The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald

Set in wartime London and based on a true story, Everest Macdonald investigates the murder of her uncle, the actor William Terriss. A riveting, dark historical mystery from Sunday Times bestselling author A.J. West.

‘Meet Everest Macdonald, your new favourite historical sleuth … a work of Bayeux proportions, beautifully imagined with perfect pacing and twists galore!’ Janice Hallett

‘A dark confection of phantoms, hidden motives, the angst of the Victorian theatre … and murder’ Vaseem Khan

‘You are in for one hell of a ride when you meet Everest Macdonald!' Essie Fox

‘A quite extraordinary story. You'll find it hard to believe and impossible to put down. A.J. West ... my kind of writer!’ Gyles Brandreth

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Some inherit a fortune.
She inherited murder…

1917. As the Great War rages on the continent, Everest Macdonald is summoned to her father's deathbed and entrusted with a final urgent request: she must uncover the truth behind the murder of her uncle, the celebrated Victorian actor William Terriss, a crime that has haunted her family for twenty years.

In 1897, Terriss was stabbed to death outside London’s Adelphi Theatre, a killing that shocked Victorian society. The murderer was swiftly arrested and confined to Broadmoor, the case declared closed. Yet, years later, a sealed package of evidence is passed to Everest by her dying father, which casts doubt on the official verdict and the haste with which it was reached.

Drawn back to wartime London, with her husband and children left behind, Everest begins her investigation, following a trail that leads her into the world of late-Victorian theatre, where fame and fortune mask obsession, envy and cruelty. With time running out and her father’s strength failing, Everest must uncover what really happened on the night Terriss died, and shed light on the unsettling legacy he left behind.

Based on an extraordinary true story, The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald is a dark, atmospheric historical mystery and a compelling adventure, as an unlikely investigator risks everything to pursue one of the most notorious killings of the Victorian stage.
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‘Everest Macdonald is a hero for the ages: fearless, formidable, and with a wit that could outfox any foe! A hugely evocative tale of madness, betrayal and revenge’ Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes

‘A twisty, fiendishly clever mystery story … I love the vivid period detail, the one-of-a-kind characters, and the settings that feel so real. Totally unputdownable!’ Gill Paul

‘A glorious cocktail of historical fact, Christie-esque sleuthing and Victorian melodrama. From Argyll to the far-flung islands of the British Empire, the indomitable Everest Macdonald blazes a unique trail through fact and fiction to a truly dramatic denouement' Alis Hawkins

‘Gripping, tumbling, witty, audacious and beautifully written’ Kate Griffin

‘A.J. West skilfully conjures the most atmospheric story to rival any theatre show: a grand production of illusions, of dark secrets, and betrayals’ Essie Fox

‘A breathless, continent-spanning whodunnit set in London's theatrical underworld. Everest Macdonald is a menopausal mystery-solver to make Wilkie Collins proud. My jaw dropped when I realised how much of it was true!’ V.V. James

‘A cracking mystery … Everest Macdonald is a funny and utterly charming woman detective dealing with mystery, murder and the trials of midlife’ Suzie Edge

‘An entertaining read' Sunday Times

‘Introducing Everest Macdonald. Determined, indomitable, smart and ingenious. A.J. West has created a masterpiece of historical fiction’ David Harry, The London Spy

PRAISE FOR A.J. WEST
*WINNER of the CWA Historical Dagger*
*WINNER of the HWA Debut Crown*
*Shortlisted for Booksellers Association Author of the Year*

‘Utterly thrilling’ Elizabeth MacNeal

‘Immersive, illuminating and exceptionally entertaining’ Matt Cain

‘A rare gem of a novel’ Susan Stokes-Chapman

‘Had me in all sorts of tears’ Jennie Godfrey

‘Heartbreaking, beautiful, lyrical’ Catriona Ward

‘Really very, very good’ Stephen Fry

‘Hypnotic. A hurtling tale of deception and self-discovery’ James Cahill

‘A devastating story told with great power’ Christopher Stephens

‘A thriller and a vivid exploration of a largely forgotten aspect of London’s past’ The Times

‘Affected me more than anything I’ve read in a long time. Essential reading’ Gareth Brown

‘An absolute page-turner!’ Hallie Rubenhold

‘An exuberant, moving story’ Rosie Andrews

‘Vivid, impressive and utterly immersive’ D.V. Bishop

‘Deeply affecting’ Heat

‘Electric ... an unputdownable read’ Attitude

‘Fierce, funny, and fabulous’ Jonathan Harvey

‘An original and hugely entertaining read’ Anna Mazzola

‘Bursting with memorable characters and stunning imagery’ Sean Lusk

‘Ingeniously plotted, vivid and memorable’ Historical Novel Society

‘A gripping historical tale’ Foreword Reviews

‘Historical crime fiction perfection!’ CrimeReads

‘A thrilling historical mystery, brilliantly researched and lavishly written’ Emma Stonex

‘Unputdownable historical fiction’ Gareth Russell

‘A beautifully told story that broke my heart and energised my soul’ Tracy King

A.J. West grew up reading books to escape his shyness at school and discovered an early talent for writing fiction which led to an award-winning career as a BBC television newsreader and reporter. He has also written for national newspapers and magazines and has appeared on television programmes including BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, This Morning and the legendary reality television show, Big Brother, where he became an instant household name... though the specific household has yet to be identified. Today, A.J. lives in South London with his husband, Nicholas Robinson.