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In the Shadow of the Stump
Boston, 1904. A local girl is found brutally murdered at the foot of the famous church tower – the Stump. With the fenland town’s normally peaceful air shattered, rumours are rife as to the culprit, from jealous fiancés to bullying landowners.Detective Thomas Caphorn is dispatched to solve the murder, his first as a solo investigator. However, the seemingly straightforward case soon gets muddied like the marshy creeks that separate the town from the sea.As one of the harshest winters in memory threatens, one thing soon becomes tragically the girl is just the first victim.
298 pages, Paperback
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 30, 2018
One of my husband's Lincolnshire cousins sent me this book after a recent visit to the UK. I have never been to Boston, so I appreciated that it was written from the perspective of someone who is there for the first time.
I have been enjoying watching various British detective series, so "In the Shadow of the Stump" unfolds in a familiar way. But this story takes place at the beginning of the 20th century, in a time before fingerprint and DNA analysis. Inspector Caphorn's only tool is his trusted notebook, so it's interesting to follow his path from confusion to clarity as he gathers information to solve these crimes.
My one criticism of this book is that missing punctuation was distracting throughout the entire novel. Commas were occasionally used for direct address, but not in many cases. I noticed at least five instances in the first ten pages. An example: "Gather yourself Caphorn" instead of "Gather yourself, Caphorn."
I would read future books by this author.
I have been enjoying watching various British detective series, so "In the Shadow of the Stump" unfolds in a familiar way. But this story takes place at the beginning of the 20th century, in a time before fingerprint and DNA analysis. Inspector Caphorn's only tool is his trusted notebook, so it's interesting to follow his path from confusion to clarity as he gathers information to solve these crimes.
My one criticism of this book is that missing punctuation was distracting throughout the entire novel. Commas were occasionally used for direct address, but not in many cases. I noticed at least five instances in the first ten pages. An example: "Gather yourself Caphorn" instead of "Gather yourself, Caphorn."
I would read future books by this author.
May 26, 2020
A pacy, historical thriller with all the poise of a genuine Victorian murder mystery, this book has it all. The vintage prose sets the historic tone without in any way slowing the plot or impeding the reader’s progress. The protagonist, Inspector Caphorn - protege of the great Holmesian Detective Hophole - finds himself in a small Lincolnshire market town investigating a rather grisly murder. What at first seems an open-and-shut case, with a suspect already in custody, turns out to be anything but with twists and turns that take the reader on a breathtaking journey right to the moment of an audacious final plot twist. Huge fun!
November 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, the setting, characters and the era it is based in, it was brilliant. The story line had me hooked from the first to the last page. Highly recommend. I'd be eager to read more investigations from inspector Caphorn.
December 13, 2016
Leatherdale's debut novel is a thrilling detective story set in Boston, England, in 1904. A girl is stabbed and thrown from the top of St Botolph's Church (the titular Stump) and Inspector Thomas Caphorn is sent to investigate.
Caphorn is an appealing hero, like a cross between Dr Watson and Matthew Crawley from Downton Abbey. However, this is Dr Watson without Sherlock, for Caphorn's famous mentor Hophole has retired prior to the events of the novel.
This makes Caphorn all the more engaging. Many fictional detectives have a air of infallible arrogance, such as Sherlock, Poirot and modern alternatives like Luther. However, Caphorn is both capable and haunted with self-doubt as he navigates his first solo case, which allows for a much more interesting character.
Leatherdale presents Caphorn through a brilliant first-person narrative, which perfectly captures the voice of a well-educated Englishman at the turn of the century. Caphorn narrates his tale in lavish detail and with impeccable British politeness. The romantic description of Boston itself shows that the author himself knows the town intimately.
The plot moves at a steady pace with intrigue established from the outset. As with any murder mystery, an assortment of characters are arranged for the reader to suspect. Could the killer be the short-tempered finance? The retired army Major? The Major's beautiful wife? The lovestruck gardener? The bullish farmer? The charming Captain Cavendish? Or the missing alcoholic verger?
Leatherdale adds further layers of intrigue as the novel progresses to keep those pages turning. He is not afraid to throw a curveball into the plot such as a second victim, a mysterious Dutch sailor, or rumours of buried treasure. Happily, all plot threads are expertly brought together for a satisfying and dramatic conclusion.
Ultimately, In The Shadow of the Stump is well-crafted and gripping period detective fiction. It is a genre for which Leatherdale has a real talent and I eagerly await Caphorn's next investigation. Thankfully, the inspector is out of the shadows.
Caphorn is an appealing hero, like a cross between Dr Watson and Matthew Crawley from Downton Abbey. However, this is Dr Watson without Sherlock, for Caphorn's famous mentor Hophole has retired prior to the events of the novel.
This makes Caphorn all the more engaging. Many fictional detectives have a air of infallible arrogance, such as Sherlock, Poirot and modern alternatives like Luther. However, Caphorn is both capable and haunted with self-doubt as he navigates his first solo case, which allows for a much more interesting character.
Leatherdale presents Caphorn through a brilliant first-person narrative, which perfectly captures the voice of a well-educated Englishman at the turn of the century. Caphorn narrates his tale in lavish detail and with impeccable British politeness. The romantic description of Boston itself shows that the author himself knows the town intimately.
The plot moves at a steady pace with intrigue established from the outset. As with any murder mystery, an assortment of characters are arranged for the reader to suspect. Could the killer be the short-tempered finance? The retired army Major? The Major's beautiful wife? The lovestruck gardener? The bullish farmer? The charming Captain Cavendish? Or the missing alcoholic verger?
Leatherdale adds further layers of intrigue as the novel progresses to keep those pages turning. He is not afraid to throw a curveball into the plot such as a second victim, a mysterious Dutch sailor, or rumours of buried treasure. Happily, all plot threads are expertly brought together for a satisfying and dramatic conclusion.
Ultimately, In The Shadow of the Stump is well-crafted and gripping period detective fiction. It is a genre for which Leatherdale has a real talent and I eagerly await Caphorn's next investigation. Thankfully, the inspector is out of the shadows.
April 12, 2017
An excellent debut.
This is set in my home town and I know the various locations although some now have different uses. Not with standing, this is a well written book that is easy to read, a page turner and portrays the atmosphere of that time.
Great characters, great description and a puzzling murder to solve have created a crime novel of the highest order.
R K Leatherdale could be my author find of 2017 and I really hope he will produce more books in the future.
This is set in my home town and I know the various locations although some now have different uses. Not with standing, this is a well written book that is easy to read, a page turner and portrays the atmosphere of that time.
Great characters, great description and a puzzling murder to solve have created a crime novel of the highest order.
R K Leatherdale could be my author find of 2017 and I really hope he will produce more books in the future.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews