The Reward of Delay Podcast

John Davies
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The Reward of Delay by John Davies. Historical detective fiction set in 1789 serialised in short episodes. Ambition thwarted, reputation wrecked, marriage in tatters. Down at heel thief-taker Samuel Kinsman is dying for a fresh start. Be careful what you wish for. The mutilated body of respected local lawyer Thomas Newton is found in Lichfield’s ancient cathedral. Samuel Kinsman’s strong-minded wife Susannah urges him to improve his fortunes by investigating the crime, not least because she is pregnant. Kinsman tries to uphold his principles of detection, but he doesn’t bargain for gun-runners supplying arms to insurrectionists in a France on the edge of revolution, for a sadistic French royalist spy, or for a secret militia of English vigilantes. Kinsman is assisted by his friend and researcher Frank Barber, a manumitted slave and Dr Johnson’s former manservant, and by his stolid watchman, Dudley Netherford. But their probing is hampered by corrupt patronage, family secrets and political intrigue. Their investigation leads to a climax as taut as the hydrogen balloon around which it takes place, and to a twist in the tail just as explosive. lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

  1. 6d ago

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 63

    Welcome back to The Reward of Delay. The story so far… It’s May 1789. Former theologian and freelance thieftaker, Samuel Kinsman is investigating the death of respected Lichfield lawyer Thomas Newton, whose decomposing body has been discovered in a box of organ pipes in the city’s ancient cathedral, currently undergoing renovation. Newton is survived by his beautiful wife and two daughters. Then, Newton’s young French maid is found drowned in Swan Pool near the cathedral. Unbeknown to Kinsman, a ruthless French spy has arrived in Lichfield trying to discover who is providing arms to Huguenot insurrectionists in Normandy. His enquiries, like Kinsman’s, begin to focus on local entrepreneur Jeb Brougham and his Midland Carrier Company. Kinsman is aided in his enquiries by his stalwart watchman, Dudley Netherford and his friend and expert researcher, Frank Barber, once Dr Johnson’s manservant and a manumitted slave. Kinsman must conduct his enquiries on behalf of the corrupt High Constable, Elford Rigby, who takes every opportunity to make Kinsman’s life as difficult as possible. Kinsman’s, Brougham’s, Barber’s and Netherford’s children all play together, but the recent crimes cast a pall over their games, intensified by talk of myth and legend. Kinsman’s wife Susannah, who runs a small schoolroom for local children, encourages her husband to seek better remuneration and is frustrated by his choice of career. Some years before they had been hounded out of London by threats from dockland gangs. Stone found with Newton’s body seems to incriminate a young mason John Forge who is working on the cathedral. Newton’s young French maid believed she was engaged to be married to him, but Kinsman has observed the close relationship between Forge and Newton’s widow… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 63

  2. May 23

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 62

    Samuel Kinsman completes the deposition for High Constable Rigby and makes his own demands. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 62

  3. May 16

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 61

    Thieftaker Samuel Kinman finally meets up with Potts in The King’s Head and questions him about his involvement with Monique Vesqeau. Kinsman discovers a new strand in his investigation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 61

  4. May 9

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 60

    Samuel meets up with his Watchman, Dudley Netherford and his Researcher, Frank Barber to discuss their investigation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 60

  5. May 2

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 59

    Unable to sleep, Frank walks the cathedral grounds at night, prey to Major Morgan’s stories about Lichfield’s pagan past – and his own nightmares and fancies. Then he hears two men in discussion, in French. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

  6. Apr 25

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 58

    The children find a dead dog at Swan Moggs and come home to Susannah bedraggled and muddy. Samuel meets up with Dudley to plan his visit to Birmingham. On his return home Susannah tells him about the children’s discovery and he goes to investigate. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

  7. Apr 13

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 57

    Susannah discovers the shortage in her housekeeping money and confronts her husband. Tristram Brougham encourages the other children to see his discovery by a stream. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 57

  8. Mar 21

    The Reward of Delay Chapter 56

    Samuel discusses his research with Dudley, Susannah is observed, and Frank visits Anna Seward. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

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The Reward of Delay by John Davies. Historical detective fiction set in 1789 serialised in short episodes. Ambition thwarted, reputation wrecked, marriage in tatters. Down at heel thief-taker Samuel Kinsman is dying for a fresh start. Be careful what you wish for. The mutilated body of respected local lawyer Thomas Newton is found in Lichfield’s ancient cathedral. Samuel Kinsman’s strong-minded wife Susannah urges him to improve his fortunes by investigating the crime, not least because she is pregnant. Kinsman tries to uphold his principles of detection, but he doesn’t bargain for gun-runners supplying arms to insurrectionists in a France on the edge of revolution, for a sadistic French royalist spy, or for a secret militia of English vigilantes. Kinsman is assisted by his friend and researcher Frank Barber, a manumitted slave and Dr Johnson’s former manservant, and by his stolid watchman, Dudley Netherford. But their probing is hampered by corrupt patronage, family secrets and political intrigue. Their investigation leads to a climax as taut as the hydrogen balloon around which it takes place, and to a twist in the tail just as explosive. lichfieldmysteries.substack.com

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