Bad penny blues - Barrie Roberts

Aussie social historian Sheila McKenna is in the UK to research a book when she buys an old penny - one that has been used as a farewell token by a Victorian convict about to be transported. Starting from the inscription on the coin, she sets out to track down the convict's family. Soon someone is trying to stop her - with increasing violence. One of six families has something in its past which can affect its future. And someone in that family may kill to protect the secret. Sheila and her lawyer fianc Chris Tyroll run the gauntlet of ingenious and deadly traps before the past reveals all.

Barrie Roberts was born in Hampshire and for most of the last thirty years he has been a criminal lawyer. This is his third novel to feature lawyer Chris Tyroll and he has also written five novels featuring Holmes and Watson.