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Tim Simpson #6
Mortal Ruin
First American edition. What does Winston Churchill's uncle have to do with a contemporary murder? That's the question international art expert Tim Simpson must answer as he probes the secrets of the past. Author John Malcolm, likened by critics to writers such as Dick Francis and Jonathan Gash, gives us a beautifully crafted, fast-paced mystery with intriguing insights into the world of art, antiques, and rare books. 190 pages. quarter cloth and paper-covered boards, dust jacket. small 8vo..
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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About the author
John Malcolm
213 books7 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Malcolm is the pseudonymn of John Malcolm Andrews, who lives in the south of England. He is an English author on antiques, journalist and crime writer, engineering businessman and author – as John Malcolm – of the Tim Simpson series of art crime novels and as John Andrews of the first Price Guide to Antique Furniture (1968) and Managing Editor of Antique Collecting magazine
Most of his novels feature Tim Simpson, art investment specialist, and the series began with 'A Back Room in Somers Town' in 1984. '
Born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, he is the son of May (née Whiteley) and Ernest Andrews, an engineer, His education was at Sale High School in Manchester and The British Schools of Montevideo (1946–1950), he returned to to England as a boarder at Bedford Modern School (1950–1955), and then attended St. John's College, Cambridge, where he read Engineering and was Captain of the Lady Margaret Boat Club. He graduated MA in 1958. Andrews worked as design engineer (1958–63), an export sales manager (1963–70), management consultant (1970–76), and international marketing manager (1976–90) before setting up his own business as a machinery broker in 1990,
In 1966 he was a founding member of the Antique Collectors' Club and published its first book under the name of John Andrews with The Price Guide to Antique Furniture (1968). He went on to write more books on antique furniture and is currently Managing Editor of Antique Collecting magazine.] He was Chairman of the Trustees of Rye Art Gallery from 1995 to 2004.
He published his first crime novel in 1984. He was Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association from 1994–5 and wrote a number of short stories.
Andrews is a member of the Crime Writers Association and the Society of Authors. He married Geraldine Lacey (a picture restorer) on 25 March 1961. The couple live in East Sussex and have one son.
John Malcolm is the pseudonymn of John Malcolm Andrews, who lives in the south of England. He is an English author on antiques, journalist and crime writer, engineering businessman and author – as John Malcolm – of the Tim Simpson series of art crime novels and as John Andrews of the first Price Guide to Antique Furniture (1968) and Managing Editor of Antique Collecting magazine
Most of his novels feature Tim Simpson, art investment specialist, and the series began with 'A Back Room in Somers Town' in 1984. '
Born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, he is the son of May (née Whiteley) and Ernest Andrews, an engineer, His education was at Sale High School in Manchester and The British Schools of Montevideo (1946–1950), he returned to to England as a boarder at Bedford Modern School (1950–1955), and then attended St. John's College, Cambridge, where he read Engineering and was Captain of the Lady Margaret Boat Club. He graduated MA in 1958. Andrews worked as design engineer (1958–63), an export sales manager (1963–70), management consultant (1970–76), and international marketing manager (1976–90) before setting up his own business as a machinery broker in 1990,
In 1966 he was a founding member of the Antique Collectors' Club and published its first book under the name of John Andrews with The Price Guide to Antique Furniture (1968). He went on to write more books on antique furniture and is currently Managing Editor of Antique Collecting magazine.] He was Chairman of the Trustees of Rye Art Gallery from 1995 to 2004.
He published his first crime novel in 1984. He was Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association from 1994–5 and wrote a number of short stories.
Andrews is a member of the Crime Writers Association and the Society of Authors. He married Geraldine Lacey (a picture restorer) on 25 March 1961. The couple live in East Sussex and have one son.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 12, 2017
My second read in this series. Again, it's a competent, if run-of-the-mill. Tim Simpson, his girlfriend Sue, and boss at the bank Jeremy, do make an interesting trio, but the plot, again, is over-tortuous and overful of detail.
I would read another if it came my way.
"English author John Malcolm has deftly merged the British and American mystery genre in this compelling story of international fraud and fortunes made and lost focusing on Moreton Frewan, charming uncle of Winston Churchill. In the 1890s Frewan immigrated to the United States, where he tried his hand at ranching, mining, and other lucrative and not-so-lucrative endeavors. In the process he made and lost fortunes for himself and many of his friends. Nearly one hundred years later, Frewan's influence is felt again when an envelope with his name on it surfaces in Chicago. The contents of the envelope--gold mine certificates--sets off a flurry of interest in London and Chicago, and international art expert Tim Simpson gets caught between warring factions--those who want to authenticate the certificates, and those who will stop at nothing to gain possession and keep their background secret."
I would read another if it came my way.
"English author John Malcolm has deftly merged the British and American mystery genre in this compelling story of international fraud and fortunes made and lost focusing on Moreton Frewan, charming uncle of Winston Churchill. In the 1890s Frewan immigrated to the United States, where he tried his hand at ranching, mining, and other lucrative and not-so-lucrative endeavors. In the process he made and lost fortunes for himself and many of his friends. Nearly one hundred years later, Frewan's influence is felt again when an envelope with his name on it surfaces in Chicago. The contents of the envelope--gold mine certificates--sets off a flurry of interest in London and Chicago, and international art expert Tim Simpson gets caught between warring factions--those who want to authenticate the certificates, and those who will stop at nothing to gain possession and keep their background secret."
January 16, 2026
🍷
I so enjoyed this book! Sixth of the 15 Tim Simpson mysteries that John Malcolm wrote, so far every one has been terrific. The mystery, yeah of course, but all the world of art framework of each story is wonderful; Tim Simpson is essentially a buyer for the Art Investment Fund of White’s Bank in London England, and as such is usually sniffing around for a particular piece the bank wants to acquire, be it a painting, sculpture, a tapestry, a piece of furniture or something else altogether. These are usually rare, often of shady provenance (or none!) and not easily found - and often others hunters are on the trail too, not all of them nice people. Former rugby player Simpson can generally fend for himself against the “muscle” sent to scare him off…and sometimes needs to.
Here Tim ends up searching for a heretofore unknown portrait by John Singer Sargent, purportedly of three high society women, the Jerome sisters, of whom Jenny married Lord Randolph Churchill, the others entered into equally advantaged marriages - but the painting is literally unheard of…until now.
There’s whispers that the illustrious Frewen family (the eldest sister married the well known Moreton Frewen) had commissioned such a painting but kept its existence a secret; and suddenly multiple folks are searching for it - but Tim’s “nose” may help him sniff out the painting before the competition. From London, to Chicago, and finally to Ireland, Tim with the aid of his art expert paramour Sue Westerman are leading the pack to the prize. It’s a close-run thing, and the climax and its aftermath make for a glorious read!
I so enjoyed this book! Sixth of the 15 Tim Simpson mysteries that John Malcolm wrote, so far every one has been terrific. The mystery, yeah of course, but all the world of art framework of each story is wonderful; Tim Simpson is essentially a buyer for the Art Investment Fund of White’s Bank in London England, and as such is usually sniffing around for a particular piece the bank wants to acquire, be it a painting, sculpture, a tapestry, a piece of furniture or something else altogether. These are usually rare, often of shady provenance (or none!) and not easily found - and often others hunters are on the trail too, not all of them nice people. Former rugby player Simpson can generally fend for himself against the “muscle” sent to scare him off…and sometimes needs to.
Here Tim ends up searching for a heretofore unknown portrait by John Singer Sargent, purportedly of three high society women, the Jerome sisters, of whom Jenny married Lord Randolph Churchill, the others entered into equally advantaged marriages - but the painting is literally unheard of…until now.
There’s whispers that the illustrious Frewen family (the eldest sister married the well known Moreton Frewen) had commissioned such a painting but kept its existence a secret; and suddenly multiple folks are searching for it - but Tim’s “nose” may help him sniff out the painting before the competition. From London, to Chicago, and finally to Ireland, Tim with the aid of his art expert paramour Sue Westerman are leading the pack to the prize. It’s a close-run thing, and the climax and its aftermath make for a glorious read!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews