Historical Mystery
Date Published: 10-23-2023
Publisher: Level Best Books’ Historia Imprint
A historical mystery based on Helms’ Derringer Award-nominated EQMM short story “The Cripplegate Apprehension”.
In 1843 London, a Scottish woodturner named Daniel M’Naghten gunned down Edward Drummond, the private secretary to Prime Minister Robert Peel, while Drummond strolled the streets of Whitehall. M’Naghten believed he shot the Prime Minister and, after being informed otherwise and making a brief statement at his arraignment, he never spoke in public about the crime again. M’Naghten was represented at trial by firebrand Queen’s Counsel Alexander Cockburn, who intended to plead insanity and rewrite four hundred years of English Common Law in the process. In this fictional retelling of the famous historical event, Cockburn recruits legendary London thief-taker Vicar Brekonridge to travel to Glasgow, M’Naghten’s home, and find witnesses who can bolster the insanity defense. What Brekonridge finds instead suggests that M’Naghten was part of a frightening conspiracy to bring down the British government.
PRAISE FOR VICAR BREKONRIDGE
“In a seamless blending of historical fact and narrative skill, Richard Helms reimagines the sensational case of Daniel M’Naghten, whose 1843 murder trial set a precedent that reverberates to this day. Helms has crafted a thoroughly gripping historical mystery that will leave readers eager to hear more of the “notorious thief-taker” Vicar Brekonridge.
—Daniel Stashower, Edgar Award Winning Author of American Demon
“VICAR BREKONRIDGE may be one of (Richard Helms’) more intriguing creations…a fascinating character to follow around, as he makes his way through the streets and back alleys of London, through its open air markets and dingy taverns or journeying out to Newgate Prison to visit a man he put there…For all his rough-and-tumble manners, cynical bravado, mercenary motives and sliding scale honesty, in a shady profession not particularly known for its integrity, he struts through the streets of London, a cloud of hemp in his wake, hewing to some inexplicable personal code that betrays a startling even-minded empathy for the criminals he hunts down, and a concern for — of all things — justice, which reminded me of Sam Spade‘s moral ambivalence. “
—Kevin Burton Smith, Thrilling Detective Website
By the time the two bobbies pulled the shooter up the steps to the Gardener’s Lane Station House, word had spread of the attack on Whitehall. The station was becoming crowded with interested officers and some citizens, including one or two reporters who had happened to be in the station when the announcement was made.
The gunman had initially resisted the policemen, crying out as they clapped the cuffs on his wrists, “Do not detain me. I know what I am about!”
However, on the short march toward the station house, the young handcuffed man appeared to be strangely happy. He even chuckled several times. Constable Silver glanced at Constable Stevens as if to ask whether the man might be insane.
“It is done,” the man said softly. “I am at peace. He shall not destroy my peace of mind any longer.”
Stevens began the process of booking the man, but was interrupted by an inspector named Tierney, who conducted the interview himself. He ordered Silver and Stevens to stand guard outside the room.
“Look at me,” Tierney told the man. “I wish you to understand your circumstances. You are to be charged with an attempted murder. Do you understand this?”
To Tierney’s surprise, the prisoner looked up at him, and appeared to be at peace. He didn’t say anything. He was of medium height, with straw-colored hair and scant whiskers. His eyes were a penetrating blue. He was dressed in a black overcoat, with a cloth waistcoat and tweed trousers underneath. He seemed calm and collected, especially for a man who had attempted murder only minutes earlier. What struck Tierney most of all was the man’s youth. He appeared to be no older than twenty-five.
“Your name?”
“Daniel M’Naghten,” the man said. Tierney noted the man’s accent sounded Scottish.
“You’re from Scotland?” he asked.
Nothing. The man stared ahead, calm, unchallenging, but also uncooperative.
“What is your address in London, if you have one?”
Nothing again. This man M’Naghten appeared to wish to control the interview, something Inspector Tierney could not abide.
“The penalty will be quite severe,” he said, in a clumsy attempt to frighten the man into complying. It didn’t succeed. M’Naghten continued to gaze into Tierney’s eyes, seldom blinking, and showing no fear at all.
“I suppose you are aware of the identity of the man you shot?” Tierney asked.
“It is Sir Robert Peel, is it not?” M’Naghten said with a sly smile. “Have I not shot the Prime Minister?”
“I am happy to say you have not,” Tierney informed him. “The man you assaulted was Sir Robert’s secretary, Edward Drummond, and you had better hope no greater harm comes to him. The penalty for attempted murder is severe enough. Should Mr. Drummond succumb to his injuries—” He held his hand up, with the index finger pointed down, and waggled it back and forth to suggest a swinging body.
M’Naghten’s face clouded over. “I do not wish to say any more,” he said.
About the Author
A lifelong North Carolinian, Richard Helms retired from active practice as a forensic psychologist in 2005, after working in the field for over two decades. At one time, he was the only court psychologist covering four counties in NC. A court-recognized expert in sex crimes and the psychology of sex offenders, mystery writing was an easy transition and a logical next step after Helms left his professional career to become a college professor in Charlotte. He retired from teaching in the summer of 2016 to become a full time writer. Helms has twenty-two novels in print.
Besides writing, Helms loves gourmet cooking, woodworking, traveling, simracing, amateur astronomy, playing with his grandsons, and rooting for the Carolina Tarheels and Carolina Panthers. For a peek at his non-writing life, check out his other website at www.rickhelms.com
The parents of two grown children, Richard Helms and his wife Elaine live in Charlotte, NC.
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