Set in the summer of the Bodyline cricket series The Richmond Conspiracy is a crime mystery about men who have returned after war and are refugees in their own land—old certainties have vanished, betrayal is in the air, and Police Inspector James Maclaine has to determine exactly where justice lies.

Victor Radcliffe, prominent Melbourne businessman, on the committee of the Carlton Football Club, lies murdered in a deserted warehouse—the bayonet wound suggests a trained killer, but Maclaine and his smart-talking sidekick Harry Devlin, are having trouble tracking down the killer.

Why do the members of Radcliffe's household seem strangely offhand about his murder? Was there a woman on the scene of the crime? As for the woman in Maclaine's life, his marriage is on the skids and he can't keep his nightmares away. The Praetorian Guard, a shadowy group of WW1 army veterans, keep showing up, as does the charming step-daughter of the deceased.

Andrew Grimes was born in Bendigo in 1954 and is now working on a series of historical crime novels. He lives in Woodend with his family.

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'The history sits lightly on the page and adds interest to the story. Fans of Kerry Greenwood's 'Phyrne Fisher' and Sulari Gentill's 'Rowland Sinclair' series will find much to like in The Richmond Conspiracy.' Australian Bookseller & Publisher

'With a mature and intelligent style, a firm grasp of place and character and a good story, Andrew Grimes has written a compelling period police procedural.' Peter Corris

'Grimes effortlessly manages to balance placing the novel firmly in a historical place and time with an intriguing mystery.' Bendigo Advertiser

'Set against the backdrop of rising political unrest and the simmering tension of the notorious Bodyline series, The Richmond Conspiracy is a captivating novel. Grimes uses his fascinating historical background to good effect and has also concocted a convincing murder mystery that entertains to the end. The book moves at a good pace and Maclaine is an engaging and believably flawed detective. A very good debut.' Canberra Times