Skip to content

The Yard
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard Paperback - 2013

by Alex Grecian

1889, Victorian London. Twelve detectives--The Murder Squad--are expected to solve the thousands of crimes committed here each month. Formed after the Metropolitan Police's spectacular failure in capturing Jack the Ripper, the Murder Squad suffers the brunt of public contempt. But no one can anticipate the brutal murder of one of their own.


Summary

1889, LONDON.
JACK THE RIPPER’S REIGN OF TERROR IN FINALLY OVER, BUT A NEW ONE IS JUST BEGINNING.

Victorian London—a violent cesspool of squalid depravity. Only twelve detectives—The Murder Squad—are expected to solve the thousands of crimes committed here each month. Formed after the Metropolitan Police’s spectacular failure in capturing Jack the Ripper, the Murder Squad suffers the brunt of public contempt. But no one can anticipate the brutal murder of one of their own…

A Scotland Yard Inspector has been found stuffed in a black steamer trunk at Euston Square Station, his eyes and mouth sewn shut. When Walter Day, the squad’s new hire, is assigned to the case, he finds a strange ally in Dr. Bernard Kingsley, the Yard’s first forensic pathologist. Their grim conclusion: this was not just a random, bizarre murder but in all probability, the first of twelve. Because the squad itself it being targeted and the devious killer shows no signs of stopping before completing his grim duty. But Inspector Day has one more surprise, something even more shocking than the crimes: the killer’s motive.

From the publisher

As Jack the Ripper's reign of terror in London comes to an end, a new era of depravity sets the stage for the first gripping mystery featuring the detectives of Scotland Yard's Murder Squad. "If Charles Dickens isn't somewhere clapping his hands for this one, Wilkie Collins surely is."--The New York Times Book Review Victorian London--a violent cesspool of squalid sin. The twelve detectives of Scotland Yard's Murder Squad are expected to solve the thousands of crimes committed in the city each month. Formed after the Metropolitan Police's spectacular failure in capturing Jack the Ripper, they suffer the brunt of public contempt. But no one can anticipate the brutal murder of one of their own... A Scotland Yard Inspector has been found stuffed in a black steamer trunk at Euston Square Station, his eyes and mouth sewn shut. When Walter Day, the squad's new hire, is assigned to the case, he finds a strange ally in Dr. Bernard Kingsley, the Yard's first forensic pathologist. Their grim conclusion: this was not just a random, bizarre murder but in all probability, the first of twelve. The squad itself it being targeted and the devious killer shows no signs of stopping. But Inspector Day has one more surprise, something even more shocking than the crimes: the murderer's motive.

Details

  • Title The Yard
  • Author Alex Grecian
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 448
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York
  • Date 2013-04-02
  • ISBN 9780425261279 / 0425261271
  • Weight 0.87 lbs (0.39 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.98 x 5.96 x 0.9 in (22.81 x 15.14 x 2.29 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: 19th Century
    • Cultural Region: British
  • Library of Congress subjects Murder - Investigation - England, London (England) - 19th century
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

“Grecian has a talent for capturing gory details…extremely vivid (and strangely moving)…Bounding from the workhouse to the lunatic asylum to the stinking streets, [Grecian] does outstanding descriptive work on the mad and the maimed, the diseased and the demented. If Charles Dickens isn’t somewhere clapping his hands for this one, Wilkie Collins surely is.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Jack The Ripper has disappeared into the mist of Victorian London. But Scotland Yard—shamed and embarrassed over its failure to catch the taunting madman—must carry on…an absorbing launch pad for a new series built around the detectives who are finding their way in the new business of criminology. Fingerprinting, saving evidence, comparing notes from different crimes to see if there's a pattern, even something as simple as working in pairs are all novel, untested ideas tried out for the first time…[a] mix of historical facts and vivid fictional creations. It's great fun…Grecian's debut is the promising start of a new series and should be one of the most acclaimed and popular mysteries of the year.”—Huffington Post

“Alex Grecian's exuberantly grisly serial killer tale set in 1889 London picks up where the Ripper left off.”—The Guardian (UK)

“One can almost taste the grit of the city, smell the soot of the chimneys, and hear the clopping of horses’ hooves as the hansoms rumble down cobbled streets. Alex Grecian builds his readers a world in Victorian London and populates it with good guys you’ll want to root for and bad guys you’ll want stopped at any cost. The Yard spans about three days, just the amount of time you’ll need to race through this intriguing debut novel.”—BookReporter.com

“Lusciously rich with detail, atmosphere, and history, and yet as fast paced as a locomotive, The Yard will keep you riveted from page one. It’s truly a one—or two—sitting read.”—Jeffery Deaver, author of Carte Blanche and The Bone Collector

“A brilliantly crafted debut novel with unforgettable characters. An utterly gripping tale perfectly evokes Victorian London and brings you right back to the depraved and traumatic days of Jack the Ripper.”—Lisa Lutz, author of The Spellman Files

“Grecian successfully re-creates the dark atmosphere of late Victorian London.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A winner, filled with Victorian arcane and eccentric characters and more humor than one expects from such a work.” —The Rap Sheet

“Grecian powerfully evokes both the physical, smog-ridden atmosphere of London in 1889 and its emotional analogs of anxiety and depression. His infusion of actual history adds to this thriller’s credibility and punch. A deeply satisfying reconstruction of post-Ripper London.” —Booklist

“This excellent murder mystery debut introduces a fascinating cast of characters. Grecian displays a flair for language as well as creating vivid (and occasionally gruesome) depictions of places and events.”—Library Journal

“All the gruesome sights, sounds, and smells of a depraved Victorian London are vividly depicted…not for the squeamish. The characterization is particularly adept, and there’s even the occasional thought-provoking comment on industrialization and metropolitan Victorian society…Add to it all a few genuinely funny moments courtesy of absurdity and human nature, and you have The Yard: a gripping police procedural mystery and cracking good read. Recommended.”—HistoricalNovelSociety.org

“I enjoyed every minute of The Yard. If you like gritty crime stories with a psychological thriller edge then you’re in for a treat.”—Popcorn Reads

About the author

Alex Grecian is the national bestselling author of the contemporary thriller The Saint of Wolves and Butchers, the novels of Scotland Yard's Murder Squad, including The Yard, The Black Country, The Devil's Workshop, The Harvest Man, and Lost and Gone Forever, as well as the critically acclaimed graphic novels Proof and Rasputin. Grecian lives in Kansas with his wife and son.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£0.86
£2.41 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
G.P. Putnam's Sons. Used - Good. . {Is9781571031815
Item Price
£0.86
£2.41 shipping to USA
The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
Condition
UsedGood
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Imperial, Missouri, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£3.81
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedGood. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
Item Price
£3.81
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.10
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013-04-02. Paperback. Good. 88x14x131.
Item Price
£4.10
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
4
Seller
Houston, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.14
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013-04-02. Paperback. Good. 95x14x143.
Item Price
£4.14
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Kingwood, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.14
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013-04-02. Paperback. Good. 88x14x131.
Item Price
£4.14
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Kingwood, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.14
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013-04-02. Paperback. Acceptable. 8x5x1.
Item Price
£4.14
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard

The Yard

by Alex Grecian

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.81
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2013. Paperback. Acceptable. Disclaimer:A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£4.81
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard

The Yard

by Alex Grecian

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.81
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2013. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£4.81
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.35
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£5.35
FREE shipping to USA
The Yard
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Yard

by Grecian, Alex

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780425261279
ISBN 10
0425261271
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.35
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
£5.35
FREE shipping to USA