Gabriel’s journey into the heart of the mystery mirrors the broader theme of exposing the darkness behind the polished facades of institutions, which is both thrilling and thought-provoking. The writing is sharp, with the historical setting perfectly capturing the atmosphere of turn-of-the-century London. The mystery unfolds with surprising twists, keeping you on your toes as Gabriel uncovers more than just the murder. The mix of intellectual suspense, wit, and the unraveling of hidden truths is what makes it stand out. Highly recommended.

The Temple is a rarified historic gated community containing England’s courts, judges, and other legal officials. They are entitled to handle their own security -no police. It is 1901 and the body of the Lord Chief Justice (in evening dress but barefooted !) has been discovered. The men at the top want it handled quietly and quickly, no scandal. The Treasurer assigns a brilliant but reclusive RC to the task of investigating. This is a challenge for Gabriel Ward, his brilliant legal mind is paired with OCD tendencies and he strives never to leave the Temple environs. Fortunately, he is allowed the assistance of a young constable who knows how to hail a Hansom cab. The investigation and resulting interactions force Gabriel out of his solitary shell. The mystery is intriguing and we get a bonus mystery about the anonymous author of a popular children’s book, Millie the Temple Church Mouse.
I am very happy that this is the first in a series and can’t wait for the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

This is the first in an atmospheric new historical mystery series set in London's legal world, starring a reluctant but brilliant sleuth.

London, 1901. The Inner Temple is an secretive group of barristers, bound by centuries of law and tradition, where justice is debated, not disturbed. Murder, when it happens, is confined to the courtroom. Sir Gabriel Ward KC has spent his career untangling the complexities of legal disputes, not investigating crime. Reclusive, methodical, and bound to the rhythms of the Temple, he prefers the company of dusty case law to the unpredictability of people. But when he steps out of his chambers one May morning and finds the Lord Chief Justice sprawled lifeless across his doorstep—barefoot, bloodstained, and punctured by an ornate silver carving knife—his carefully ordered OCD world is shattered.

With the police barred from entering the Temple without permission, the duty of uncovering the truth falls upon Gabriel—an honor he has no interest in accepting. But his superiors insist, and soon he finds himself entangled in an investigation. At the same time, another case looms over him: the authorship of Millie the Temple Church Mouse, a wildly popular children’s book whose true writer has come forward at the worst possible moment. As Gabriel navigates these two mysteries, the lines between them blur in ways he never expected.

Reluctantly joined by an eager young constable determined to prove himself, Gabriel must venture beyond the legal walls that have long protected him. But justice is not always found in law books, and logic alone may not be enough to untangle the web of deception surrounding him.
Elegant, immersive, and brimming with intrigue, The Temple Murders is a masterfully plotted cozy mystery that brings to life the labyrinthine world of Edwardian London’s legal elite. Get this book! #bloomsbury #acaseofmiceandmurder #sallysmith

The first in a mystery series, solved by Gabriel Ward KC, takes place in the Middle and Inner Temples of London. Not being familiar with this setting, I did some research and recommend readers do so also. It is the perfect place and time period for an "old-fashioned" story in the 1901 -- proper behavior, no phones, train travel and such set the stage. However people's personality traits, both good and bad, haven't changed in over a century! Great characters! I recommend for fans of mystery and historical fiction.

I loved this book. A Case of Mice and Murder was just what I needed to read at this time. Sally Smith's writing definitely reminds me of E.C.R. Lorac. Buy this book for your library...personal or public!

A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith is a light, enjoyable cozy mystery with a charming small-town setting and quirky characters. While the premise is fun, the mystery is somewhat predictable, and the pacing drags in places. A decent read for fans of the genre, but not particularly memorable

Sir Gabriel Ward QC is quite pleased with his lot in life. He's been working for many years as a barrister in the Temple, home to London's lawyers and the center of legal activities. He also is privileged to have his home there, living in some of the flats allocated to working lawyers. The year is 1901 and men are still very much the masters of this domain and, for the most part, enjoy and exploit their family and political connections to keep the status quo. Gabriel is surprised, but at first doesn't seem terribly disturbed, when he arrives at his office one day and finds a body blocking his doorway. The most surprising thing, he notes, is that the man's body has no shoes but is otherwise wearing formal evening wear. It is soon discovered that the dead man is the Lord Chief Justice of England, Norman Dunning. Since the Temple is a tightly guarded sanctuary for those who live and work there, the pool of suspects would seem to be small -- unless an unauthorized person had somehow managed to slip past the guards? Due to ancient rules, the Temple is outside the rules that govern the rest of London and is given the right to investigate any crimes internally, without involving the police force. Gabriel is called in and tasked with questioning those involved with the dead man and to try to find the killer. He protests but is prodded that his nice flat could be taken away at any time. As Gabriel is a bachelor who seldom leaves the confines of the Temple, the thought of traveling around London and speaking to people one on one is a daunting task. Even though not required, he is accompanied on his duties by a police officer, Constable Wright, who is someone with good ideas and experience investigating crimes. Gabriel is even more upset about taking on this investigation because he's in the middle of preparations for a big case. The entire country has been charmed by a book called Millie the Temple Church Mouse. The manuscript had been dropped through the mail slot at a publisher's office. The publisher, Herbert Moore, mainly worked with legal books, so the children's book was not really anything he was interested in publishing. His young daughter discovered the manuscript and was captivated. Moore decided to publish the book in a small run, thinking that would be the end of it, but the book became an immediate success. The author of the manuscript had not included any contact information and attempts to trace her were unsuccessful. As the book took off, more and more decisions had to be made (a line of toys, foreign rights, a stage play, etc.) and Moore signed the contracts for all of these things. Now someone has come forward claiming to be the author and has sued Moore. Gabriel has to defend the case, try to establish if the current claimant really wrote the book, and sort out who gets the enormous profits (much of which has already been spent updating the publisher's office).

I really loved the two mysteries at the center of the story. The historical background about the Temple (although the author says in the afterward notes that some liberties were taken!) was also very interesting. Sir Gabriel, despite his obvious OCD and introverted tendencies, really came alive as a character when he was investigating the thorny problems presented to him. I can't wait to read more of his adventures!

I love discovering a unique voice and detective, and Sir Gabriel Ward fits the bill. The mysteries (there are two) are well written and nicely paced. The language the author uses is perfect. I've never read about the Temple except to see it referenced in other novels. I feel as though I know it much better now. And Millie the Mouse? Charming. I can't wait for sequels!!!!!! Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.