AN INQUEST OF EELS

Jane Bitomsky

RIGHTS AVAILABLE: All rights available handled by The bks Agency

An interweaving of crime, dark humour and romance, this manuscript will appeal to readers of Sara Collins, Bernard Knight, Stacey Halls and Sarah Waters Think Crowner John Mysteries meets Confessions of Frannie Langton.

 April 1585, a naked man is found beneath Bramley Mill’s waterwheel. Beleaguered coroner John Derrick (historical figure) is charged with uncovering the identity of the man and the events that led to his demise. From the outset, Derrick’s inquest is riddled with comical mishaps, whether it be the deceased man’s missing manhood, incompetent jurors or an escapee eel.

 Meanwhile, Rebecca Laurence, a disillusioned kitchen maid, is facing a schism in her relationship with fellow maid (and lover) Lizzie. In an act of revenge, Rebecca engages in a clandestine affair with a journeyman staying at her master’s house. Which, if discovered, will have grave consequences for both of them.

An Inquest of Eels won the Claymore Award for Best Historical and has just been longlisted for longlisted for the Exeter Novel Prize and Retreat West First Chapter Competition.

Jane has a PhD in early modern English history, a BA (Hons) and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Queensland. She has published in academic journals, and is a volunteer baker for NZ charity Good Bitches Baking. Jane was awarded second place in the Yeovil Literary Prize and third place in the First Novel Prize; she was shortlisted for the Michael Gifkins Prize and the Darling Axe FPC, longlisted for the Spotlight First Novel Award and Plaza Prizes: Crime, and commended in the Marlowe & Christie Flash Fiction competition.