Murder By The Quay

by Roy Lewis

Are you seeking an enticing new mystery series, filled with first-rate characters, and breathtaking twists and turns?Then meet Arnold Landon, mild-mannered history buff turned amateur sleuth.“The skilful Mr Lewis has made Arnold Landon an unforgettable character.” New York TimesOriginally published as The Cross Bearer.Colin Bannock is hiding quite the secret.By day, he’s a smooth-talking lawyer. After hours, he is someone else entirely.He corners Arnold Landon, wanting him to join his society of history fanatics.Appalled, Arnold declines outright. He’s never been a joiner and, besides, he has enough on his plate already.He is hunting for a lost and ancient treasure. And he knows the hiding place is close.Then Bannock’s body washes up on the banks of the River Tyne, battered and bloated beyond recognition.Was he also chasing the mythic treasure?The race is on to claim the hoard.And someone out there will stop at nothing to get there first.Fans of Elly Griffiths, Peter James, P.D. James, Damien Boyd, Helen H. Durrant, J.D. Kirk, Bill Kitson and Peter Robinson will devour this intriguing mystery.What everyone is saying about the Arnold Landon “Assembling layer upon layer of details . . . Lewis brings an insidious cleverness to his latest offering . . . canny enough to keep us enthralled.” Publishers Weekly“A pleasure to pick up.” Irish Times“Right atmosphere of menace in this highly charged mystery.” Booklist“This intelligent, nicely textured mystery gathers speed and races to a thrilling conclusion.” Kirkus“Good Northern atmosphere and neatly satisfying plot.” Times Literary Supplement“Always a good read.” BerysTHE DETECTIVEPlanning Officer Arnold Landon is inhibited and painfully aware of his lack of academic credentials. He lives in the North East of England and as self-taught archaeologist he confounds academic experts with his detailed knowledge, which involves him in a local murder. His expertise brings him promotion to the Archaeology Department where he meets frustration, which he nevertheless overcomes by making important discoveries of ancient artefacts while playing a leading role in solving local crimes. A succession of opportunities for further promotion pass him by because of his desire to remain in touch with the detailed history of sites in Northumberland and this leads to more conflict, first with his inadequate superior and then with the stunningly beautiful Karen Stannard and, later in his career, the Italian archaeologist Carmela Cacciatore.ARNOLD LANDON SERIESBook 1: MURDER IN THE BARNBook 2: MURDER IN THE MANORBook 3: MURDER IN THE FARMHOUSEBook 4: MURDER IN THE STABLEYARDBook 5: MURDER IN THE CHURCHBook 6: MURDER IN THE HOUSEBook 7: MURDER IN THE TOWERBook 8: MURDER UNDER THE BRIDGEBook 9: MURDER BY THE QUAYBook 10: MURDER AT THE FOLLYBook 11: MURDER IN THE FIELDBook 12: MURDER IN T

Genres: Mystery

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2021

About the author

John Royston Lewis, who published his fiction under the name Roy Lewis, was a prominent English crime writer who wrote more than 60 novels. He was also a teacher, and he taught Law for 10 years before being appointed as One of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Further & Higher Education. He lived in the north of England where many of his novels are set.

Lewis is also the author of several law texts, which he published under the name J.R. Lewis.

Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Bells Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 9 in the series Arnold Landon is as always put upon by his lazy boss and politics put pressure on his job. After finding an important artifact, Arnold is asked to join a private research group to explore the history of the order of the Knights Templars. Arnold an independent type isn’t interested in the group and continues his own research into the location of the Templar’s treasure. Unfortunately someone turns up dead and the stakes get higher. If you liked the “The Da Vinci Code” you might enjoy this specific book of the series.

[Alžběta · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Murder by the Quay," Roy Lewis presents another excellent murder mystery - this time investigating the Knights Templar and the potential traces of their activities in Scotland. Lewis touches on several topics that brought "The Da Vinci Code" to mind. Lewis's book was first published in 1994 as "The Cross Bearer" and I couldn't help but wonder whether Dan Brown had read it before writing "The Da Vinci Code" and publishing it in 2003.

[Don Gribble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy Lewis hides a murder mystery in a fascinating book about history and archaeology. I keep learning so much about England in his books. This book focused on the Templars and there history in Scotland (and England) and the traces they left. It is so enlightening. Well what do you expect, I am an archaeology enthusiast.
The ending hinted at what they did not find, a lost treasure, but poetic justice for a killer - great story!
Don Gribble

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and the Templars

This is the best Landon mystery yet. Hunt for treasure , ruins in the English countryside and obsessed villains and Landon blithely blundering through.
Can't wait for the next one.

[david bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esoteric drama

Felt like you had to have a history lesson before being rewarded with the drama, that said the history built up the scene for the drama. The end of the book seemed to be little rushed.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

Another great story in the Arnold Landon series. It is amazing the scrapes he gets himself into due to his love and interest in history and more importantly the material used. Looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Louise Esselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of twists and a cave too!

An interesting story, great characters, many side stories with so much going on it is hard to know who did it and why. Roy sure can put a story together. Thanks

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Arnold Landon mystery!

[Janet Kuchler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

An impossible tangle to unravel. Lots of suspects and plenty of misdirection, but finding the right path wasn't possible until the mouse went back to her home.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my newest favorite of this series. Not unlike DaVinci Code, this one had it all. I really love the main character and love his interest in all things antiquity. This was a good one.

[Susan Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series! I can't imagine the amount of research that went into these books.