Arrowood #2 by Mick Finlay
Published on: February 5, 2019

You know you have listened to a great audio book when after you finish you feel as if you have just come back from the theater.

This 2nd book in the Arrowood series is set in 1896 – in a time where Sherlock Holmes gets all the attention, recognition and money.  However, William Arrowood is a professional private detective in the same era and he and his partner take on the more grittier cases that often don’t involve the upper class.  In this story, a couple requests Arrowood bring their daughter back home to them.  They believe she has married someone who does not treat her right and is preventing her from seeing her parents.  Arrowood and his partner take on the case, but soon find themselves rebuffed at just about every contact attempt they try to make with her.  However, not to be deterred they then take multiple different avenues to try and find out what is going on.  But one of these avenues leads to a woman going missing.  A woman who had tried to give them a few hints about what direction to take and had even agreed to help them make specific contacts with those that might help answer some questions. 

In addition to the larger mystery at hand, this particular book tackles how mental health, mental institutions, asylums, and mentally challenged individuals were viewed or regarded in the late 1800s.  Certain characters pronounce facts from books or from known “research” of their time that are completely debunked in today’s time.  The audio book itself opens with the definition and description of Mongolianism vs Down Syndrome and for what time period each were used or no longer used.  Then, at the end of the novel are further definitions such as what imbecile vs idiot meant for them as well as other time period information. 

In general, this series feels more like a traditional detective series, which is very refreshing.  It is rich in detail, historical accuracy, story telling, and character development.  The audio book itself is outstanding.  Each and every voice is unique.  Never once did I have to question which one of the two main characters were speaking or other any other characters for that matter.  And so much drama was put into the acting that it really felt like I was at the theater.  So engrossing at times that I didn’t want to get out of my car when I had come to my destination.

The Murder Pit by Mick Finlay is the 2nd in the Arrowood Mystery series.  However, it was my first time to read a book by this author and after finishing this mystery it definitely won’t be my last – especially since during the writing of this review I went and checked out the first audio book in this series from the library.