A Case of Life and Limb cover art

A Case of Life and Limb

The Trials of Gabriel Ward, Book 2

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

A Case of Life and Limb

By: Sally Smith
Narrated by: Jeremy Clyde
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £15.14

Buy Now for £15.14

About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith, read by Jeremy Clyde.

'As brilliant a cosy crime novel as you'll ever read' JANICE HALLETT
'A masterful voice in the mystery world' S. J. BENNETT

1901. Gabriel Ward KC is hard at work on a thorny libel case involving London's most famous music hall star and its most notorious tabloid newspaper, but the Inner Temple remains as quiet and calm as ever. Quiet, that is, until the mummified hand arrives in the post...

While the hand's recipient, Temple Treasurer Sir William Waring, is rightfully shaken, Gabriel is filled with curiosity. Who would want to send such a thing? And why? But as more parcels arrive - one with fatal consequences - Gabriel realises that it is not Sir William who is the target, but the Temple itself.

Someone is holding a grudge that has already led to at least one death. Now it's up to Gabriel, and Constable Wright of the City of London Police, to find out who, before an old death leads to a new murder.©2025 Sally Smith (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Historical Mystery Crime England

Critic reviews

Absolutely exquisite and a total charm. It reminds me of Dickens at his best. An utterly joyous read that sends you back in time with effortless skill (Imran Mahmood, author of Finding Sophie)
A cunning and delightful mystery with rich, wonderful characters and period detail so vivid, you can touch it (Ian Moore, bestselling author of Death and Croissants)
A total delight! ... Intelligent, insightful mystery ... all skillfully woven together with a poignant, human story. I devoured it in one sitting! (Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of A Murder of Crows)
Intriguing, engaging, and thoroughly satisfying (T. E. Kinsey, bestselling author of A Quiet Life In The Country)
All stars
Most relevant
Yet again Sally Smith has produced a gem! The pleasing narration of this tale makes it a e joy to listen not stop and the intriguing insight into the Inner Temple support my view that this one you will enjoy more than once.

Another puzzling trial for Gabriel to unravel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good characterisation and historical details set in familiar locations but with a reflection on modern opinions

Intelligent storytelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I enjoyed everything about this audiobook and highly recommend it. Can't wait for the next Sir Gabriel Ward novel.

This is beautifully written. Love the tone of the reader. The details of London are brilliant.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have really enjoyed entering Sir Gabriel Ward’s world again. What a wonderfully charming character and I couldn’t stop listening as the story unfolded. I really hope there will be more in the unique series in the future.

Another wonderful story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A wonderful ‘read’, so believable and and entertaining with my degree of knowledge of the Middle and Inner Temple and of being fortunate to visit on a number of occasions and to stay with friends, made it all the more exciting for me! I can’t wait to discover what 55 year old Sir Gabriel gets up to next. Delphinium will I hope return through her new cat flap, to curl up on the encyclopaedia Britannica stack!
Sally Smith has the most wonderfully Edwardian way of writing about this era, and of a place she can call home.
The reader was perfect!

Thrilling and exciting legal ‘Who Done it’ !!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews