Deadmistress

Susan Lombardi Mystery, Book 1

By: Carole B. Shmurak

Narrated by: Barbara Benjamin-Creel

Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

The headmistress of an exclusive private school for girls has been found murdered in her office. When professor Susan Lombardi learns that her friend John is the prime suspect, she sets out to clear his name, but her research uncovers some troubling secrets about the school's faculty and students. And soon it becomes clear that John is not the only one with a motive for murder.

©2004, 2011 Carole B. Shmurak (P)2014 Carole B. Shmurak

Narration put you right in the story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

no

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

the twists and turns of the characters and plot

Have you listened to any of Barbara Benjamin-Creel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

first time, and i cant wait to hear more

Could you see Deadmistress being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

meryl streep, clint eastwood

A Smart Campus Mystery

I really enjoyed this semi-short campus mystery and the series as well. I listened to Book 2 first so I was already familiar and comfortable with the main characters. It was a little like becoming reaquainted with old friends.

Susan is a very likeable, fun character and it made it all the more enjoyable to listen to with fresh ears. This was a light story, not too heavy which was relaxing. It delves into campus politics a little and leads up to Susan having tenure at Metroplitan University in Book 2. I loved the part of the story where she and the girls have the tribunal. That was a neat twist.

So overall this is shaping up to be a great series and I look forward to Book 3. Another thing that makes this extra fun for me is that I live very close to a large university steeped in school spirit. Great work by Carole Shmurak. And again wonderfully narrated by Barbara Benjamin-Creel.

I received this audiobook foc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Audiobook is a treat!

Any additional comments?

I was lucky enough to win an audiobook of DEADMISTRESS by Carole Shmurak. Since it was my very first audiobook, and I "read" the story on my early morning walk when I wasn’t yet awake, I listened to it twice.

Professor Susan Lombardi becomes an eager amateur sleuth when a body turns up and her friend turns into the prime suspect. She’s a great character to spend time with and has a few piquant perceptions.

Other characters are charming and funny, with some highly enjoyable accents. I’m surprised by how rich the experience of listening to books can be.

The first Susan Lombardi mystery was originally published in 2004 and this audiobook with narrator Barbara Benjamin-Creel was published in 2014.

I shall definitely be listening to more of Susan’s adventures.

In the Style of Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plumb

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deadmistress?

One of the teachers at a private boarding school for girls has been murdered. An alumni, Susan, is out to investigate on her own and find out who done it.

This is a well-written, chick light book. It was delectable and a great nice, funny (not that murder is funny) ride that keeps the attention of the reader and I was guessing until the end.

The narration by Barbra Benjamin-Creel was charming and enchanting among a wide variety of characters.

While this was a nice book, I doubt that I will continue with this category of book only because my taste tends to run a bit darker.

Notes: nothing to worry about here.

Credit worthy/$: This is a tough one, it is sharp and entertaining but not anything I would use a credit or my cash on it as it is only 4+ hours. *However, I received free copy off this book in exchange for my thoughts and the review.* I really enjoyed it.

If you found this review helpful please select yes immediately underneath this text. Thank you.

Present day old-fashioned mystery.

What made the experience of listening to Deadmistress the most enjoyable?

What a refreshing change! No dismembered bodies, no strange poisons, no vampires and no dystopia. Deadmistress is just a good old-fashioned who done it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deadmistress?

When I realized that the heroine was likeable and smart.

Which character – as performed by Barbara Benjamin-Creel – was your favorite?

Susan Lombardi.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I liked this new detective and hope there will be more in the series.

Great mystery!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It is a clean listen with a great ending. My review is not a synopsis of the book, but rather my opinion of it. I have listened to other books by this author and narrator before and enjoy their style. This book is original and has some humor. It is a standalone listen and part of a series. I was provided with this review copy audiobook at no charge and have voluntarily written this review.

A cozy little mystery ...

What about Barbara Benjamin-Creel’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed Ms. Benjamin-Creel's performance very much. I felt that she gave each character a voice and kept you interested in the story. Her pace of reading the book was good and kept the story flowing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

As this book is under 5 hours long, I think it would be a great book to listen to in the car when you have a long drive or would be able to finish it in a day.

Any additional comments?

Deadmistress is a cozy little mystery set at an all girls school in New England. Susan Lombardi is a professor at a near by college but was on the faculty of the girls school not so long ago. After the head mistress is found dead and one of her former co workers is accused of the crime, Susan goes about trying to solve the case.

While I thought the mystery aspect of the book was solid, I did feel that it concluded too abruptly. It was almost like there was a page/word limit and all of the sudden the mystery had to be solved. Another chapter or 2 would have made it flow better.

I would recommend this book to my friends who are interested in shorter mysteries.

Cute Cozy Mystery Set in Academic Setting

Any additional comments?

Deadmistress is a good cozy mystery written by Carole B. Shmurak. The story centers around Susan Lombardi who is s a professor at a Connecticut university who used to teach at an exclusive private girl's high school, Wittenbury Academy. After the unlikeable headmistress at Wittenbury is murdered, Susan investigates the death to satisfy her curiosity under the guise of helping to clear the name of a teacher friend who is the primary suspect.

Throughout the story, we are introduced to several interesting characters, including Susan’s accommodating husband Swash, her best friend, Elaine, and an adult student who holds a private investigator’s license, Mark. With the help of her posse and a few high school students, Susan helps solve the murder of the headmistress quite nicely.

Barbara Benjamin-Creel did a great job narrating. Her inflictions and tone were appropriate and she exhibited the right amount of “spunk” and cheekiness needed in a cozy mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed her reading!

Dead Mistress review

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deadmistress?

The very first few sentences.

What does Barbara Benjamin-Creel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Unique, interesting voices to the characters - it's something you wouldn't get by just reading it

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It didn't make me laugh or cry, but I felt deep interest to listen to what would happened next.

Any additional comments?

Enjoyable story.

A good start to a series

Publishers' Summary

The headmistress of an exclusive private school for girls has been found murdered in her office. When professor Susan Lombardi learns that her friend John is the prime suspect, she sets out to clear his name, but her research uncovers some troubling secrets about the school's faculty and students. And soon it becomes clear that John is not the only one with a motive for murder.
©2004, 2011 Carole B. Shmurak (P)2014 Carole B. Shmurak
Series: Susan Lombardi, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Length 4 hours 4 minutes

My review,

The Dead Mistress is the awful Sabina, whose rule over her exclusive little empire came to a nasty end, but ........... Who did it? Is the wrong man being lined up ready to take the blame? Susan thinks so which is good enough reason, she believes, to poke her perky little nose in everywhere it's not really wanted.
This is a short listen, and, despite a precarious plot is entertaining enough, I look forward to discovering how Susan polishes up her sleuthing skills by consuming more of the series.
This was first published as a book a few years ago, and it certainly translates well to audio.

Narrator

It takes but a few moments to realise that Barbara Benjamin- Cole is a well trained and experienced narrator, she did, in fact, enhance the story for me no end. Through her voice I enjoyed it so much more than I would have by only reading it. I'll certainly be looking out for her name.
I received a free copy of this audiobook in return for my honest review