‘Fantastic! Read this within a day, couldn’t put it down!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Marvellous . . . with a twist at the end you will never see coming. Highly recommended’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The best place to solve a murder might be from behind bars . . .
1897: The famous author Oscar Wilde is cruelly imprisoned in Reading Gaol. Unable to write, he fears he will go mad.
But when a warden and the prison chaplain are found murdered, Wilde is suddenly thrown into his most difficult case yet.
All the inmates were confined to their cells when each murder occurred, ruling out all the prime suspects. But Wilde is sure there is a serial killer operating undetected within the gaol . . .
With limited resources and unable to trust anyone around him, he must uncover the truth before he meets the same untimely end . . .
A wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical locked-room murder mystery set within the dark world of Victorian prisons. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.
Readers are gripped by The Murders at Reading Gaol:
‘What a wonderful read!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book is grand fun‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautifully written and keeps you hooked all the way through‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I can’t praise this book enough!!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fascinating story, very historical, captivating. Read this very easily and couldn’t put it down‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Previously published as Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol.
‘Marvellous . . . with a twist at the end you will never see coming. Highly recommended’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The best place to solve a murder might be from behind bars . . .
1897: The famous author Oscar Wilde is cruelly imprisoned in Reading Gaol. Unable to write, he fears he will go mad.
But when a warden and the prison chaplain are found murdered, Wilde is suddenly thrown into his most difficult case yet.
All the inmates were confined to their cells when each murder occurred, ruling out all the prime suspects. But Wilde is sure there is a serial killer operating undetected within the gaol . . .
With limited resources and unable to trust anyone around him, he must uncover the truth before he meets the same untimely end . . .
A wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical locked-room murder mystery set within the dark world of Victorian prisons. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.
Readers are gripped by The Murders at Reading Gaol:
‘What a wonderful read!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book is grand fun‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautifully written and keeps you hooked all the way through‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I can’t praise this book enough!!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fascinating story, very historical, captivating. Read this very easily and couldn’t put it down‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Previously published as Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol.
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Reviews
The curse of fictionalising well-known characters is having to manoeuvre within the facts, but Brandreth manages it superlatively. This is light stuff, but energetic, and Brandreth clearly has Wilde at heart
Gyles Brandreth succeeds magnificently. A plot that is intriguing throughout. A skilfully crafted story that goes all the way
A flight of imagination that partners Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle in a deadly pursuit to the heart of the Eternal City merits a round of applause for sheer chutzpah . . . Gyles Brandreth succeeds magnificently . . . The relationship between the two writers is drawn so convincingly, but there is also dialogue of the period without any Victorian heaviness and a plot that is intriguing throughout. Brandreth's research is impeccable. Literary and theological references merge easily into a skilfully crafted story that goes all the way to meet the standards set by his two eminent protagonists
Brandreth has always delighted in puzzles, in the quirks of both the past and present, and in the gloriously camp wit of Oscar Wilde. Here all of these things come together in a story that reminds us how enjoyable a well-told traditional murder mystery can be
Brandreth's deftly plotted, entertaining escapades double as historical novels of considerable merit . . . Brandreth is a deft hand at weaving plot, historical atmosphere and entertaining characters
Even the conventional crime novel has its pleasures
Packed with colourful characters and unlikely adventures . . . this latest instalment in Brandreth's clever and unapologetically entertaining Oscar Wilde series will not disappoint
PRAISE FOR GYLES BRANDRETH
PRAISE FOR GYLES BRANDRETH'S MURDER MYSTERIES
Brandreth's portrait of Oscar Wilde is entirely plausible; plots are ingenious and the historical background is fascinating
This wickedly imagined and highly entertaining series . . . intelligent, jaunty and hilarious
Rather fun . . . Brandreth unashamedly wheels out a cast of historical characters to die for
A carnival of cliff-hangers and fiendish twists-and-turns . . . The joy of the book . . . is the rounded and compelling presentation of the character of Wilde . . . The imaginary and the factual are woven together with devilish ingenuity. Brandreth also gives his hero speeches of great beauty and wisdom and humanity
Pitch perfect. Great entertainment
Fabulous . . . The plot races along like a carriage pulled by thoroughbreds
Very entertaining
This excellent novel . . . I'd be staggered if you'd read many better whodunnits. Brandreth demonstrates supremely measured skill as a story-teller
The plot speeds to an exciting climax . . . Richly atmospheric. Very entertaining
Sparkling dialogue, mystery piled deliciously on mystery, a plot with pace and panache, and a London backdrop that would grace any Victorian theatre
Irresistible . . . Elegant . . . Rich . . . Enjoyable . . . A classic Agatha Christie-style whodunit
One of the most enjoyable crime series around . . . He slips easily into the 21st century, does this Oscar (imagine, if you can, an even higher-wattage Stephen Fry), just as, thanks to Brandreth, we as readers are able to travel effortlessly back to join him in his own age. It is well worth the journey - and I can't wait until the next one
The murders begin. Highly theatrical ones . . . Entertaining and meticulously researched
Excellent - a light-hearted and entertaining murder mystery
A cleverly plotted, intelligent and thoroughly diverting murder mystery. This novel is an educated page-turner, a feast of intriguing and light-hearted entertainment
Inventive . . . brilliant . . . marvellous . . . glittering . . . graceful . . . intricate . . . enthralling
What sets the novel apart is Brandreth's talent for conveying time and place. The barbarism of close confinement has rarely been so graphically and movingly portrayed
Gyles Brandreth's Murder Mysteries just get better and better . . . and this is the best so far
One of the most intelligent, amusing and entertaining books of the year. If Oscar Wilde himself had been asked to write this book he could not have done it any better
Genius . . . Wilde has sprung back to life in this thrilling and richly atmospheric new novel . . . The perfect topography for crime and mystery . . . magnificent . . . an unforgettable shocker about sex and vice, love and death
Brandreth has poured his considerable familiarity with London into a witty fin de siecle entertainment, and the rattlingly elegant dialogue is peppered with witticisms uttered by Wilde well before he ever thought of putting them into his plays
Classically twisty
Gyles Brandreth and Oscar Wilde seem made for one another . . . the complex and nicely structured plot zips along
An amiably enjoyable Victorian murder mystery
This is to be a series and if they're all as enjoyable as the first, they'll all be surefire best-sellers . . . The plot races along like a carriage pulled by thoroughbreds . . . So enjoyably plausible
This bounces along with vim and wit. Beautifully packaged
Both a romp through fin-de-siècle London . . . and a carefully researched portrait of Oscar Wilde . . . Very entertaining
Brandreth has the Wildean lingo down pat and the narrative is dusted with piquant social observations. A sparkling treat for fans of Wilde and Sherlock Holmes alike
Wilde as detective is thoroughly convincing . . . The period, and the two or three worlds in which Wilde himself moved, are richly evoked . . . an excellent detective story. I'm keenly looking forward to the rest of the series
Brandreth knows his Wilde . . . Candlelight Murders is an excellent read, and it seems the scene may be set for others in the same style -- and with the same lead character
This is not only a good piece of detective fiction in its own right, it is highly entertaining, spiced as it is with Wildean sayings, both real and invented and the imagined conversations and intellectual sparring between Wilde and Conan Doyle. Future tales in the series are something to look forward to
Brandreth's accomplishment is evident in the force of Wilde's personality, which fairly leaps off the page . . . readers will delight in the effortless characterization and deft portrait of late Victorian England
I always wanted to meet Oscar Wilde and now I feel that I have done, and shared a terrific, bizarre and frightening adventure with him. I recommend the experience
This excellent novel . . . I'd be staggered if you'd read many better whodunnits. Brandreth demonstrates supremely measured skill as a story-teller
The rollocking tale . . . a witty and gripping portrayal of corruption in late Victorian London, and one of which Wilde and Sir Arthur would be proud
Not merely, like all the best after-dinner speakers, does he know how to spin a yarn; unlike most politicians, he has a touching access to the secrets of the human heart
A fine and sympathetic writer
He can tell a story in the way Daphne du Maurier could . . . He creates a world and keeps you there
Hugely enjoyable - reminds us just how enjoyable a well-told traditional murder mystery can be
The latest witty installment in Gyles Brandreth's hugely enjoyable series of Victorian murder mysteries
