130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Happy Long Weekend! We're open all 3 days! 📚 Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

The Custom House Murder

'A-Grade crime fiction' LEE CHILD
By Mike Hollow
Series: Blitz Detective
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.06 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 368 ratings, 33 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Custom House Murder by Mike Hollow is a gripping tale set in World War II-era London, where Detective Inspector John Jago confronts a mysterious murder at the Custom House docks. As wartime pressures mount, Jago threads through a web of deception and hidden motives, racing to uncover the truth amid the mounting chaos. The story intricately blends historical setting with suspenseful crime-solving.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy diving into intricately woven mysteries set in wartime London, this crime and thriller novel may captivate you. The author crafts a compelling narrative with vivid historical details and a gripping plot, making it perfect for fans of well-developed characters and classic detective stories.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

When a pacifist is found murdered, questions are raised: why did the man have a loaded revolver? Did he have enemies? As DI Jago digs deep into the man's past, it seems like more than one person might have had a motive for murder.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

September 1940 is finally drawing to a close. With London having endured the Blitz for nearly a month, people are calling for vengeance: Britain should retaliate even harder with their own bombing campaign in enemy territory. But once again, the night heralds more destruction.

At Custom House, anxious residents dutifully head to the nearest public air-raid shelter as the warning siren wails. When dawn brings the all-clear, people disperse, but one man remains—he's dead, stabbed through the heart.

As Detective Inspector John Jago begins his investigation, he discovers that the victim was one of a minority—a pacifist. But why, then, was he carrying a loaded revolver in his pocket?

The Custom House Murder by Mike Hollow explores this intriguing mystery set against the backdrop of war-torn London.

Series: Blitz Detective

View all
  • The Soho Murder
    December 1940. New Year's Eve draws closer, but crowds will not be gathering on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate. After a quiet Christmas, the whole area has just suffered London's most devastating air raid since the start of the Blitz and waves of incendiary bombs have burnt the heart of British book publishing to the ground. Detective...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Blitz Detective
    Saturday 7th September, 1940. The sun is shining, and amidst the good weather, Londoners could be mistaken for forgetting their country is at war—until the familiar wail of the air-raid sirens heralds an enemy attack. The Blitz has started, and normal life has abruptly ended—but crime has not. That night, a man's body is discovered in an unmarked van in...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Camden Murder
    As dawn breaks on a chilly morning in November 1940, a car is found ablaze in an abandoned builder's yard a stone's throw from the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, north London. In the burnt-out vehicle, police find the charred remains of a body. The victim is Les Latham, a commercial traveller for the Barings confectionery company. He liked to...
    By Mike Hollow
    Hardback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Canning Town Murder
    September, 1940. As the Blitz takes its nightly toll on London and Hitler prepares his invasion fleet just across the Channel in occupied France, Britain is full of talk about enemy agents. Suspicion is at an all-time high and no one is sure who can be trusted. In Canning Town, rescue workers are unsettled when they return to a damaged...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Covent Garden Murder
    December, 1940. Christmas is coming, but the season of goodwill is overshadowed by the death and destruction of the Blitz. In London's Covent Garden, where the glamour of theatreland rubs shoulders with the bustle of the capital's biggest fruit and vegetable market, the war has closed the theatres and ruined the market trade. When a daylight air raid hits the...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Custom House Murder
    September 1940 is finally drawing to a close. With London having endured the Blitz for nearly a month, people are calling for vengeance: Britain should retaliate even harder with their own bombing campaign in enemy territory. But once again, the night heralds more destruction. At Custom House, anxious residents dutifully head to the nearest public air-raid shelter as the warning...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Bloomsbury Murder
    The Bloomsbury Murder
    January 1941. When Detective Inspector John Jago is called to a terraced house in London's Bloomsbury district, he finds the body of a woman who has been attacked and left to die—her crime, it seems, being kindness to strangers. Rosemary Webster had taken in victims of the devastating Blitz and refugees from wartorn Europe, giving them refuge in her own...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Pimlico Murder
    A young man, Terry Watson, has been found in an Anderson shelter, battered about the head and with two white poppies in his pocket. As the investigation delves into Watson's background, Jago and his assistant DC Craddock find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico's shady underworld, and connections with Mosley's fascist party. It will take all their skills to uncover the truth...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Camden Murder
    As dawn breaks on a chilly morning in November 1940, a car is found ablaze in an abandoned builder's yard a stone's throw from the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, north London. In the burnt-out vehicle, police find the charred remains of a body. The victim is Les Latham, a commercial traveller for the Barings confectionery company. He liked to...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Dockland Murder
    November 1940. Darkness descends, and another anxious night begins for those tasked with guarding the industrial heartland of London from enemy attack. As a policeman patrols the Royal Albert Dock, something catches his eye—a man is sprawled awkwardly across a nearby barge, a dagger lodged in his back. The Dockland Murder follows Detective Inspector John Jago of West Ham CID,...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Stratford Murder
    October, 1940. Bombs are falling on Stratford when air-raid warden Sylvia Parks sees a house with a light shining like a beacon to the enemy aircraft overhead, violating the strict blackout regulations. With no answer at the door, she manages to break in, only to discover the body of a young woman—and she's been strangled with a stocking. For Detective...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Custom House Murder by Mike Hollow has received praise for its engaging portrayal of historical settings and well-crafted mystery. Reviewers appreciate the book's authentic atmosphere and intricate plot, which keeps readers guessing. Some highlight the vivid character development and the way Hollow captures the essence of the era, making it a captivating read for fans of crime and historical thrillers.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780749026929

Publisher: Allison & Busby

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 December 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Allison & Busby

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 352

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Crime & Thriller Crime and mystery gifts Fiction General Fiction Gift Finder Gifts for adults Gifts under $100 Gifts under $30 Gifts under $50 Historical Crime & Mystery Historical Fiction Historical fiction gifts In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Mike Hollow Military history gifts New Release Fiction Second World War gifts Series: Blitz Detective

About the Author

Mike Hollow was born in West Ham, on the eastern edge of London, and grew up in Romford, Essex. He studied Russian and French at the University of Cambridge and then worked for the BBC and later Tearfund. In 2002 he went freelance as a copywriter, journalist and editor. He's a published poet, and nowadays when not writing about the Blitz Detective he makes his living as a translator.

Also by Mike Hollow

View all
  • The Soho Murder
    December 1940. New Year's Eve draws closer, but crowds will not be gathering on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate. After a quiet Christmas, the whole area has just suffered London's most devastating air raid since the start of the Blitz and waves of incendiary bombs have burnt the heart of British book publishing to the ground. Detective...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Blitz Detective
    Saturday 7th September, 1940. The sun is shining, and amidst the good weather, Londoners could be mistaken for forgetting their country is at war—until the familiar wail of the air-raid sirens heralds an enemy attack. The Blitz has started, and normal life has abruptly ended—but crime has not. That night, a man's body is discovered in an unmarked van in...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Camden Murder
    As dawn breaks on a chilly morning in November 1940, a car is found ablaze in an abandoned builder's yard a stone's throw from the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, north London. In the burnt-out vehicle, police find the charred remains of a body. The victim is Les Latham, a commercial traveller for the Barings confectionery company. He liked to...
    By Mike Hollow
    Hardback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Canning Town Murder
    September, 1940. As the Blitz takes its nightly toll on London and Hitler prepares his invasion fleet just across the Channel in occupied France, Britain is full of talk about enemy agents. Suspicion is at an all-time high and no one is sure who can be trusted. In Canning Town, rescue workers are unsettled when they return to a damaged...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Covent Garden Murder
    December, 1940. Christmas is coming, but the season of goodwill is overshadowed by the death and destruction of the Blitz. In London's Covent Garden, where the glamour of theatreland rubs shoulders with the bustle of the capital's biggest fruit and vegetable market, the war has closed the theatres and ruined the market trade. When a daylight air raid hits the...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Bloomsbury Murder
    The Bloomsbury Murder
    January 1941. When Detective Inspector John Jago is called to a terraced house in London's Bloomsbury district, he finds the body of a woman who has been attacked and left to die—her crime, it seems, being kindness to strangers. Rosemary Webster had taken in victims of the devastating Blitz and refugees from wartorn Europe, giving them refuge in her own...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Pimlico Murder
    A young man, Terry Watson, has been found in an Anderson shelter, battered about the head and with two white poppies in his pocket. As the investigation delves into Watson's background, Jago and his assistant DC Craddock find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico's shady underworld, and connections with Mosley's fascist party. It will take all their skills to uncover the truth...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Camden Murder
    As dawn breaks on a chilly morning in November 1940, a car is found ablaze in an abandoned builder's yard a stone's throw from the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, north London. In the burnt-out vehicle, police find the charred remains of a body. The victim is Les Latham, a commercial traveller for the Barings confectionery company. He liked to...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Dockland Murder
    November 1940. Darkness descends, and another anxious night begins for those tasked with guarding the industrial heartland of London from enemy attack. As a policeman patrols the Royal Albert Dock, something catches his eye—a man is sprawled awkwardly across a nearby barge, a dagger lodged in his back. The Dockland Murder follows Detective Inspector John Jago of West Ham CID,...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Stratford Murder
    October, 1940. Bombs are falling on Stratford when air-raid warden Sylvia Parks sees a house with a light shining like a beacon to the enemy aircraft overhead, violating the strict blackout regulations. With no answer at the door, she manages to break in, only to discover the body of a young woman—and she's been strangled with a stocking. For Detective...
    By Mike Hollow
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Crime & Thriller

View all
  • New Release
    King’s Ransom
    Five innocent hostages. Five private investigators. A fiendish ransom game. Has Detective Sam Speedman met his match? A fast and deadly Matthew Reilly thriller. A DARING ABDUCTION The richest man in the world has been kidnapped. Along with four of his children. THE DEADLY CHALLENGE The kidnapper's demand: the five best private detectives in America must come to the missing...
    By Matthew Reilly
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    The French Illusion
    Bestselling author John Grisham delivers a new gripping, suspenseful page-turner about aParis honeymoon gone horribly wrong - and the nightmare that follows. After Paul and Chelsea Tanner's fairytale wedding, their future is full of promise. But their honeymoon to Paris takes a dark, shocking turn when they are kidnapped while on a day trip to the French countryside. Who would...
    By John Grisham
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • King’s Ransom
    New Release
    King’s Ransom
    Five innocent hostages. Five private investigators. A fiendish ransom game. Has Detective Sam Speedman met his match? A fast and deadly Matthew Reilly thriller. A DARING ABDUCTION The richest man in the world has been kidnapped. Along with four of his children. THE DEADLY CHALLENGE The kidnapper's demand: the five best private detectives in America must come to the missing...
    By Matthew Reilly
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    Lizzy's Pick Lizzy's Pick
    Chain Reaction
    Jack Reacher, \"the coolest continuing series character\" (Stephen King), returns in a brand new, pulse-pounding read from Lee and Andrew Child. The world’s bestselling hero is back in a brand new, high-octane adventure! ‘She knew that finding Reacher would not be easy . . .’ Washington DC. General Susan Turner needs help from the only guy she knows will get...
    By Lee Child and Andrew Child
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    The Family Cross
    In the gripping new thriller in James Patterson's globally bestselling series, Alex Cross faces his most personal case yet as a ruthless conspiracy targets Washington's most vulnerable... and his own family. Discover the latest gripping thriller in the globally bestselling Alex Cross series - now the inspiration for the original series CROSS on Prime Video starring Aldis Hodge as Alex...
    By James Patterson
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    The Heights
    In The Heights by #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sir Ian Rankin, murder comes to London's most exclusive high-rise - and every resident is a suspect... MURDER COMES TO LONDON'S MOST LUXURIOUS HIGH-RISE: AND EVERY RESIDENT IS A SUSPECT. The Heights: a gleaming, high-end high-rise looming over Hyde Park. Newly built from steel and smoked glass, it is a billionaire's playground offering sumptuous suites...
    By Ian Rankin
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    Death Row
    With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid! A thrilling novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden! Death is coming for her… unless she finds the truth first. Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering...
    By Freida McFadden
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Signed Copy
    On Sale
    19% off
    Dying Days
    Award-winning writer delivers a pulse-pounding espionage thriller. Missing soldiers, MI6 secrets and European partisans collide in a deadly game where the lines between lies and reality are fast disintegrating. In the dying days of the Second World War, a new conflict is about to ignite. May, 1945: After fighting to liberate Europe from the Nazis, Tito's Yugoslav Army and Allied...
    By Anthony Byrt
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    19% off
    New Release
    Fury In Death: An Eve Dallas thriller (In Death 63)
    In the new crime thriller from the bestselling author, Lt. Eve Dallas journeys into the darkness where murder is born… NYSPD homicide detective Eve Dallas has seen a lot in her time but even she is shocked by the savagery of a beating which leaves a wealthy biotech executive dead in his home office. The victim’s corpse is so mangled...
    By J. D. Robb
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    19% off
    New Release
    Tom Clancy Pressure Depth
    Jack Ryan Jr leads a team of divers in a race to beat the Chinese Navy to a weapon of terrible destructive power in the latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Jack Ryan Jr. is on Guam to work on a project for Hendley Associates. It's a perfectly ordinary insurance matter, but trouble finds the Ryans...
    By Jack Stewart
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Country Road Murders
    On Sale
    10% off
    New Release
    The Country Road Murders
    From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a pulse-pounding thriller about justice, vengeance and the roads that lead us home. No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades — LEE CHILD Cross Rivers is the kind of small town where everyone knows your name – and your secrets. Silas Tucker...
    By James Patterson
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    15% off
    Every Lake
    Scary stories are fun... until your life becomes one. When Alice was fifteen, her father killed Mia Heywood in their lakefront cottage before vanishing into the trees. At least that's what the locals think happened. Over a decade later, Alice has lost her job as a journalist, she's going through an expensive divorce and she desperately needs to sell the...
    By Adam Perry
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Crime & Thriller lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all