The #MysteryNovember Book Tour Day 17 – William Savage @penandpension

Join us for the #MysteryNovember Book Tour.

Our guest today is William Savage and his book An Unlamented Death

When Dr. Adam Bascom trips over a body in Gressington churchyard, he never imagines it will change the whole direction of his life. As a recently-qualified physician trying to establish a practice in a small market town in north Norfolk, Adam should be devoting all his energy to his business. But it soon becomes clear that the authorities are intent on making sure the death is accepted as an accident and refuse any deeper investigation. Adam’s curiosity and sense of justice cannot accept this. He knows there are many unanswered questions about the death, but he has no standing that would allow him to become involved formally. Instead, he uses friends, old and new, unexpected contacts and even his own mother to help him get to the truth. Set against the turbulence of late-Georgian England, a country on the brink of war with Revolutionary France, the book reveals a land where spies keep constant watch on everyone the government deems ‘undesirable’, religion is polarised between the established church and a mass of dissenting sects, and the perennial ‘Irish question’ has spilled over into terrorism. Adam must thread his way through all of this, encountering many new demands along the way, from a family torn apart by religious bigotry, and a teenage thief turned informer, to a secret section of The Alien Office, a government department dedicated to keeping a close eye on anyone likely to prove a threat to the realm. As he becomes more and more essential to the government’s efforts to combat internal dissension and prepare for war, Adam finds he must draw on all his medical and personal skills to bring the case to a successful conclusion.

Where is your home town? 

Hereford, on the border between Wales and England, though I live now in Norfolk.

What do you like about writing in the mystery genre?

It helps give the story a definite sense of direction. I have always enjoyed reading mysteries and following the twists and turns of a puzzle. As a historian, that’s what you do in trying to understand the past.

What sub-genre of mystery does your book fit?

Historical mysteries, set in Norfolk in Georgian times.

Where is your book set?

In north Norfolk, mostly in an around an area from the coast near Holt and Cley, back towards Aylsham. Some scenes take place in Norwich too.

Can you introduce us to the main characters?

Adam Bascom is a fairly newly-qualified physician who is trying to establish a practice in Aylsham. He finds the body and it is his curiosity which drives the plot.

Peter Lassimer is the local apothecary and Adam’s closest friend. Where Adam is serious and focused, Peter is light-hearted and more interested in the local widows than solving mysteries.

Percival Wicken is Principal Under-Secretary at the Home Department and an important government servant. His appearance is mysterious in itself and he plays a major role as events unfold.

Sophia LaSalle is Adam’s mother’s new lady companion. Adam is alternately intrigued and irritated by her interventions, especially when she sees things he has missed. Unlike his friend Peter, Adam is awkward with women, especially clever ones like Miss LaSalle.

Other characters play important roles at key stages of the story, including a retired sea-captain, a rich Quaker merchant and the murder victim’s widow.

Where can readers find out more about you and your writing?

I run an active blog devoted to local and national Georgian history at http://www.penandpension.com.

You can also visit my Amazon author page via http://Author.to/WilliamSavage.

I am also on Twitter as @penandpension.

Where can readers find your book?

My book is available on Kindle at amzn.to/1C7gwlf. This will link to whichever is your local Amazon store, anywhere in the world.