The Herefordshire Hangmen

Inspector Ravenscroft #8

by Kerry Tombs

AN EVOCATIVE VICTORIAN DETECTIVE STORY FULL OF CLEVER TWISTS Please note this is a revised and updated edition October 1891. A stranger is discovered hanging from a tree in the Malvern Hills. Detective Inspector Ravenscroft and Constable Crabb are called in to investigate. But how can they solve the murder if no one can identify the victim? Whoever killed the man must have really wanted him dead — they strung him up and watched as he suffocated. This may be the most dangerous case Ravenscroft has ever worked. Will the Herefordshire Hangmen ever be brought to justice? CAN RAVENSCROFT FIND THE ANSWERS AND KEEP HIS OWN FAMILY SAFE? 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 overlooked by his superiors in favour of his pushier colleagues. But Ravenscroft wants 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 solutions to crimes are 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. ​​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 Book 10: RAVENSCROFT'S LAST CASE

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

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2020

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Kerry Tombs has written a truly captivating mystery. Inspector Samuel Ravenscroft takes his investigation from the three counties to the New York slums of the late 1800's. Full of twists and turns and once again,totally believable characters throughout. This is the eighth book in the Ravenscroft series and I,ve just started the penultimate one.I will miss these stories greatly when I have finished them.Highly recommended.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Herefordshire Hangmen is the 8th novel in the Ravenscroft series of detective stories. It's October 1891 and an unidentified man is found hanging on Hangman's Hill. The only clue to the man's possible identity is a locket found in the dead man's pocket with a portrait miniature of a woman inside. While Ravenscroft and Crabbe begin to follow up the leads from the locket another link may be revealed when they Ravenscroft visits a travelling fair and witnesses the sales pitch of an American quack medicine salesman, Rockstone. Investigating Rockstone highlights a potential link between the hanging man and Rockstone's former stodge, Jacob. Ravenscroft and Crabbe track down the woman in the portrait and discover she gave it to her illegitimate son when she was forced to leave him at the Foundling Hospital decades earlier in the hope that as an adult he may be able to find her again. In the search for child left at the hospital and the identity of the hanged man Ravenscroft finds that his searches require him to travel to New York, to a run down disreputable doss house and the dock areas of the city where Ravenscroft's personal safety is hugely at risk.
While Ravenscroft is working in America Crabbe continues the investigations in Herefordshire tracking down the elusive Rockstone who disappears from the travelling fair when the law seems to be catching up with him.

I've enjoyed all of the novels in this series and this one was no exception. I particularly enjoyed the expansion of the action to New York and the journey across the Atlantic when we discover Lucy Ravenscroft has packed her husband the latest copy of The Strand Magazine so he can enjoy further adventures of Sherlock Holmes which I thought was a lovely touch and acknowledgement of the hugely popular publication at that time.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel and its multiple layers and varied locations with so many different characters. A really satisfying plot wonderfully performed on audio book by Andrew Cullum who brings Ravenscroft to life so well.

[Caridad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read with distracting mistakes…

The book was an easy read. The characters are already developed in the prior books in the series and continue to behave in a manner appropriate to their characters.
My only complaint is the many mistakes in the book. There are missing words, which have nothing to do with language differences. Double words next to each other and some that are in the wrong order, which make no sense. A good editor or proofreader should have caught these mistakes. They are annoying and pull you out of the story.
I’m still debating whether I will continue to read this series.

[Gary and Sandra Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing plot

What started out with the death of an unknown man turns into a case of a multitude of crimes that spans two continents. You have charlatans, burglars, gangsters and murders all thrown together and Inspector Ravenscroft has the job of sorting who's who. Mrs. Ravenscroft is trying to help a woman locate the son she gave up many years before, are the two cases linked? Good narrative and characters make for a enjoyable reading.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful ending this book has. It was a pleasure to read. Inspector Ravenscroft travels to the USA to gain further information to help with solving the latest crime which he is investigating. Constable Crabb and Ravenscroft's wife are left in the UK to unearth further revelations to the identity of the suspected murderer. With lots of near death experiences and excitement along with some great news for Crabb I enjoyed this book a lot.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again the detective gets his man...

Some things were left undone but for the most part everything was wrapped up nicely. Nice to see Lucy back doing some detective work and that Crabb is progressing in his profession. Wonder what happened to the bumbling jailer from the last few books?

[Bryngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy and fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed - as usual! It's nice to see Crabb do some work on his own, or actually with Mrs. Ravenscroft. Not the best book in this series, but it had me from the first page. Looking forward to a follow up!

(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).

[GB · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining series

I’d recommend this series to anyone who enjoys mysteries that are solved without modern forensics. Inspector Ravenscroft is a fan of Sherlock Holmes and it shows in his investigations

[Teddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy read in the series. As usual, the detectives are completely stumped and jump to many conclusions for most of the book then have a fast aha moment and immediately solve the case right at the end

[Neil Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping International Trail

Ravenscroft is really tested as he Tom and Lucy peel back the layers if this intriguing tale of family heritage and murder. Really enjoyable.

[John Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good old fashioned who done it.

[David Stimpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

No.8 in The series and I Have loved everyone ..Ravenscroft .Crabb are a Great team from the late 1800's ... Good Mysteries and very Good Stories ..

[MaryAnn Muldoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fan of these books

I have enjoyed reading all of the past books. Now I’m going to read Inspector Ravenscroft’s final case. I wish there were going to be more.

[davidlowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cleverly written novel,keeps you trying to fathom out who the murderer could be right to the very end.A very enjoyable read,highly recommend.

[John]

these are must reads for those who like good murder mysteries and an old ways cop who never gives up

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly good read. Surprise at the end.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always entertaining

Never fails to grab your attention and not let go! Love the involvement of his wife. Thank you Kerry Toombs!

[Michael Wojciehoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming to America

Another wonderful read. Many twists and turns. Murder, burglary, deceit… Good bones, but needed a few more pages to solidify.

[رواية · Rating 2 out of 5]

unfortunately didn't like it very much

[james edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Enjoyed reading the series so far. There appears to be a pattern of writing but does not detract from enjoying the books

[Steve In Ludlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ravenscroft heads to New York whilst Mrs Ravenscroft cracks the case.

[Brianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just couldn’t get into this story. So fast and ��light’ in description.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 8 in the series. I'm very close to the end. In this book, we find Inspector Ravenscroft and Constable Crabb looking into the murder of a young man found hanging from a tree on Hangman Hill. They begin to suspect a Mr. Rockstone (funny name) who sells fake medicine at a traveling fair. He is in possession of a locket that had belonged to the dead man. There is also the mystery of what happened to the son of Miss Marie Constantine. Could the dead man be her long-lost son? Then there is a third mystery of who is breaking into local homes while the owners are away. Of course, by the end, all is solved. I liked the story this time. Mrs. Ravenscroft got to do a little detecting of her own. Constable Crabb got to show his value as a policeman while the inspector was gone to New York City. And we also met some puzzling Americans who turn up pretty often. Not too bad.

[S.M.Eves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cosy Thilling Reading

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books written so far in this series and long for the next book to be published. The Characterisation has been excellent and it has been wonderful getting to know each one. Of course Ravenscroft is the perfect English inspector and I am so happy that Crabb got his promotion, he deserved it and I am sure he and his living wide will be very pleased. Lucy is a great bellwether her husband but I am not a little disappointed that I read so little of their two children. The crimes, detection and the thrills plus always the happy ending make these books greatly enjoyable to me. It is best to starvation one and gently work the way through the series. I recommend all of these books to you all. Happy reading!

[Kim Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

Sorry to say that I didn't really like this story. It started off well then went down hill but redeemed itself at the end. Ravenscroft is much better staying in England!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1891 A body of a man is found hanged on Hangman Hill, he is identified as a Jacob who worked at a travelling fair. But the locket he carries might mean that he is related to a local resident. Inspector Ravenscroft investigation takes him to America
An enjoyable historical mystery.

[David Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

B

Best series of festive novels I have had the pleasure to read. Will we see more of dective Samuel Ravenscroft and his loyal sergent?