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Inspector Best #5
Dead Fall
They didn't expect the murder...
A real murder occurs on the stage of the London theatre where Detective Inspector Best and his wife are enjoying a night out. Victorian theatre is only just emerging into respectability, which is threatened when another death follows.
The evocative array of suspects includes an all powerful actor-manager, the resentful Super and Property Masters, a crusading journalist turned playwright, a disgruntled dresser, the family of a ballerina who died in a theatre fire and, not least, members of the audience, who indulge in a curious form of blackmail.
Dead Fall is a thrilling historical murder mystery tale from acclaimed author Joan Lock.
'Gripping Victorian mystery' - Publishers Weekly
'Multilayered, ingeniously plotted, atmospheric and suspenseful, with an appealing hero... Lock’s latest Inspector Best novel makes outstanding reading for historical mystery buffs' - Booklist
'A clever, engaging mystery with plenty of authentic Victorian ambience' - Booklist
A real murder occurs on the stage of the London theatre where Detective Inspector Best and his wife are enjoying a night out. Victorian theatre is only just emerging into respectability, which is threatened when another death follows.
The evocative array of suspects includes an all powerful actor-manager, the resentful Super and Property Masters, a crusading journalist turned playwright, a disgruntled dresser, the family of a ballerina who died in a theatre fire and, not least, members of the audience, who indulge in a curious form of blackmail.
Dead Fall is a thrilling historical murder mystery tale from acclaimed author Joan Lock.
'Gripping Victorian mystery' - Publishers Weekly
'Multilayered, ingeniously plotted, atmospheric and suspenseful, with an appealing hero... Lock’s latest Inspector Best novel makes outstanding reading for historical mystery buffs' - Booklist
'A clever, engaging mystery with plenty of authentic Victorian ambience' - Booklist
- GenresHistorical Mystery
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2005
18 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Joan Lock
31 books13 followersEx-policewoman JOAN LOCK is the author of non-fiction books and crime novels. She has been a regular contributor to the police press and the journal of the Crime Writers' Association. She has also written short stories, radio plays and radio documentaries. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 28, 2026
3 Stars
Dead Fall is the fifth instalment in the Inspector Best Historical Mysteries Series by Joan Lock.
I was really looking forward to this series, but unfortunately, I just couldn't find my groove. Maybe I will revisit this series again at a later date just to see if I was just having an 'off-reading-day' this time around.
-Historical Mysteries
-Victorian era
-crime and investigation
-intrigue
-Based on fact
Dead Fall is the fifth instalment in the Inspector Best Historical Mysteries Series by Joan Lock.
I was really looking forward to this series, but unfortunately, I just couldn't find my groove. Maybe I will revisit this series again at a later date just to see if I was just having an 'off-reading-day' this time around.
-Historical Mysteries
-Victorian era
-crime and investigation
-intrigue
-Based on fact
December 25, 2023
1880s. During a play st the Princess's Theatre one of the extras is murdered. In the audience is Inspector Best who takes charge of the investigation. But there are more deaths to reveal.
An entertaining Victorian mystery
An entertaining Victorian mystery
August 21, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was certainly less political than some in this series. And had a somewhat surprising killer (at least to me).
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews