade lurks a dark world of death and deceit.
Could the murder relate to an unsolved mystery dating back nearly forty years?
Meanwhile, in London, a mysterious woman in black is wreaking revenge in the dark alleyways of Whitechapel.
In a spectacular climax, the two worlds of Worcester and Whitechapel meet.
Perfect for fans of M.R.C. Kasasian, E.S. Thomson, Oscar De Muriel or Karen Charlton
MEET THE DETECTIVE
Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft, unmarried and over forty, is a detective in the Whitechapel branch of the Metropolitan Police. Painfully asthmatic, he is often overlooked by his superiors in favour of his pushier colleagues. But Ravenscroft is keen to prove himself and strives to overcome his physical limitations. His tools are forthright questioning, close examination of the evidence and personal intuition. The solution to many crimes is buried deep in the past.
With his trusty Bradshaw, Ravenscroft and his colleague Constable Tom Crabb, travel around the Three Counties, overlooked by the Malvern Hills, bringing criminals to justice.
KERRY TOMBS was born near Birmingham, but grew up in various locations in north Worcestershire. After a career teaching in both England and Australia, he moved to Malvern in 1982, where he became a local genealogist, lecturer and bookseller.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE WORCESTER WHISPERERS
“Once again another brilliant book by this author.” Karen
“As always this author quickly draws us into the seamy side of 19th century London.” Sheila
“Realistic characters, interesting plot; in short, a great read. Kept me guessing right up to the end.” Marine
INSPECTOR RAVENSCROFT DETECTIVE MYSTERIES SERIES
Book 1: The Malvern Murders
Book 2: The Worcester Whisperers
Book 3: The Ledbury Lamplighters
Book 4: The Tewkesbury Tomb*
Book 5: The Droitwich Deceivers*
Book 6: The Pershore Poisoners*
Book 7: The Upton Undertakers*
Book 8: The Herefordshire Hangman*
Book 9: The Bromsgrove Bookseller*
* Coming soon
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2008
406 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Tombs
25 books66 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 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 28, 2022
This is a 4.25 🌟 read rounded ⬇️ to 4 🌟.
November 28, 2020
I didn't think that book 2 could surpass book 1, but it did. Inspector Ravenscroft again leaves his usual bailiwick of Whitechapel, London, to solve a murder. The new dean of Worcester Cathedral, lately of Malvern, has asked that Inspector Ravenscroft be sent to solve the disappearance of a priceless book from the cathedral library. The librarian, Nicholas Evelyn, has also disappeared. What follows is a series of murders, thefts, and red herrings galore. Alongside the main plot, there are also gruesome murders being committed in Whitechapel, the infamous murders of Jack the Ripper. The Ripper is not named as such here, and this is only a side plot, but an interesting one. There are many surprises in store before the book ends. I confess to being completely unaware of who the culprit or culprits were. A lovely mystery. Mr. Tombs has done it again.
December 17, 2020
There seem to be ten of these Ravenscroft books, but I may be wrong. I found I was on familiar ground as I read this and knew I had read it before. This time I am taking time to mark it as read and if I find when I start reading the third that I have already read that one I shall growl. These are set in Victorian era and sometimes in London as Ravenscroft works for the Yard.
First episode takes place in Malvern for the most part as Ravenscroft is in trouble with boss and is sent to take the waters but he ends up succeeding in solving crime and making a friend with a constable. He is paired up again with the same constable and has even nastier boss in Worcester. Ancient manuscripts go missing from Cathedral Library and the librarian is found dead in the river. There are other crimes and murders to solve as the story progresses.
Kindle Unlimited
First episode takes place in Malvern for the most part as Ravenscroft is in trouble with boss and is sent to take the waters but he ends up succeeding in solving crime and making a friend with a constable. He is paired up again with the same constable and has even nastier boss in Worcester. Ancient manuscripts go missing from Cathedral Library and the librarian is found dead in the river. There are other crimes and murders to solve as the story progresses.
Kindle Unlimited
November 19, 2023
ووستر، 1888. اختفى نيكولاس إيفلين، أمين مكتبة الكاتدرائية المسن. تمت سرقة مخطوطة لا تقدر بثمن من العصور الوسطى. تحطمت علبتها الزجاجية بالشمعدان. يتم إرسال Ravenscroft من شوارع Whitechapel المتسخة للتحقيق. بمساعدة رفيقه الموثوق به كونستابل توم كراب، سرعان ما اكتشف رافنسكروفت أن خلف واجهة الكاتدرائية يكمن عالم مظلم من الموت والخداع. هل يمكن أن تكون جريمة القتل مرتبطة بالغموض الذي لم يتم حله والذي يعود تاريخه إلى ما يقرب من أربعين عامًا؟ في هذه الأثناء، في لندن، تقوم امرأة غامضة ترتدي ملابس سوداء بالانتقام في أزقة وايت تشابل المظلمة.
June 18, 2023
Relationships on Vacation
Coming on the heels of its charming predecessor, The Worcester Whisperers is an episodic mystery that continues the life story of Samuel Ravenscroft. This police procedural is low-stakes, and most of the mystery stems from the rather lackluster approach of crime solving in that era. Fortunately, Ravenscroft is a much more interesting character, and I’m fully committed to seeing him find a happy ending.
Strangely enough, it’s been a year since the events of The Malvern Murders, but the cast pick up their relationships without missing a beat. This oddity results in a strange disconnect where one-time vacation friends are incredibly close, despite events having carried them far apart. Ravencroft’s personal life has predictably reverted to its depressing state, and it’s a wonder to see him leave urban London for Worcester. Say what you will about urban vs rural today, but back in the 1890s, city life was horrible.
I adore the quaint Victorian attitudes and the feeling of that era, and continue to appreciate the relaxing story. The tension is higher given both the murders in Worcester, as well Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror. If you like Ravencroft as a character, you’ll love this novel.
Recommended.
Coming on the heels of its charming predecessor, The Worcester Whisperers is an episodic mystery that continues the life story of Samuel Ravenscroft. This police procedural is low-stakes, and most of the mystery stems from the rather lackluster approach of crime solving in that era. Fortunately, Ravenscroft is a much more interesting character, and I’m fully committed to seeing him find a happy ending.
Strangely enough, it’s been a year since the events of The Malvern Murders, but the cast pick up their relationships without missing a beat. This oddity results in a strange disconnect where one-time vacation friends are incredibly close, despite events having carried them far apart. Ravencroft’s personal life has predictably reverted to its depressing state, and it’s a wonder to see him leave urban London for Worcester. Say what you will about urban vs rural today, but back in the 1890s, city life was horrible.
I adore the quaint Victorian attitudes and the feeling of that era, and continue to appreciate the relaxing story. The tension is higher given both the murders in Worcester, as well Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror. If you like Ravencroft as a character, you’ll love this novel.
Recommended.
October 13, 2018
Great second outing
Another great book featuring inspector Ravenscroft. A special mention for the sub plot that runs through the book which is awesome. The inspector is very easy to relate to as a character and the story has a number of interesting characters. The pace is excellent and doesn't Labour too heavily on the detectives motivations, a problem that hampers a lot of mystery stories. Overall really good but read the first book before this one to get the most out of it.
Another great book featuring inspector Ravenscroft. A special mention for the sub plot that runs through the book which is awesome. The inspector is very easy to relate to as a character and the story has a number of interesting characters. The pace is excellent and doesn't Labour too heavily on the detectives motivations, a problem that hampers a lot of mystery stories. Overall really good but read the first book before this one to get the most out of it.
April 18, 2020
It's not that this series is that great, certainly not in the league with Anne Perry or even the Lavender series, but it is diverting and entertaining, something much needed during this unique crisis in American lives. I'll continue with it, but still interspersed with more serious fare.
January 30, 2021
Samuel Ravenscroft has cause to return to Worcester to locate some missing manuscripts. Due to his success in the previous book, Insp Ravenscroft has been requested to solve the mystery.
He teams up again with Constable Tom Crabb and once again, the pair move to locate the missing documents.
A secondary story runs parallel to the main story, with a variant on the Jack the Ripper story occurring in Whitechapel.
I think that it's important to view the police procedure and processes not from a 20th/21st century point of view. The nature of investigation and interview techniques were vastly different from what occurs now and what is included in murder mysteries. Otherwise Samuel Ravenscroft comes across as emotive, dithery to a point and perhaps a bit too soft to be a police inspector.
The dialogue between Tom Crabb and Samuel is quite funny at times and it's nice to read about Samuel's thought processes concerning his private life and where he is heading. This is resolved quite nicely at the end of the book, although not by Samuel but by someone else! (Clever Girl!).....I don't want to give anything away, but I was pleased about this.
He teams up again with Constable Tom Crabb and once again, the pair move to locate the missing documents.
A secondary story runs parallel to the main story, with a variant on the Jack the Ripper story occurring in Whitechapel.
I think that it's important to view the police procedure and processes not from a 20th/21st century point of view. The nature of investigation and interview techniques were vastly different from what occurs now and what is included in murder mysteries. Otherwise Samuel Ravenscroft comes across as emotive, dithery to a point and perhaps a bit too soft to be a police inspector.
The dialogue between Tom Crabb and Samuel is quite funny at times and it's nice to read about Samuel's thought processes concerning his private life and where he is heading. This is resolved quite nicely at the end of the book, although not by Samuel but by someone else! (Clever Girl!).....I don't want to give anything away, but I was pleased about this.
November 27, 2021
This was a reasonably enjoyable read. Ravenscroft is a London Police inspector -- time period is late 1800s. He's not regarded positively by the London higher-ups, but he is requested by the Dean of the Worcester Cathedral -- a rare manuscript has been stolen and their librarian is missing.
The story hangs together o.k. but it does seem like answers they get come out of the blue vs via any particular efforts at detecting. He's aided by a local constable and pretty quickly settles on 2 or 3 main suspects. Problem is: the senior police inspector up there isn't keen on him coming in either since, as far as they're concerned, they investigated and found nothing.
A completely unrelated side story involves the ripper killings in London, and Ravenscroft's interactions with a youngish widow he'd met on his last case in the area. As far as I can tell, there's no reason at all why that side plot was included, but it offers an alternative explanation for the ripper killings.
I'm not sure if I'll continue the series or not ... it was o.k., but not a 'gotta get the next one' read.
The story hangs together o.k. but it does seem like answers they get come out of the blue vs via any particular efforts at detecting. He's aided by a local constable and pretty quickly settles on 2 or 3 main suspects. Problem is: the senior police inspector up there isn't keen on him coming in either since, as far as they're concerned, they investigated and found nothing.
A completely unrelated side story involves the ripper killings in London, and Ravenscroft's interactions with a youngish widow he'd met on his last case in the area. As far as I can tell, there's no reason at all why that side plot was included, but it offers an alternative explanation for the ripper killings.
I'm not sure if I'll continue the series or not ... it was o.k., but not a 'gotta get the next one' read.
May 8, 2021
This is the second book in the series, and Inspector Ravenscroft has established himself as an interesting character, although perhaps a little less rounded in this book. The crux of the story is that he has again failed at his duties in London (in the eyes of his superior) and is sent to Worcester to investigate the theft of a rare book from the cathedral library. The librarian has subsequently disappeared.
Running through the book was the thread of the two ladies he met previously in Malvern - one he fell in love with, one we found to be an enigmatic person. Some true historical events were woven into the tale that didn't really work and felt rather silly. However, it does not really detract from the main story, but could have been handled in a much more believable manner.
Overall a good read, and I look forward to continuing the series.
Running through the book was the thread of the two ladies he met previously in Malvern - one he fell in love with, one we found to be an enigmatic person. Some true historical events were woven into the tale that didn't really work and felt rather silly. However, it does not really detract from the main story, but could have been handled in a much more believable manner.
Overall a good read, and I look forward to continuing the series.
March 30, 2020
The author recreates a convincing portrait of Worcester in 1888. Very atmospheric . An elderly librarian who has worked at the cathedral library for decades has going missing. An invaluable Medieval manuscript from same library has been stolen. The quite boisterous city life and the sedate closed life of the cathedral are drawn on. So much meticulous detail is paid to how people must have lived there at the time. A series of murders takes place, exposing the shameful secrets of Victorian life, stretching all the way down to the slums of Whitechapel. Got quite captivated by this novel.
December 23, 2020
I'm not sold on this series, but I'm giving it a shot. In this, the second book, Ravenscroft is part bumbling fool, unable to process the most obvious of clues, and part Sherlock, drawing conclusions from thin air, a combination that creates a terrible character arc. On top of that, there are two subplots, one of which is somewhat plausible, while the other is ridiculous and appears to be a subplot for the series.The main plot is ridiculous and implausible. I will read one more to see if they get better, but I'm not overly hopeful.
March 16, 2021
Sneaky Sneaky.
A cozy that puts a new twist on Jack the Ripper. There are several murders to solve. Inspector Ravencroft will do it never fear. He is a likable detective. I would not recommend reading this book for the Jack the Ripper side story but it adds another level.
I liked that you can read the second book without having read the first and not be lost. And the author does not spend pages and pages telling you what happened in the first. A major plus.
I have already started number 3 in the series.
A cozy that puts a new twist on Jack the Ripper. There are several murders to solve. Inspector Ravencroft will do it never fear. He is a likable detective. I would not recommend reading this book for the Jack the Ripper side story but it adds another level.
I liked that you can read the second book without having read the first and not be lost. And the author does not spend pages and pages telling you what happened in the first. A major plus.
I have already started number 3 in the series.
December 31, 2021
A PUNCTUATION NIGHTMARE
Okay, I enjoyed the narrative. What I did not enjoy was the nightmarish misuse of commas. After reading his first book, I decided to do an experiment, highlighting all the comma errors in this book. 261 pages: two to three comma errors per page: do the math! Where semi-colons are required, Tombs ignores them assiduously, thereby creating innumerable run-on errors. These punctuation irritants ruin the flow of the narrative, and the disregard that Tombs has for his readers with even minimal punctuation savvy is inexcusable.
Okay, I enjoyed the narrative. What I did not enjoy was the nightmarish misuse of commas. After reading his first book, I decided to do an experiment, highlighting all the comma errors in this book. 261 pages: two to three comma errors per page: do the math! Where semi-colons are required, Tombs ignores them assiduously, thereby creating innumerable run-on errors. These punctuation irritants ruin the flow of the narrative, and the disregard that Tombs has for his readers with even minimal punctuation savvy is inexcusable.
July 27, 2025
I wasn’t even gonna bother trying to rush to continue with this audible deadline buuuuuuut after the way the first one’s ending laid its hook into me so i figured why tf not. I’m glad I did ! Another entertaining one, I think these mysteries leave me guessing because you truly are unaware of key bits of information until the very end where it throws you through the twist. I did NOT expect the subplot ending whatsoever lol I was happy with that surprise, which of course has now forced me to read the next one (not mad, the inspector and his golden retriever of a partner have also grown on me)
January 10, 2025
Starting off in quite a scarey atmospheric mode the story soon settled into a very good Victorian police procedural.This 2020 revised edition, the 2nd in the Insp. Ravenscroft series had lots of characters, most of which were involved in some illegal activity. It will be impossible for the reader to guess who is involved in the main criminal activity until the story nears it end, with one not until the very last page. An excellent superior read
March 11, 2020
Impressive second book in the series
Having read and enjoyed the first book in this series I was not at all disappointed in the sequel. The characterizations are well done as is the mystery itself. Could do without the initial failure of the main character outlined in both books beginnings. Frankly,I just skipped over those pages to get to the actual beginning of the real story
Having read and enjoyed the first book in this series I was not at all disappointed in the sequel. The characterizations are well done as is the mystery itself. Could do without the initial failure of the main character outlined in both books beginnings. Frankly,I just skipped over those pages to get to the actual beginning of the real story
November 30, 2022
Great improvement on the first book
Having bought the series and read the first one and being very disappointed. I'm delighted to have say how much this yarn is a vast improvement. With the background of the infamous ripper murders running alongside our main characters, it really is a darn good read !
Having bought the series and read the first one and being very disappointed. I'm delighted to have say how much this yarn is a vast improvement. With the background of the infamous ripper murders running alongside our main characters, it really is a darn good read !
April 22, 2023
Second in the series of six I bought as a set for $4.00. I've gotten the value out of them, I think. These are kind of what my old English Teacher Mr. Morris would have called 'pot boilers' -- no great aspirations, rather written just to keep food on the author's table. Since I like period English murder mysteries, these aren't a bad read.
February 2, 2024
I like Inspector Ravenscroft. He's a good man and a decent detective. Some of the clues in this book were a bit of a stretch. I don't know why anyone would have connected them but Ravenscroft is a far better detective than I! I loved the twist at the end. I didn't expect it to be wrapped so neatly or necessarily at all.
March 13, 2020
Exciting read
This was an exciting book with various lines of evidence to follow. There were also life stories being addressed in the background.
This is the second book in the series and I am enjoying it a great deal
This was an exciting book with various lines of evidence to follow. There were also life stories being addressed in the background.
This is the second book in the series and I am enjoying it a great deal
March 24, 2020
Interesting!
Victorian murder mystery is entertaining, convoluted, and enthralling with too many suspects, too much conflicting information, and too many arrogant " upper crust"! Interesting location, customs, and time period provide an enjoyable mystery.
Victorian murder mystery is entertaining, convoluted, and enthralling with too many suspects, too much conflicting information, and too many arrogant " upper crust"! Interesting location, customs, and time period provide an enjoyable mystery.
August 24, 2020
Apparently, Ravenscroft never learns anything. Something that he did was that was obviously a mistake in a earlier book, he does again. Nor does he listen, he just forms an opinion and runs with it trying to cram facts into his theory.
Eventually events prove him wrong.
Eventually events prove him wrong.
September 4, 2020
Unexpected ending
Inspector Ravenscroft and Constable Crabb again solve a difficult puzzler. The setting is fitting and the characters intriguing. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Inspector Ravenscroft and Constable Crabb again solve a difficult puzzler. The setting is fitting and the characters intriguing. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
November 22, 2020
A new twist on Jack the Ripper.
This is turning out to be a really good series to read. I'm glad that Lucy was finally the first one to come to her senses where Samuel is concerned. He's become more like Hercule Poirot which I think makes his character much more endearing.
This is turning out to be a really good series to read. I'm glad that Lucy was finally the first one to come to her senses where Samuel is concerned. He's become more like Hercule Poirot which I think makes his character much more endearing.
January 17, 2021
A second case for Inspector Ravenscroft
Another complex crime for the Inspector to solve in a case that again takes him out of London. With the help of Constable Crabb he solves what turns out to be two crimes. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
Another complex crime for the Inspector to solve in a case that again takes him out of London. With the help of Constable Crabb he solves what turns out to be two crimes. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
December 28, 2021
The second in this series. The inspector is yet again out of London and in Worcester on request of the Dean of the cathedral after a priceless book is stolen. He teams up again with Constable Crabb to search for the book and the librarian who is also missing.
January 10, 2023
Good mystery
A number of odd random events. And it takes Ravencroft quite some time to solve mysteries. Other people always end up dying before he can figure it out. Also, his style appears to be invite the murder to track him me attempt to kill him. Oh well.
A number of odd random events. And it takes Ravencroft quite some time to solve mysteries. Other people always end up dying before he can figure it out. Also, his style appears to be invite the murder to track him me attempt to kill him. Oh well.
March 13, 2023
Lots of twists and turns. Left the reader looking forward to the next book.
Good story. Somewhat pedantic style, but carried the story very well. Protagonist likeable, but not larger than life. I' ll read another book in this series.
Good story. Somewhat pedantic style, but carried the story very well. Protagonist likeable, but not larger than life. I' ll read another book in this series.
April 5, 2023
Enjoyed the book…
Glad that I found this series. I never figured out the ending to both story lines. I’m glad that Ravenscroft has a happy surprise. He deserves it.
I will continue with this series.
Glad that I found this series. I never figured out the ending to both story lines. I’m glad that Ravenscroft has a happy surprise. He deserves it.
I will continue with this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews