Peter Ackroyd is one of the most titled English writers, a member of the Royal Society of Literature, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire. His bestsellers “The House of Doctor Dee”, “Chatterton”, “The Trial of Elizabeth Cree”, “The Journal of Victor Frankenstein” gained worldwide fame. The historical detective story “Hawksmoor” received two awards at once: the Whitbread Prize, one of the most authoritative literary awards, and the “ Guardian."At the beginning of the 18th century, the architect Nicholas Dyer (the prototype of the famous architect, Nicholas Hawksmoor) erected six churches in London to replace those damaged by the Great Fire. He, a follower of a religious cult, places an obligatory sacrifice - an innocent child - in the foundations of these buildings. Two hundred and fifty years later, Scotland Yard detective N. Hawksmoor is investigating a series of murders in Dyer's churches. There is a definite connection between Dyer and Hawksmoor, but what is it? The author forces the reader to independently look for the solution to this mystery.