Except the Dying - by Maureen Jennings (Paperback)

About the Book

In the cold Toronto winter of 1895, the unclad body of a young woman is found naked and frozen in a quiet laneway. Acting Detective William Murdoch, driven by pity for the girl and the desire to secure his promotion, is determined to pursue every lead and reveal the truth. Although influential people pressure the police to solve the mystery quickly, when the girl is eventually identified, it becomes clear that those connected with her life have secrets to hide.

Book Synopsis

The novel that sparked the hugely popular Murdoch Mysteries television series celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Includes a new introduction and a previously unpublished short story featuring the young Detective Murdoch.

In the cold Toronto winter of 1895, the unclad body of a young woman is found naked and frozen in a quiet laneway. Acting Detective William Murdoch, driven by pity for the girl and the desire to secure his promotion, is determined to pursue every lead and reveal the truth. Although influential people pressure the police to solve the mystery quickly, when the girl is eventually identified, it becomes clear that those connected with her life have secrets to hide.

Murdoch must use every detective skill he possesses as well as his understanding of human nature as he pursues the mystery through both brothels and drawing rooms, desperate to untangle the case before more lives are lost.

Review Quotes

Shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award

"No author has mined Toronto's past with the dedication to detail of mystery writer Maureen Jennings."
--Toronto Star

"A chiller . . . impressive. An engaging historical mystery."
--Houston Chronicle

"Remarkable."
--Philadelphia Inquirer

"A first novel enriched by the vividness of its period settings and animated by the lifelike characters caught up in its broad social sweep."
--New York Times

"Jennings creates more than a period mystery. She brings alive 1895 Toronto."
--Publishers Weekly

"A winner. Provocative . . . finely flavored, credible, and detailed."
--Library Journal

"Terrific . . . the best historical mystery of the year. . . . Murdoch is a fine creation. . . . We can't wait to meet him again."
--Mystery Collector's BookLine

About the Author

MAUREEN JENNINGS was born in the UK and emigrated to Canada as a teenager. After a long career as a psychotherapist, she became an award-winning writer. She is the author of four series in the crime fiction genre--Christine Morris, Tom Tyler, Murdoch Mysteries, and Charlotte Frayne P.I.--as well as a book on creativity, one novella, and four plays. The Murdoch Mystery series has been adapted into the beloved television series Murdoch Mysteries shown in over 120 territories worldwide, and the Tom Tyler series served as the inspiration for the television series Bomb Girls. In 2011, Jennings was the recipient of the Grant Allen Award for her contribution to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their dog, Murdoch.