One Line Summary

When a severed hand is delivered to the Inner Temple in 1901, barrister Gabriel Ward is drawn into a legal and moral puzzle that tests Edwardian justice to its limits.

Opening Impression

A Case of Life and Limb opens with a carefully wrapped human hand arriving at one of London’s most venerable legal institutions. Sally Smith grounds the macabre in ritual, hierarchy and quiet dread, establishing an atmosphere that is intellectually rigorous and faintly gothic.

Synopsis

As further body parts surface and cryptic messages appear, Gabriel Ward KC pursues an investigation that exposes rivalries, scandals and loyalties embedded within the Inns of Court. The case forces him to confront both the killer’s intent and the ethical compromises of the legal world he serves.

Analysis

Structure: Courtroom drama, investigation and introspection develop in tandem.

Character: Ward is meticulous yet vulnerable, his doubts sharpening his resolve.

Themes: Institutional rot, justice versus reputation and the cost of detachment.

Verdict

A Case of Life and Limb is an intelligent, atmospheric historical mystery that favours moral inquiry over shock. A confident example of legal crime fiction at its most thoughtful.