Murder in Thrall

By: Anne Cleeland

Narrated by: Marcella Riordan

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

From Anne Cleeland comes a captivating new mystery series following the perilous exploits of two Scotland Yard detectives as they track down London's most elusive killers.

First-year detective Kathleen Doyle is a plucky Irish redhead of humble origins and modest means. Chief Inspector Michael Acton is her antithesis: a British lord turned cop. He's tall, handsome, and enigmatic - to a fault. He also has a knack for solving London's most high-profile crimes. Acton selects Doyle out of the newbie squad to partner with him on a series of investigations because she always knows when someone is lying - a trait that comes in handy when interviewing suspects and witnesses.

Acton and Doyle are sent to investigate the murder of a trainer at a racetrack, and soon new killings related to the first start unfolding, dragging the two investigators into ever more perilous situations. But the real danger is the unlikely attachment that develops between the ultra-reserved, aristocratic chief inspector and his spirited, working-class sidekick... a relationship that will raise plenty of eyebrows - and hackles - among their colleagues at the Yard.

©2013 Anne Cleeland (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

I love this series

Maybe it's because the reader does such a great job, or maybe it's because of the odd nature of the characters,but I love this odd mystery series so far.

Loved it!

I listened everyday on my way home from work. I couldn't wait for my day to end just to hear more!

Implying that the relationship is normal?

The underlying premise that a truly empathic woman can have a wonderful relationship with a man who hacks all of her electronics and puts a GPS tracker in one of those electronics so he can always know where she is so very wrong. Add passionate kisses at the scene of a murder they are investigating and the tale wanders so far into lala land that it’s off my map.

OUTSTANDING ROMANTIC MYSTERY

Anne Cleeland is a truly gifted author and she has penned an unusual British police procedural.

This is the first book in A New Scotland Yard Mystery Series. It can be read as a stand-alone but you won't be able to stop after just one. I have read the ebook several times, and listened to Audible's audiobook several times. The narrator, Marcella Riordan, does a good job with the "Irish" of the main character.

Kathleen Doyle is an Irish redhead British detective who is still grieving the loss of her mother to cancer. As a rookie detective, she would ordinarily not encounter Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair (Lord Acton) but he sees her and is instantly intrigued. He becomes obsessed and arranges for her to assist him with one of his murder cases.

Thus begins a deeply unusual love and great mystery. Although he has violated her privacy by delving into her financial and other personal records, and entered her dreary apartment without her knowledge, he isn't the crazy scary kind of stalker. He adores her and is over-protective of her. He tells Kathleen almost immediately that he has "stalked" her but she realizes he is no threat. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have someone love you that thought you could do no wrong, put your interests above his, and loved you beyond reason? Yummy.

This book gives you so many layers, nothing superficial here.

There's the development of clues, police procedures, forensics, danger, suspense, friendship. Nothing is overlooked or omitted.

Each character is developed to the fullest extent, you are walked through crime scenes, follow-up, witness interrogation. When the final clue is uncovered and the puzzle is complete, it all comes together and you get that "Aha" feeling.

Doyle and Acton are two of the most enchanting characters I've encountered in all my years of reading. I'm now a forever fan of the Doyle/Acton series and the author, Anne Cleeland.

I strongly recommend this audiobook. I'd give it 10 Stars if possible.

Not what I was expecting.

I was surprised to find out this book, in my estimation, is really 70/30 romance/mystery. I enjoyed it but if you are really More of a mystery buff, I'm not sure it will satisfy. I read everything including George, Penney, Nesbo, MCKinty, McBride, Rendell/Vine, Perry, Carofiglio, and many, many more but this is definitely not your typical mystery novel. That being said I'm reading the second book on kindle - I just had to see where all this obsessive behavior was going. So far I think a little added complexity to the plot would have gone a long way in making this a more well rounded mystery. Ms. Riordan does an excellent job.

it's "promoted", not "promoshed"

Where does Murder in Thrall rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Unexpectedly I liked it. Some of the reviews were ...disturbing (actually calling the book that) and I can see why some people would see it that way. Personally I was quite happy to read about a couple of rather well grounded and funny border line sociopaths who - after killing some major SOB - do not spend the next 20 pages lamenting a loss of human life. Good riddance, I rather agreed with the heroine on that matter.It is not for the lovers of a classical romance though, this much is obvious. I'd say if you liked the TV show Dexter you might like these books.

What three words best describe Marcella Riordan’s performance?

It is bad. She pronounces "promoted" as "promoshed" (not being a native English speaker I was rather baffled and had to go to Merriam-Webster to make sure it was not some obscure but tolerated pronunciation that I somehow missed in my life). She pronounces a Spanish name "Munoz" (Moon-yoz, which actually has to have a ñ (Spanish soft n with a tilde) as Munaaz. Unfortunately such irritating mistakes are more and more common recently.Again, I am not an English speaker but I am pretty sure that talking in lisping baby-voice does not equal Irish accent. It is a pity as the heroine is quite funny and street-smart but unfortunately, in audio version she sounds whiny and stupid most of the time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole post-killing scene - all very reasonable and practical, without hysterics and self-pitying. I do like Constable Doyle ))

Any additional comments?

I would have given the book an extra star if it wasn't for that irritating narration.

Wow!!! Loved it!

I loved this book!
Because of the suspence, both romantic and the detective work.
The characters are very interesting and real.
I enjoyed Anne's writing very much, and Marcella's Irish accent.

Outstanding performance!?

I loved every minute! I'm not sure how she kept all the accents straight. this novel is a triumph and is made even better by the performance. a treasure.

Awesome Listen!

Loved this book. Can't wait to start the next one. The reader was superb. she made the characters very different and believable.

Great new entry into British mysteries

I found it difficult to truly classify this book and found that to be a positive aspect of this unique new voice to British mysteries. This is part police procedural, part romance (with a slightly creepy bent) and part quasi-paranormal.

Newly promoted DC Kathleen Doyle, with her lilting Irish accent and the fey ability to "read" the truth in people becomes the protégé of DCI Michael Sinclair, an English lord called Holmes behind his back for his uncanny ability to solve the most complex of mysteries.

The mystery is moderately complex, but the true joy in this book is the unique voice of the protagonist. I look forward to reading more of Cleeland's novels, as she begins to make her mysteries more taut, because her characters are already "spot on."

Marcella Riordan's narration is superb, especially her delivery of Doyle's Irish voice!