{"product_id":"mystery-at-rake-hall-1","title":"Mystery at Rake Hall","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Satisfyingly violent'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e, Best Crime Fiction of 2025 So Far\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Sprightly and elegantly written mystery'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Daily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A marvellous literary thriller' Clare Chase\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A clever and refreshing take on the mystery novel' Jo Silva\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn post-war Oxford, secrets lie behind every door.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Mystery at Rake Hall\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRAVE READER REVIEWS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'An homage to post war Oxford ... an entertaining read with a mystery to solve'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Blends historical authenticity with a compelling \"whodunit\"'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Very easy to read, a page-turner and a real sense of Oxford'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'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'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'An enjoyable, atmospheric and very cosy read'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A famous real-life writer solving a mystery … I really enjoyed it'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Swift Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55761610178904,"sku":"9781800754850","price":16.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9781800754850_c29e77a2-ad17-444b-a338-61bd76587226.jpg?v=1771665350","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/mystery-at-rake-hall-1","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}