Mostly Murders

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC of A Dangerous Justice by John Pilkington, book 1 in the The Justice Belstrang Mysteries series, publication date Jun 23, 2026.

It began on a chill March day, when at a late hour a visitor arrived at Thirldon, The Belstrang house a short ride west of Worcester.

In 1616 in England, being Catholic was a crime. So was conspiring against the king. The punishment for either of these was death. Retired magistrate Robert Belstrang knows this well, and is minding his own business when one of his neighbours, John Jessop, a known Catholic shunned by most of the inhabitants in Worcester, begs him to travel to London on his behalf to discover what has happened to his son Thomas.

Ruled by equal parts curiosity and compassion, Belstrang eventually agrees to go to London, telling himself that he will make a few enquiries on behalf of Jessop, and otherwise visit his daughter Anne. But the search for Thomas soon proves to be anything but a routine enquiry, and the more Belstrang discovers, the more he puts himself and his family in danger.

A deeply atmospheric historical mystery set in the Jacobean era. This is not for readers looking for fast-paced action, sharp-witted banter or steamy romance. Much like its sexagenarian protagonist, A Dangerous Justice is slow and steady, detailed, careful and intelligent.

It may not be for everyone, but for readers who have the patience to savour an introspective underdog story steeped in the ambience of a long gone era, the story of Belstrang’s endeavours in London is the perfect read. Reminiscent of the Shardlake series by C. J. Sansom, but less dramatic, less gritty and less brutal, A Dangerous Justice offers the reader an atmospheric read with a main character who is easily underestimated but in reality packs a punch way above his weight class.

Historical mystery