A Well-Earned Death

In 1671, Hubert Umfraville fled Barbados due to drought, floods, locusts, and incompetence. He returns to England to restore his fortunes through extortion but is found dead in an Essex orchard. John Grey, an Essex magistrate, investigates the death of a former slave owner, questioning the nature of justice and what we are entitled to do to gain our freedom.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

In the early 17th century, Barbados was a prosperous island known for its sugar cane production. However, the fortunes of Hubert Umfraville, a wealthy plantation owner, took a drastic turn when he faced a series of challenges that led to his downfall. Despite owning slaves and having access to cheap labor, Umfraville's crops failed due to drought, floods, locusts, and his own incompetence. Faced with financial ruin and humiliation, he fled Barbados in an embarrassing manner.

Returning to England, Umfraville sought to restore his fortunes through extortion. He had discovered a secret in Barbados that he believed people in England would pay him to keep quiet about. However, his plans were cut short when his body was found in the orchard of a house he had recently rented in Essex.

With a plethora of suspects, including his intended blackmail victim, John Grey, the Essex magistrate and husband of a famous London playwright, was tasked with investigating the death. As the investigation progressed, Grey found himself questioning the nature of justice and what it meant to gain one's freedom.

The novel combines historical themes with a captivating narrative, making it an excellent read. The author's portrayal of the characters, particularly Grey, is nuanced and compelling, drawing the reader into the unfolding mystery. The combination of some of the darker themes from history, such as the exploitation of slaves and the struggles for justice, with one of the most entertaining narrators in crime fiction, makes this a must-read for fans of the genre.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781408718711