A Morbid Passion

Praise for A Morbid Passion


“I was hooked from the first page…”
Alex Pavesi, bestselling author of The Eighth Detective


“Robert Holtom has written a mystery that sparkles with wit, compassion, and (my favorite) delicious intrigue. A Morbid Passion brings queer history vividly to life, reminding us that even in the most restrictive times, courage, humor, and love find a way to flourish. Selby Bigge is the sort of detective you want by your side when secrets start unraveling.”
Jeffrey Marsh, bestselling author of How to be You


“This sparkling Golden Age murder mystery, set in the glamorous but repressed world of 1930s London, brings us the further adventures of Selby Bigge, ably assisted by his partner in crime-solving Theo/dora. With murders to solve and secrets to reveal, A Morbid Passion is simply irresistible!”
Sean Lusk, author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley


“An intricate and satisfying puzzle whodunnit written with poise and sensitivity.”
Greg Mosse, author of the French Village Mysteries


“Deliciously delightful and witty. Robert Holtom recreates 1930s London in all its brilliant queer glory. Once again Selby has to unpick a devilishly tricky mystery in a world where deception, mistrust and secrets are the norm for this subsection of London life. There is so much to love in this second entry in this series. The story, its characters and the world in which it’s set linger in your memory long after you close the covers on this book.”
Jamie West, author of Death on the Pier and Murder at the Matinee


“Selby’s second case, a Golden Age mystery set at the decadent Servants’ Ball, sparkles with wit and banter. When murder strikes, Selby and Theo are faced with the challenge of unmasking a killer at a masked ball.”
Jo Cunningham, author of Death by Numbers


“It’s a joy to be back in Holtom’s vividly realised world: a brilliantly twisty mystery that delivers both laugh out loud wit and real emotional depth.”
Eleanor Wasserberg, author of Foxlowe


“A deliciously devious romp through the drawing rooms of fabulous houses and the dark corridors of twisted minds. With a sharp wit and sharper alibis, the gloriously queer cast tell a story that is cosy, clever and suitably scandalous.’
Jo Furniss, author of Killer Twist


“A thrilling queer caper through the clandestine underworld of 1930s London! Holtom once again captures an authentic period atmosphere as the intrepid Selby Bigge joins forces with his aristocratic accomplice, Theo/Theodora, to unravel another web of risqué intrigue.”
Phil Lecomber, author of Midnight Streets and The Devil’s Banquet


“A witty and splendidly subversive whodunit that combines Golden Age playfulness with contemporary edge.”
Tom Mead, author of Death and the Conjuror


“Insightful, thought provoking and hugely entertaining, this brilliant whodunnit will open your eyes, test your detective skills and leave you guessing until the very last chapter. The perfect read for any Agatha Christie fan.”
Ella Dove, author of Five Steps to Happy


“Holtom’s shimmering sequel to A Queer Case effectively grounds a historical whodunit in the social prejudices of its era… Wodehousian prose provides levity to a story that’s tragic at its core. It’s clear that this series has staying power.”
Publishers Weekly




Praise for A Queer Case


“With A Queer Case by Robert Holtom, crime fans can expect a refreshing treat with all the style and class of a golden age whodunit. Slick and clever, it’s set in 1920s London, where young gay bank clerk, Selby Bigge, must navigate a dangerous life of forbidden love while solving a puzzling high society murder. Lively, exciting and delightfully written. Five stars.”
Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal


“Robert Holtom has done something truly special with A Queer Case. This is a novel that doesn’t just entertain – it thrills. Imagine the sharp wit of classic whodunits infused with the pulse of LGBTQ perspectives, all wrapped in a world of wealth, scandal and secrets. Selby Bigge is an unforgettable protagonist – caught between two worlds, craving more than his stifling existence, yet tumbling headfirst into a mystery that threatens to expose everyone’s secrets, including his own. Holtom masterfully blends suspense, social commentary and a deliciously queer lens, creating a novel that is both a love letter to the golden age of crime fiction and a bold reimagining of its future possibilities… A Queer Case is an instant classic.”
Jeffrey Marsh, author of How to be You and Take Your Own Advice


“A perfectly structured old-school murder mystery with a delightfully decadent twist. It was such a thrill to see the “degenerates” of Hampstead Heath slink out of the woods of the traditional cosy crime story and take centre stage for once. This is a remarkable debut, full of wit and charm, and with prose as vibrant and sparkling as the gorgeously gay characters who grace its pages.”
Russ Thomas, bestselling author of Firewatching and Nighthawking


“Brimming with sparkling dialogue worthy of Noël Coward, this deliciously witty, gloriously queer murder mystery is written with all the elegance of Golden Age crime at its best.”
Sean Lusk, author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley


“Clever, atmospheric and intriguing.”
Greg Mosse, bestselling author of the Maisie Cooper Mysteries


“Selby Bigge’s yearning for love tugs at the heartstrings, but his irrepressible willingness to settle for sex in the meantime is highly entertaining too. He owes nothing to the cruel world of the 1920s but curiosity, loyalty and goodness combine to turn him into a sleuth, in this clever Golden Age debut, bristling with both clues and charm.”
Catriona McPherson, award-winning author of The Edinburgh Murders


“Holtom has written an instant contemporary classic. A queer case, where the mystery goes far deeper than murder.”
A. J. West, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Betrayal of Thomas True and The Spirit Engineer


“A tremendous start to an intriguing new series, a Golden Age mystery with more than one trick hidden from sight.”
Stuart Douglas, author of Death at the Dress Rehearsal and Death at the Playhouses


“A fantastically fun ride through 1920s London, full of clever plotting and a brilliantly drawn cast of characters, most of all the delightful, acerbically funny Selby. Holtom writes with wit, verve and style.”
Eleanor Wasserberg, author of Foxlowe and Light at the End of the Day


“This vibrant, sexy debut thrums with all the edgy glamour of the Golden Age and the visceral danger of living within the queer underworld of the time. Welcome to 1920s London and the new Poirot!”
Stephanie Scott, author of What’s Left of Me is Yours


“A marvellously fruity romp through 1920s London. Holtom delivers this alternative take on the Golden Age whodunnit with stylistic panache and assured attention to detail. I’m already looking forward to the next Selby Bigge mystery. Fantabulosa!”
Phil Lecomber, author of Midnight Streets


“Takes the reader on a deliciously unfamiliar path through the Golden Age world of detective fiction – unfamiliar because it has gone unmapped for far too long.”
Adam Macqueen, author of the Tommy Wildeblood novels


“One for Golden Age mystery fans, Robert Holtom’s witty, glamorous debut twists and turns as lovelorn bank clerk Selby Bigge navigates high society to find a murderer.”
Jo Cunningham, author of Death by Numbers


“Robert Holtom’s debut novel is riveting, witty and packed full of vibrant and eccentric characters. A gloriously glamorous 1920s murder mystery, its twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end.” Ella Dove, author of Five Steps to Happy and How to Rollerskate with One Leg


“An enthralling Golden-Age-style whodunit… Holtom enhances the whip-smart plot with a keen sense of humor… Fair-play mystery fans will be eager for the sequel.”
Publishers Weekly