The Quibbling Cleric: Prologue, part 4 #MysteryWeek

‘HAS THE CLERGYMAN ANYTHING more to tell us?’ I asked, making a mental note to have another crack at the cypher once the police had been and gone.
George scratched his head. ‘Well, his muscles are stiff.’
‘Fully stiff?’
‘They don’t come no stiffer.’
I tried to recall what I had read about this, which proved to be a great deal easier than actually applying it. ‘Rigidity starts to take hold approximately two hours after death, and reaches its peak some eight to twelve hours later. The muscles can remain fully stiff for a further eighteen. But…’
‘But?’
‘Well, it was a rather balmy night last night, which would speed up the process a little. The hour is now almost seven by my reckoning. Which means…’
‘What?’
‘Well, the odious Reverend Burr must have met his end during the thirty hours preceding five o’clock this morning.’
George did not look impressed. ‘We both saw him late yesterday afternoon,’ he pointed out, ‘going about his business as usual. It had to have happened sometime after that.’
Ho hum. Estimating time of death by observing the body’s rigours is an imprecise science at best.
‘We should check the church for more clues while we still have the chance,’ I suggested, eager to press on from my embarrassing little oversight. ‘You take that side; I’ll take this.’

Just one or two more clues (of a sort) to come when this sneak preview concludes tomorrow exclusively here on Goodreads!
Love mysteries? Love #MysteryWeek

Don’t forget, all this week you can ask me any question—past or future—about the series’ characters on the Goodreads’ “Ask the Author” feature. What becomes of Gooseberry’s younger brother Julius when he grows up? Does Prince Albert put in another appearance? Did Hector Willoughby ever make it to the gold fields? Act now, friend! The crystal ball is growing dimmer.

There are twenty free copies of Octopus: Send for Octavius Guy #2 to be given away throughout May. You’ll find the coupon code and link you’ll need at the bottom of my monthly post on my website. Just scroll down! Happy reading.
Michael
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