Instrument of Slaughter

Home Front Detective #2

by Edward Marston

January 1916. Britain is on the brink of enforcing conscription. Eligible young men who have not yet signed up to fight are despised as conchies and shirkers, subjected to hatred and verbal abuse. Cyril Ablatt, leader of Shoreditch s group of conscientious objectors, makes a rousing speech at a meeting of the No-Conscription Fellowship, refusing to be an instrument of slaughter in a khaki uniform .When Cyril is brutally bludgeoned to death, Scotland Yard detectives Inspector Marmion and Sergeant Keedy are assigned to the case. As the pair build up a portrait of Cyril, they unearth an intriguing private life behind the man s saintly facade. It soon becomes clear there are plenty of suspicious characters with motives for the killing.Meanwhile, public sympathy is lukewarm. Some people even claim that a conchie deserves to die if he won t fight for King and Country. And in the wake of the murder, three close friends of Ablatt fear that they may also be under threat. Marmion and Keedy will have to work fast to find the killer before any more deaths occur . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Historical, British Literature

411 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 2012

About the author

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

A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston

Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.


Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal

Reviews

[Harri]

DNF @ page 37/351

I gave this two chapters, but all the characters felt a bit flat and the writing wasn't grabbing me. I'd have given it more of a chance except that the first book in the series was a 2 star read that I barely remember so to be honest I can't be bothered. It was a library book so nothing lost from giving up.

[Catherine Pinkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in The Home front detective series set in the first world war. The characters is at home of Inspector Marmion and Sergeant Keedy are developing further and I really like them both for different reasons. We get a better understanding of their personal lives too which I liked. The plot in this one is very interesting as it covers the topic of Conscientious Objectors in the war and how they were treated which I knew very little about. There could even be a murder or two!!
well developed plot leaving you guessing to the end.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Marston's 'Home front Detective' series is as strong as ever for the tension and thrills in 'Instrument of Slaughter' are there from first page to last. The story revolves around four young men, Cyril Ablatt, the leader of the quartet, Fred Hambridge, Gordon Leach and Mansel Price, who are conscientious objectors and as such attend meetings of the No-Conscription Fellowship and along the way pick up plenty of enemies who object to their stance.

At these meetings Ablatt is their voice and he speaks eloquently but, unfortunately, early in the story Ablatt is murdered and the suspicion is that he has been killed by someone who objects to 'Conchies', a nickname by which the objectors are known. Inspector Harvey Marmion and his partner Sergeant Joe Keedy are assigned to the case, much to the displeasure of their boss Superintendent Chatfield, who is overruled by the higher-ups..

They begin investigations and discover a web of intrigue around the four pals but are unable to discover any clue that will lead them to the killer. Concomitantly, there are domestic issues around Marmion's home life in that his wife is left alone too often while he spends time investigating and his daughter, Alice, has left home to set up on her own and she has also joined the Women's Emergency Corps as a lorry driver.

No progress is initially made although all the relevant residents of Shoreditch, where all the action takes place, are interviewed and some come under suspicion. Then an unexpected clue falls into the hands of Marmion and sets him off on a different tack but meanwhile a curate, Father Howells, is attacked and almost killed. Chatfield announces to the press that it is the same killer as struck down Ablatt for the curate had a conscientious objector leaflet in his pocket. Marmion and Keedy are taken aback and dispute this for they see the two crimes very differently.

And, after plenty of intrigue and danger and not a little romance between Alice and Keedy (much to Marmion's initial displeasure), they are proved right. But the outcome of it all is quite unexpected and is a surprise to all, particularly the reader!

Edward Marston continues to impress with his pacey text and his convincing storylines - it all makes for another first-class read.

[Jo Jenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these Edward Marston war time books. The back story of the changes that were happening for women because of the war an changing attitudes through out society really adds depth to all of these novels.
In this one a conscientious objector is murdered and it is soon looking likely that that might not be the reason for his death. Inspector Marmion and Sargent Keedy have to extract many secrets rom ladies involved in case who due to the Victorian attitudes still in grade in society cant come forward but with Marmion and Keedy keeping quiet and holding somethings back even from their chief inspector they soon get the trust they need to understand the victim and solve the case.
These book are not dynamic or fast paced but they are more than cosy mysteries. They give a real sense of history and a great murder mystery to boot.

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoy this series, set in WWI England. This time around, Marmion and Keedy were searching for the murderer of a conscious objector. The only criticism I had is that it seemed like there was a lot of filler designed to be red herrings, but it bogged the story down. The ending felt a little rushed because of it. Although it was said throughout that the murder was calculated, the resolution didn't feel that way.

Overall, an enjoyable read, but not as good as it could've been.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of detecting going on but the main character didn't really solve anythings.
The murder victim's assailant was caught through the actions of someone else and the person assaulted was able to identify their attacker.
So a bunch of conchie story line and Alices'. God, vera is such a wussie character.

[Minnesinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was about a group of young conscientious objectors in London in 1916. They protested England’s first-time-ever conscription of young men to fight in the Great War (WW1). Public opinion against them was so virulent that young women felt entitled to handed a white feather to any man they saw not in uniform. There were of course many who had legitimate reason to be exempted, such as those unfit physically or mentally, those too old and frail, or those in protected (“reserved”) occupations such as farmers. Before 1916, “recruitment was done on a voluntary basis. The Military Service Act changed all that. Conscription [came] in to effect on March 2nd. Any man between the ages of eighteen and forty-one [was] likely to be called up unless he’s married, widowed with children or working in one of the reserved occupations.”

One of the four friends, oafish Fred Hambridge, a Quaker, refuses to kill on religious grounds. Mansel Price, a combative young man proud of his Welsh roots, declared that the government had no right to deprive him of his right to freedom and liberty, and he was against killing as well. Gordon Leach, a baker engaged to be married, is also against killing but is less sure about not helping the war effort in another way. He would be willing to serve in another way, but is too weak to argue with his friends. The leader of the group is Cyril Ablatt, a library assistant at the Shoreditch public library. His height, slender frame and “striking good looks” attract the ladies—but also some men. He was an avowed Christian who studied the Bible and other books about Christianity in order to formulate his decision regarding conscription. “I will not be turned into an instrument of slaughter…. I will not turn my back on the teachings of the Bible.” (Though he does ignore one particular commandment.) When the four attend the mass meeting of the No-Conscription Fellowship (NCF), Cyril makes an impassioned plea for peaceful protest with such presence and conviction that he is asked to stay after to speak with NCF leaders…but he never makes it home.

When the police search his room to get an idea of his interests, etc., Inspector Marmion picks up Cyril’s Bible and sees the bookmark at Matthew Chapter 5: the Beatitudes. He tells Joe (Sergeant Keedy) that one of the Beatitudes must have “had a special meaning for him—‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.’ If only that were true! Ablatt was a peacemaker and you can imagine the names he must have been called. War puts poison into some people’s mouths.”
When Joe finds a photograph he didn’t recognize in Cyril’s scrapbook, Marmion says it is of Tolstoy, whose epic War and Peace reflected his Christian beliefs, developed in later life after “a kind of spiritual crisis.” “What I remember is that Tolstoy drew a lot of inspiration from the Sermon on the Mount. He believed in renouncing violence, wealth and sexual pleasure.’ Keedy jokes about the latter, but admires Marmion for his breadth of knowledge, wisdom and integrity. Marmion intentionally ‘failed’ a career exam to continue doing what he does best: solve crimes. His former rival who is now his boss, Superintendent Claude Chatfield is a petty self-promoting man and an inferior policeman. He knows he is inferior so he keeps harping at Marmion to keep him informed at all times. This is of course impossible in 1916 when very few have access to a (landline) telephone, the police force is short-staffed and underfunded so the detectives have access to only one car between them. Harvey and Joe don’t hesitate to point out these realities to Chatfield, but he berates them anyway to make himself feel superior. it bothers Keedy to see Marmion not get the promotion (or respect) he deserves but he respects “Harv” all the more for his professionalism.

Marston’s characters are convincing portrayals of Britons at the time. His characters seem true to life in that none are perfect; each comes with at least one flaw. That includes Keedy and Marmion, as well as Msrmion’s outspoken daughter Alice and lonely, long-suffering wife Ellen. Each struggles to deal with the monumental changes happening in British society at the time. Challenging times have a way of bringing out the worst or the best in people. When everything is rationed, the unprincipled take advantage and the poor suffer. With most of the nation’s male workforce vacating their jobs to head to war, there is a vacuum that women are eager to fill, not only for the chance to earn their own money but to feel the power and confidence that it brings, Who wouldn’t be thrilled to escape the drudgery and loneliness of unpaid work for the camaraderie of the workplace and the chance to learn new skills? The fact that women succeed in replacing men incurs jealousy and resentment from many of the men left behind, even though women earned only half the salary that men were paid for the same work. British society was being upended and people were experiencing the growing pains; too many changes in too short a time. But I am getting ahead of myself! This battle between the sexes becomes a central theme in the next installment, Five Dead Canaries, which I read before this title.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War I was a dangerous time to be a conscientious objector in England. Men who had sincere, heartfelt beliefs against the taking of human life for any reason were shunned, belittled, publicly humiliated—and, in this mystery, sometimes even murdered.

As Kaiser Bill’s army lays waste to Europe, four conscientious objectors in London lean on each other for moral support. Each man has his own reasons for wishing to avoid serving in the Great War, but the U.K.’s recent institution of a military draft—conscription—threatens all of them. They attend a large anti-conscription meeting, after which one of them ends up murdered. The first of many questions Inspector Marmion and his assistant, Sergeant Keedy, must answer is: has the victim been killed due to his anti-war stance, or is there another reason entirely?

Newcomers to Edward Marston as well as long-time fans will not be disappointed by this second book in this recent series, the first of which appeared in 2011. As always, his characters jump off the pages, which turn almost by themselves. Giving his characters historically authentic attitudes, the author never allows the reader to forget that the story happens in the second decade of the twentieth century; nevertheless, its themes are quite contemporary: Instrument of Slaughter wastes no time in establishing strong parallels between that era and the modern one. Perhaps most notable is the impassioned clash between the minority of “conchies” and the overwhelming patriotism of the majority of London-dwellers, which echoes both Brexit and the current political climate of the United States. Especially noteworthy is a meeting, in the first chapter, that features a clash between conscientious objectors and their homegrown opponents:

“An ovation which delighted those on the platform had a very different effect on those outside. When they heard the sustained clapping, they were enraged. The sound was like a red flag to a herd of bulls. Everyone warned to break into the building but it was sailors who acted on their behalf. Pushing their way to the front, they ignored the warnings from the police and clambered over the locked gates, earning cheers of encouragement from the crowd. When stewards tried to persuade them not to interrupt the meeting they were pushed aside by the drunken sailors. Without quite knowing what they were going to do, the naval boarding party threw open the doors and stormed inside, set on causing some sort of commotion. But it never materialized. The sailors were so surprised with what they found that they came to a halt.���

It does not give away too much of the plot to divulge that this confrontation ends not with a bang but a whimper. If only modern life would imitate literature.

[Hazel White · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun in terms of the setting and the breadth of characters who help to ground it.

That said, the actual mystery wasn't great. Whoever wrote the cover-blurb saying this was the perfect whodunit needs their head checked. It's a procedural and it gives you precious little to actually figure who the killer is. Some generalized spoilers below:

The conclusion is awfully, AWFULLY weak. A background character with less than a page of speaking lines becomes a frothing maniac, is arrested, and then there's a paragraph of conclusion followed by more than 3 pages of tying up a dull romance subplot. I came here for the murder and left disappointed.

Given the writer's adroitness with the setting and decent characters, I'd have wanted more of a sendoff from the detectives, a chance for them to discuss the wild turns the case took and put things in perspective. They can be witty enough at times that I was endeared enough to want more of them. Instead it's just flat exposition, and scant enough of that.

Instrument of Slaughter isn't a good book or a bad book. It passes the time cozily enough. 2.5 stars.

[Clark Hallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Instrument of Slaughter by Edward Marston – This is my second book in Marston’s Home Front Detective series and it is set in London in 1916, a few years after World War One began. The Home Front Detective novels focus on crime, especially murder, and in this volume Inspector Marmion and his assistant Sergeant Keedy investigate the murder of a young conscientious objector who was found bludgeoned to death. Conscientious objectors (or conchies) were often persecuted as cowards who refused to fight for their country. However, was this murder a punishment for refusing to serve? Or was there some completely unrelated motive for the killing. This book is loaded with lots of interesting characters whose lifestyles are portrayed in a historically realistic manner due to Marsten’s extensive research. He merges his wonderful storytelling abilities with his research knowledge to produce a very interesting, entertaining and historically accurate experience for his readers. I enjoyed this novel very much and I will be reading more of Marston’s Home Front Detective books.

[Steven Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

1916. Inspector Marmion and Sergeant Keedy are assigned to the case when the body of a young conscientious objector is found bludgeoned to death. Public sympathy is lukewarm for conscientious objectors with some people even claim that a 'conchie' deserves to die if he won't fight for his King and Country. As the detectives identify one suspect, others pop up in the most unexpected places. Everyone speaks well of Ablatt but is he really the saint they describe? Marmion and Keedy have to dig deep in order to unearth the instrument of slaughter and the person who wielded it.

Marston has legions of fans for his Railway Detective series, among others, and they are sure to find the rich historical period of WW1 London very much to their taste.
Read preview >

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 2012, Instrument of Slaughter is the second in 'The Home Front Detective Series' set in London during The Great War. Like others in the series, the plot highlights an issue that certainly became prominent in the Great War, in this case conscientious objectors. Whilst the plot does wander, the story like many of Marston's books concentrates more on characters, particularly as there are on-going sub-plots due to the series nature.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these stories, the main leads are engaging and carry a lot of the story. There are many POVs, most of the characters seem to have one, sometimes within the same scene.
The mystery starts off as an interesting concept but I felt the resolution came out of nowhere and was kinda disappointing.
As with the first book of the series the author isn't afraid to introduce queer characters into the narrative.
I'll be continuing with this series.

[Neil Spark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging who-dun-it set in London in 1916. A conscientious objector is murdered and Inspector Marmion and sergeant Keedy investigate.

The narrative moves at a steady pace with detailed characters and settings. There are prime aspects but the killer is a surprise revelation.

The book is the second in a series set during World War One. I’m looking forward to the third ‘Five Dead Canaries’.

[Lynn Alan Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader anticipation

I really enjoy these WW1 detective stories. I was hooked when I read A Bespoke Murder then The Unseen Hand. Marston has a definite knack at writing mysteries that keep the reader anticipating who done it.

[Cloe-Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all the different character elements in this story! The homosexual element, the rationing thefts and all the secret love stories. I also loved that we are getting the Alice & Keedy romance I hoped would follow on from the first book that aptly ties in to the 5 other secret romances!

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very enjoyabel read lots of twist abd turns



a very enjoyable read and lots of twist and turns

[Pete Harmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without adding a spoiler, I can't qualify my having given four stars. Really enjoyed the book though and warming to the Marmion family. Highly recommend it.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

More enjoyable froth from the intrepid duo of Marmion and Keedy set on the Home Front during WW1.

[Jean Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another tale set in difficult times and one where I didn't guess the perpetrator.

[Gaynor Bracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story, kept me entertained until the end.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liking this series so far

[Nathan Mounce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I've yet to read an Edward Marston book that wasn't good from beginning to end.

[Eleanor]

I’m bored. I didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great old school detective story/series.

[ANDREW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great read from Edward, loved this series.

[Rob Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a plodder this one, with multiple threads and ultimately those that committed the crimes are only discovered by chance or by other characters finally giving up information.

[Gayle Turner]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. The foreshadowing occasionally feels a little heavy-handed. I like the characters. The plots keep my interest. I read this one in one sitting.

[Captain Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is as dull and bland as the characters. The killer and his motivations came seemingly out of nowhere in the final pages. Punctuation errors on nearly every page.

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The War has reached a difficult stage; losses on the front in Flanders are high; the campaign in the eastern Mediterranean has bogged down; Zeppelins are bombing London and enlistment rates are slowing. Against this backdrop the British government introduces conscription, and in doing so forces the hand of the pacifist movement to begin to organise and more deliberately assert and defend their position. This is the world that DI Harvey Marmion of the Met finds himself in, investigating the murder of notable, if local, pacifist figure when his battered body is found in a Shoreditch alley.

Ably assisted by DS Joe Keedy, Marmion adopts a decidedly modern and tolerant approach, allowing this pacifist (in the language of the time, ‘conchie’) corpse his views, being extremely discrete about the extramarital affairs he encounters along the way, warding off the blunt impositions of his Superintendent and maintaining some sort of domestic peace with his long-suffering wife and increasingly independent daughter. All in all, this has a contemporary feel to it (as do many historical novels, especially where the rules of genre are powerful) with a blend of brutality, remorse, grief, political activism and a not insignificant gay and lesbian trope, all sufficiently repressed and suppressed to be believable, and perhaps even realistic.

Despite all this and an engaging, engrossing writing style, the solution all feels a little out-of-left field, with the motive for murder more grubby that anything else: it is as if Marston managed to bud up an image of suppressed and repressed emotion and political disagreement only to pull back from these as motives for murder. That said, he has a fine ability to conjure up a sense of the time and the place, of pleasure and of tension, of danger and of threat: his wartime East End is carefully crafted and the family-based narrative arcs developed well.

All in all, and enjoyable police procedural.