The House of the Hanged Woman

Inspector Albert Lincoln #3

by Kate Ellis

'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times

'A powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves

1921. When a Member of Parliament goes missing in a small Derbyshire village, Scotland Yard detective Albert Lincoln is sent up North to investigate. This isn't Albert's first visit to Wenfield. He once solved a traumatic case there at great personal cost and now, two years later, it seems that darkness still lurks in the village. The naked body of a man has been discovered, mutilated beyond recognition, by an ancient stone circle called the Devil's Dancers.

The local police assume the body is that of the missing politician, but when that identification proves false and more strange deaths occur, Albert realises his case is far more complex than a simple disappearance. But, as he reawakens ghosts from the past, will he be able to solve the mystery surrounding Wenfield once and for all?

The third and final historical thriller in the Albert Lincoln series by award-winning crime writer Kate Ellis. An atmospheric, spellbinding mystery set in the aftermath of the Great War.

Praise for Kate

'Haunting' Independent

'Fascinating, with a characteristically clever twist' Martin Edwards

'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer

'A splendidly macabre thriller' Andrew Taylor

'Extraordinarily powerful' Peter Lovesey

'This could be an instant classic' L. C. Tyler

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

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2020

About the author

Kate Ellis was born and brought up in Liverpool and she studied drama in Manchester. She worked in teaching, marketing and accountancy before first enjoying writing success as a winner of the North West Playwrights competition. Crime and mystery stories have always fascinated her, as have medieval history and archaeology which she likes to incorporate in her books. She is married with two grown up sons and she lives in North Cheshire, England, with her husband. Kate was awarded the CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY award in 2019

Reviews

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a little disappointed this series ends with Book 3 ... I enjoyed all three books with Inspector Lincoln who, having gone through some tough time serving in the trenches of WW1, returns to service and solves several mysteries in his original quiet way. This time the mysterious death of an unknown man is linked to a seemingly natural death of a vicar. Lincoln return to the place where he solved a case several years ago and where his personal life too

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only gripe is that all 3 books have the same twist.It 's getting old...and lazy.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting novel and a page turner

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Wesley Peterson series from this author so I thought I would try this last of the Scotland Yard Inspector Albert Lincoln books...not my taste.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Albert Lincoln series, and I also found it the best. An interesting and surprising plot with vivid descriptions of English 1920s. Some repetition though, but still a pleasent read.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s November 1921, when the Member of Parliament for Liverpool East travelled to Derbyshire to stay with a colleague, went for a walk and disappeared. The local police have made no progress in finding him and the Prime Minister wants him found. And so Detective Inspector Albert Lincoln of Scotland Yard is instructed by his superintendent to go to the Village of Wenfield and locate him. You are the perfect man for the job says his superior, you know the area since you successfully investigated a series of murders there in 1919.

For Albert, Wenfield is the last place he wants to be. Albert’s memories of his time there two years ago are not ones he wishes to dwell on. Albert’s wife Mary who has never recovered from the death from influenza of their young son, is now in a sanatorium. She has shut her husband out of her life, and regrettably fallen under the influence of a preacher who claims to be able to contact her dead son.

Even as he prepares to journey north Albert receives news from Sergeant Teague in Wenfield that a body has been found near an ancient stone circle called the Devil's Dancers, naked and with his face bashed in. Could this be the missing politician?

However, as Albert investigates the matter turns out to be far more complex than was at first thought. Since his last visit the kindly Vicar, the Reverend Horace Bell has died and the new Vicar, the Reverend Fellows has moved into the vicarage. The late Vicar’s wife Caroline tells Albert that she thinks her husband was murdered. But why? Albert tells her with the Coroner having delivered a verdict of death from natural courses he has no jurisdiction to open this case, but he does visit the new Doctor Kelly now living in what the locals have dubbed The House of the Hanged Woman, to see what he has to say.

Then a local man is killed. Sergeant Teague is quick to make an arrest, but Albert is not convinced that Teague has arrested the right person.

The main story is related by Albert Lincoln in the third person but interspersed with the first-person narrative of Rose Pretting. She is a young unhappy woman who spends a lot of time reading and fantasises of a different life.

There are three mysteries in the village, only one for which Albert had been sent from Scotland Yard to solve, but as the book progresses the threads of these different situations begin to overlap in places, and Albert is drawn in to all three.

Cleverly and intricately plotted this is a page turner. Red herrings and twists abound. No one is who you think they are, well except for Sergeant Teague who is definitely what I think he is. At the end is a surprising twist that I did not expect. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

[Valerie Campbell Ackroyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

My memory is so bad and all the references didn’t help

This is #3 in Kate Ellis’ Albert Lincoln series. It might be the final one, I think I read that somewhere.

She makes a lot of references in this book to her previous two books. I actually read Book #2 in May of 2019 and gave it four stars. However, I didn’t reveal any of the plot in my Goodreads review and I honestly remembered almost nothing of a book that I had enjoyed very much in 2019. Ugh.

This book reminded me a lot of the Charles Todd Ian Rutledge series. The main character, Scotland Yard detective Albert Lincoln is a tortured soul. Partly due to his experiences in WW1 and partly due to what happened to him in the previous two books. As with #2, we learn a lot about what happened in #2 in Book #3 and we also get a snippet about #1. The ending rather ties up those two books so, yes, I think this may well be the final one of the Lincoln series.

I don’t like it as much as her Wesley Peterson series. As I said, she is in Charles Todd territory and I actually got rather melancholy about the Charles Todd post WW1 series too. Maybe it’s time for me to leave that era behind, at least in terms of tortured detectives. Stick to Agatha Christie-type novels for that earlier era, like the Ngaio Marsh I read last week.

As far as the mystery that’s contained in this book, it’s okay. Not great but okay. Lincoln is called back to the village that featured in Book #2 to find a missing Member of Parliament—is he the faceless body that was found in a cave? Shortly after he arrives another man is killed, Bert Pretting, the unloveable husband of Rose, who is a first person voice in alternating chapters. An avid consumer of romance novels, she and her mystery lover, Darling Man, have been plotting to kill Bert. But then he is killed and she is astounded. Or is she? She’s arrested but is she guilty and will she hang? And the mystery body in the cave? Who is he? And what about the missing MP?

All in all I actually found this book’s plot(s) way too confusing and the ending was so so. She did tie everything up and it made sense. But it just didn’t grab me in terms of suspense for some reason. The twist at the end is one that we have seen many times in mysteries. So, a 3 and I am glad that Albert Lincoln is at an end.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the end of a trilogy, and it would be a good idea to read the others first (particularly the first in the series, as this one is largely set in the same Derbyshire village and there are recurring elements in the story). The historical background is the aftermath of the First World War: wounded ex-servicemen settling back, or not, into civilian life; people who have taken advantage of the situation to reinvent themselves or hide their past; the influence of spiritualists, in some cases fraudulent, preying on the bereaved; the deaths from the post-war influenza epidemic; the threat of capital punishment (which doesn't seem to stop murders!); the secrecy in which gay men were obliged to live. We meet the Inspector from Scotland Yard, Albert Lincoln, from the earlier books, who has his own secret to keep. He is sent up to Derbyshire to investigate the disappearance of an MP, but things soon take an unexpected turn and he stays on with a number of other events to address. Loose ends both from his earlier cases and his own personal life are resolved by the end, which is as happy as it might be in the circumstances. This kept me guessing, even though at first it all seemed a bit too melodramatic and complicated. I love the dedication "To everyone who works in libraries and bookshops", and the role the public library plays in one of the cases!

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the best in the trilogy, IMO, although they were all good. Albert seemed to use more common sense in his personal life except where his mother-in-law was concerned. He’s pretty good at policing because he cares. Lots of twists and a surprise ending.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy of The House of the Hanged Woman, the third novel to feature Scotland Yard detective Inspector Albert Lincoln, set in Derbyshire in 1921.

When a Member of Parliament goes missing from the village of Wenfield Albert, due to his knowledge of the area, is sent to investigate. When he gets there he learns that the local police have tentatively identified a naked body found bludgeoned beyond recognition as the missing MP, but it’s not him and soon Albert finds himself investigating 4 cases, not simply the one he was sent to deal with.

I thoroughly enjoyed The House of the Hanged Woman, which has a complicated plot with several twists. It is told in two voices, that of Albert and a young wife named Rose. She is intertwined in the plot and quite crucial to it, but that’s all I’m going to say about her.

I found the narrative quite compelling as it throws up many questions, some of which I could answer but most that I couldn’t, so I had to keep reading to find out. I think the solution is excellent, being neat, elegant and quite in keeping with the rest of the series where Albert doesn’t always get it right. There is a sense of finality and change to this novel, so I think it will remain a trilogy. I should point out that this novel is not Albert’s first trip to Wenfield so there are references to his first case there and the killer is named frequently, so reading the novels in order is strongly advised.

I like the atmosphere in the novel with the rural setting contrasting with the effects of the war. Albert, himself, was wounded and most of the ex-soldiers are damaged in one way or another. There is no escaping the big, bad world or so it seems. I don’t think I’ve explained it very well, but the contrast struck me.

The House of the Hanged Woman is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Caleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t do a review until I finished all three books because, unlike some mystery series, this is a true trilogy where the three books depend on one another and they really need to be read in order. I wish there were going to be more Inspector Albert Lincoln books though, because I loved everything about this series.

First of all, even though I was convinced I knew the solution before halfway through each book, in each case I was thoroughly wrong, and not in a disappointing way. It wasn’t one of those cases where the villain came so completely out of the clear blue sky that I felt cheated, in each case there had been definite hints that mostly I just didn’t pick up on.

Second, the overall series has a satisfying ending, which is very important to me because if I invest three books’ worth of time I don’t want to be let down. At the end of the first book I was concerned that the series couldn’t possibly be resolved in a way I would be happy with, but again, I’m very happy to have been totally wrong.

I had just finished reading two Inspector Ian Rutledge books by Charles Todd, which are set at identical time periods and with very similar protagonists, and I was worried they would be too similar, but they couldn’t have been more different. Mainly because these ones were really well done, whereas the Rutledge books were somehow both dull and overdone at the same time.

Unfortunately this seems to be all there is to Inspector Lincoln, but I will definitely check out some of Kate Ellis’ other books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced, mystery-thriller set in 1921. Perfect for those who love a historical murder-mystery. It is told from two points of view, Lincoln and Roses, and is full of twists which keep the reader engaged and eager to read on, ending with a shocker that will blow your mind!

This is the third and final instalment in the Albert Lincoln series, I didn’t realise this before reading, but it can be enjoyable as a standalone book. However, the previous storylines are referenced within the book and I personally think it would be more thoroughly enjoyed having read the past two books, like in many series, as they impact on Lincoln’s reactions and emotions in certain situations, and in some parts his decision making. It also seems to be wrapping up loose ends, which again, would be enjoyed more having had the previous knowledge of that.

I enjoyed this book, although I did get a little confused in parts but I put that down to it being an ARC but still I thought it was good. The authors writing style has a dark edge to it and I plan to read the previous books in the series, so I can understand the background of Lincoln more clearly. I really liked Rose, and you could really feel her emotions and pain, and the impact that situations were having on her mental health. I really did feel for her.

A good book, but I think reading the previous books in the series is ideal so you can fully understand Lincoln and his past.

** I received an advanced copy of this ebook to read and review. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me this opportunity **

[Soozee]

Set in the early 1920s Inspector Lincoln of Scotland Yard is again sent north as a member of Parliament has gone missing from a Derbyshire village, where he was staying with a local family. However, when he arrives he finds he has two more mysteries to solve - the body of a man found in a cave, beaten and stripped and the vicar's widow, who is concerned that her husband's death involved foul play.

The clues and red herrings flit about as Lincoln struggles to make sense of it all, and meanwhile his wife is unwell and in the clutches of her mother and a dodgy spiritualist, becoming obsessed with contacting her young son who died in the influenza epidemic.

Lincoln is a sympathetic character, carrying his own scars from the War. It is interesting to see how he interacts with the local force and how he tries to find the evidence to ensure the guilty are punished and the innocent set free.

A really enjoyable series.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel, featuring Inspector Albert Lincoln of Scotland Yard, is the third and last in a series written by prolific author, Kate Ellis.

The inspector has to return to the small village of Wenfield in Derbyshire when a prominent M.P. goes missing in the area. Lincoln is reluctant to return to the region as it holds unhappy memories, but he must go and, in doing his job, renew his acquaintance with the people of Wenfield. It is feared that the body of a man discovered in a local cave is that of the M.P. Lincoln is not convinced and is not happy to leave the area until he has found the identity of the dead man, as well as the whereabouts of the missing one.

During his investigation, the inspector is drawn into other mysteries concerning the deaths of the previous vicar and a local man, both of which he feels compelled to investigate.

I had not read the previous novels in the series, but the author gives plenty of clues about Albert Lincoln’s previous experiences. I think the feeling for the 1920s is well portrayed – the manners, the patterns of speech, the effects of the war on many of the people. There were many characters in the novel, but they were all well drawn and believable, contributing to the development and conclusion of the plot.

All in all, an enjoyable book and I thank NetGalley and Piatkus for the chance to read and review it.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Kate Ellis book. I originally thought this was a horror novel, but it turned out to be part of a cozy mystery series.

Albert Lincoln works for Scotland Yard. When a member of Parliament goes missing from a small rural town, he is sent to find out what happened. Turns out, Inspector Lincoln has been to this town before.

I enjoyed this, but the plot moved at a snail’s pace. At almost 400 pages, I did think it could’ve used a trim without so much repetition about the same past events.

But, overall, still a very good read.

[Jessica Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an interesting storyline and it kept me guessing with the who done what storyline but I felt 75% through it got a bit boring and I really struggled but I plodded through it and the ending was ok. The only thing I really enjoyed was Rose character and always looked forward to her chapters. I didn’t realise this was part of a series and this was the last one, maybe if I read the other books this will be a higher rating 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Lesley Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. Plenty questions throughout the plot and the narrative is full of information about the setting in time. I have read the other novels and it was interesting to see how things were tied together.

[Louise Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Ellis is one of my favourite authors. I love her twisty murder mysteries that always keep me guessing.

The House of the Hanged Woman is the last in her Albert Lincoln trilogy set immediately after WW1. In this story Albert is sent back to the village he visited in A High Mortality of Doves, which has unhappy memories for him. An MP has gone missing and a body has been found in a cave, mutilated beyond recognition. Are the two cases connected? The other point of view in the story is that of Rose, unhappily married, who lives for the romances she borrows from the library - while dreaming of murdering her husband...

While The House of the Hanged Woman can be read as a standalone, there are spoilers for the first two books, so you would have a better reading experience starting with book 1 (A High Mortality of Doves). It is also the last in the series, so it wraps up the loose strands of the earlier books. It is a shame this series is ending, because I've really enjoyed it. The House of the Hanged Woman is a fascinating mystery, completely engrossing and hard to put down. There are lots of twists, including a very clever one at the end, which I loved. A perfect read for anyone who loves historical mysteries and for fans of authors such as Elly Griffiths.


Thank you to Kate Ellis and Piatkus for my copy of this book, which I requested via NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this series - read it faster than any series before!! I will miss DI Albert Lincoln. So wish there were more in the series! It was truly fabulous

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I chose to read this book I didn't realise that it formed part of a series. I did enjoy this book as a stand alone read, however, I suspect that some of the sub-plots would have made more sense if I had read the series from the beginning.
It is 1921 and an MP has gone missing from a Derbyshire Village. Such is the profile of the case, it is decided to send a detective from Scotland Yard up to assist the local police. Consequently Albert Lincoln arrives in the village which co-incidently has a place in his past - presumably this forms a part of previous books. One thing leads to another & more is uncovered than just the fate which befell the MP.
I did enjoy this book despite not having read the previous books. Lincoln is a likeable character though he does have many flaws - most of which he is happy to admit to himself. The supporting cast are an interesting array. We have the Derbyshire police sergeant who does not move with the times and seems very much stuck in Victorian attitudes. Alongside this we have more progressive views from other characters. This all mix together to make the story interesting and realistic.
The plot itself is sound. There are some twists which gave the book more depth. I did wonder if there was some poetic licence about train timings and the length of time that journeys took but I am happy to let the author off with that one.
I do wish I had read the previous books in the series as I think it would have given me more insight into Lincoln as a person. However I did enjoy it as a stand alone and am very tempted to go back and read the series from the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this book 4 stars because I just love the character of Albert Lincoln. Albert is one of the most tortured souls that I have read about. Disfigured in the war, loss of a son, an ongoing loss of a marriage, lost loves and the mother-in-law from hell, but he is one brilliant detective.
This book, the final in the series, takes Albert back to Wenfield where he was sent in the first book. A few crimes have been committed and there are lots of characters, that does get confusing at times. Once again the culprit in one of these crimes is right there, in plain sight. I also don’t think the meeting with Johnnie was handled well by somebody like Albert, he came across very stalkerish.
I hope that Kate Ellis writes a sequel or novella because I found a lot of questions went unanswered.
#SPOILERS#
Is Albert really going to get his happy ending? Did he tell Vera about Rev Gillit? What happened to the Ogdens? Where did the doctor and his patient go? Clara? The Cartwrights? Did they find the body off the Ridge? Teague and Smith? In my opinion there were a few ends that didn’t tie up - but that’s just me.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Kate Ellis book I have read. It reminds me very much of the TV series Murdoch Mysteries. There is no swearing or sex, the story takes place in the early 1900's and is a very good story. I found this book to be a page turner and enjoyed it very much. I will check out her other work.

[Nick Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank god it's only a trilogy... It really took time and trouble to end this last part of the Inspector Albert Lincoln Trilogy. It's so much more of the same, and so predictable that it really isn't fun to read this. I have great difficulty reconciling the thought that these are book by the same author that wrote the Wesley Peterson novels.

[Myra King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book, and I wish I had read the first two before starting it. Since so much of the first two is revealed in this book, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the mystery as I already knew the killers. But it is what it is.

Despite being double the size of the books I usually enjoy, this book held my attention the entire time. The writing is incredibly simplistic, and in some places frustratingly repetitive and child-like, but for the most part I enjoyed slipping into this world and not having to manoeuvre around complex language.
I was really rooting for the protagonist, and I always find that to be make or break in a book. If I don't like them, I don't care what happens to them, and I don't really enjoy spending my time with them. However, in this book, I'd have gladly solved another case with this detective.
I did, however, find the name to be like click bait. It had so little to do with the actual story that a glance at the fabulous cover leaves me feeling slightly deflated.
I wish there had been one book for each of the murderers, instead of including a barely constructed side story that gave the book its title for reasons I'm unsure of.
All in all, an enjoyable read (albeit it not quite what I was hoping for).

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one day. I’ve only read one other Albert Lincoln novel, the first in what is apparently a trilogy, and this is the third. Albert is back in the Peak District, not far from Manchester, ostensibly to search for a missing MP but before he even arrives, he gets a call that a man’s body, horribly mutilated, has been found in a cave near the Devil’s Dancers standing stones. Albert’s wife, Mary, emotionally scarred by the death of their son from influenza, has taken up with a “Medium” who claims he can speak to Frederick “on the other side”, and Mary and her mother, Vera, have started giving this fellow all sorts of money for seances. Meanwhile, in Wenfield, the site of the first book in the trilogy, Albert has to seek the missing MP, try and figure out who the man in the cave is, and, while he’s there, another man, a bully and a wife abuser is knifed in an alley, so he has to find out who committed that killing too.

As usual, the characters are clearly drawn, the plot is solid, and relatively easy to follow, although from time to time, I did feel the lack of not having read the second book. However, by the end of this book, I’d figured out enough to not feel the need to read that book.

[janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I have to put my hands up and say that this is not only the first book by Kate Ellis I have read but also the first in the Albert Lincoln series so some may find my review unfair because I haven't read the 2 previous books within the series. (At some point I will go back and read them and re review)

Even though at times I felt confused (see above) I did find myself engrossed within the story and did enjoy it once I ignored those feelings but I would definitely recommend that anyone who hasn't read the previous books to read those first. Why... because there are parts referencing the past and mainly because this book feels like its wrapping up all the loose ends!

The story is told from the POVs of Albert and Rose. At times I got a bit muddled as the chapter would be headed as one character nut halfway through would then change to the other.

I don't want to elaborate too much as it will definitely spoil the story but I will say it kept me engaged throughout and I'll definitely go back and read them in order.

Many thanks to netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for the ARC .

[Larraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I have mentioned in other reviews, I came to Kate Ellis late and have yet to read all of the books she's written featuring Wesley Peterson, Archaeologist turned police detective. This book is the last in a triad featuring Albert Lincoln, Scotland Yard Detective and permanently scarred both outside and inside by his service during World War I. The books take place in a relatively short amount of time - from 1919 to 1921 as well as in a relatively small geographical area. This is the last book in the series which, apparently, were intended to be only 3 novels. It's too bad in a way because Lincoln is such an interesting character.

Lincoln receives a letter from the town where his last case took place. The writer is the widow of the late vicar who was beloved by all. She suspects poison but can't prove it and asks him to look into it. He doesn't know how he is going to be able to do that in any official or unofficial capacity, but fate intervenes when a member of Parliament goes missing from the same village.

This is an absolutely fascinating book with enough turns and twists to keep the reader guessing and with an interesting ending.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kate Ellis books but this was the first I read in this series and didn't know what to expect even though I had high expectations.
I can say I wasn't disappointed as this is a gripping and fascinating story, a well written historical mystery that kept me turning pages.
This is the third in this series but can be read as a stand alone as there's plenty of backstory.
Albert Lincoln is a well thought and interesting characters, a troubled man who's marked by what he lived during WWI and his personal situation.
The historical background is well researched, vivid and I appreciated how the author describes the relationships between people belonging to different classes and the life in the village.
The plot is complex, gripping and the final twist came as a surprise.
The author is a talented storyteller, the character development is excellent and I loved this story (will surely read the other in this series)
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The House of the Hanged Woman’ by Kate Ellis is the third novel in the Albert Lincoln series. While it is not essential to have read the previous novels in the series, this third books makes frequent references to the previous storylines and those books do impact on Lincoln’s current actions so it is useful to have that foreknowledge.

The story is set in 1921 and Lincoln is once again visiting the Derbyshire village again to search for a missing Member of Parliament. Despite the importance of this case – and indeed the focus from the government, Lincoln soon finds that he has several cases on his hands and the missing MP is not always his immediate concern. In particular, he is haunted by ghosts from his past. The novel jumps between the investigations being carried out by Lincoln and also the viewpoint of Rose, a suspect from one of these cases.

The author moves the tale along at a rapid case, ensuring that the reader does not have a moment to become bored and there are plenty of twists in the tale, keeping you engrossed and turning page after page. Well worth a read.

[Virginia Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a Member of Parliament disappears from a Derbyshire village at the same time as the body of a naked man, mutilated beyond recognition, turns up in a cave , Scotland Yard detective Albert Lincoln is sent to investigate. He goes reluctantly as the village was the site, to years earlier of a traumatic murder investigation which became, for him, a personal tragedy.

Local police assume the body is that if the politician, but Lincoln has doubts. He also has doubts about the death of local vicar, attributed to natural causes those the vicar's wife iss ure he was poisoned. And he has doubts about the murder charges leveled against a young woman with a passion for romance novels accused of murdering her husband. Could there be a link between all of these cases.

This is the third book in the Albert Lincoln series which needs to be read in order as the killers in the previous books are referenced here.