$2.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

M J Porter
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Custard Corpses: An incredibly gripping historical 1940s mystery (The Erdington Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by MJ Porter (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 698 ratings

From bestselling historical fiction author MJ Porter, a gripping historical mystery set in 1940s Erdington, for fans of Helena Dixon, Emily Organ, L.B. Hathaway and Michelle Salter.

Birmingham, England, 1943.


While the whine of the air raid sirens might no longer be rousing him from bed every night, a two-decade-old unsolved murder case will ensure Chief Inspector Mason of Erdington Police Station is about to suffer more sleepless nights.

Young Robert McFarlane’s body was found outside the local church hall on 30th September 1923. But his cause of death was drowning, and he’d been missing for three days before his body was found. No one was ever arrested for the crime. No answers could ever be given to the grieving family. The unsolved case has haunted Mason ever since.

But, the chance discovery of another victim, with worrying parallels, sets Mason and his constable, O’Rourke, on a journey that will take them back over twenty-five years. They will have the chance to finally solve the case while all around them, the uncertainty of war continues, impossible to ignore.

Praise for The Custard Corpses

"Excellent plot, great story, had me gripped. Loved the ending and was left wanting more. The book title made me smile and I did wonder why such a title read the book & you will see why."

"Don't start this one before you go to bed, you'll be up all night wanting to read "just one more chapter." Great read not to be missed." Netgalley Reviewer

"I loved this unmissable book! It was impossible to walk away from. I literally caught myself holding my breath a few times. There are so many interesting bits I'm dying to mention but won't! All mystery readers definitely need to read this. I cannot possibly recommend it enough and am salivating at the mention of the next." Netgalley Reviewer

"This has a fabulous plot, is suspenseful, tense & totally unputdownable. Full of unexpected twists & turns, this was an absolute gem of a book & I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to read it before publication. I'm on the understanding that this is the author's first foray into writing a mystery; let's hope this isn't the last." Netgalley Reviewer

"MJ Porter created a masterful plot full of suspense and twists that kept me up reading late into the night." Netgalley Reviewer

The Erdington Mysteries

The Custard Corpses
The Automobile Assassination
The Secret Sauce

Read The Erdington Mysteries? Check out Cragside, a classic 1930s country house-style murder mystery.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Erdington Mysteries
  2. Print length
    218 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    March 25, 2021
  6. File size
    2.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 2 books.
1 unreleased or unavailable book is excluded.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start over
Previous page
  2. Genesis: The Creation of Unit 317 (Fernsby's War)
    Just released
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
Next page
Loading...

From the Publisher

Image shows a man and woman in 1940s period costume on a sepia background
Image shows a man and woman in 1940s period costume with 2 reader reviews to either side of them
The Custard Corpses: An incredibly gripping historical 1940s mystery (The Erd...
The Automobile Assassination: An incredibly gripping historical 1940s mystery...
The Secret Sauce: An incredibly gripping historical 1940s mystery with a quir...
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 698
4.2 out of 5 stars 366
—
Price $2.99 $3.99 $3.49
Ebook ✓ ✓ Coming soon
Paperback ✓ ✓ no data
Hardback ✓ ✓ no data
Audiobook ✓ ✓ no data

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08VHLRK93
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MJ Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 25, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 218 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1914332890
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Erdington Mysteries
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 698 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
M J Porter

M J Porter

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English/Saxon, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as three 20th-century mysteries) and fantasy (now published under a different name). I've also written my first nonfiction book, The Royal Women Who Made England: The Women of the Tenth Century, which is available now.

I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it's little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I like to write. You've been warned!

Not sure where to start your journey through Saxon/Early England?

If you're new to Saxon England, then Son of Mercia, book 1 in Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, is perhaps where you should start. And then follow on with Wolf of Mercia and Warrior of Mercia and the continuing books in the series.

King of Kings, book 1 in The Brunanburh Series, is the story of the build-up to the greatest battle on British soil you've probably never heard about, Brunanburh. 'An epic story of kingsmanship that will set in motion the pivotal, bloody Battle of Brunanburh where allies have to be chosen wisely.' The continuing series takes readers to Brunanburh and beyond.

And, coming in April 2025, Men of Iron, the first book in The Dark Age Chronicles. This trilogy will take my readers back to the very beginnings of Saxon England before the creation of Mercia and the other kingdoms.

If you like action adventure with a heavy dose of violence, foul language, and good old camaraderie - The Mercian Ninth Century series is for you, starting with The Last King (there are also Cleaner versions where much of the foul language has been removed - they can be a little harder to find but they are available). Fans of The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles will also find a familiar face. Or The Seventh Century, starting with Pagan Warrior, has a little more politics to go with the set-piece battles.

If you like stories about the forgotten women of history, then the Tenth Century series, starting with The Lady of Mercia's Daughter, is a good place to begin, the story of Lady Ælfwynn after the death of her mother. Or, The First Queen of England, with a little more romance.

If you're interested in the last century of Early England (before 1066) then The Earls of Mercia series is for you.

If you want to read it all, then you can read in chronological order or mix it up. The series weren't written in chronological order (I have a tendency to move backwards through time).

If you're as interested in the ancient kingdom of Mercia as I am, then the loosely connected, The Tales of Mercia is for you. The individual series can be read in this order but can be read in any order. I started my historical fiction writing journey with The Earls of Mercia, so yes, I began at the end.

1) The Dark Age Chronicles starting with Men of Iron, coming April 2025

2) Gods and Kings starting with Pagan Warrior.

3) The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles starting with Son of Mercia.

4) The Ninth Century books starting with The Last King

5) A detour to The Lady of Mercia's Daughter and A Conspiracy of Kings, from the Tenth Century series

6) The Earls of Mercia series starts with The Earl of Mercia's Father.

If you're interested in my 20th-century mysteries, then The Custard Corpses and The Automobile Assassination are the books for you. The Secret Sauce is coming soon. And Cragside, a standalone 1930s murder mystery set at the beautiful North Northumberland estate, and inspired by my Lockdown walks around the property.

My first non fiction book, The Royal Women Who Made England, is now published by Pen and Sword in hardback and ebook, detailing the information I used to write The Tenth Century series featuring Ælfwynn, Eadgifu and the daughters of Edward the Elder.

If you want to keep up to date with my latest writing projects, then please find me on your social media channel of choice, and check out my blog where you will find lots of information about my books..

Happy reading:)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
698 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Tim Emmons
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely gripping and absorbing all the way tthe end.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a great read. I was enthrallow from beginning to end. i haven't read a mystery like this in forever, and it by great fzn to read something with a classic feel like this. British mysteries to me, are always fun, and you never know where that twist is going to pop up, and this one delivered all the way through. If you like good British mystery, you like classic novels in the vain of Agatha Christie and just that whol
    genre itself, you need to check this one out.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • HelenH
    4.0 out of 5 stars Quite the Interesting Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, MJ Publishing for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “The Custard Corpses.” All opinions are my own.

    Chief Inspector Sam Mason from the Erdington police force delves into an unsolved murder case from 25 years past to solve a present day one in “The Custard Corpses,” set in 1943. The title doesn’t have much to do with the actual dessert confection, the whys and wherefores of that become apparent soon enough.

    The death of a child has brought up memories from the past, since an anniversary story has brought out the long dead child’s sister – who also alerts Inspector Mason to a similar case in another part of Britain. How this got overlooked he doesn’t know, but it sets off a chain of events that will soon prove to all and sundry they have a serial killer on their hands. He’s never forgotten what happened, thinks every year if something was overlooked, if there could be something new to investigate. And all of a sudden, there is.

    Alongside the investigation, which the author handles with a deft hand in very engrossing fashion we get a look at the emotions and feelings that accompany a wartime Britain, including recollections from the first war. The author has Mason very involved in showing how that shapes his present day.

    What’s interesting is how the advertising for a company that produces custard powder is the key to solving the case. And it’s Mason’s wife that produces a clue that brings about the link that starts to pull everything together. That was cleverly done.

    There are very emotional scenes in this book, when they (Inspector Mason and his female constable) find the source of the images that are the basis for the staged murder sites. They have found their killer. The case is finally resolved, bringing closure to many families. Too bad that there wasn’t more cooperation amongst the police forces; it’s obvious that the murderer could have been found out much sooner, possibly. Our author, M. J. Porter doesn’t mince words when pointing this out.

    “The Custard Corpses” is engrossing, a bit slow paced in places, but it does have to cover a lot of ground. My only strong criticism is that I do believe that Constable Higham is given a bit more responsibility than a female police officer would have had at the time.

    There’s an author’s note that explains more about the real-life settings and situations used in the book that makes for interesting reading itself. I’d be happy to follow more of Inspector Mason’s exploits.
    Helpful
     Report
  • JudyS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting concept
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    Chief Inspector Mason has been haunted by an unsolved murder of a young boy who was a friend of his son. Twenty years later, the deceased boy's sister brings to his attention another unsolved murder that occurred after her brother's death that was similar. Once looking into this second death, he figures out there is a serial killer that has been killing for over 20 years. The ending to this will surprise you and how it came to a resolution keeps you riveted to the story. I wondered about the title, but it eventually ties into the story. You feel for CI Mason with his war wounds and how the war is still affecting him and the residents of the community. Great read and cannot wait to read the next one in the series!
    Helpful
     Report
  • donna wakeman
    4.0 out of 5 stars WHO BUT NOT WHY
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    It is 1943 in Erdington and Chief Inspector Sam Mason is reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the unsolved case he investigated as a young constable. A young boy found on dry land had been drowned and not even the location of the drowning had been identified. The Inspector is visited by the victim’s sister, as he is every year, but this time she brings him a newspaper article from another part of Britain. It commemorates the 24th anniversary of another unsolved murder of a young boy in remarkably similar circumstances.

    Chief Inspector Mason is tasked with investigating possible links between the two cold cases and soon uncovers a serial killer who operated for over 14 years, crisscrossing England and Scotland. The author very skillfully unrolls the investigation, leading us logically and cleverly from clue to clue. The supporting characters, including the Inspector’s wife and his female constable, are fully fleshed and realistic, playing necessary roles in the investigation. The physical and emotional environment of Britain during WWII is helps set the tone of the Inspector’s responses to the investigation.

    I pride myself in being able to solve mystery novels well before the last page is reached. It is not possible in this case, because the killer and his motives, his very existence, are largely absent from the story line. At first, I found this lack of resolution unsatisfactory but on reflection decided I had so enjoyed the investigatory process and the character development by the author that it deserved 4 stars. In fact, I would even suggest that the killer’s motives be made even murkier, leaving us with a solution to the who but not the why.

    I received a free copy of this book via The History Quill Book Club, and the options are my own.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Deedra
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Custard Corpses
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2022
    Format: Audible Audiobook
    I LOVED this book!I could barely put it down! Mason and O'Rourke make a great team trying to find the connection in cold cases so old,that most of the people that worked them are dead. It takes fresh eyes to find the killer of these 2 children,as well as a few more.Well written.Narrated nicely by Matt Coles. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • harnden03
    5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put it down
    Reviewed in Canada on June 12, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I read the first chapter,and thought that it was going to be quite a good book. But by the time I reached the second chapter I was totally hooked. The characters are so real ,the investigation so fascinating. Good old fashioned police work. The murders quite horrific, the emotions of the police involved, kind of reassuring. An excellent book, that caused a very late, well, more early morning, which rarely happens with me. Highly recommend.
    Report
  • Mr. Robert Fielden Nicholls
    5.0 out of 5 stars A nostalgic read for me
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Having been born in Sutton Coldfield, 1944, ‘next door’ to Erdington I can mentally picture the locations mentioned. The story line is really entertaining.
    I’m now reading the next book in the series Automible Assassination. Very happy!
    Report
  • Typo 🐶
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wartime Britain Police Mystery
    Reviewed in Australia on August 22, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I must admit to finding the title a little misleading, "delicious 1940s mystery" made this novel sound much more lighthearted than it was. The subject matter alone makes delicious seem the wrong choice of word, however, this is a really good story.

    Sam is given information that makes him believe an unsolved murder of a child from almost 20 years ago may not have been a one off murder. To his amazement it is one of several child murders that have gone unsolved for various reasons.
    Report
  • granny4
    4.0 out of 5 stars a bit disturbing
    Reviewed in Canada on July 13, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It was a good read but a bit and only a bit disturbing!
    Report
  • Beryl Helene
    4.0 out of 5 stars Read it in one sitting
    Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book is quite different to the light hearted romp I was expecting. Although much more serious it is also much more gripping. This turned out to be a well writteñ police procedural that really conveyed the feel of the war years. I felt myself warming up more and more to the main characters.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report