‘A Gentleman’s Murder’ by Christopher Huang

Published by Inkshares, Inc,
31 July 2018.
ISBN 978-1-94264595-5 (PB)

This is an excellent story which, as the publicity suggests, is a mystery in the Golden Age tradition.  Christopher Huang sets his mystery in 1924 at a Gentleman’s Club in London.  He has an unconventional hero in Eric Peterkin whose membership in The Britannia Club leads him into investigating the murder of a fellow member.  

The period detail is pitch perfect with a very thoughtful view of the deleterious effects of the Great War on its apparent survivors.  The investigation takes Eric into the countryside world of an ex-army hospital of the War, a drug den in Limehouse, the British Museum newspaper Library and, of course, into the arcane workings of the Gentlemen’s Club.

His own racial position and war experiences makes Eric able to evaluate the situation as both insider and outsider; he makes a very appealing protagonist.   Christopher gives us the classic Golden Age Mystery with the traditional features, a good historical background and a certain new twist derived from a knowledge of modern ideas concerning PTSD.

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Reviewer: Jennifer S. Palmer

This is Christopher Huang’s first book but he hints at a second adventure at the end of this one.  I do hope so! 

Christopher Huang grew up in Singapore, where he served his two years of National Service as an Army Signaller. He moved to Canada where he studied Architecture at McGill University in Montreal. Huang currently lives in Montreal. A Gentleman's Murder is his first novel.

www.peterkin-investigates.com

Jennifer Palmer Throughout my reading life crime fiction has been a constant interest; I really enjoyed my 15 years as an expatriate in the Far East, the Netherlands & the USA but occasionally the solace of closing my door to the outside world and sitting reading was highly therapeutic. I now lecture to adults on historical topics including Famous Historical Mysteries.