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Inspector Ravenscroft #6
The Pershore Poisoners
AN EVOCATIVE VICTORIAN DETECTIVE MYSTERY FULL OF CLEVER TWISTS
Pershore, 1890.
Talbots' Lodging House is renowned for its revolting fare. But no one ever died from dining there — until now .
Everyone who tasted the chef’s soup is left with a nasty case of food poisoning.
BUT THE MAN WHO REFUSED IT IS FOUND DEAD.
Detective Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft and Constable Tom Crabb are called in to investigate.
Rumours abound that the dead man has been poisoned — a theory that fits with the circumstantial evidence.
Another guest dies in equally mysterious circumstances. Could arsenic be the common lethal ingredient?
Ravenscroft and Crabb begin to unearth long-buried secrets. But something’s troubling Ravenscroft.
CAN THEY SOLVE THE CASE BEFORE THE PAST DESTROYS THE PRESENT?
Perfect for fans of M.R.C. Kasasian, E.S. Thomson, Oscar DeNuriel 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. He often finds that the solution to 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 KERRY TOMBS
“ A tale that will have you guessing on the culprit till the last page! ” K.H.
“I found this story very absorbing and hard to put down .” Berys
“Kerry Tombs knows how to keep your interest until the very end .” Delin
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 HANGMEN
Book 9: THE BROMSGROVE BOOKSELLER
Pershore, 1890.
Talbots' Lodging House is renowned for its revolting fare. But no one ever died from dining there — until now .
Everyone who tasted the chef’s soup is left with a nasty case of food poisoning.
BUT THE MAN WHO REFUSED IT IS FOUND DEAD.
Detective Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft and Constable Tom Crabb are called in to investigate.
Rumours abound that the dead man has been poisoned — a theory that fits with the circumstantial evidence.
Another guest dies in equally mysterious circumstances. Could arsenic be the common lethal ingredient?
Ravenscroft and Crabb begin to unearth long-buried secrets. But something’s troubling Ravenscroft.
CAN THEY SOLVE THE CASE BEFORE THE PAST DESTROYS THE PRESENT?
Perfect for fans of M.R.C. Kasasian, E.S. Thomson, Oscar DeNuriel 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. He often finds that the solution to 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 KERRY TOMBS
“ A tale that will have you guessing on the culprit till the last page! ” K.H.
“I found this story very absorbing and hard to put down .” Berys
“Kerry Tombs knows how to keep your interest until the very end .” Delin
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 HANGMEN
Book 9: THE BROMSGROVE BOOKSELLER
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2020
169 people are currently reading
165 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 37 reviews
July 23, 2023
This was quite an easy book to listen to! The story starts in the past, with a mysterious man who seemingly poisoned his wife. The story then jumps into the future, following Ravenscroft and Crabb who investigate a mysterious death in a boarding house: all occupants got foodpoisoning, but the one person who did not eat it, died. Is this case somehow connected to the past?
I definitely didn't realize that this was the sixth book in the series. Even though it is a bit harder to understand the depth to the main characters, it didn't bother me a lot. It was, however, hard for me to like Ravenscroft. He felt a bit corrupt, completely convinced that Charrington had to be behind it all. It was obvious to me that he wasn't, but Ravenscroft could only focus on that, which was kind of annoying.
Furthermore, it wasn't hard to guess the real killer. Although that didn't surprise me, I was a bit surprised by the fact that The epilogue was a cheeky wink in this regard, which I loved.
All in all, this was an easy one to get through. The characters weren't very likeable to me, but it helps that the audio was so short!
I definitely didn't realize that this was the sixth book in the series. Even though it is a bit harder to understand the depth to the main characters, it didn't bother me a lot. It was, however, hard for me to like Ravenscroft. He felt a bit corrupt, completely convinced that Charrington had to be behind it all. It was obvious to me that he wasn't, but Ravenscroft could only focus on that, which was kind of annoying.
Furthermore, it wasn't hard to guess the real killer. Although that didn't surprise me, I was a bit surprised by the fact that The epilogue was a cheeky wink in this regard, which I loved.
All in all, this was an easy one to get through. The characters weren't very likeable to me, but it helps that the audio was so short!
September 8, 2025
Great mystery series. Set in the late 1800s. Inspector Ravenscroft is a likeable cop and capable investigator. Interesting ties to the Ripper case.
May 21, 2025
Barely 3 stars. probably the weakest book so far. Ravenscroft spends much of the book hounding suspects for confessions with no evidence
January 18, 2021
I am enjoying this detective series set in England in the 1800s, but this one not as much. It seems as if Inspector Ravenscroft spends most of the book trying to hound people into confessions on not much evidence. The ending was very quick and fell a little flat for me. But, on the plus side, I did enjoy following Ravenscroft and Crabb on another mystery journey. I'm also glad that the detective did get to join his wife and family on a short vacation after its conclusion. I like the suggestion in the epilogue (I won't give it away.) I wonder what future mysteries may come of it.
May 12, 2024
The Sixth in the Ravenscroft series and by far the poorest of the series so far which have been excellent. In the Pershore Poisoners Ravenscroft is called in when a man, Jones, is found deceased in the Taylor's boarding house in Persh0re. Initially it's believe he died from eating too much of the Brown Windsor soup after the whole household became ill, but doubts are raised when the maid mentions that Mr. Jones had not touched the soup at all and it's established that he died from drinking poison added to his bottle of brandy. Ravenscroft investigation takes him through all the lodgers in the house, a varied and somewhat motley collection, which serves to introduce the reader/listener to all of their backgrounds, characters and foibles. He is forced to refocus though when another member of the household is also murdered. The plot of the story is plodding and slow but gets a boost around half way when Ravenscroft remembers that one of the lodgers, Mr. Cherrington, is in fact the Pimlico Poisoner, a case from Ravenscroft's Whitechapel days, and is in fact Captain Charles Quinten. Sadly the second half doesn't improve, but continues in the same vein, as Ravenscroft focuses on Cherrington as the murderer and repeatedly sets out to prove this is the case ignoring all other avenues of investigation and this continues to the last 15 minutes of the book when there is a twist in the tale. A telegram in answer to a query Ravenscroft sends (without informing the reader) brings the confirmation he needs to snare the culprit.
Andrew Cullen does another excellent job of performing this for the Audible edition of this book, but in this novel there is a lack of description of the place, Pershore, where the others have all brought the places to life, and seems to really just focus on the Taylor's lodging house like an
hermetically sealed bubble. For me it lacked the scope and interest of the other novels and I found the ending lacklustre and somewhat disappointing, although the epilogue did endeavour to add another twist as a last hurrah.
Andrew Cullen does another excellent job of performing this for the Audible edition of this book, but in this novel there is a lack of description of the place, Pershore, where the others have all brought the places to life, and seems to really just focus on the Taylor's lodging house like an
hermetically sealed bubble. For me it lacked the scope and interest of the other novels and I found the ending lacklustre and somewhat disappointing, although the epilogue did endeavour to add another twist as a last hurrah.
January 30, 2021
Well, the ending of this book did not disappoint! Not neatly sewn up and it's nice to see that Insp Ravenscroft got it wrong!
The return of Ravenscroft to Whitechapel to visit his old inspector who was involved in The Pimlico Poisoner mystery is a highlight is an important point in this book. A flashback to an interview with a suspect introduces us to Constable Ravenscroft and his boss Inspector Robertson. It sets up the circumstances surrounding one of the suspects in this story.
A sense of foreboding and misery envelopes Ravenscroft when he goes to visit his old boss and we get a sense of how Ravenscroft could have ended up, had it not been for his involvement in the Malvern mystery from Book 1 and his marriage to the lovely Lucy. He has come to value his happiness and contentment in his new existence and he never seems to forget this.
Inspector Robertson has turned into a lonely, bitter and sick man who is living in reduced circumstances in Whitechapel.
All of these stories are good, but this was an interesting one for me.
The return of Ravenscroft to Whitechapel to visit his old inspector who was involved in The Pimlico Poisoner mystery is a highlight is an important point in this book. A flashback to an interview with a suspect introduces us to Constable Ravenscroft and his boss Inspector Robertson. It sets up the circumstances surrounding one of the suspects in this story.
A sense of foreboding and misery envelopes Ravenscroft when he goes to visit his old boss and we get a sense of how Ravenscroft could have ended up, had it not been for his involvement in the Malvern mystery from Book 1 and his marriage to the lovely Lucy. He has come to value his happiness and contentment in his new existence and he never seems to forget this.
Inspector Robertson has turned into a lonely, bitter and sick man who is living in reduced circumstances in Whitechapel.
All of these stories are good, but this was an interesting one for me.
June 20, 2020
The Pershore Poisoners
Inspector Ravenscroft gets involved following the death of a man in a guest house who has been poisoned. As another death occurs Ravenscroft finds himself coming face to face with someone from his past, and he is sure he has found his murderer. Has he?
This is the best book in the Inspector Ravenscroft series in my opinion. With each book Kerry Tombs comes up with a story even better than the last.
I'm looking forward to the release of the next book in the series.
Highly recommended.
Inspector Ravenscroft gets involved following the death of a man in a guest house who has been poisoned. As another death occurs Ravenscroft finds himself coming face to face with someone from his past, and he is sure he has found his murderer. Has he?
This is the best book in the Inspector Ravenscroft series in my opinion. With each book Kerry Tombs comes up with a story even better than the last.
I'm looking forward to the release of the next book in the series.
Highly recommended.
May 26, 2023
It was an ok read…
I was disappointed in this book. Started out with much promise and then took a turn for bad story telling. I know that during this time period there was little police procedures regarding the treatment of witnesses or suspects, but Ravenscroft does not even carry out the minimum in investigating the death of JONES/Murphy. What he finally did at the end 90% into the book could have been done at the 50% mark. It felt like the author needed to fill in the middle and decided to drag out the story.
I will admit that I loved the Epilogue. It was fitting.
I was disappointed in this book. Started out with much promise and then took a turn for bad story telling. I know that during this time period there was little police procedures regarding the treatment of witnesses or suspects, but Ravenscroft does not even carry out the minimum in investigating the death of JONES/Murphy. What he finally did at the end 90% into the book could have been done at the 50% mark. It felt like the author needed to fill in the middle and decided to drag out the story.
I will admit that I loved the Epilogue. It was fitting.
January 29, 2025
Stebbings makes a welcome return urging Ravenscroft to visit Pershore to investigate the poisoning of a resident of the Talbot lodging house. Once again we get more colour from the side characters than the increasingly dull Ravenscroft. This time comedic value is derived from the incompetent sergeant, Hoskins, they find at Pershore nick, sleeping on the job and scoffing grub at any opportunity.
The case drags on a bit this time given the limited cast of characters, residents and the confines of the drab Talbot.
The case drags on a bit this time given the limited cast of characters, residents and the confines of the drab Talbot.
June 9, 2022
THE CURSE OF THE GERUND
Mr. Tombs is enamoured of gerundive phrases. Nary a sentence goes by without such a construction. However, virtually every one is improperly punctuated to the point of torture for the reader.
On another matter, on Page 159, the plot against Lord Salisbury has apparently been hatched by a disgruntled Irish group of FIJIANS! Zounds, now there's a bizarre revision of history!
Finally, the grand reveal of the poisoner is bathetic.
Mr. Tombs is enamoured of gerundive phrases. Nary a sentence goes by without such a construction. However, virtually every one is improperly punctuated to the point of torture for the reader.
On another matter, on Page 159, the plot against Lord Salisbury has apparently been hatched by a disgruntled Irish group of FIJIANS! Zounds, now there's a bizarre revision of history!
Finally, the grand reveal of the poisoner is bathetic.
March 9, 2024
This was the weakest book so far. Ravenscroft spent most if his time yelling or otherwise being disagreeable. He was dismissive toward Stebbins; one would think he might have a little faith in the boy after all the help he's given. He didn't do much in the way if investigating, the mystery was solved on the most tenuous of connections. Plus I really found it unnecessary for Ravenscroft to air everyone's dirty laundry. The epilogue was brilliant. And that counted a lot!
January 9, 2025
Until the last 2 pages I would have said that this story was far less enjoyable than the previous books in the series. Constable Crabb had little constructive input in solving the crimes, Insp. Ravenscroft did not seem his professional self. Speculation, guess work was the order of the day in solving the crime and my own, early guess proved right although I didn't know the reason. It was the Epilogue alone that lifted this from a so-so to a pick.
March 28, 2020
Another good Ravenscroft book
I did enjoy this book. It had the twists and turns I’ve come to expect from the series. Ravenscroft and Crabb are after poisoners. There are many people with sketchy backgrounds, but who stands out? Which one of them could be responsible?
Ravenscroft must figure it out if he is going to get any holiday time by the seaside.
I did enjoy this book. It had the twists and turns I’ve come to expect from the series. Ravenscroft and Crabb are after poisoners. There are many people with sketchy backgrounds, but who stands out? Which one of them could be responsible?
Ravenscroft must figure it out if he is going to get any holiday time by the seaside.
March 30, 2020
Good read, but probably my least favorite in the series
One of several I have read in this series. Still enjoy the main characters. However, the mystery in this story,seems to forced, and the ending and solution,a bit unsatisfactory
One of several I have read in this series. Still enjoy the main characters. However, the mystery in this story,seems to forced, and the ending and solution,a bit unsatisfactory
June 8, 2020
The PERSHORE POISONERS
I chose this rating because the book was exciting to the point of wearing out your patience....I reached the point when I thought , please ..no more bodies or chapters!...end the case! I did love the twist at the end.
I chose this rating because the book was exciting to the point of wearing out your patience....I reached the point when I thought , please ..no more bodies or chapters!...end the case! I did love the twist at the end.
July 11, 2020
Good old mystery
Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft is one of my favorite characters in mysteries. Pershore did not disappoint. Clean, no vulgarity, just a good old fashion late 1800 England.
Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft is one of my favorite characters in mysteries. Pershore did not disappoint. Clean, no vulgarity, just a good old fashion late 1800 England.
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.
November 14, 2020
1890 Inspector Ravenscroft is called to Pershore because of a suspicious death. But he is too late as the body has already been buried. Then there is another death at the Talbot Lodging House. And with it they now they have some suspects.
An enjoyable historical mystery
An enjoyable historical mystery
November 29, 2020
I think we will see the Cherrington character again.
Seems this story is not quite finished and that the inspector will have a continuing mystery at hand. Not enough dept in this story.
Seems this story is not quite finished and that the inspector will have a continuing mystery at hand. Not enough dept in this story.
December 12, 2022
Darned good read
This author has got better with every book they write.
Granted it won't set the thriller world on fire, but, it's gentle, slightly whimsical, a bit like midsummer murders in Victorian times.
This author has got better with every book they write.
Granted it won't set the thriller world on fire, but, it's gentle, slightly whimsical, a bit like midsummer murders in Victorian times.
March 23, 2024
The 5th and final episode in this box set was not the best of the series, with Ravenscroft fixating on an incorrect assumption and only stumbling upon the truth at the end. Whilst the series as a whole was quite enjoyable, I do feel that I have had enough of DI Ravenscroft for some time.
July 11, 2025
I like the fact that this book is about a policeman who lacks talent in detection... a refreshing approach! I didn't like the change in his character that made him spring to conclusions with very little evidence!
September 6, 2020
Listen to every detail
Quite a few characters as this is the style of the author. Details of the backgrounds help the reader solve this myster7.
Quite a few characters as this is the style of the author. Details of the backgrounds help the reader solve this myster7.
September 15, 2020
Last book
I'm sorry to say good bye to Ravenscroft and Crabb. Their adventures were truly entertaining and enjoyable. If there are more books to come they will be welcome.
I'm sorry to say good bye to Ravenscroft and Crabb. Their adventures were truly entertaining and enjoyable. If there are more books to come they will be welcome.
July 12, 2021
This was one of the best of the series, lots of suspects right till the end.
May 10, 2023
Wow! Lots of twist and turns. Not what you think. Deja Vu, deceit, and conundrums. Shall we meet again?
June 11, 2023
Ravenscroft is part Poirot, part Sherlock and part Columbo. At times he is narrow minded and naive. However he always gets there in the end.
November 27, 2023
بيرشور، 1890.
يعثر على جثة أحد النزلاء في فندق
يتم اتهام صاحب النزل و ذلك لأن النزلاء تعرضو لحالة تسمم بعد عشاء الليلة السابقة
لكن الضحية لم يتناول الحساء مع البقية ترى من قام بتسميمه و لماذا؟؟؟
يعثر على جثة أحد النزلاء في فندق
يتم اتهام صاحب النزل و ذلك لأن النزلاء تعرضو لحالة تسمم بعد عشاء الليلة السابقة
لكن الضحية لم يتناول الحساء مع البقية ترى من قام بتسميمه و لماذا؟؟؟
February 5, 2025
⭐️3.5/4⭐️
May 10, 2020
I love this series of books and devour them in a day especially during this pandemic lockdown - it’s just me, Inspector Ravenscroft and his trusty Constable Crabb.
The only troubling thing about this particular book is the terrible spelling mistakes / typos that run throughout so a better Editor would be advised for Kerry Tombs who is a wonderful author.
I have pre-ordered Book 7 of this series which will keep me occupied for another 24 hours if lockdown.
The only troubling thing about this particular book is the terrible spelling mistakes / typos that run throughout so a better Editor would be advised for Kerry Tombs who is a wonderful author.
I have pre-ordered Book 7 of this series which will keep me occupied for another 24 hours if lockdown.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews