Blood on the Thames : Murder, money and the making of the modern detective

by Morris, Thomas | London, Greater London
Published 12/11/2026 by Vintage Publishing (Harvill) in the United Kingdom
Hardback | 368 pages
241 x 163 x 30mm | 580g

'A brilliantly compulsive read' The Times'A page-turner' Literary Review

A shocking murder. A suspect with an alibi. A courtroom trial that gripped a nation.On an autumn night by the London docks, shipyard magnate Isaac Blight is found shot dead in his own armchair. Within hours, rumours spread across London and all fingers point to his business partner, Richard Patch. But Patch has an alibi, he has no obvious motive, and the crime scene is anything but clear.

Enter three men who will change the face of British justice: brilliant young surgeon Astley Cooper, relentless magistrate Aaron Graham, and courtroom superstar William Garrow. Together, they help forge the foundations of modern detective work.

What unfolds next is the trial no one wants to miss. Cabinet ministers angle for seats, British royals flock to the gallery, and the future king of France watches from the wings as the court case takes twist after twist.

Blood on the Thames races through the backstreets and courtrooms of Georgian London, blending vivid history with the taut suspense of a classic crime novel. A true story of greed, intrigue and a death that would echo far beyond the docks.

Praise for Thomas Morris:'A true-crime masterclass: meticulous, vivid and as compelling as any thriller' Philip Gray ' The research that has gone into this book is simply staggering' Daily Telegraph