The Snuffbox Murders

Discover a bestselling series of murder mysteries set in south Yorkshire. One million books read!

A detective who's no angel despite his name . . .

Meet Detective Inspector Michael Angel. An old-school policeman who sometimes rubs his colleagues up the wrong way. He's got his flaws, but he never gives up on a case.

Inspector Angel and his team are looking for an antiques thief and murderer who tears out the tongue of anyone he fears might give him away.

The inspector believes that the murderer is following in the footsteps of Herman Lamm, an infamous villain of a century earlier.

The suspects are a disparate trio. The first is a conman who is always hovering near an antique gold statue; the second, Mr. Van Hassain, is a diplomat and businessman; and the third is a rich inventor's beautiful wife.

The only link is that they are all interested in acquiring antique gold snuffboxes. It's not much to go on, but Inspector Angel is determined to catch the killer.

Can Angel stop a murderer before he snuffs anyone else out?

A brilliantly gripping mystery full of twists. Perfect for fans of R.D. Wingfield, Colin Dexter, Peter Robinson, Reginald Hill, and Agatha Christie.

THE DETECTIVE

Michael Angel is over fifty, married to Mary. They don't have any children. They are a devoted couple but the relationship sometimes breaks down due to his job or due to the problems of Mary's sister who lives in Edinburgh and imposes on their easygoing natures. Michael works at the small local police station and is devoted to defeating crime, murder, and dishonesty of any sort and has no personal ambition beyond being a good husband and a successful detective. He doesn't want promotion with all the routine office work and stress that goes with it. He is incorruptible but always short of money. He is always at odds with his immediate chief, Detective Superintendent Horace Harker, who is lazy, a hypochondriac and not a bit interested in assisting Angel in serious police work.

THE SETTING

Bromersley is a market town at the bottom of the Pennines surrounded by stone and hawthorn-edged fields grazed by cattle and sheep. It is cold as anywhere in the winter but its closeness to the mountains protects it from many gales and heavy falls of snow. The town's industry today includes the manufacture of ball bearings and whisky bottles, and a huge brewery produces Bromersley's best bitter, which is considered the finest beer for miles around. Wednesday is market day, and the town centre is host to the frequent cries of stall-holders hawking their wares while the enticing smells of cheeses, coffees, foreign spices and fish and chips tempt your taste buds as you wander through the stalls. The police always find it difficult to catch pilferers and pickpockets in such a crowd. Bromersley folk are easy to befriend but many of the old people are stubborn and still buy their fruit and veg in pounds and ounces, not kilos and grams.

PRAISE FOR ROGER SILVERWOOD:

'Solid plotting, unpretentious writing, thoroughly reliable entertainment.' Morning Star

'A cast of characters you really want to populate with familiar faces of actors you see each week on TV - great fun. Angel is terrific.' Books Monthly

'Once again Silverwood combines a classic mystery plot with well-developed characters.' Publishers Weekly

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Great characters, love Inspector Angel. Quirky but fun with some amazing plot lines. Great read.' Mumsy E.