A Killing in China Basin: 1 (A Ben Raveneau Mystery) - Tapa dura

A plot that's chock-a-block with red herrings and unexpected twists, an appealingly hard-bitten hero, and plenty of action make this solidly written police procedural a good choice for all fans of the genre.--Booklist

The plot is upstaged by the brooding characters, good and evil, the snappy rhythms of Russell's sharply observed prose and the promise of Raveneau's return.--Kirkus Review

With more twists and turns than Lombard Street, Russell's complex plot makes for a pulse-pounding police thriller. Raveneau brings old-school knowledge to investigations and learns a few new tricks himself--Library Journal

February, 1381. A splendid Southwark tavern, The Candle-Flame, is the site of a brutal massacre in which nine people, including John of Gaunt's tax collectors, their military escort and the prostitutes entertaining them, are murdered. The furious Regent orders Brother Athelstan to track down the culprits. (mystery & detective).