Death Has Deep Roots - (British Library Crime Classics) by Michael Gilbert (Paperback)

About the Book

"A London crowd awaits the trial of Victoria Lamartine, suspected for the murder of her former lover. Lamartine - who years ago escaped from the Gestapo - is set to meet her end at the gallows. One final opportunity remains: solicitor Nap Rumbold is called to replace the defence counsel, granting an eight-day reprieve. Without any time to spare, Rumbold crosses the Channel to trace the roots of the crime back into the war-torn past. Expertly combining authentic courtroom drama at the Old Bailey with a perilous quest for evidence across France, Gilbert's novel is an unorthodox marvel of the mystery genre"--

Book Synopsis

Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder

An eager London crowd awaits the trial of Victoria Lamartine, hotel worker, ex-French Resistance fighter, and the only logical suspect for the murder of her supposed lover, Major Eric Thoseby. Lamartine--who once escaped from the clutches of the Gestapo--is set to meet her end at the gallows.

One final opportunity remains: the defendant calls on solicitor Nap Rumbold to replace the defence counsel, and grants an eight-day reprieve from the proceedings. Without any time to spare, Rumbold boards a ferry across the Channel, tracing the roots of the brutal murder back into the war-torn past.

Expertly combining authentic courtroom drama at the Old Bailey with a perilous quest for evidence across France, Death Has Deep Roots is an unorthodox marvel of the mystery genre.

Review Quotes

"A masterly job of blending whodunit, courtroom drama, and thriller...readers who like their detection balanced by action will be more than satisfied. " -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review

"This latest addition to the British Library Crime Classics series shows Gilbert at his best, displaying both impressive psychological acuity and innovative plotting, combining courtroom drama with amateur sleuthing." -- Booklist