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Death Has Deep Roots

A Second World War Mystery
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( 686 ratings, 143 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
Death Has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert is a gripping and complex courtroom drama intertwined with a suspenseful mystery. The story revolves around a woman accused of murder, with the defence team working against time to uncover buried secrets and hidden truths that stretch from wartime France to the English countryside. The novel threads intrigue with legal strategy, maintaining tension as layers of deception and personal histories unravel.
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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 intricate legal dramas and mystery settings that transport you to post-war Europe, this crime and thriller novel may captivate you. With its blend of courtroom intrigue and investigation, it unravels a complex tale of murder and justice that keeps you guessing until the final reveal.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A masterful and atmospheric mystery combining high stakes courtroom drama with a search for evidence in a war-torn Europe, where the roots of the central deadly crime lie buried.

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

At the Central Criminal Court, an eager crowd awaits the trial of Victoria Lamartine, an active participant in the Resistance during the war. She is now employed at the Family Hotel in Soho, where Major Eric Thoseby has been found murdered. The cause of death? A stabbing reminiscent of techniques developed by the Maquisards.

While the crime is committed in England, its roots are buried in a vividly depicted wartime France. Thoseby is believed to have fathered Lamartine’s child, and the prosecution insists that his death is revenge for his abandonment of Lamartine and her arrest by the Gestapo.

A last-minute change in Lamartine’s defence counsel grants solicitor Nap Rumbold just eight days to prove her innocence, with the highest of stakes should he fail. The proceedings of the courtroom are interspersed with Rumbold’s perilous quest for evidence, which is aided by his old wartime comrades.

Death Has Deep Roots is a gripping legal thriller blending courtroom drama with the intrigue of a historical wartime mystery.

Series: British Library Crime Classics

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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?

Death Has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert is highly praised for its intricate plot and masterful blend of courtroom drama and detective work. Readers commend the novel's suspenseful narrative and well-developed characters, noting Gilbert's ability to keep the audience engaged until the very end. The vivid depiction of post-war England adds depth to the gripping story, which has been hailed as a classic in the crime and thriller genre.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780712352284

Publisher: British Library Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 March 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: British Library Publishing

Illustration: Illustrations

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Martin Edwards

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 190.0mm

Weight: 250g

About the Author

Michael Gilbert (1912–2006), a founding member of the Crime Writers’ Association, wrote thrillers, police procedurals and espionage novels that rank among the highest and most varied achievements of British crime writing in the second half of the twentieth century. Death Has Deep Roots was first published in 1951.

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