Mind of a Killer

April 1, 2018

In 1882, Alec Lonsdale, an aspiring reporter for the Pall Mall Gazette, covers a fatal house fire, but the follow-up autopsy reveals that the victim's cerebrum is missing. Although his editor finds the story too gruesome to print, Alec teams up with the paper's only female reporter, Hulda Friederichs. Together, the two scour London, investigating other deaths that might be connected. They're followed, attacked, and threatened, even by the police, but the duo are determined to find the culprits, even if their search uncovers shocking answers. The author of the Sir Geoffrey Mappestone medieval mysteries (A Dead Man's Secret) launches a new historical series that delves into Victorian era figures, political and social conditions, and scientific and philosophical theories. While the large cast of characters confuses the story line at times, the moody atmosphere makes up for this flaw. VERDICT The story of two courageous reporters covering dramatic social issues and crime will appeal to readers of Anne Perry's "Charlotte and Thomas Pitt" mysteries.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2016
In this taut, pulse-pounding action thriller, a group of scientists are conducting research on the inhospitable Livingston Island in Antarctica when their station is attacked by a mysterious group of armed men. While some of the scientists flee in panic, others disappear or are captured and killed. At first, it seems that the marauders are illegal whalers, set on butchering whales for their meat, oil, and blubberand the riches these can bring when sold on the black market. As the surviving scientists try to escape the killers by fleeing across the barren terrain, some fall to their deaths down bottomless crevasses, while others freeze or starve. The few who get away are nearly defenseless against the terrible cold, so it's almost a relief when they are captured and brought aboard the illegal whalers' ship. But they discover a terrible truth on the shipa truth that leads to a daring and desperate plan to escape so they can prevent what could be a horrifying global disaster. Beaufort offers up a dark, dangerous, cleverly plotted adventure thriller that is as terrifying and nightmare-inducing as it is gripping and mesmerizing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

February 15, 2018
Set in Victorian London, Beaufort's latest mystery is based on real-life characters associated with London newspapers published during the late 1800s. Beaufort provides both authentic period details and an intriguing look at social customs of the time, along with an inventive and suspenseful plot, a colorful cast of characters, and a sensational ending. Returning home to London after spending nine years working in Africa, Alec Lonsdale casts aside his family's expectations that he take up a respectable career and instead sets out to become a reporter with the Pall Mall Gazette. What seems like a benign, albeit interesting, job soon involves him in a horrific murder case, which begins when a man's body is found in the smoking ruins of a house fire. Alec feels there are some odd details about the manner of death and sets out to investigate. His search eventually leads him to an ominous encounter with some of England's wealthiest and most powerful men. In the end, Alec discovers the truthor does he? An excellent choice for fans of fast-paced, twisty, action-soaked crime fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)