Monday, March 9, 2009

The Architect of Murder: Sold Out!


I received a little bit of good news from Hale last Friday: the first print run of The Architect of Murder sold out earlier in the week, several days after publication on the 27th February. A big thank you to all my readers; I hope you aren't disappointed.

Hale are taking pre-orders for the second print run direct, and also through the usual channels like Amazon, Borders, etc...

Westminster, 1902: Major Alec Marshall VC, newly back in London, is enlisted to make inquiries into the will of the late Cecil John Rhodes, the wealthiest man in the British Empire. That same night one of the witnesses to the will, Eric Lowenstein, is found beaten to death in a seedy boarding house, where he was lodging under a false name. As London prepares for King Edward VII's coronation, Marshall discovers that Lowenstein harboured a deadly secret concerning not only the vast fortune Rhodes amassed, but the very future of the Empire. Marshall's investigation takes him into the dark heart of a flawed genius, and sets him on a personal journey that will change his life forever.

During the Second Boer War, Great Britain lost her most famous queen, her wealthiest citizen, and twenty thousand soldiers. Back from the veldt, Alec Marshall thinks the fighting is finished, but a new battle has begun...on the mean streets of Westminster.

"excellent writing" Bernard Knight
"a fascinating marriage of investigative mayhem with keen attention to historical detail" Graham Hurley
"a fine new novel" Bill Crider.
"hugely enjoyable" Books Monthly

9 comments:

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Great to see you here at last. I've ordered a copy this morning so hopefully those orders will roll in an get another print run going.

All the best.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Gary, I hope you enjoy the novel...and I'm looking forward to "The Tarnished Star".

margaret blake said...

Many congratulations, Rafe, on your reviews and sales.

Margaret Blake

Liz Hanbury said...

Fantastic achievement, Rafe - very well done :)

Anonymous said...

Margaret and Elizabeth, many thanks to you both, you're too kind!

Nik Morton said...

Some big name crime writers writing reviews there. Well done!
Nik Morton (Ross Morton)
(author of Pain Wears No Mask, among others...)

Anonymous said...

Many thanks, Nik!

M. C. Muir said...

Great news on first print run sell out.
I hope the orders roll in thick and fast.
Best wishes
Marg

Anonymous said...

Thanks very much, Marg. All the best.