I love mysteries - Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie,Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, and up through today's J.D. Robb best sellers. This book takes readers back to a time familiar to fans of Holmes and Watson, with the death taking place in May, 1901. When an unassuming barrister finds the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep, he is shocked and dismayed - not only because Lord Dunning is dead, but because his feet are bare. Why would such a prominent man be murdered within the Inner Temple and then left in his evening dress with no shoes or socks? The condition of the body is almost as surprising as the murder itself.

A helpful diagram shows the layout of the buildings which comprise the Inner Temple, an area that is an "independent enclave...free from the jurisdiction of the Mayor and Corporation of London." As such, the police must have permission to enter, so the poor barrister, Gabriel Ward, is ordered by the head of the Inner Temple to investigate the death himself and avoid a scandal. Poor Ward wants nothing more than to get back to his legal cases and research; visiting the family of the deceased and questioning his peers is not something he will enjoy at all. As usually happens in a murder mystery, the more people he talks to, the more possible motives he discovers.

Whether he was killed because of professional rivalries and jealousies, family squabbles, or darker secrets, Ward must get to the bottom of the mystery so that he can go back to settling who is the rightful owner of the story <I>Millie the Temple Church Mouse</I>, the case that had him so distracted the morning he stumbled upon the body. At least his sleuthing skills may be useful in solving that mystery, too?

If you enjoy mysteries set in Victorian England and involving multiple persons of interest and motives galore, then you should feel right at home following Gabriel Ward through the steps of his investigation. I look forward to the next book in the series.

"A Case of Mice and Murder" is the start of a new historical mystery series that introduces us to Gabriel Ward KC, a barrister in the Inner Temple of London. Set in 1901, our hero is an unlikely detective who suffers from OCD and a touch of autism.

But when an esteemed fellow resident of the Inner Temple is found dead on Gabriel's doorstep, Temple authorities realize that Gabriel's dispassion and analytical prowess are exactly what they need in order to solve the crime and keep a scandal from blemishing the reputation of the court.

Assigned a London constable to help with his inquiries, Gabriel and Wright soon learn more about what goes on after dark in the Temple than they ever wanted to know!

Overall, I found this to an enjoyable read with characters who grew on me over time and a cleverly written mystery. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it so much that I had to dive right into the next book as soon as I finished this one!

Thank you to Sally Smith, Bloomsbury USA, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Thank you Partner @bloomsbury for the #gifted hardcover

I enjoyed books with a reluctant hero and Sir Gabriel Ward fits this bill well. He stumbles upon the dead body of the Lord Chief Justice in bare feet nonetheless and is coerced into solving his murder.

I enjoyed the mystery of the subplot of the legal battle over a children’s book, just as much, as the main mystery. The author works that in so well and how they are connected was a nice twist. Smith delivers a solid plot with fascinating characters. Constable Wright was a stand out character for me.

I’m excited to read more books from this author!

I received a NetGalley approval for the ebook and a hardcover copy from the publisher. All views are my own.

"A Case of Mice and Murder" has an interesting style! I enjoyed how the narrative smoothly meandered between perspectives. Sir Gabriel Ward's perspective was especially interesting, showing his approach to the investigation and his interaction with the world outside the Temple. Another highlight was the collaboration between Sir Ward and Constable Wright and their exploration of early advancements in investigation techniques.

The abundance of characters was a challenge to track, and the publishing court case felt like a slow-moving distraction at times, but it all came together in a satisfying conclusion. I'm looking forward to another "Trial of Gabriel Ward," especially if it has more collaboration with Wright!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The cover to Sally Smith's book - A Case of Mice and Murder - called to me. The font used, the colors and images and the subtitle.

The setting is in 1901 Britain. Most of the book takes place in the Inner Temple Archives and Library. This is an actual place and it was fascinating to learn about it. The police can only enter by consent. And that is how we meet unwilling sleuth Sir Gabriel Ward KC. He can't say no. And he would be much happier if he could work on his latest case - the disputed authorship of bestselling children's book Millie the Temple Church Mouse.

I admit I felt overwhelmed with so many supporting players in the beginning. Names and titles abound! But with this being the first book I believe Smith is building the setting and atmosphere.

I came to really, really enjoy Sir Gabriel. I liked being privy to his inner dialogue along side with the outer. The verbal jousting is so very clever.

The plot? I knew I wouldn't guess the answer to the question of whodunit. Smith's plotting is wonderful. It benefits from her own knowledge as a Barrister and King's Counsel.

A Case of Mine and Murder is so clever! Watch for the second book - A Case of Life and Limb.

First off, I absolutely love the title of this book! I mean, A Case of Mice and Murder....what more do you want out of a title to instantly grab you and make you want to know more?! The actual mystery was so interesting and fun to read as well.

Barrister Gabriel Ward is thinking about his latest case, a dispute over the authorship of a children's book, when he quite literally steps out of his room to discover of corpse. It is the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on Gabriel's doorstep. There are some odd things about the body, such as him being barefoot, that don't go with his nice evening attire. Now not only does Gabriel have to determine the true authorship of the famous children's book, but also solve a murder, that may be related to the book. I really enjoyed this, and will definitely read the next one in the series. This is a very good historical fiction cozy. I enjoyed the characters, history, and scenery in the novel. Sally Smith did a wonderful job of bringing this time period to life.

A bit dry, slow, and repetitive. Is the British Cozy Mystery Genre reaching its saturation point?

Definitely could use another round with the editor.

What I Loved:

Gabriel Ward. Gabriel is quiet, unassuming, ridiculously smart, kind, shy, and probably mildly asexual. He is unintentionally funny and much more powerful than he realizes. Gabriel’s character growth was remarkable and yet a quiet inevitability – no one as astute and curious as he could leave a murder mystery unsolved or an innocent maid be fired. He is my new favorite featured detective. Even his relationship with Constable Wright (mentor/mentee? Nontraditional father/son trope?) is subtle in its build up.

The Mystery. Not only was the murder mystery intriguing with enough potential suspects and no glaring red herrings, but authorship of Millie the Temple Church Mouse was a delightful subplot that tied nicely into the main plot. The overall structure was easy to follow but not a gimme by any means. I didn’t discover the exciting end to either mystery until the final couple of chapters.

The Setting. Sally Smith is a barrister by trade and is intimately familiar with the Temple, and it absolutely shows. Every page and word makes you feel the calm and security settling over the homes in the Temple and the general rhythm of the community.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

The Pace. The first quarter or so of Mice and Murder was a bit slow, and I almost got discouraged and stopped reading. I am so happy I didn’t. However, it is definitely a concern in the first of a series to start so slow (despite a murder on the first page).

First time reading this author. Mystery did keep me guessing, I liked the historical England setting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

A CASE OF MICE AND MURDER by Sally Smith is book one in The Trials of Gabriel Ward mystery series (a second book is coming in November). This story is truly charming and delightful; it is set in the Temple area, a tradition-bound center of London's legal world (the year is 1901). Smith introduces readers to an unassuming and unwilling sleuth, Gabriel Ward, a well-regarded barrister but a recluse who finds himself investigating a judge's death while being drawn into the problems of the lower classes, including a scullery maid and a homeless man. Gabriel Ward also has a challenging task of defending a publisher against a young woman who claims to have authored the best-selling Millie the Temple Church Mouse. And, all the while he must skirt the politics as rival lawyers jostle to succeed the murdered judge. In her promising debut, Smith interweaves the storylines, builds suspense, and develops affection for her characters, especially Sir Gabriel who says he "just tried to remember all that I knew from my books and to apply psychology to the facts; It is the only way I can think of to be a detective."

This one started out somewhat slow for me but I ended up really enjoying it! It was funny at times but not in a way that distracted from the plot. It was interesting and I'm glad I read it.

set in the hidden heart of London’s legal world in 1901, with barrister Gabriel Ward as the reluctant sleuth of the murder of the Lord Chief Justice of England.

It took me a minute to settle into this historical mystery, but I liked Gabriel from the beginning. It’s a smart mystery with lots of well placed clues and several red herrings. I did not solve this ahead of time. I found the setting fascinating (I knew nothing about the legal world in London at this time in history). Clearly a lot of research went into this story because it felt so authentic. More entries are to follow in this new series!

A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith was a fun mystery I enjoyed.

The characters were well developed.

The mystery was different, and I really enjoyed following along the clues.

Well written.

This is the first in series set in the early 1900s with a Barriester turned sleuth in this enticing read. I enjoyed the neurodivergant main character that the author wrote kindly with positivity.
The setting is atmospheric and fun. The world of a recluse Barriester interesting as a sleuth. The mystery well crafted to conclusion. I look forward to the next in series.
Thank you to the publishers, Net Galley and the author for the opportunity. My review is based on my own opinion.

If you love a good murder mystery with a couple of unexpected twists and turns, I have a book recommendation for you! In her new book that comes out today, A Case of Mice and Murder, Sally Smith cleverly interlaces a couple of legal cases – the disputed author of a bestselling children’s book and a murder. In 1901. Gabriel Ward, a gentle, painstaking lawyer, already has the case for Millie the Temple Church Mouse when he discovers the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep when he steps out in the morning. The barefooted judge is attired in evening clothes and has a knife sticking out of his chest.

The police can only enter the Temple by invitation. Gabriel and his trusted but nervous sidekick are selected to do the investigation. The men juggle the two cases leaving the reader wondering what connection they could possibly have to each other. As they investigate the murder, they learn Temple secrets hidden from the outside world. Alongside the murder probe, the case with the children’s book and a nervous publisher seem to be diversions from the urgency of the murder investigation until they are not. I won’t do a spoiler here, but I will say I am expecting the clever Gabriel to show up again in a future mystery.

A Case of Mice and Murder is a perfect book for a rainy day when you need an avoidance distraction from laundry, dirty dishes, and dust. Give yourself permission to enjoy it. The distractions will still be there when you finish.

Thank you Bloomsbury USA for my advance #gifted electronic copy via NetGalley. My thoughts are my own.

Gabriel Ward was made for his livelihood--a barrister cloistered in London's Inner Temple, where his apartment is full of books and his office is steps away and all his mental and physical needs are met, he is known and relied upon for his genius at legal matters. But this is all upended when he wakes to find the dead body of the Lord Chief Justice of England lying on his doorstep, and he is subsequently tasked to "look into the matter." Relying on his logic, reason, and well-ordered world, as much as on Constable Wright (assigned to support his investigation), he finds that still waters run deep and the secrets of his fellow inhabitants may just be worth killing for.

What a very, very clever book. And I'm gone on Sir Gabriel Ward, Barrister. I love his neurodivergent mind and have rarely read such an excellent portrayal of the obsessions and compulsions that hold him in their sway. It is not held up as a freak sideshow or a comic schtick, but rather as the attempt to control fear and uncertainty that never go away. I also love that he is kind. He and Constable Wright make an odd couple, which makes their professional relationship even more endearing. The story proved an excellent treatment of gender, class, spirituality, and justice worthy of a modern, sophisticated audience, while drawing the characters so well that one recognizes them (be it from those of one's acquaintance or one's storybooks). I so very glad that they are to have their own series!!

“A Case of Mice and Murder: The Trials of Gabriel Ward,” by Sally Smith, Raven Books/Bloomsbury Publishing, 336 pages, June 17, 2025.

It is May 21, 1901. Sir Gabriel Ward, King’s Counsel, is leaving his rooms in the Inner Temple, when he almost steps on the body of Lord Norman Dunning, Lord Chief Justice of England. Dunning has been stabbed with a silver Temple carving knife.

The Inner Temple is a 15-acre bubble where lawyers live and work. In a place where tradition is everything, the police may enter only by consent, and murder is only to be found in the case archives. Gabriel has the reputation of being the ultimate opinion on difficult legal problems.

Chapman, one of the clerks, calls the police. Constable Maurice Wright, who has only been on the force for two years, is sent. Sir William Waring, the Inner Temple’s master treasurer, wants Gabriel to investigate the murder internally, with police conducting the external work. The police commissioner assigns Wright to assist Gabriel.

Gabriel also has other cases. Herbert Moore, a legal publisher and bookseller, published a children’s book, “Millie the Temple Church Mouse,” when his daughter, Elsie, then eight, read the manuscript apparently mistakenly sent to Moore. The book was a huge success. But Moore was unable to track down the author, Harriet Cadamy. When Susan Hatchings, who claims to have written the book under a pseudonym, threatens to sue, Moore and his solicitor, Anthony Dawson, meet with Gabriel for advice.

The plotting is good and both mysteries are resolved. Gabriel Ward is a great character who uses his OCD to his advantage. The time period is described well; both the physical areas and the attitudes toward poor people and toward women. This is the first of a promising new historical mystery series.

I rate it four out of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This was a great debut and a fun start to The Trials of Gabriel Ward series!! 🙌

In this first installment, we follow not just one mystery, but two of them! One centered around a murder, and the other focused on who authored a famous children’s book. I absolutely loved the Gabriel Ward character! Looking forward to the second book!! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and Sally Smith for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

** “Justice requires detachment and independence of thought, eh?” **

Author Sally Smith relies on her own experience as a barrister in her new mystery “A Case of Mice and Murder.”

Barrister Sir Gabriel Ward finds himself in the midst of two mysteries — who is the true author of the popular children’s book “Millie the Temple Church Mouse” and who killed Lord Chief Justice Norman Dunning, whose body Gabriel finds upon his own doorstep.

Straitlaced with a love of knowledge and forensics, Gabriel hesitatingly takes on the murder case, all while trying to clear up the Millie case. With the help of a young policeman, Constable Wright, will Gabriel be able to step outside of his comfort zone and solve both cases?

Smith does a great job of weaving together two seemingly unrelated mysterious cases, all while developing some quirky and delightful characters. She reminds us of the importance of justice; death levels all things; fairness; finding and creating opportunities, especially for women; jealousy and resentment; and having the strength to do things you normally wouldn’t.

Fans of books like Anthony Horowitz’s “Close to Death” and characters like Sherlock Holmes, William Murdoch from TV’s “Murdoch Mysteries,” and Professor Jasper Tempest from “Professor T” will love “A Case of Mice and Murder,” which is due out June 17.

Five stars out of five.

Raven Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.