Books

‘A marvellous literary thriller, steeped in the atmosphere of post-war Oxford – immensely enjoyable!’ – Clare Chase, author of Murder on the Marshes

‘Unique yet nostalgic. Such a fabulous and interesting premise – to imagine C.S. Lewis as an unlikely detective. The Mystery at Rake Hall is a clever and refreshing take on the mystery novel. I couldn’t put it down’ – Jo Silva, award-winning author of The Edge of the World Detective Agency

‘The rarefied world of the Oxford College is authentically portrayed in this new novel by Maureen Paton, but there is a very dark underbelly beneath the soaring spires and Paton’s new detective, Oxford don, C.S. Lewis finds himself drawn into this sinister world’ – J.C. Briggs, author of the Charles Dickens Investigation series

‘The dog-eat-dog world of backstreet crime and the don-eat-don world of academia start to collide with satisfyingly violent results’ – The Times, Best Crime Fiction of 2025 So Far

‘The sympathetic portrayal of life there gives a tangible emotional undertow to this sprightly and elegantly written mystery’ – The Daily Telegraph

‘Brings academic circles and post-war Oxford to vivid life … ‘Jack’ Lewis and Lucy make for a determined sleuthing duo. A good start for a new series’ – Crime Time

‘Brilliantly reimagines the story of C.S. Lewis’ – Woman’s Own

‘Debut novelist Maureen Paton, has done a fine job in introducing Lewis to the world of the investigator … Very well-written with wryly amusing observation. The historical context of postwar austerity Oxford is excellent’ – Historical Novel Society

‘Paton has assembled all the finest elements of the detective genre – a fascinating protagonist, a rich set of subsidiary characters, a central moral conundrum, and an intricate and skilfully resolved plot. A richly satisfying read’ – Michael Arditti

‘An entertaining distraction that transports you to the dreaming spires of the university city and the fascinating, clashing cultures of “town and gown”’ – Church Times