The Fireraisers

Dundee, Scotland, 1862. After the mill of businessman Matthew Beaumont burns to the ground, Detective Sergeant George Watters is sent to investigate. Soon, George discovers that this is not the first property that has been targeted. When a man is found dead in the hold of a trade ship, George discovers a shocking connection between Beaumont and foreign powers threatening the very country.

George tries to get to the bottom of the mystery, but clues are few and far between. What connects the enigmatic Beaumont to the murder and strange events taking place in the Dundee shipyard? The principal historical frame is Victorian Crime and Sensation Culture. The case draws on Dundee’s rapid industrial growth, crowded housing, docks and sharp class divisions, presenting Victorian policing as practical work embedded in neighbourhood relationships.