This was recommended to me recently. I didn't remember seeing it anywhere so had to search it out and I doubt I would have picked it up for myself - it looks rather light and whimsical (despite the murder) in both the cover design and the title. However, it's got substance and depth being set in 1901 within the Inner Temple in London as well as the literary world, with two puzzling mysteries to solve.

Barrister Gabriel Ward has been engaged in a case regarding the disputed authorship of a bestselling children's book called 'Millie the Temple Church Mouse'. But leaving his rooms he stumbles across the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England.

The judge has bare feet though he is clothed in evening dress. Protruding from his chest is a silver carving knife. Ward is familiar with murder through his work but he has never had to confront its violence in this way before. 

The police have no authority in the Temple so Ward is invited to investigate, to discover the perpetrator of this terrible act. In doing so he uncovers many secrets, lies and indiscretions.  

It's an intelligent story with good characterisation and an intriguing setting full of atmosphere and history. We're introduced to a new detective in the form of Gabriel Ward and his second investigation was published last month, called 'A Case of Life and Limb'. Well worth a read!