The Reluctant Constable [Large Print]

by Sara Fraser

Book Overview

Gentle, kindly, impoverished bachelor Thomas Potts, is forced to fill the unwanted post of 'constable' of the Parish of Tardebigge, Worcestershire. He is jeered at by the violent 'Needle Pointers' and despised by the local ruling gentry. But when a homicidal maniac begins murdering women, it is Tom who must confront this killer.

• Format: Hardcover
• Large Print: Yes
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0727877208
• ISBN13: 9780727877208
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Severn House
• Length: 383 Pages
• Weight: 1.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Murders in the rough and tumble life of small town 19th.C England

In 1826, in Redditch Town in the parish of Tardebigge, life for the newly appointed (without his consent) Constable, Thomas Potts, is very far from anything depicted in a Jane Austen novel. He lives in the town gaol with his termagant of a mother. He's tall, thin and bookish and a figure of derision to the townsfolk, the brash and violent needle industry workers, as well as the local gentry. The one good thing in his life is that one of the prettiest girls in the parish likes him, only he can't offer for her because he is too poor to support her (not to mention her having to deal with his awful mother). On top of it all, it seems as if some depraved individual is out killing women. Although Thomas has a basically timid nature, he finds that he has a strong desire to see justice done. Thomas is an unlikely hero. Tall and gawky, hen-pecked by his mother, unsure of himself. He seems to have almost everything stacked against him. This does make it interesting to see how he's able to keep on the trail of the killer, despite all the distractions and stumbling-blocks. The setting and details are well-done. The mystery is not easily solved by the reader. This is a good start to an interesting historical mystery series.