The Phantom in the Fog — Richard James

Bowman of the Yard: Book Four'Wonderfully atmospheric, full of the thrills of Victorian London.' Adam Croft Autumn, 1892 Following a manic episode, Detective Inspector George Bowman recovers in Colney Hatch lunatic asylum. He is surprised when Elizabeth Morley, an acquaintance who had sought to offer him comfort following the death of his wife, pays an unexpected visit with news of an intriguing case.A mythical figure - christened Jumping Jack by the salacious press - has returned to the streets of London, leaving a trail of death in his wake.Bowman calls upon Sergeant Graves to act as his agent in the outside world, resulting in his erstwhile companion being subjected to the wrath of Graves' new superior, the recently promoted Detective Superintendent Callaghan.Graves is taken off the investigation and ordered to look into an issue of fraud at The Royal Armitage Bank. As his enquiries continue, however, it becomes clear the two cases may be linked.As the killer strikes again and the citizens of London grow convinced they are in the grip of a supernatural force, Inspector Bowman must rely upon what's left of his wits, an improvised map of London on his bedside wall and the memory of an investigation from his days as a detective sergeant.Does a series of crimes from a decade ago hold the key to the current atrocities being committed in the fogbound streets of London?Bowman must solve the crime from his hospital ward to enable his colleagues to confront the killer among them.Richard James is an actor, playwright and author with many credits to his name. The Bowman Of The Yard series marks his first as an author. Other books in the acclaimed series include The Head in the Ice, The Devil in the Dock and The Body in the Trees.'A genuinely impressive debut.' Andrew Cartmel, The Vinyl Detective.'Crime fiction with wit and twists.' Richard Foreman, Raffles: The Complete Innings.