Death and the Running Patterer

238 Pages·2010·1 MB·English

by  Adair Robin

Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Sydney, Australia 1828
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
EPILOGUE
AFTERWORD
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO … ?
SOME SOURCES
MEASURES AND MONEY
Acknowledgements
MORE PRAISE FOR
Death and the Running Patterer
“The story’s climax, involving a classic Agatha Christie-like gathering of
suspects—some historical, others invented—is gripping and surprising … [The]
novel is packed with fascinating tidbits and in-jokes … [as well as] dollops of
trollops; a generous spoonful of crime and retribution; lashings of colonial era
minutiae and atmosphere.”
—The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
“[C]olonial Sydney comes gloriously alive and teems with a rich array of
characters both historical and fictional.”
—The Age (Melbourne, Australia)
“[An] enjoyable murder mystery … Adair gives us the authentic feel of the
roistering days of the early colony.”
—Pittwater Life
“Historically sound and fast-paced.”
—Australia Broome Advertiser
“[A] meticulously researched and cleverly constructed mystery … Entertaining.”
—Senior Lifestyle South Coast

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s
imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business
establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and
does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2009 by Robin Adair.
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PRINTING HISTORY
Penguin Group (Australia) Michael Joseph trade paperback edition / July 2009
Berkley Prime Crime trade paperback edition / December 2010
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Adair, Robin, 1936-
Death and the running patterer / Robin Adair.—Berkley Prime Crime trade paperback ed. p. cm.—(Curious
murder; 1)
eISBN : 978-1-101-44561-7
1. Murder—Investigation—Fiction. 2. Sydney (N.S.W.)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3601.D355D43 2010
813̍’.6—dc22
2010032717
http://us.penguingroup.com
For Julie
’Tis wonderful what fable will not do! ’Tis said it makes reality more bearable; But what’s
reality? Who has its clue?
—Lord Byron, Don Juan (1819-24)
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
(in order of appearance)
Anonymous private soldier—relieving himself outside a pub; may lead to a
sticky end.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Shadforth—“Die Hard” commanding officer in
the 57th Regiment in 1828 Sydney.
Captain Crotty, of the 39th—assisting Shadforth.
Captain Francis Nicholas Rossi—magistrate and police chief; a spy nursing
royal secrets?
Nicodemus Dunne—paroled convict, now a news-hawker; a disgraced
policeman, he still cannot avoid walking down the mean streets of murder.
Lieutenant-General Ralph Darling—aloof, embattled governor of New South
Wales; foppish, but don’t let those polished fingernails fool you.
Reverend Dr. Laurence Hynes Halloran—publisher of The Gleaner, a veteran
of Trafalgar, teaching and transportation.
Miss Rachel Dormin—Halloran′s protégé, a pretty free-settler.