Death of a Debutante In 1870s London, Scotland Yard’s famous Detective Department is still in its infancy. Lord Riley Rochester, younger son of a marquess, is one of its first detective inspectors.
When a debutante is murdered in the home of Lord Ashton, Riley’s vengeful superior hands him the investigation, hoping to see him fail. As Riley and his sergeant, Jack Salter, delve into the circumstances surrounding Emily Ferguson’s death, it quickly becomes apparent that his own class expect him to exonerate its members from all blame. But the murder was committed at a society event, and Riley’s conscience won’t allow him to ignore the evidence that points to one of the guests—or hosts—being the killer.
Everyone has something to hide and tempers fray as a heatwave holds London in its sweltering grasp. When a second death occurs, Riley fears he may be incapable of preventing a terrible miscarriage of justice. Will he and Jack manage to uncover the true identity of the killer without endangering those whom Riley holds most dear…
Death of a Courtesan Detective Inspector Rochester and his sergeant, Jack Salter, are called to a high-end brothel to investigate the murder of one of its inhabitants. Her throat has been cut from after the customers had left for the night and the doors had been locked, and no one admits to hearing a thing.
As Riley and Jack delve into the beautiful young victim’s background and the reasons for her fall into prostitution, an increasing number of suspects with compelling reasons for wanting her dead emerge. Riley is astounded to discover that his nemesis, Chief Inspector Danforth, is one of the brothel’s regular visitors. He was there on the night of the murder, spent an hour alone with the victim and must be viewed as a suspect. Riley could be forgiven for revelling in Danforth’s downfall after all the insults he has suffered at the chief inspector’s hands, but his concern is for the reputation of the Detective Department and he does all he can to shield Danforth from public derision.
Unsurprised by the depths of depravity some men willingly sink to in order to find gratification, Riley is unprepared for the damage that could be done to the reputation of his own family if he doesn’t get to the truth. But at what cost to his personal ambitions…
Death of a Prosecutor Inspector Riley Rochester’s latest case strikes close to home. When his friend, notable barrister Sir Robert Glover, is stabbed to death outside his chambers, there are far too many suspects. Sir Robert’s family, those he worked with, shadowy figures from his past and every resentful criminal he ever prosecuted. What’s worse, the case is inextricably linked with a Scotland Yard colleague’s rather slipshod investigation, and Riley must be diplomatic in his dealings with his superiors and fellow officers if he’s to get to the truth.
Riley and his sergeant, Jack Salter, take to the task with their customary professionalism – although Riley’s judgement is clouded by nervous anticipation of Amelia Cosgrove’s response to his proposal of marriage and by the sudden decline in his nephew’s health. Knowing that if his nephew dies Riley will become his brother’s heir, he must come to terms with the fact that he will one day be the Marquess of Chichester whilst simultaneously trying to solve the hardest case of his career to date…

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A beautiful young woman is found dead in a department store bed.

She’s surrounded by white roses.

Detective Best is called from London to the grey and blustery north to investigate.

After finding out the girl was involved with local spiritualists, he meets a Dead End.

Everyone seems to have a reason for killing the girl – from her maid to her fiancé who happens to be the long-lost brother to the department store owner.

But she’s not the only girl who is missing.

Will Detective Best be able to face his own painful past in order to solve the case?

‘Dead End’ is a gripping historical murder mystery story from acclaimed author Joan Lock.

Praise for author Joan Lock:

“Gripping Victorian mystery” – Publishers Weekly on Dead Born

“Multilayered, ingeniously plotted, atmospheric and suspenseful, with an appealing hero… Lock’s latest Inspector Best novel makes outstanding reading for historical mystery buffs” – Booklist on Dead Letters

Joan Lock’s first book, ‘Lady Policeman’, described her six years as a policewoman in London’s West End during the 1950s. The next, ‘Reluctant Nightingale’, focused on her previous training as a nurse in the Northeast. Nine non-fiction, police/crime books followed including three on Scotland Yard’s First Detectives and the first history of the British Women Police, a subject on which she became an authority. This led to her writing extensively in the Police Press in support of women police when they were having a difficult time during integration and to acting as advisor and participant in the BBC4 TV documentary, A Fair Cop: One Hundred Years Of Women Police, screened in March 2015.

Joan has also written short stories, radio plays (some historical) and radio documentaries. Her crime fiction includes one modern novel, Death In Perspective, and seven Victorian mysteries featuring the charismatic Scotland Yard Detective Ernest Best.

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