Hollow Crown

A murder mystery featuring Lord Edward Corinth and Verity Browne.

October 1936. Joe Weaver, press magnate and close friend of the Royal family, calls for Lord Edward Corinth's help in recovering some missing letters, stolen from Wallis Simpson - the King's intimate friend. But there is no mystery about who has taken the correspondence: it is known to be Mrs Harkness, Edward's close friend and His Majesty's former favourite.

As what seemed a simple stolen property case is complicated by murder, Verity Browne joins Edward in the investigation at Haling, the country home of Conservative MP Leo Scannon where Mrs Harkness is a guest.

Very soon, the pair become involved with political protest at home and the fight against Fascism abroad, and against this background of social unrest that they set off to find out the truth behind the Hollow Crown...

Praise for David Roberts:

'A gripping, richly satisfying whodunit with finely observed characters, sparkling with insouciance and stinging menace' Peter James

'A really well-crafted and charming mystery story' Daily Mail

'A perfect example of golden-age mystery traditions with the cobwebs swept away' Guardian

“A really well-crafted and charming mystery story”

Roberts just keeps getting better with each book in this historical series... This is first-rate fun, informed by telling period detail and an intelligent portrayal of the political issues behind the Abdication Crisis. It's highly recommended too for fans of Love in a Cold Climate and Gosford Park. - Publishers Weekly

A classic murder mystery with as complex a plot as one could hope for and a most engaging pair of amateur sleuths whom I look forward to encountering again in future novels. - Charles Osborne, author of The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie

Roberts - use of period detail gives the tale terrific texture. Recommend this one heartily to history-mystery devotees.' Booklist

This is a witty and meticulous recreation of the class-ridden middle England of the 1930s... a perfect example of golden-age mystery traditions with the cobwebs swept away, for the many readers who like their sleuthing elegant and their sex and violence concealed behind the curtains. - Guardian

David Roberts worked in publishing for over thirty years, most recently as a director, before devoting his energies to writing full time. He is married and divides his time between London and Wiltshire.

It is October 1936. Lord Edward Corinth is invited by his friend Joe Weaver, the press lord and close friend of the British royal family, to recover certain letters stolen from the King's intimate friend Wallis Simpson. There is no mystery about who has taken these letters - it is known to be Mrs Raymond Harkness, a former mistress of the King and a close friend of Edward's. So Edward sets off for Haling, the country house of Conservative MP Leo Scannon, where Mrs Harkness has also been invited. He is far from easy in his mind at the task before him, but he cannot guess that a case of retrieving stolen property is soon to be complicated by murder. Edward is joined by his friend and fellow sleuth Verity Browne, recently returned from the savagery of the Spanish Civil War. Weary and disheartened by the Republican reversals, she welcomes the distraction of helping Edward investigate the murder. Very soon the pair also become involved with political protest at home and the fight against Fascism, the Cable Street riots and the Jarrow March. Against this background of social unrest they battle to find the truth behind the Hollow Crown... Praise for David Roberts: 'A perfect example of golden-age mystery traditions with the cobwebs swept away' Guardian 'Roberts just keeps getting better with each book...highly recommended for fans of Love in a Cold Climate and Gosford Park ' Publishers Weekly 'A classic murder mystery' Charles Osborne, author of The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie

A murder mystery featuring Lord Edward Corinth and Verity Browne. October 1936. Joe Weaver, press magnate and close friend of the Royal family, calls for Lord Edward Corinth's help in recovering some missing letters, stolen from Wallis Simpson - the King's intimate friend. But there is no mystery about who has taken the correspondence: it is known to be Mrs Harkness, Edward's close friend and His Majesty's former favourite.As what seemed a simple stolen property case is complicated by murder, Verity Browne joins Edward in the investigation at Haling, the country home of Conservative MP Leo Scannon where Mrs Harkness is a guest.Very soon, the pair become involved with political protest at home and the fight against Fascism abroad, and against this background of social unrest that they set off to find out the truth behind the Hollow Crown... Praise for David Roberts: 'A gripping, richly satisfying whodunit with finely observed characters, sparkling with insouciance and stinging menace' Peter James'A really well-crafted and charming mystery story' Daily Mail 'A perfect example of golden-age mystery traditions with the cobwebs swept away' Guardian

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.