Murder at the Manchester Museum

Museum Mysteries #4

by Jim Eldridge

1895. Former Jack the Ripper detective Daniel Wilson and his archaeologist sidekick Abigail Fenton are summoned to investigate the murder of a young woman at the Manchester Museum. Though staff remember the woman as a recent and regular visitor, no one appears to know who she was, nor was she carrying any identification.

The case suddenly turns more sinister when the body of a second woman is discovered. Wilson and Fenton seek help from a local journalist, hoping to unravel this mystery, but the journey to the truth is fraught with obstacles, and the mistakes of the past will not be forgotten ...

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Mystery

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2020

About the author

Jim Eldridge is the author of many books for children, including titles in the My Story series, the Warpath books, and How to Handle Grown-Ups. He has had 250 TV scripts broadcast in the UK and internationally for children's and teen television, and is also the creator and writer of Radio 4's long-running comedy-drama series, King Street Junior.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Wilson, a former Scotland Yard detective once involved in the Jack the Ripper case and his close friend Abigail Fenton, a famous Egyptologist, receive a telegram from Bernard Steggles, the director of the Manchester Museum requesting them to go to Manchester and help investigate a body has been found in the museum. Steggles approaches the couple because he is aware of their recent work in unravelling murder mysteries at other museums around the country.

The couple duly attend and thus begins a lengthy, and tortuous investigation into not only the initial death that has been reported but another that takes place hot on the heels of the first. And when two other bodies are later discovered it appears that there is some serial killer on the loose with an unidentified agenda.

It is difficult for Wilson and Fenton to initially discover a connection between the deaths but eventually, due to their diligence and meticulous attention to detail, they manage to piece together a series of events that has led to the murders. Along the way they meet up with a number of nasty characters, some of whom try to warn the couple off and, as well as giving Wilson a beating, even consider killing them. But they fight off all resistance and solve the case so as to be able to move onto another museum murder - of which this title is number four in the series and if they are all as good as this one, the others will be well worth a read.

[Les Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me this is the worst book in the series. I have enjoyed all the books bar this one.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel and Abigail head to Manchester to investigate the death of two unidentified women at the Manchester Museum. Another interesting mystery set in a fascinating time period. Past events cause present tragedy. I liked the characters we meet in this 4th book in the series.

[Veronique · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another mysterious murder in a museum!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series! A great combination of well-written, exciting murder mysteries and British history.

The characters of Daniel and Abigail are really a wonderful pair of crime-solving partners. I love that both of them strain against the accepted roles for women and men of their time, but manage to be likable at the same time as they are being stubborn and contrary, both with the people they work with and investigate, and also with each other. They are complex but really relatable people and I very much like both of them!

The mysteries in this series do a very good job of combining history lessons of the time in an engaging way that naturally flows with the murder investigations. I love learning a bit about the history along with my mystery in these books.

These are just entertaining well-written stories and I will definitely read more in this series. It is quickly becoming a favourite.

[Toast · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 2.5 really and I have to say I was disappointed. I had such high hopes for this and maybe that was the problem. Also, this is 4 in the series and I've only just discovered it so not always a good thing to start in the middle.
Having said that, it is tightly written plot wise; quite forward looking - a male and female detective team who are also co-habiting which leads to a lot of prejudice; has a social comment element and pulls no punches in relation to the crimes violent aspects.
However, somehow it just doesn't fit together. A famous female archaeologist and her former Jack the Ripper detective team member partner investigating mystery murders in Museums up and down the country. Grotesque murders of unknown women at that. They aren't married yet are employed by these organisations but have to pretend to be married at the hotel and when travelling and everywhere else and to everyone else. Feminism and radical Politics stalk the pages as much as the killer but he doesn't appear until the final 5 or so pages.
Either it's set in 1895 or it isn't. This mix of modern and old just doesn't sit well with me. I understand the context of both features but it gets in the way. Does it add to Abigail's character? Over the space of 4 novels? Probably. And her continuing her talk following the gun shot? Yes. But not when she keeps going on about it at every tip and turn. Overall, that and the Jack the Ripper tag just seem sensationalist add-ons. Whereas, with Bickerstaff? Interesting side line, at least it fits with the novel and serves a purpose.
I don't know - just doesn't feel right. All I can say is - read it and see what you think. I'd love to hear what you think..........
Toast

[Holly Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books so much. Mr. Eldridge combines mystery with pieces of History. In this one 2 women are brutally killed in the Manchester Museum, Daniel and Abigail are called in to try to figure out who did the terrible deeds when the police deem it no case. They make their way to Ireland to talk to family members, when they figure out it has to do with a massacre at Peterloo 80 years before. Book 4 in the series and soooo good....

[ghostly_bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

CAWPILE 7.57
4 STARS

Read for Battleathon August 2024.
I'm determined to make a huge dint in this series and I'm really enjoying myself. It was nice to escape London and be up 'north' although to a Geordie like me this isn't really north but hey-ho.
I loved the military storyline but the poverty was really sad- realistically sad. Eldridge doesn't hide anything in his books, softens it perhaps but it's never hidden.
I'm really enjoying this series- jumping straight into the next which is set at the Natural History Museum cos dinosaurs!

[Eva Trotter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would recommend reading these in order 😬. I think I missed a lot of character and world building and jumped right into the drama.
Nonetheless, it was a good books. Very readable. I finished it in a few days and I thought the premise was interesting. 👍

[Irene]

dnf

[Giles Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read any other novels in this series, however I still very much enjoyed the relationship and dialogue between the two protagonists, Daniel and Abigail, without knowing their past adventures, and found it to be the best part of the novel. The actual mystery was ok - there were many interesting historical points and characters - but the resolution was disappointing. The culprit turned out to be someone who hadn't featured or even been mentioned in the novel at all, and whose motivations for two brutal murders were left explained as protecting his father's reputation and nothing deeper. However, I enjoyed the ride, and also counting how many times the author uses the word 'rueful' - it's a lot!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 2.5 stars rounded up... I was put off by the preachy tone that showed the author's heavy hand at making a point. In hindsight, this one was skip-able; will give the next one a chance to see if the series gets back on track.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite of the Museum Mysteries series for a few reasons. First, can we quit making such a constant, almost worshipful, point of Abigail being a "world-renowned", famous, Egyptian archaeologist? After 4 books now WE GET IT. Although, her accomplishments seem to be wholly in the past and she hasn't done anything in her field recently. Her anachronistic urge to one-up Daniel as being a "hard man" (aka "independent woman") is becoming tedious. Secondly, the whole idea that the Peterloo Massacre, a real and horribly tragic historical event becomes the reason to murder two poor Irish women in the Manchester Museum is suspect. Even at the time of the story, when Daniel and Abigail are asked to consult on the murders, the events are 80 years in the past so the connection is spurious. I wasn't convinced. The accepted brutality of the police is evident and shocking to modern readers. I did learn to respect Inspector Grimley at the end, although his refusal to investigate the murders because the victims were poor and there were no clues (or no one to beat a confession out of) brings Daniel & Abigail to Manchester. Two things I did enjoy were the "crusading" journalist who lies to fit his own agenda as to what needs "reforming" (sound familiar?) getting caught out as an abuser and criminally insane (comeuppance) and the rugby squad bodyguards. They were delightful. Well written, well researched with many tangles, this one was a good escape but not as satisfying as previous ones.

[Linda Amos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson's name and reputation preceeds him to Manchester after he receives a request to attend the museum. The same with Abigail as she excavated some of the pieces in the Egyptian section and he sponsor is well known in the area. They arrive to find two women have been murdered on the premises, one badly mutilated. They have nothing to idenitfy who they were. The local force are not welcoming, nor are the local military contingent. Lots of people have things to hide, espcially when Peterloo keeps cropping up. Unrequited love, mistaken motives and a threat to Abigail's life add to the confusion and danger.
Still enjoying this series. They are a bit more than cosy crime but the violence is not over the top. The squalor of the factory workers is clearly drawn as is the class divide. The romance between the main characters is still there but kept in the background which adds a nice bit of softness.

[Gwendolyn Broadmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder at the Manchester Museum, by Jim Eldridge, offers a fascinating adventure into another time and place. In England 1895, former detective Daniel Wilson with his partner, archaeologist, Abigail Fenton find themselves immersed in a deeply puzzling crime. As private investigators, with stellar reputations, they're hired by the Manchester Museum to investigate the murder of a recent patron. Unfortunately, no one knows who this young woman is; everything becomes even more sinister when another body is discovered. Escape into the past with an engaging story teller as your guide; Jim Eldridge seamlessly transports his readers into the intrigue and danger of "Murder at the Manchester Museum." Enjoy! Gwendolyn Broadmore, author, Life Came to a Standstill.

[Ilse Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at the Manchester Museum by Jim Eldridge was an enjoyable read, even though the mystery itself wasn’t overly suspenseful or filled with twists. It was fairly easy to figure out the solution, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The historical setting at the Manchester Museum was really well done, and Eldridge did a great job of integrating it into the plot.

The story itself was still engaging, and I appreciated the way the characters and the setting were developed. While it wasn’t the most challenging mystery to solve, it was still a fun and satisfying read. If you’re a fan of historical mysteries with an interesting setting and a straightforward plot, this one is definitely worth checking out!

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps 3.5 stars. In many ways this is more social commentary than mystery — it is certainly not a mystery where the clues are presented for the reader to puzzle out. Manchester in 1895 is a city of mills and slums, wealthy mill owners, and police determined to get a verdict. Nearly eighty years ago the city was rocked by a riot that became known as Peterloo, and reverberations still affect the citizens. When two unidentified women are found murdered on the local museum, and the police have no leads, Daniel and Abigail are hired to investigate the very tenuous clues, unaware that this will place them both in danger.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Grandad bought me this when he panicked in a book shop and didn’t want to leave empty handed. I was a bit apprehensive with it being 4th in the series of books I hadn’t read but Grandad wanted feedback. Pleased to say I really enjoyed it. It didn’t matter really that I hadn’t read any before it, just a solid murder mystery. Somewhat predictable in terms of who had done it but good nonetheless.

[Jayne Clifford-Greening · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have finished my journey to 1895 Manchester and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Good plot which cleverly linked to a real historic event which is familiar to people today. Good characters including strong female ones who challenged societal views about their roles, and championed the needs of poor women.

It was a slow moving story and focused more on conversation between characters than scenes and costumes. But it was good. It was a classic British mystery novel.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in my local library. I didn't know Jim Eldridge had moved into crime writing. I'm a huge fan of his radio writing, particularly King Street Junior, which is often repeated on BBC R4 and 4Extra. This is the latest in the series but the first that I have read. I enjoyed it. I appreciated the historical setting which as far as I could tell was accurate. I thought the inclusion of actual historical personages and events worked well. I'd certainly read another.

[Nona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was OK, not a great thriller, but OK to listen to. I did have an issue with the characters at the beginning of the book. So many names were mentioned it was a bit difficult to keep track of who was who and this initially settled down, but only to pop up again at the end.
Otherwise, Jim ELDRIDGE has written well and it is obvious he has done quite a bit of research in relation to some of the events and topics found in the book.
Recommended for light reading.

[Lisa Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel Wilson and Abigail Fenton head to Manchester. There has been 2 women murdered in the Museum. This was the first I've read in this series and it was quite an enjoyable read.

I liked the relationship between Daniel and Abigail and how they didn't let anyone stand in their way of the investigation.

I did find it was longer than it needed to be and towards the end I did have to think as to who some of the characters were as I'd forgotten them from earlier in the story.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

this time our pair is up against the army - what i also like is this series is the historical background - i learned, thanks to this story, about the "peterloo massacre" that happened over 200 yrs ago -
miss fenton is really quite a woman, strong-willed, doesn't like to be threatened and she knows how to silence a bloke - on to of that she is highly intelligent - daniel wilson learns a lot with her, and the way they interact with oneanother is quite nice

[Fictional Detectives {Rob} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two mysterious women are found dead in Manchester museum who could they be and why were they killed? This is a gripping story and I shall certainly read more of the ones in the series I have grown fond of Daniel Wilson and Abigail Fenton, Wilson has his knowledge of the police force on his side and Fenton has her knowledge on archaeology on hers along with her braveness. Such an amazing book I would highly recommend this for any crime fiction fan

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Victorian museum romp, perhaps the weakest so far though. The astute detectives simply ignore the fact the soldiers at the local barracks lied to them for most of the book and the murderer is somebody that's not even been a character, let alone a suspect until the last few pages reveal their identity...

[Cherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know if I was going to enjoy this as it's not the first book in the series and I haven't read the others but this was a really good murder mystery. The only thing was I think it was a bit longer than it needed to be and towards the end forgot who some of the characters were but would definitely like to read another from this series.

[Alexander Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly I enjoy these books by playing 'Spot the Anachronism'! Eldridge seems to have lifted phrases from present-day newspapers or crime novels, etc, and plonked them down in his narratives without the slightest consideration of historical context. IE: 'Serial killer', ' profiling', etc, spoken by Scotland Yard detectives in the 1890s! I mean ... COME ON!

[Kelly Grice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so easy to read. In this episode the duo are at Manchester Museum. An old stomping ground of mine. Two women are found dead and both are related. The investigation leads them to review the army barracks nearby and the peterloo massacre from the early 1800s.
Really enjoyable with fun characters and an ending I didn’t get this time.

[Mrs Jacqueline Chessell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clever storyline, pacy and action filled. I might be tempted to collect the author’s back catalogue, there’s a further 5 before this one in the museum series. The characters are likeable, especially the two detectives.