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A Morbid Passion

The Selby Bigge Mysteries
By Robert Holtom
Series: The Selby Bigge Mysteries Series
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Brief Description
London 1930. Selby Bigge and his aristocratic sidekick Theodora Smythe are invited to dine with Doctor Hector Fortescue and his family, discovering a web of unrest in the household. The good doctor is adamant that homosexuals can be ‘cured’ of their perversions, oblivious to the fact... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2899
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Releases 27th October 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "A Morbid Passion" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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A gripping 1930s-set whodunnit and love letter to Golden Age crime, this sequel to A Queer Case features amateur sleuth Selby Bigge, who must solve a murder at Lady Malcolm's Servants' Ball in London's Royal Albert Hall. Perfect for fans of Nicola Upson's Josephine Tey novels.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

London 1930. Selby Bigge and his aristocratic sidekick Theodora Smythe are invited to dine with Doctor Hector Fortescue and his family, discovering a web of unrest in the household. The good doctor is adamant that homosexuals can be ‘cured’ of their perversions, oblivious to the fact his son Lancelot is ‘as fruity as a pineapple’.

Later that evening Theodora becomes Theo and attends the Servants’ Ball with Selby – a fancy-dress dance for servants, which attracts queers of all classes. Lancelot makes a surprise appearance dressed as Harlequin, as do other members of the Fortescue household. And before the night is out Selby and Theo will have another murder to solve.

Digging deeper, the duo – assisted by the impossibly glamorous nightclub singer Lady Splendid – discover that secrets abound both above and below stairs in the Kensington home of the Fortescue family. And the stakes get even higher when Selby encounters policemen he’s met before, who’d love to arrest him for being queer. Can Selby solve the crime or will this be his last dance?

Series: The Selby Bigge Mysteries Series

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  • A Queer Case
    A gripping 1920s-set whodunnit, this debut features a queer sleuth who must solve a murder in a mansion on London’s Hampstead Heath without revealing his sexuality, lest he be arrested as a criminal. The Selby Bigge mysteries series debut will leave readers eager for the next instalment. Perfect for fans of Nicola Upson’s Josephine Tey novels. London, 1929. Selby Bigge...
    By Robert Holtom
    Paperback
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781835413197

Publisher: Titan Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 June 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Titan Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 369g

Pages: 352

Collections

Coming Soon in Fiction Crime & Thriller Fiction General Fiction Historical Crime & Mystery Historical Fiction LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+ Romance Pre-order Books Pre-Order Crime & Thriller Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date Robert Holtom Series: The Selby Bigge Mysteries Series

About the Author

Robert Holtom is an award-winning playwright and storytelling coach, based in London. Their play ‘Dumbledore Is So Gay’ won a VAULT Festival Origins Award for new work and an Offies Commendation. It has since played at the Pleasance and the Southwark Playhouse, receiving five stars from the Daily Express, Broadway World and Theatre Weekly. Robert also runs workshops in writing and communication skills. You can find Robert on Twitter/X at @Robert_Holtom; on Instagram at @robertholtomwriter and at their website robertholtom.co.uk.

Also by Robert Holtom

View all
  • A Queer Case
    A gripping 1920s-set whodunnit, this debut features a queer sleuth who must solve a murder in a mansion on London’s Hampstead Heath without revealing his sexuality, lest he be arrested as a criminal. The Selby Bigge mysteries series debut will leave readers eager for the next instalment. Perfect for fans of Nicola Upson’s Josephine Tey novels. London, 1929. Selby Bigge...
    By Robert Holtom
    Paperback
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

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