A man in danger
A set of horrible murders
And one mystery to solve
Simeon Crosby has been an esteemed man of the law for years. His profession has been both respected and feared: Mr Crosby is a hangman, and the one responsible for the executions of many outlaws. Now that it’s time to retire, he is set on roaming the countryside to talk to the public, and ready to write a new book.
But, when Mr Crosby arrives in Wigan with his wife and brother, what he doesn’t know is that he is in grave danger. While the police will do anything in their power to protect him, there is definitely going to be a murder. The question is, how did this happen? And why?
Hanging Murder is a very successful blend of historical fiction and mystery. Set in a small town in the UK, it follows a very unique story. A. J. Wright manages to raise some very serious questions along the way: is death an acceptable punishment for a crime? Do some people deserve to be punished by death? And, as far as this story goes, is Mr Crosby a man of the Law, or a murderer?
But the author also provides us with some very interesting characters: from Mr Crosby himself, the man that has committee almost as many murders as the people he hanged, to some very strong and intelligent women, shady gamblers, and intelligent policemen. They all blend together well, creating a compelling mystery.
Admittedly, most mysteries start with the murder. Not in this case, however. And, surprisingly, this works remarkably well. Here, you’ll know from the start that someone is in danger. But, as a reader, you get to follow everyone around – and the suspects are many. The story is fast-paced and the suspects plenty. With many twists and turns along the way, the author keeps you guessing. And it’s definitely not an easy guessing game.
As far as mysteries go, this is easily one of the most well-written ones in 2019. Add the in-depth characters, the great flow of the narration, and the well-researched historical elements, and you’ll find that Hanging Murder is a book you’ll want to add to your TBR list.
