Lord Francis Powerscourt

Lord Francis Powerscourt is a fictional Victorian-Edwardian detective created by the author David Dickinson who has appeared in eleven novels.

Background

Powerscourt is descended from Irish aristocracy, his ancestral home is Powerscourt House in County Wicklow, Ireland.

Powerscourt's parents both died of Influenza while he was a child. His first wife and son drowned when their ship sunk in the Irish Sea. Powerscourt later remarried to Lady Lucy Hamilton and fathered two children, Olivia and Thomas, as well as becoming step father to Robert, Lady Hamilton's son from her first marriage. Twins Christopher and Elizabeth (known by her second name of Juliet) were also born and first appeared in 'Death called to the Bar'. Powerscourt was educated at Eton followed by Cambridge University. His early (and so far largely undocumented) career was with army intelligence in India and Afghanistan where he served with distinction. It is during these early years that Powerscourt discovers his talent for detection.

Powerscourt is great friends with Lord Johnny Fitzgerald and Home Secretary and Prime Minister Lord Rosebery. Fitzgerald, who Powerscourt grew up with in Ireland, acts as an aide and confidant to Powerscourt and assists in his investigations. Both Powerscourt and Fitzgerald have saved each other's lives during their army service together.

Books

All 11 books in the Lord Francis Powerscourt series have been published by Constable & Robinson.

Goodnight Sweet Prince (2002)

1892 - Investigation into the blackmailing and murder of Prince Eddy, the son of the Prince of Wales.

Death and the Jubilee (2002)

1897 - Investigation of a headless corpse found floating in the Thames and the threat to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

Death of an Old Master (2004)

1899 - Investigation into the murder of a leading London art critic.

Death of a Chancellor (2005)

1901 - Investigation into the murder of the Chancellor of Compton Cathedral.

Death called to the Bar (2006)

1902 - Investigation into the murder of the leading barrister Alexander Dauntsey.

Death on the Nevskii Prospekt (2006)

1904 - Investigation into the murder of a British diplomat in St Petersburg.

Death on the Holy Mountain (2009)

1905 - Investigation in Ireland of a series of art thefts from stately houses.

Death of a Pilgrim (2010)

1905 - Investigation into a pilgrim killed in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. More deaths occur to pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Death of a Wine Merchant (2010)

Investigation into the murder of Randolph Colville, chairman of Colville Wines, at his son's wedding. His brother Cosmo is found standing next to the body, holding a gun, but refuses to say a word.

Death in a Scarlet Coat (2011)

Investigation into the death of the Earl of Candlesby found dead on his horse with a corner of his scarlet coat visible in the morning mist.

Death at the Jesus Hospital (publication 2012)

Investigation into three men found with their throats cut. All are connected to the Silkworkers, an ancient City of London livery company.