Irish Jack's Women

A rollicking murder mystery set in County Roscommon that gives an amazingly accurate picture of Ireland in 1847 during the worst years of the famine. Handsome and roguish, ‘Irish Jack’ Spellman is a ganger on the railways whose leadership of his team of Irish navies is essential for the completion of the West Coast Line from England to Scotland. On a visit to his home in Ireland, Jack is arrested for the murder of his landlord. A swift trial and execution seem likely until Grace Savage; a beautiful admirer throws herself on the mercy of Jack’s boss, railway builder, Joseph Locke. Locke is seduced by Grace into going to Ireland and using his influence as a Member of Parliament to ensure that Jack receives a fair trial. Locke’s infatuation with Jack’s wife adds to his determination to free the accused man. Once in Ireland, the suffering caused by the famine and the lack of response to it by his own government appals Locke. He travels to Roscommon to investigate the murder using scientific methods and overcomes many of the prejudices of the time against the Irish. Frank Lean has previously published seven novels about Manchester Private Eye, Dave Cunane that are available on Amazon. Frank Lean’s crime fiction has received critical acclaim and he was the runner up for the Golden Dagger award of the Crime Writers Association.