Excerpt from The Darwin Affair by Tim Mason, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"I see," said Field. "Comes every other day, wheeling a barrow with a joint or a haunch, and the dogs all love him 'cause his apron's covered in blood, is that about right, Willis, my boy?"

"That's about it, sir!" cried Willis triumphantly, looking around and grinning as though he were about to take a bow. The crowd, however—or at least a number of them—had assumed more thoughtful expressions and did not look as likely to applaud as they had a moment ago.

Police Constable Sam Llewellyn, a black-haired, pink-cheeked lad from Abergavenny, arrived breathlessly. "Sir, you're wanted." Llewellyn's gaze fell on the body of Stevie Patchen. "Good Lord. Where in God's name is the blighter's left ear?"

"Well , I haven't got it, Mr. Llewellyn. Get the crowd back and have a look round. Also, Stevie threw a bundle into the bushes back there—find it."

"Yes, sir. I was sent to fetch you, sir. You're wanted at the palace." His voice dropped to an undertone. "It seems the royal family is not best pleased."

Excerpted from The Darwin Affair by Tim Mason. Copyright © 2019 by Tim Mason. Excerpted by permission of Algonquin Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.