Vices of My Blood

A Murdoch Mystery, Book 6

By: Maureen Jennings

Narrated by: David Marantz

The compelling new novel by Canada’s answer to Anne Perry.

In his forties, the Reverend Charles Howard still cut an impressive figure. A married Presbyterian minister in Toronto’s east end, Howard was popular with the congregation that elected him, especially with the ladies, and most particularly with Miss Sarah Dignam. Respected in the community, Howard, as Visitor for the House of Industry, sat in judgment on the poor, assessing their applications for the workhouse. But now Howard is dead, stabbed and brutally beaten by someone he invited into his office. His watch and boots are missing. Has some poor beggar he turned down taken his vengeance?

Murdoch’s investigation takes him into the arcane Victorian world of queer plungers - men who fake injury all the better to beg - and the destitute who had nowhere left to turn when they knocked on the Reverend Howard’s door.

©2006 Maureen Jennings (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Jennings brings to life a violent but vital society of astonishing contradictions." (The New York Times Book Review)

a little bit predictable

when the culprit was with the Widow, I kind of wondered if he was the one who did it. a bit of an easy read.

No. 6 in the Murdoch Series, 1895 Toronto

In the sixth book of the series, Detective Murdoch is called to a church where there is the body of the dead minister in his office with a letter opener sticking out of his neck. The police are summoned by one of the church ladies who have come to get ready for a prayer meeting. She is extremely upset and the rumor is that she has thrown herself at the minister despite the fact that he is married. His wife is not well liked in the congregation. So was the minister killed by someone in his congregation who had it in for him? Or was he killed by a thief? His new boots and his silver watch are missing. At the same time there is a group of “queer plungers” roaming around who fake accidents and then collect money from the charity of strangers who witness the accident. Murdoch catches three such “plungers” and gets them to assist him in finding out whether or not a homeless person is involved in the murder. Also, there is the possibility that one of the families the minister turned down for the workhouse has it in for him, and this theory is compounded when one of those families is killed by carbon monoxide, along with others in their house, because of a blocked chimeney. Murdoch puts himself into the workhouse and a homeless shelter over-night to try to track down the thieves at least who stole the boots and watch of the dead minister. This is again a very compelling book.

One of the best in the series

Really loved this one. Suspenseful, great plot, some interesting side stories. Definitely recommend this one.

Addictive listening!

I find myself hoping for long commutes to listen all the time! I love the series

I truly enjoy the story

in addition to an entertaining story we get reminded how hard life was in the late 1800. the characters are true and likable. a great read before falling asleep.