The Street Philosopher by Mathew Plampin

Thomas Kitson is the art critic of the London Courier but asks his editor to send him to report on the war in the Crimea. There he is answerable to Richard Cracknell, an experienced and cynical Irishman, with a talent for getting on the wrong side of the Army Brasshats. Further Cracknell is engaged in an affair with the beautiful young wife of Colonel Bryce, the corrupt and incompetant commander of the Light Infantry. Kitson and Cracknell witness Bryce's officers commit murder and robbery but higher command will take no action. Returning to England Kitson has to leave London and takes a job reporting on the social scene for a Manchester paper but the past arrives to haunt him. Mr Plampin has written a very compelling story well on a par with the Gunmaker's Gift that I reviewed last year.