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David Field
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The Posing Playwright: Oscar Wilde's trial is the scandal of the century... (Esther & Jack Enright Mystery Book 5) Kindle Edition

by David Field (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 426 ratings
Your favourite crime-fighting family are back! Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Rory Clements and Antonia Hodgson…

It was the trial of the century that shocked England to its core…

London, 1895

The whole of England is agog with the revelation that one of its favourite playwrights, Oscar Wilde has been accused of homosexuality and has brought a court action against his accuser in the hope of retrieving his good character.

When disturbing information is brought to light regarding the famous names that are likely to be dropped in open court and the dark crimes they may have committed, Detective Inspector Percy Enright and his nephew Detective Sergeant Jack Enright are ordered to suppress the scandal.

But when a leading peer goes missing, the caseload at Scotland Yard is stretched to the limit…

With two intermingled investigations and a fresh eye needed to spot the connections between them, Jack’s wife Esther, bored to distraction by domestic duties, finds herself involved once again…

Together they embark on another investigation into the seedier elements of late Victorian society. The Enrights are hopeful that this time they won’t be put in any personal danger.

But one can never be entirely certain…

THE POSING PLAYWRIGHT is the fifth crime thriller in an exciting new historical series, the Esther and Jack Enright Mysteries, a traditional British detective series set in Victorian London and packed full of suspense.

“An enduring mystery with a new detective partnership” Linda Stratmann, author of the Frances Doughty and Mina Scarletti Mystery Series

***DISCLAIMER: This novel reflects the views and attitudes of the prosecutors at the time of Oscar Wilde's trial when homosexuality was illegal in England. Some readers may find some of this language upsetting.***

ESTHER & JACK ENRIGHT MYSTERY SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Gaslight Stalker
BOOK TWO: The Night Caller
BOOK THREE: The Prodigal Sister
BOOK FOUR: The Slum Reaper
BOOK FIVE: The Posing Playwright
BOOK SIX: The Mercy Killings
BOOK SEVEN: The Jubilee Plot
BOOK EIGHT: The Lost Boys
BOOK NINE: The Retirement Murder
BOOK TEN: The Long Delayed Revenge
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  1. Book 5 of 10
    Esther & Jack Enright Mystery
  2. Print length
    259 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 13, 2018
  6. File size
    2.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07FFDS2DJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 13, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 259 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1912786268
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 5 of 10 ‏ : ‎ Esther & Jack Enright Mystery
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 426 ratings

About the author

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David Field

David Field

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David was born in post-war Nottingham, and educated at Nottingham High School. After obtaining a Law degree he became a career-long criminal law practitioner and academic, emigrating in 1989 to Australia, where he still lives.

Combining his two great loves of History and the English language he began writing historical novels as an escape from the realities of life in the criminal law, but did not begin to publish them until close to fulltime retirement, when digital publishing offered a viable alternative to literary agencies, print publishers and rejection slips.

Now blessed with all the time in the world, his former hobby has become a fulltime occupation as he enjoys life in rural New South Wales with his wife, sons and grandchildren to keep him firmly grounded in the reality of the contemporary world.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
426 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Ken Delafange
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Author
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2019
    This book was enjoyable to read. It took the best bits from a trial and made the reader feel as if they were present as a character. The book presented me with unexpected twists and turns despite being informed of their existence.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sully
    4.0 out of 5 stars Love
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Even though I have an interest in Wilde I just didn't enjoy this one so much.
    Don't know why but am going on to the next.
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  • omengirl
    1.0 out of 5 stars not worth the read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    boring for one but also very prejudiced.
    One person found this helpful
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  • A Shay Boyd
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2019
    Good book, not my favorite of the series but good nonetheless.
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  • Prof
    2.0 out of 5 stars Ugh!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Oscar Wilde? Really? And what does “posing” as a homosexual mean? And OW’s testimony was top ten boring and took up far too much of the book. I don’t blame the author for the boring as part of his research included authentic trial transcripts and I presume he leant heavily on those. He’s not usually a boring writer however this did intrude on my focus on the mystery.

    To include the OW business was extremely contrived as was using (and confusing) homosexuality, pederasts, and cross dressers being blackmailed as motive.

    Other than the thinly stretched motive the mystery was very good and the writing in that section very good. If you are reading the series don’t skip this one because there are new developments for Jack and Ester.
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  • HSJ
    1.0 out of 5 stars Very boring and filled with homophobic slurs and characterization.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2019
    If the author’s intent was to have his characters take on the prejudices and homophobia of the 19th century then he has succeeded all too well. Even with this in mind it was disturbing to hear such mean and vile things come out of Jack’s mouth. The other reason I did not enjoy this book, while really liking the first in the series, is how boring the trial scenes are. Were they just copied court transcripts? Even Jack says repeatedly how boring they are, so why subject the reader to them as well? The actual mystery seems an afterthought and holds very little interest. Finally, perhaps the series should be renamed as Esther is moved further off stage with every book and the contrivances to include her are increasingly strained.
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  • Southernese
    1.0 out of 5 stars Ainfu
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2018
    I couldn't finish it. The book is heavily homophobic. I've read the others in the series and enjoyed them, and since Wilde was a genius and the actual story of his trial is quite interesting and sad, I had great hopes for this book. The way homosexuality is addressed by the author and the characters makes me think I should not read anything else by this aithor.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Jeremiah Crouch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well thought out
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The story weaves in the Oscar Wilde trial in such a brilliant way. At points you think it follows the path to the end, then suddenly theres another clue and the characters are off again. The twists and turns were around every corner. Where and how they found the Pullman car was brilliant. The ending brought the whole thing together and made you feel like you should have seen it all along when you didn't.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tremse
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another case for Esther and Jack Enright
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Another case for Esther and Jack Enright to work on together - this time strange goings on interwoven with the trial of Oscar Wilde.

    It's hard for us today to understand just how scandalous the idea of homosexuality was in so-called polite society during Victorian times. Not my favourite of the books in this series but still worth sticking with to the end.
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  • Go Buy The Book
    3.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The year is 1895 and Detective Inspector Percy Enright and his nephew Detective Sergeant Jack Enright find themselves investigating a highly sensitive case. Playwright Oscar Wilde stands accused of homosexuality and with the possibility of high profile names being mentioned in court, the detectives must work to suppress any scandal. Meanwhile, in a second case, which Percy believes is connected, a peer has vanished on a train, and the carriage he was travelling on has also disappeared! With both detectives clearly out of their comfort zones, they hope that, this time, there will be no element of danger for anyone connected to them…

    Like the first in this series (The Gaslight Stalker), David Field has used a real historical event as the backdrop for this book, namely the trial of Oscar Wilde. When reading this book, it must be remembered that it is set at a time when homosexuality was illegal and people’s opinions were very much different to today. As a result, some other reviews I have read have commented on the highly inappropriate language used by some of the main characters. While it is correct to find this offensive today, it would have been common usage in the late Victorian era when attitudes, in general, were very different.

    Although the title is The Posing Playwright, and the main plot is, indeed, about Wilde, it was sub-plot that interested me the most, and could have been something straight out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. Not only has a man disappeared, but, somehow, so has the whole train carriage he was travelling on! I enjoyed Percy’s investigations on the railway as to how this seemingly impossible feat could have occurred and also learned a lot about the Victorian railway system in the process!

    While this was not my favourite in the series, it was still an enjoyable read. I just hope that we see more of Esther in the next book as she only played a minor role in this one.
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  • Amy Dawson
    4.0 out of 5 stars nice easy read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    As heading suggested a nice easy read, good story with a big of history thrown in. I like reading these books on my journey to and from work.
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  • Trisha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Blackmail
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    In private, to have habits and to lead a lifestyle that would horror others. Where that information to become public knowledge!
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  • j low
    5.0 out of 5 stars one of my favourite authors
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I have enjoyed the previous 4 books by this author I expect nothing less from this book
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