When barrister Gabriel Ward finds the body of a dead judge on the front steps of his chambers it’s charged to him to investigate
A fabulous new golden age eccentric sleuth in the vain of Sherlock Holmes or Rumpole of the Bailey
Well plotted, with lots of little details to keep you guessing
Thanks @sallysmith @bloomsburypublishing & @netgalley for the fabulous debut read

A Case of Mice and Murder is a captivating debut novel by Sally Smith KC. Set in London in 1901, this cosy mystery unfolds with the murder of England's Lord Chief Justice, causing a stir in The Inner Temple. Quiet and quirky Sir Gabriel Ward KC is appointed to conduct a preliminary investigation before the police can enter these prestigious halls. As the reluctant detective, he must unravel the mystery while also preparing a sensational case involving the disputed ownership of Millie, the Temple Church Mouse.

I loved this book. The writing style is charming, and the plot is wonderfully intriguing, making it a delightful read.

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This is a classic whodunnit investigated reluctantly by Sir Gabriel Ward, KC, who would much rather remain cloistered away from the rest of London in the sacred Inns of Court and work on his upcoming Moore vs Cadamy court case, which is to decide who has the publishing rights to the beloved Millie the Temple Church Mouse story. At times, this was a little difficult to read as Sally Smith divulges some of the legal technicalities and the ARC didn't have a map at the front which would, no doubt, have been useful in figuring out where the building are in relation to each other. However, despite sometimes being quite heavy in legal dealings, this was a very interesting and unique crime story. I will certainly be looking forward to reading a second,

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith is an absolute delight! Yes, it is a murder mystery, but the delight is in how very different it is while embracing the great traditions of the genre

The first in a new series, Sir Gabriel Ward is the type of anti-hero I absolutely adore. A quirky barrister who I would venture is akin to Rumpole of the Bailey in his sensibilities and humour, but more naiive than cheeky? But to be introduced to the crime by the victim being placed at his very doorstep is delightfully fitting and deliciously unique

I am gobsmacked that this is a debut and I hope very much to see a lot more of this series

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Raven Books and Sally Smith for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Gabriel Ward is a man who feels comfortable in familiar surroundings, he lives in the Inns of Court and is a barrister who lives alone. When the Lord Chief Justice is found dead on his doorstep, Ward is forced to investigate in order to preserve his domestic life. Alongside this, he is representing the publisher of a hugely popular children's book who authorship is being claimed by someone who may be a fraud.
This book really improved with reading and I ended up enjoying it immensely. The plot is preposterous but rather fun and whilst the characterisation is minimal, this is a planned series so may well develop.

The murder of the Lord Chief Justice leads to an investigation to solve the crime and they mystery of his bare feet. Gabriel Ward KC is on the case to solve it as well as handling the mystery identity of a writer. Can he figure it all out?

This was a slow burn story with the mystery of the killing as well as the book mystery along the way. The mystery was interesting and i liked how it all came together. The characters are interesting though you don't get to know anyone on a deeper level in this but I believe there may be more to come. The plot was well written and laid the scene for the times really well. The ending was really well put together and tied the story. I had figured out who the killer might be before Gabriel did but I enjoyed the reveal. A fascinating historical thriller.

The first in a new series The Trials of Gabriel Ward and I absolutely loved it. Set in The Inner Temple in 1901 a place of sanctuary for the barristers and staff where even the police are unable to enter uninvited. The Lord Chief Justice of England is found dead outside the chambers by Gabriel Ward KC who is then pressured by Temple’s Treasurer to investigate the case on behalf of the Temple, and he has just 7 days! I was aware that the author was a barrister who worked in London’s Inns of Court but there is clearly been a lot of investigation into the courts during this era and I loved it.

Briefly, Gabriel is not comfortable with any of this, not only investigating his colleagues, but the fact that he will need to leave the hallowed Inn’s something he never normally does as he has lived in Kings Bench Walk, just 2 minutes walk from his chambers, for 30 years. Alongside Constable Wright his investigation starts and soon secrets of the courts and the barrister’s families start to materialise. However, Gabriel still has his day to day work to consider and Cadamy v Moore is looming - the alleged author of Millie the Temple Church Mouse by Miss Harriet Cadamy is suing the publisher who found the manuscript but published without author consent when he couldn’t trace her.

Before I go any further can I say please will the author write the Millie book. I was completely entranced by it and so want to read it! Both threads of the book were so good and I enjoyed it all. Gabriel is a great character, a Sherlock Holmes type who is married only to his job and reads extensively, I just wanted to give him a hug, and Wright as his sidekick was perfect. A wonderful read with a good plot and the red herrings fooled me. I can’t wait for book 2.

This lawyerly mystery took me a few chapters to warm up to but, once I suddenly clicked with it, I absolutely LOVED it!

Particular, buttoned-up Gabriel Ward KC and his tentative alliance/partnership with enthusiastic and amenable Constable Wright is a delight to read. And the book and main character provide a great representation of OCD, severe anxiety, agoraphobia and/or autism without every specifying a diagnosis or dwelling upon it too much. It just is what it is, and Gabriel is who he is, with all of his quiet quirks – no need for over-emphasis or dramatics.

The plot unrolls with plenty of mystery, some humour and some excellent observations of human foibles and follies, from the awkward or unusual to the endearing.

Upon finishing the story I immediately checked for more and, on not finding anything, I followed the author to ensure that I wouldn’t miss any new releases in future. I am desperate for more of this legal cosy crime.

Utterly, entertainingly readable and excellently written – I rest my case!

After finishing Sally Smith’s A Case of Mice and Murder I was delighted to find that it’s the start of a new historical mystery series, which is great news as this first book is excellent. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for a second!

The novel is set in 1901 in the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court that make up London’s legal community. Sir Gabriel Ward KC is a barrister who leads a quiet, reclusive life within the Temple grounds, only venturing into the outside world when absolutely necessary. He’s not the sort of person you would expect to become an amateur detective, but that’s what happens when he steps out of his rooms early one morning in May and stumbles across the dead body of the Lord Chief Justice. Sir Gabriel is persuaded by his superiors to investigate before the police are brought in and he reluctantly agrees, despite already being busy with a very different case.

The manuscript of a children’s book, Millie the Temple Church Mouse, had been left at the door of Herbert Moore’s publishing house with no way of identifying or contacting the author. Moore went ahead with publishing the book anyway and it has become a huge success, inspiring Millie toys and a forthcoming stage play. Now a woman has come forward claiming to be the author and Moore is in trouble! Gabriel is Moore’s lawyer and must work on establishing authorship of the book while also trying to solve the mystery of the Lord Chief Justice’s death.

When writing a novel set in the past, creating a sense of time and place is incredibly important and Sally Smith does that extremely well here. She writes in a style that is appropriate to the time period and at no point does it really feel like a ‘modern’ book. The descriptions of the Inner Temple are perfect, both in terms of the physical buildings, chambers and grounds, and the way of life with its rituals and traditions. The Inner Temple, like the neighbouring Middle Temple, is considered a local authority largely outside the jurisdiction of the City of London (hence the police needing to be invited in to investigate the murder) and it makes a fascinating and unusual setting.

Gabriel Ward is a great character and it’s interesting to see him grow as person as the story progresses. At the beginning he is a quiet, solitary man who spends most of his time in his rooms with his books and his legal work, following little routines, such as checking the door three times, that today would be called an OCD. Being forced to leave the confines of the Temple to interview suspects and witnesses from a range of social backgrounds gives Gabriel a different perspective on life and helps him to open up to new ideas. My only complaint is that Smith gives him the character trait of ‘snuffling’, a word she repeats far too often throughout the book. Looking at other reviews, I can see that many of us felt the same way, so I hope Gabriel will snuffle a bit less often in the next book!

The murder mystery is an interesting one, with a solution I hadn’t seen coming, but I found the Millie the Mouse storyline even more enjoyable. I started to have my suspicions about that second mystery by the middle of the book and was pleased to be proved right. I can’t wait to see what Gabriel’s next case will be!

What a story! This audio title was such an unexpected pleasure; excellent narration throughout and packed with characters that had me intrigued. I loved the setting, the Temple area of London in 1901. There’s a lot of period detail and it feels authentic. Gabriel Ward is such a clever and engaging character. An unlikely sleuth, he’s tasked with finding who murdered one of their own and Sally Smith has created a number of memorable characters along the way.

The story is well plotted and involves an unlikely flashpoint; legal dispute over ownership of a child’s book and spin off toys. Ward is a singular individual, driven by routine with more than a touch of OCD. His work is his life but he tackles his task with some aplomb and the help of a police officer. I was engrossed from start to finish; I bought into the characters, the sharks of humour and the whole story around copyright wrangle. Refreshing and inventive plotting in a clever and well thought out murder mystery. Cant wait for more!

What a treat! Loved this and looking forward to many more. Enjoyment improved by a recent walk through the Temple surrounds so had a vague idea of the geography in my head. I am a fan of Rumpole too and this book gave me similar enjoyment. Thanks to NetGalley.

Queen Victoria died on the 22nd of January 1901 and her son immediately became King Edward VII. Consequently, all the QCs immediately became KCs. In the lawyers chambers in the Inner and Middle Temple life went on much as usual. That changed somewhat on the morning of the 21st May, when Sir Gabriel Ward KC tripped over the dead body of The Lord Chief Justice, which was blocking the entrance to his chambers. The Temples are in the unique position of being inside the City of London but not subject to its regulation, so it is decided that the City police don’t have jurisdiction. Instead, Sir Gabriel is asked to carry out a discreet investigation, which he can do inside the Temple grounds where he knows everyone, but is hampered by his isolationism – he really only leaves the Temple grounds to go to court – and his borderline autism and OCD. A young constable is assigned, unofficially, to help in this and other respects. Forensic science and pathology are in their infancies, but he has a vast theoretical knowledge of developments which, paired with his psychological skills, honed by years at the Bar, should hopefully allow a solution.
His actual day job continues, of course, and the current case concerns the authorship of an astonishingly successful children’s book “Millie the Temple Church Mouse”. The manuscript was left ‘anonymously’ at a publisher’s office, but, now it has earned an enormous amount, a claimant to the authorship and hence the money, has appeared. Is she the author or a fraud? The survival of the publisher is at risk.
Historical fiction relies on the creation of a believable scenario, factually accurate, and with language which sound authentic for the period and the characters (bearing in mind the fictional needs of the plot). Where the plot is that of a crime story/murder mystery, the features I’ve just mentioned need to be lightly applied so that they provide an unobtrusive framework. Here I think the author manages this successfully. Fiction which turns on the legal system has the same constraints, and, not surprisingly given the author’s experience, this story is impeccable in those aspects. Ultimately, though, whodunnits need to provide an ‘interesting’ investigator, a clever puzzle and a satisfactory solution. Sir Gabriel is certainly ‘interesting’ and here we have two very different puzzles and two satisfactory solutions. I did solve both, but only at the same time as Sir Gabriel. I look forward to meeting him again.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

This is a series that has such a promising start. The author creates a believable world into which you feel completely immersed. Some clever writing and a great conclusion. Can't wait for the next one!!

An intricate and cleverly constructed mystery!

Gabriel Ward, barrister, lives and works in the Inner Temple and is rather cushioned from the realities of every day life, so it comes as more of a shock when he opens his door one morning to discover a body - and a bare-footed body at that. After all, it's not every day you discover the dead body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on your doorstep. As the police can enter the Temple by invitation only, Gabriel finds himself charged with investigating, whilst also carrying on with his usual work. He is completely out of his comfort zone but determines to get on with things to the best of his ability.

This is such a great read! Cleverly crafted and entertaining from beginning to end. Alongside the investigation, there are details of a case which Gabriel is working on, all of which kept me glued to the pages throughout. Such a joyous novel, and one guaranteed to make you smile as it did me. Highly recommended, and easily worth all five shining stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Well, this is an odd one, which is why I grabbed a review copy from NetGalley. Interesting setting, both in terms of spatial and temporal location, both of which feed into the plot, and an interesting reluctant sleuth. I’m never quite convinced by the notion of a lawyer who has lived a sheltered life – surely you can’t be an effective lawyer without knowing how the people you defend or prosecute think – but if you put that to one side, there’s some nice gentle character work here, especially as Gabriel gets to know the non-legal staff of the Temple better. I enjoyed the partnership with Constable Wright as well – two quite different backgrounds, but it was nice to see that not being shoved in my face every time they interact.
The story follows two plot strands, the murder and Ward’s current case, the authorship of a children’s book, Millie The Temple Church Mouse, which you might think is something minor, but it’s actually really interesting. The murder mystery… well, there’s a lot of Gabriel being told stuff but there’s some detection going on too. I thought one red herring was a bit forced – there is a nice story behind it, but the reader wouldn’t guess it and it does affect one of the more curious aspects of the crime. I think I was told quite a lot, rather being asked to work it out for myself, but all in all, it was a very pleasant read.
It’s billed as “for fans of S.J. Bennett, Janice Hallett and Richard Coles”, an interesting trio. I’d say it’s mostly for the fans of the latter – it doesn’t have the complexity of Hallett or (from the one-third of a book I managed) the tweeness of Bennett. It’s a satisfying read and with characters who I think I’ll want to read more of.

I think one thing stands out for me with this book. When I finished it I was taken aback that the author was Sally Smith and not Gabriel Ward KC - the main character. I’d become so immersed in the story. I’ve not done that before, and I think that’s a testament to just how good this is. Although I must point out that it’s not written in Gabriel’s voice..

I genuinely did not know who the culprit was, the plot twists in a fantastic way, and I really felt like I knew all of the characters, as I mentioned above, I was utterly immersed in the Inner Temple and it’s ways.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book, I’m sad I’ve finished it!

My thanks is to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

An excellent debut novel from Sally Smith who is a barrister specialising in medical negligence law. Part of me kept on thinking of the writing of John Mortimer when reading this book, a favourite author of mine. I am sure that those who enjoy a legal thriller will love this book. The writing and characterisation is excellent and I for one would enjoy a follow up book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Sir Gabriel Ward KC is a clever but introvert barrister. When the Lord Chief Justice is murdered within the sanctum that is the Temple in London Gabriel is asked to investigate, much to his discomfort.

However to his surprise Gabriel's penchant for facts, and his love of learning, help lead him to solve the mystery, even overcoming his own fear of life outside the Temple.

I really enjoyed this debut novel from Sally Smith and will be keen to read the next installment! Thank you to the author, to Bloomsbury and to Netgalley for the advance reader copy for which I have given my own honest review.

A good book - good characterisation, good pace, brilliant use of language and intellectually wordy. Not a bad thing to be said. A very good book.

Sally Smith writes the first of a promising historical mystery series set in 1901 that illuminates the legal world of the time, the Inner Temple, shaped by ancient traditions, independent with the police only entering by consent. It's a time marked by harsh rigidity and extreme inequality, with the poor subject to precarious living and poverty, where the norms and attitudes ensure that women's lives are subject to limitations, even if they come from wealthy backgrounds. This is personified by the remarkable Theodora Dunning, a woman with a sharp, incisive, and forensic mind, refused entry to the law, yet her more mediocre brother, Norman, has risen to the heights of becoming Lord Chief Justice.

Gabriel Ward KC is a gifted leading barrister, a man of routines, who has shunned the outside world and people, much preferring to focus on his work, reluctant to rely on others, immersing himself in the purity of learning and research, his curiosity driving him to read widely, as well as focusing on increasing his professional knowledge. He is rocked from the comfortable and familiar when he stumbles over the dead body of the Lord Chief Justice, his feet bare which will set tongues wagging. After veiled threats from the Temple Treasurer, Ward has no choice but to play amateur detective, having to investigate and interact with the outside city and other people, collaborating with a keen PC Maurice Wright.

At the same time, Ward has to prepare for and represent Herbert Moore, who has published the runaway successful, beloved children's book promoting featuring Millie, the Mouse, after it was left on his doorstep. With no knowledge as to the author's identity, Moore and his business has profited enormously as contracts have been signed with other businesses, but now someone has come forward claiming to have written it, leaving an anxious Moore facing the prospect of economic ruin.

It took me some time before I felt myself sinking into this mystery, but I eventually became charmed and enamoured by Ward. It's a joy to observe his persectives, compassion, and kindness expanded by his growing awareness of injustice, and the lives of other people, such as the likes of Meg, a maid, and a homeless protester. Additionally, Ward becomes skilful in nudging others to do the right thing and applying psychology to his vast knowledge of facts and other knowledge. I look forward to the next in this series! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.