Reviewed by Ioana Marza for Readers' Favorite

Death Takes a Lover by Olivier Bosman is a Victorian mystery set against the grim backdrop of the North Yorkshire moors. It follows the investigations of Scotland Yard’s Detective Sergeant Billings into the untimely and unexplained death of Roger Thornton. Mrs Thornton, the victim’s mother, and her household staff are less than happy to accommodate the enquiries of yet another detective, having already dealt with the Yorkshire Constabulary. They are all very keen to see the back of DS Billings, but his determination not to be deterred and to hear everybody’s account of the events preceding the death is a successful tactic, as the horrible truth is slowly unveiled.

The addiction to morphine, the disregard for tidiness, the lack of interest in women and the Victorian setting are similarities which could suggest that DS Billings is a slightly sloppier version of Sherlock Holmes, but Olivier Bosman goes even further by making DS Billings gay. The other characters from Death Takes a Lover are all very believable and skilfully portrayed to stand out on their own: Mrs Thornton as a cold and selfish woman, selfish even when the life of her only adored son is at stake; Martha - the cook - is very abrupt and impatient, even mean; Bella Whitfield (Mrs Thornton’s protégée) - apparently aloof and yet not unobservant nor disinterested; Gracie, the imbecile maid, beyond any help; and the butler - always so accommodating. They are all united by the passions that Roger Thornton raised in them, some darker than others. But if the story and cast might seem just the ordinary Victorian detective story, the ending will shake readers to the core. Imagine the most gruesome harrowing scenes and you cannot be too far off the final chapter (which might not be suitable to all readers). Welcome to lugubrious Victorian Yorkshire in Olivier Bosman style!