'Satisfyingly violent' The Times, Best Crime Fiction of 2025 So Far

'Sprightly and elegantly written mystery' The Daily Telegraph

'A marvellous literary thriller' Clare Chase

'A clever and refreshing take on the mystery novel' Jo Silva

In post-war Oxford, secrets lie behind every door.

In 1947, with rationing still biting and the black market thriving, university don C.S. ‘Jack’ Lewis finds himself pulled into a mystery straight from one of his friend Dorothy Sayers’ novels. Susan Temple, his brightest student, has hidden herself away at Rake Hall — a hostel for unmarried, outcast mothers – and hasn’t been heard from since.

With no experience beyond catching the occasional student plagiarist, Lewis is hardly a detective. But when Susan’s absence continues to haunt him, he teams up with her concerned friend Lucy and together they delve into the disturbing rumours of a nasty racket at Rake Hall. Can Lewis’s nose for the truth separate fact from fiction?

In The Mystery at Rake Hall, Maureen Paton – whose mother lived at the real-life Rake Hall while pregnant with Maureen – brilliantly recreates a post-war Oxford world, as well as imagining an alternative life for one of its most famous residents.

RAVE READER REVIEWS

• 'An homage to post war Oxford ... an entertaining read with a mystery to solve'
• 'Blends historical authenticity with a compelling "whodunit"'
• 'Very easy to read, a page-turner and a real sense of Oxford'
• 'I loved this mystery .. the author brought to life the time beautifully … I cannot wait to see what she offers for her second book but this one will be hard to top'
• 'An enjoyable, atmospheric and very cosy read'
• 'A famous real-life writer solving a mystery … I really enjoyed it'