Upton Undertakers

Inspector Ravenscroft #7

by Kerry Tombs

March 1891. A group of mourners gather for a funeral in a small country churchyard in Worcestershire, but events do not go according to plan. An old friend invites Detective Inspector Ravenscroft to investigate, and before long the detective and his associate Constable Tom Crabb are embroiled in the dark world of the Upton Undertakers.

Their long and dangerous investigation takes the duo across the country, from Temple in London, to the ancient Shropshire market of Ludlow, to a strange educational establishment near Bromyard. Ravenscroft eventually draws the case to a dramatic conclusion, only to find that fate has one last surprising trick to play.

This is the seventh book in the thrilling Victorian Inspector Ravenscroft series.

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

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Kerry 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.

Reviews

[Leslie Needham]

This is the seventh book in the Inspector Ravenscroft series and I rate it as the best yet. Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft admits that this is his most difficult case yet. A man is about to be buried in a quaint riverside town in Worcestershire.His mother hears what she thinks are sounds from the coffin and demands it be opened.This reveals a body which is not that of her son. This starts a roller coaster of events.Where is her supposedly dead son?
No spoilers from me suffice to say that I was kept guessing right until the end.I was convinced of the identity of the killer(s) only to be blown away by the revelation of the real perpetrator.
I,m just starting Kerry Tombs next Ravenscroft mystery then sadly just two more after this one, including his final case. I absolutely recommend this book along with the others in the series.Very well written stories Mr.Tombs ....Thank you.

[Scott Kalas]

Kerry Tomb’s Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft continues to be one of my favorite series. Rivaled perhaps only by Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge. If I was to take time and browse my Read shelf their might be a couple more to add to my favorites but Samuel Ravenscroft is a favorite primarily because of no sex, vulgarity.

The mysteries aren’t the edge of your page turners but a good and steady story. No long streaks of filler just make satisfy a word count.

If you like the old Victorian low keys inspectors you’ll like Samuel Ravenscroft.

[Trudy Turner]

Could not put the book down. Excellent i really enjoyed

this book.I would recommend this book who likes whodunit s .This series of books is well written and exciting to read

[Karen]

A funeral should be a solemn occasion but the burial of Simon Cleaves in 1891 turns into something much more macabre when the body inside the coffin turns out to be someone completely different. It is down to Inspector Ravenscroft and Constable Crabb to discover what has happened to the real Simon and who the body in the coffin actually is. What ensues is a dangerous investigation where trusting the wrong person could have serious consequences for the inspector.

This is the seventh in the Inspector Ravenscroft series and is definitely one of my favourites so far. Kerry Tombs has the knack of embedding you firmly in the Victorian era while creating an ensemble of fully-rounded characters, each of whom could conceivably be the culprit! The trio of undertakers, the Thexton brothers, were particularly memorable and it was easy to visualise them due to the detailed writing of the author.

I liked how we were not even sure about the motives behind what was occurring until the end of the book and it did keep me guessing right until the end. The epilogue was a nice touch, treating the characters like real people so we could see what the future held for each of them.

I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, The Herefordshire Hangmen.

[Evelyn]

I have been enjoying this series by Kerry Tombs. Once again Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft and Constable Tom Crabbe are on the trail of an evil murderer. The action begins at a graveside where a body is being laid to rest. This was one of the best beginnings of a mystery book that I can remember. The detectives soon find out that things are not as they seem as they follow one trail after another. They encounter the three Thexton brothers, the somber owners of an undertakers establishment. Also there are the uncooperative members of the Cleaves family at Mathon Manor. Lastly, there is an evil doctor who left London under a cloud after he is suspected of illegal medical practices. The ending here is also one of the best I've read. Justice is served, but only after a trail of red herrings. A wonderful read that I couldn't wait to finish. It took only two days.

[Kim]

In March 1891 at a funeral in a country churchyard in Worcestershire a coffin is opened before burial to find that the wrong body is within. The funeral is being overseen by the weirdly macabre Thekston brothers, Reuben, Benjamin and Simeon - the Upton Undertakers of the title. Ravencroft and Crabb begin to investigate to try to discover who is in the coffin and why was he murdered, where is the person who was expected to be in the coffin and what role do the creepy Undertakers and local Dr. Stapleton have in the whole affair?

I have enjoyed all of the Ravenscroft novels and this was no exception taking Ravenscroft and Crabb not just in long journeys around the area but also into the murky world of the Resurrection Men, aka Body Snatchers, and the gruesome medical experiments of Dr Stapleton. Out of all of the novels so far this was for me the darkest in subject matter so far and I found the characters of the Thekston Undertakers disturbing but as usual I enjoyed the injection of the family life of Samuel and Lucy Ravenscroft as they looked for a boarding school for their son, Richard.

While I loved the storyline, the characters, the choice of topics and the twists in the plot, I did find that it ended suddenly and perhaps needed a little longer to flow better hence the reason for a three star rating. As with the other novels in the series I have listened to the Audible edition wonderfully read by Andrew Cullum.

[رواية]

باحة كنيسة ماتون، مارس 1891.
تجتمع عائلة كليفز في باحة كنيسة ريفية صغيرة لحضور جنازة ابنهم. لكنهم لم يتعرفوا على الرجل الميت في التابوت.
من هو؟ وأين ابنهم؟
ينزعج المحقق المفتش رافينسكروفت من سلوك أبتون أندرتيكرز. ماذا يخفون؟ ومن قتل هذا الرجل؟
ثم تم العثور على فرد آخر من عائلة كليفز ميتًا. يبدأ "رافنسكروفت" في الشك في أن شيئًا مروعًا يجري على قدم وساق، فهل يمكن أن يكون شخص ما متورطًا في خطف الجثث؟

[Katherine Lee]

Ravenscroft, a police detective in Victorian England, suffers burnout. His attempt to vacation is thwarted when he stumbles into a murder scene and is asked to assist in the investigation. Feel his reluctance, and join in his strong desire to find the killer. Well-crafted study of a unique motivation.

[Page]

Ravenscroft is losing his appeal. He is constantly losing his temper and doesn't seem to have learned much from his past cases. Plus the "formula" is becoming a bit too obvious. No more sets of siblings who finish one another's sentences, please. The mystery bumbles along until Ravenscroft exclaims that he has the answer and wraps it up in a few pages.

[Leigh]

At a funeral where a person in mourning believes the body in the coffin is still alive, the lid us opened and a new case begins for Insp. Ravenscroft. What follows is several murders, grave robbing and body dissections by an unscrupulous doctor. The mystery will keep you enthralled until the very last page and beyond with the postscript.

[Debbie]

Once again inspector Ravenscroft shines.

Too bad Lucy did not appear overly much in this mystery but hopefully she will return soon. The bumbling jailer must go as he is seriously not right for the job.

[Gary and Sandra Sims]

Very interesting story

Inspector Ravenscroft is called to clear up a matter of a wrong man in a coffin. This case turns into a case of a missing man, murder and body snatching. Very entertaining story.

[Kate O`neill]

Excellent read

Excellent read from start to finish. Good introduction of new characters with a well rounded story. I did guess the killer, but not till 30 pages left to read.
This author has certainly come of age.
Well worth reading.

[Caridad]

Satisfying read…

I’m still not pleased with the way Ravenscroft handles his inquiries. It appears he lets his prejudices rule rather actual police work.
Not sure I will continue with this series.

[Steve In Ludlow]

This one never really ignited as a story. Ravenscroft is sent for in Upton when it emerges that the corpse in the coffin is not the son of Lady Cleeves and is a stranger unknown to the family. It all gets a bit dreary after that point and the reveal of the killer at the end is way too contrived.

[Heather]

Liked the twists and turns!

[Clemmie Jackson]

THE STRANGER

Truely enjoyed the twist & turns in this mystery. When I thought I knew the culprit I was totally wrong. The end truely had me.

[Sue]

Another good thriller.

[Mellie Miller]

Loved it

If you like murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns, you must check out the Ravenscroft books. Could not put it down.

[Susan J. Armstrong]

Well-written story

I enjoyed this book, with its complex plot and tricky characters. In the end justice triumphs. I was surprised by the outcome.

[Michael Wojciehoski]

Body Snatchers

What a can of worms! Always guessing until the end. See no evil, hear no evil.. etc. Undertakers, Dr. Frankenstein,Missionaries what a mess!

[William R. Dupre]

Of the seven books in the series that I have read so far, this has been the best.

[Teddi]

Lots of twists and turns but I was glad that I was right as to who the killer was.

[Beth Dupre]

It is an interesting book. I am enjoying the series

[Angela Stoffels]

Great mystery series. Set in the late 1800s. Inspector Ravenscroft is a likeable cop and capable investigator. Interesting ties to the Ripper case.

[Jules Barraclough]

gripping right to the end loved it

[Wilbur Hundley]

A great book

The Upton Undertakers is another exciting Inspector Ravenscroft mystery. The book has lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A fun read.

[Susan]

1891 Mathon Churchyard. During the burial of 25 year old Simon Cleaves it is discovered that it is the wrong body in the coffin. The undertakers, Shortcross and Maudlin are perplexed. But where is Cleaves body. Soon there will be another death.
Inspector Ravenscroft investigates.
An enjoyable historical mystery

[Miss]

Somewhat predictable but the murderer wasn't who I expected.

[Kim Campbell]

Much better from Kerry Tombs and Inspector Ravenscroft.