Murder? Mice? The title of former-KC Sally Smith’s debut crime novel, A Case of Mice and Murder, is slightly deceptive upon first read. This is not a cosy crime story, set in a charming seaside locale, but instead an homage to the Golden Age of mystery novels, situating itself somewhere between Edmund Crispin’s Gervase Fen mysteries and Christianna Brand.
Tonally A Case of Mice and Murder is juggling two separate crimes. Set in 1901 London’s the Inner Temple (a professional legal association), the first crime is simpler – the Lord Chief Justice has turned up dead outside the Inner Temple’s doorsteps, barefoot and slain – while the second is more curious, the ownership of a best-selling and beloved children’s book (the mice of the novel’s title) at stake.
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Smith imbues the novel’s lead – young barrister Gabriel Ward – with a strong sense of justice and enough human flaws and strengths to make him the best part of the work. Gabriel is a dedicated genius, surrounded by a library’s worth of books, and yet with a streak of sincere human kindness within. His partnership with green police officer Wright is a delight, the two finding common ground and a real partnership as they investigate the slaying, and Smith ensures that the other characters who populate the novel are given nuance and shade.
As a mystery, A Case of Mice and Murder is a little too ponderous and overlong. Its ambition is tackling two separate yet somehow interconnected cases is commendable but it does lead to a middle that struggles to carry the momentum to the finish line, although a sprightlier third act helps somewhat.
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Splitting its page length between an academic legal thriller and a Golden Age whodunnit, A Case of Mice and Murder is an intriguing, largely enjoyable debut and a promising start for a new crime fiction series. It has a few things to be ironed out in future instalments, largely some narrative trimming, but Smith’s hero has enough goodwill behind him that the majority of people who reach the end will be more than happy to reach for the next case.
A Case of Mice and Murder is out on 18th July from Raven Books.
