The Blighted Cliffs by
Edwin Thomas
hbk out June 03
Published by Bantam
at £12.99
The year is 1806 and Lieutenant Martin Jerrold, a member of Nelson's navy, has
managed to disgrace himself by spending the whole of the battle of Trafalgar in a
drunken stupor. By way of punishment Jerrold is sent to hunt smugglers off the
White Cliffs of Dover but the first thing he stumbles upon is a corpse at the bottom of
the cliffs and he is promptly arrested on suspicion of murder. He is slung in prison
but as no-one knows the identity of the dead man Jerrold is not actually tried for the
crime. Hearing of his disgraceful escapades his uncle at the Admiralty issues an
ultimatum: Jerrold must clear his name or he will be cut off without a penny.
Historical crime is an increasingly popular genre and Edwin Thomas a welcome
addition to the rolls. The first chapter of this novel was a runner up for the Crime
Writers' Association's Debut Dagger award and deservedly so. Funny, farcical, with
plenty of reversals of fortune, and a less than heroic depiction of life on the ocean
waves this is the perfect antidote to noble stories of our glorious seafaring tradition.
An entertaining read from history graduate Thomas with not a serial killer, DNA
profile, criminal psychologist, car chase or detective chief inspector in sight.
Manchester Evening News 7.6.03
(
Cath Staincliffe
author of the popular Sal Kilkenny mysteries set on the mean streets of Manchester)
The Blighted Cliffs by
Edwin Thomas
