Sally Smith is the author of A Case of Mice and Murder, the first in a series starring the reluctant sleuth Sir Gabriel Ward KC. Having spent all her working life as a barrister and later King's Counsel, Smith was inspired by the historic surroundings and rich history of the Inner Temple in which she still lives and works.

"A delightful read, well-paced, and full of interesting details. There's something satisfying about a murder mystery well told . . . Hopefully, Sir Gabriel's career as a detective is just getting started." --The California Review of Books

"Smith's novel is a quiet triumph. Each small unfolding supports the next, characters blossom off the page, and the pitch-perfect pacing is as pleasurable as the descriptive detail." --Library Journal, starred review

"A triumph of ingenuity." --Daily Mail

"A charming mix between Agatha Christie and Rumpole of the Bailey . . . [which] exquisitely opens the door for readers on the history and traditions of the Inns and legal world." --The Times

"It is rare that an original protagonist appears in historical crime fiction but Sally Smith has created one in Gabriel Ward . . . a delight from first page to last." --Sunday Times

"In this delightful mystery set in 1901 and pleasurably steeped in the politics, philosophies, and social mores of turn-of-the-century England, barrister Gabriel Ward turns detective when one of his colleagues is murdered in the law-focused world of London's Inner Temple." --The Boston Globe

"Smith's first novel provides abundant red herrings, courtroom maneuvers, legal aphorisms . . . and an appealing atmosphere of stuffy proprieties upended by murder most foul before knitting the two cases together with professional dexterity. Yes, my lord, a sequel is promised and will be most welcome." --Kirkus Reviews

"Quite simply, this is one of the very best debuts I've read in a long time; it's sure to delight the Osman and Thorogood crews and readers of Sarah Caldwell's legal murder mysteries." --First Clue

"Readers will admire Sir Gabriel's wit and the tender partnership he develops with Constable Wright. This series is off to a promising start." --Publishers Weekly

"Whip-smart whodunnit . . . a guaranteed page-turner with secrets, twists and turns throughout." --Woman & Home

"Sally Smith's accomplished debut is an immersive historical murder mystery with a unique barrister sleuth, Gabriel Ward. The 1901 legal setting is well-drawn and the mystery well-plotted-I thoroughly enjoyed every page." --C.L. Miller, USA Today bestselling author of the ANTIQUE HUNTER'S series

"Sally Smith's debut novel is an absolute delight. Bright, lively writing that's so evocative I was transported to the fascinating world of the Inner Temple in 1901. Gabriel Ward is a character crafted with such timeless elegance I was immediately besotted! As brilliant a cosy crime story as you'll ever read, I can't wait to immerse myself in the next installment of this ingenious new series.
" --Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of THE APPEAL

"Delicious, gaslit murder. I loved it." --Maureen Johnson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the TRULY DEVIOUS series

"I loved it! . . . A whiff of Shardlake and a pinch of Rumpole . . . A joy." --S.J. Bennett, author of THE WINDSOR KNOT

"A cunning and delightful mystery with rich, wonderful characters and period detail so vivid, you can touch it." --Ian Moore, author of DEATH AND CROISSANTS

"Sir Gabriel Ward KC is endearingly eccentric. Intriguing, engaging, and thoroughly satisfying." --T.E. Kinsey, author of A QUIET LIFE IN THE COUNTRY

Publisher: Raven Books

Pub date: 2025-06-17

Length: 336 pages