Jim Eldridge

January 1901. Abigail and Daniel Wilson, the celebrated 'Museum Detectives', journey to the Great Pyramid of Giza in search of ancient secrets. But their adventure takes a darker turn when, deep within the Robbers' Tunnel, they uncover a brutally murdered man - Simeon McGruder, an American writer who was investigating the mysteries of the Sphinx. Back in Cairo, the American Embassy draws them into the case, thrusting them into a web of intrigue. Caught between British and American powers, a fragile Egyptian government, and a circle of deceitful acquaintances, the Wilsons must navigate shifting loyalties and hidden motives, where every answer only deepens the mystery.

1900. Archaeologist Abigail Wilson returns to the Eternal City as a guest speaker for a festival on Classical Rome, although she also hopes the trip will be a well-earned holiday for herself and her husband, private investigator Daniel Wilson. However, the bloody history of the ancient arena seeps into the present with the violent murder of one of Abigail's colleagues and his wife at the Colosseum itself. Moving from the Forum to the Spanish Steps, Rome is suddenly the backdrop of another investigation for the Museum Detectives who clash with local authorities and a rising mafia influence in a race to uncover the truth.

May, 1941. Amid the turmoil of the Blitz, the body of a St Paul's chorister is found in the cathedral crypt. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson face a delicate investigation within London's most cherished landmark. The dead man was far from popular, and the cathedral's wartime staff - Night Watch volunteers, clergy - and visitors offer no shortage of suspects. When the inquiry uncovers ties to Bletchley Park's secret operations and a murky trade in art and rare books, the mystery deepens. And when the killer strikes again, Coburg must act swiftly to preserve both justice and the sanctity of St Paul's.

January 1901. Abigail and Daniel Wilson, often lauded as 'The Museum Detectives', are on their way to the Great Pyramid at Giza. Their explorations, including the Robbers' Tunnel, take a very sinister turn when they come upon the body of a man who has been brutally murdered. Investigations by the local police reveal him to be Simeon McGruder, an American writer who was penning an article about the mysteries of the Sphinx. When Daniel and Abigail return to Cairo they are asked by the American Embassy if they can take on the case, but they have a difficult path to tread as they try to keep different factions onside: the British and American authorities, the puppet Egyptian Government and officials, while at the same time facing lies and deviousness from McGruder's associates and friends.

April 1941, London. In an air raid shelter beneath Whitechapel Road, a woman's mutilated body is found, evoking grim memories of Jack the Ripper. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are dispatched from Scotland Yard to investigate. In the dark tunnels, they discover a battered Victorian doctor's bag filled with surgical tools, but has it been deliberately abandone? s more victims emerge, the pressure mounts to solve the case quickly. But their task grows more complex when King George and Prime Minister Winston Churchill enlist their help in a separate, puzzling inquiry, one that may also lead back to the shadowy streets of Whitechapel.

Rome, 1900. Fifteen years ago, Abigail Wilson joined an archaeological dig at the Colosseum at the start of her career. She returns now to the Eternal City as a guest speaker for a festival on Classical Rome, including the site of legendary gladiator battles. Travelling with Abigail is her husband, Daniel Wilson, a private investigator with whom she has built up a reputation for solving complex cases. The trip is also meant to be a well-earned holiday, but the bloody history of the ancient arena seeps into the present with the violent murder of one of Abigail's colleagues and his wife at the Colosseum itself. Moving from the Forum to the Spanish Steps, Rome is suddenly the backdrop of another investigation for the Museum Detectives, who must contend with the local authorities and a shady mafia influence if they are to crack this case.

First in a new series from Jim Eldridge, author of the bestselling series set in the world of museums, hotels and the London Underground. In this series, Eldridge explores crimes in notable UK cathedrals during World War Two, tapping into our perennial fascination with these landmarks. The next addition to the series takes places at Canterbury Cathedral, coming June 2026. May 1941. One of the senior choristers of St Paul''s Cathedral choir, Dr Edwin Roberts, is found beaten to death in the crypt of the Cathedral. Coburg and Lampson are called in to investigate. When they get there, Coburg is pleasantly surprised to be greeted there by Arthur Waterson, an old Etonian friend, now sporting a dog collar. Waterson believes that there may be a connection between the very precious books that are housed in the crypt and Dr Roberts'' work at Bletchley Park. As Coburg and Lampson work to solve a very puzzling case, it becomes clear that there is more to the brutal murder than they first suspected . Murder at St Paul''s Cathedral follows Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson as they unravel a mysterious murder committed against a senior chorister.

March, 1941. London is the scene of nightly destruction as the Blitz continues, and the bombing is taking its toll on the city''s inhabitants. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are recovering from a devastating bomb attack on the Café de Paris when they receive a call asking them to go to the disused Lord''s Underground station where the body of a man has been discovered outside the formerly busy station. The dead man was the victim of a brutal attack, beaten to death by what appears to have been a cricket bat. Could the dead man be associated with the British Empire XI, made up of players from Great Britain and far-flung corners of the globe, who are playing at the world-famous Lord''s cricket ground? Coburg and Lampson are put in a spin by this complex case.