The 18th-century meets the sharp blade of forensic science…

In the notorious mental hospital known as Bedlam, Dr. Thomas Silkstone seeks out a patient with whom he is on intimate terms. But he is unprepared for the state in which he finds Lady Lydia Farrell. Shocked into action, Thomas vows to help free Lydia by appealing to the custodian of her affairs, Mr. Nicholas Lupton. But when Silkstone arrives at the Boughton Estate to speak to Lupton, he finds that another form of madness has taken over the village…

Sweeping changes to the Boughton Estate threaten to leave many villagers destitute. After a single shot rings out and a man dies in the woods, it appears that the desperate villagers have turned to murder to avenge their cause. But for Thomas, a post-mortem on the victim raises more questions than answers. Although he manages to save an innocent man from the gallows, a second murder warns him of his potentially fatal situation.

Soon he discovers a conspiracy far more sinister than anything he has ever faced. But who it leads to is the last person he suspects…

Praise for Tessa Harris:

‘A densely plotted yarn about a crafty 18th-century poisoner wreaking havoc on the Oxfordshire estate of a noble family … we await - indeed, demand - the sequel’ New York Times Book Review

‘Harris’ research is meticulous. The results are a historical CSI with a romance and excellent mystery’ Romantic Times

‘Populated with real historical characters and admirably researched, Harris’s novel features a complex and engrossing plot’ Library Journal

‘The author will have you flipping the pages at each unexpected turn in the plot. The novel is an absorbing read with a shocking twist at the end’ Historical Novel Society

‘Well-rounded characters, cleverly concealed evidence, and an assured prose style point to a long run for this historical series’ Publishers Weekly Starred Review

‘The exceptionally strong historical background in this 1780s London-set novel makes it impossible to put down. With each book, the mysteries have become stronger … Silkstone is an admirable character and he captures readers’ emotional interest’ RT Book Reviews

The Dr Thomas Silkstone Mysteries:

The Anatomist’s Apprentice

The Dead Shall Not Rest

The Devil’s Breath

The Lazarus Curse

Shadow of the Raven

Secrets in the Stones