M.J. Trow’s new historical mystery series kicks off with Four Thousand Days, a story that introduces Margaret Murray, an amateur sleuth based on an actual person. Margaret Murray was an archaeologist and junior lecturer at University College, London at the time of this mystery, October, 1900, This was a surprising book in so many ways. While I enjoy the appearance of actual figures, such as Rudyard Kipling and General William Booth from the Salvation Army, I didn’t realize until afterwards that several of the other characters, archaeologist William Flinders Petrie, and retired detective Edmund Reid, were historical figures as well. They were both intimately involved in this book.

The Friday lectures at University College are open to the public. Constable Adam Crawford of Scotland Yard attends Margaret Murray’s archaeology lectures. Because of that, when he finds Alice Grove’s dead body in her apartment at two a.m., he recognizes her. He doesn’t recognize her, though, as a prostitute. He recognizes her as Helen Richardson, a woman who also attends the Friday lectures.

Crawford isn’t happy with the supervising inspector who calls Alice’s death a suicide, and he complains about that to a student who refers him to the “cleverest person I know”, Margaret Murray. Margaret views the dead woman as one of her own, an archaeological student, so she works with Crawford. The discovery of a ticket sends her to a seaside resort where she meets retired Scotland Yard Inspector Edmund Reid. He’s interested, but becomes even more intrigued when a dune collapses on him, and a body falls out. It’s another female archaeologist, and, despite the incompetent local police force, he knows she was strangled.

Margaret and Reid team up in the investigation, at least exchanging information. But, it’s a party for Constable Crawford’s engagement that provides the necessary hints for Murray. As with many amateur sleuths, she finds herself trapped with a killer.

While Four Thousand Days was a fascinating mystery involving actual people, I was disappointed in the climatic confrontation. Earlier in the story, Murray talks about the most rewarding thing about being an archaeologist. “It’s about filling a gap.” As an amateur sleuth, she felt she was filling a gap in knowledge. However, I felt let down as to the killer, and the killer’s motive. Even Murray’s actions following the reveal were disappointing.

Four Thousand Days is an intriguing story involving women’s roles in 1900 England. It was a fast-paced story with great characters. I was just disappointed when the ending fell flat.

Four Thousand Days by M.J. Trow. Severn House, 2022. ISBN 9781780291345 (hardcover), 224p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley for a journal review.