The daughters of Cain : the new Inspector Morse novel, book 11

A superb new mystery--his richest and deepest yet--from Colin Dexter, featuring the cantankerous, brilliant Inspector Morse--known to millions of Americans through PBS's Mystery series.

"AUDACIOUS AND AMUSING. . . MAY BE THE BEST BOOK YET IN THIS DESERVEDLY CELEBRATED SERIES."
—The Wall Street Journal It was only the second time Inspector Morse had ever taken over a murder enquiry after the preliminary—invariably dramatic—discovery and sweep of the crime scene. Secretly pleased to have missed the blood and gore, Morse and the faithful Lewis go about finding the killer who stabbed Dr. Felix McClure, late of Wolsey College. In another part of Oxford, three women—a housecleaner, a schoolteacher, and a prostitute—are playing out a drama that has long been unfolding. It will take much brain work, many pints, and not a little anguish before Morse sees the startling connections between McClure's death and the daughters of Cain. . . .
"VERY CLEVERLY CONSTRUCTED. . . Dexter writes with an urbanity and range of reference that is all his own."
—Los Angeles Times
"YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW MORSE UNTIL YOU'VE READ HIM. . . . Viewers who have enjoyed British actor John Thaw as Morse in the PBS'Mystery!' anthology series should welcome the deeper character development in Dexter's novels."
—Chicago Sun-Times
"A MASTERFUL CRIME WRITER WHOM FEW OTHERS MATCH."
—Publishers Weekly

Following the success of The Way Through the Woods, Dexter returns with a superb new mystery featuring the brilliant Inspector Morse. When too little progress is made on a baffling murder case, Chief Superintendent Strange calls on Morse. Within a day, Morse has too many suspects, including the victim's long-suffering wife and stepdaughter.

“Audacious and amusing... may be the best book yet in this deservedly celebrated series.”—The Wall Street JournalIt was only the second time Inspector Morse had ever taken over a murder enquiry after the preliminary—invariably dramatic—discovery and sweep of the crime scene. Secretly pleased to have missed the blood and gore, Morse and the faithful Lewis go about finding the killer who stabbed Dr. Felix McClure, late of Wolsey College. In another part of Oxford, three women—a housecleaner, a schoolteacher, and a prostitute—are playing out a drama that has long been unfolding. It will take much brain work, many pints, and not a little anguish before Morse sees the startling connections between McClure's death and the daughters of Cain....Praise for The Daughters of Cain“Very cleverly constructed... Dexter writes with an urbanity and range of reference that is all his own.”—Los Angeles Times“You don't really know Morse until you've read him.... Viewers who have enjoyed British actor John Thaw as Morse in the PBS Mystery! anthology series should welcome the deeper character development in Dexter's novels.”—Chicago Sun-Times“A masterful crime writer whom few others match.”—Publishers Weekly It was Chief Superintendent Strange's opinion that too little progress had been made by the Thames Valley Police since the discovery of a corpse in a North Oxford flat. The victim had been killed by a single stab wound to the stomach. Yet the police had no weapon, no suspect, no motive. But within days of taking over the investigation, Chief Inspector Morse and Detective Sergeant Lewis uncover startling new information about the life and death of the victim, Dr. Felix McClure, late of Wolsey College, Oxford. The trail leads directly to a staircase in Wolsey College, and in particular to a former "Scout" there, one Edward Brooks-who disappears following the theft of a knife from the Pitt Rivers Museum. Then another body is discovered and suddenly Morse finds himself with too many suspects, including Brooke's long-suffering wife, his stepdaughter, and an enigmatic schoolmistress. Although each, it seems, has an unimpeachable, and unbreakable, alibi "Bizarre and bewildering - that's what so many murder investigations in the past had proved to be ... In this respect, at least, Lewis was correct in his thinking. What he could not have known was what unprecedented anguish the present case would cause to Morse's soul. Chief Superintendent Strange's opinion was that too little progress had been made since the discovery of a corpse in a North Oxford flat. The victim had been killed by a single stab wound to the stomach. Yet the police had no weapon, no suspect, no motive. Within days of taking over the case Chief Inspector Morse and Sergeant Lewis uncover startling new information about the life and death of Dr Felix McClure. When another body is discovered Morse suddenly finds himself with rather too many suspects. For once, he can see no solution. But then he receives a letter containing a declaration of love"--Page 4 of cover Chief Inspector Morse and Detective Sergeant Lewis probe the baffling murder of Dr. Felix McClure, late of Wolsey College, Oxford, and follow a trail that leads to Edward Brooks, who himself disappears following a museum theft When Dr. Felix McClure of Wolsey College, Oxford, is found dead the clues lead to a college servant, Edward Brooks. When Brooks is killed, Inspector Morse finds himself romantically involved with one of the suspects On Mondays to Fridays it was fifty-fifty whether the postman called before Julia Stevens left for school. This is Colin Dexter at his most excitingly devious' Daily Telegraph