1882, Oxford, and the Salvation Army has come to town. Its message of temperance is popular amongst some quarters, but certain portions of the population are less impressed with the message they bring. The Skeleton Army has arisen to oppose the salvationists and that opposition brings violence to the streets.

When a soldier of the Salvation Army is killed and a note suggests that the Skeletons are responsible, the police seem unwilling to get in the middle of the conflict. It falls to Non Vaughan, a student and Basil Rice, a fellow of Jesus College to get to the truth.

This is the second book in The Oxford Mysteries series from Alis Hawkins, but I’ve not read the first one. The setting of Victorian Oxford is an interesting backdrop. As an Oxford alumnus myself, it’s very interesting to see the changes and similarities to what I experienced just over 100 years after this book is set.

There is some excellent work here, both in the evocation of the setting and the character work on the lead characters. Both of the characters are on complex journeys, journeys that are appropriately difficult given the setting. And this is where the book may divide the opinions of readers.

As can be the case with historical mysteries, the actual murder mystery – which by the way is nicely done and does have a clue or two – is only one strand of the tale. I know full well that this isn’t what some mystery enthusiasts look for. Me, I’m happy with both aspects of the book, the history and the mystery, but if you’re looking for a Paul Doherty-esque sort of mystery, this isn’t really that sort of thing.

What it is, is a deep involving tale of upheaval and struggle, both personal and political, with a mystery threaded through it. If you are searching for a new historical window to peer through, you might well want to look through this one.

The Skeleton Army is out today from Canelo Crime in hardback and ebook. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.