Jim Eldridge’s Museum (Murder) Mysteries is an historical crime-fiction series set in late-Victorian London, featuring Daniel Wilson, a former detective from the Metropolitan Police, and his partner, archaeologist Abigail Fenton. Each novel centres on a murder tied to a famous British museum or institution—such as the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, or the National Gallery—where the pair are called in as private inquiry agents to solve crimes that baffle the authorities. The series blends classic whodunnit structure with richly researched historical settings, highlighting scientific rivalries, class tensions, and the early professionalisation of museum culture.
Across the series, the cases often expose the hidden politics of Victorian scholarship, including disputes over archaeological finds, forgeries, colonial acquisitions, and the ambitions of curators eager to protect their reputations. Wilson brings methodical investigative skills and quiet moral conviction, while Fenton offers academic expertise, courage, and a knack for noticing overlooked details—making them equal partners in unpicking the murders. Their developing relationship threads through the books, adding warmth and emotional continuity amid the atmosphere of intrigue.
