• The Hanging in the Hotel

  • A Fethering Mystery
  • By: Simon Brett
  • Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
  • Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (523 ratings)

Publisher's summary

The Hopwicke Country House Hotel once boasted a clientele of the rich and famous. But hard times call for hard measures, so owner Suzy Longthorne throws open her doors to welcome the Pillars of Sussex, an elitist group of local businessmen whose social gatherings revolve around drinking and off-color commentary. Short staffed, Suzy recruits Jude as a waitress to help keep the spirits flowing. But the next morning, Jude discovers that one spirit has flown away for good, when she finds the body of a young man, supposedly an initiate for Pillar membership, hanging from the beam of a four-poster bed.

The police are quick to rule the death a suicide. The Pillars of Sussex deny that the victim was ever considered for membership. Suzy just wants to forget the incident ever happened. But Jude knows that both parties have something to hide, so she enlists a reluctant Carole to nurture her relationship with a flirtatious Pillar in the hope that they'll topple him over and uncover the truth.

©2004 Simon Brett (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"The 'odd couple' is a staple of the classic whodunit, and Simon Brett gives it a sweet twist." (The New York Times)
"One of the wittiest writers around." (Baltimore Sun)

What listeners say about The Hanging in the Hotel

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Another Carol and Jude winner

Simon Brett has penned another enjoyable story, albeit a little predictable. Having listened to all of the "Feathering" novels available on Audible, it's not the best place to start but, can stand on its own.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Another Solid Selection

This is another solid addition to the light-hearted Fethering series featuring Carol Seddon and Jude NoLastName. The mood is perhaps a bit more cynical than earlier titles, but the humor is unaffected and the mystery is as well-crafted as any in the series.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Rock Star Ex, Snooty Men's Club and Murder

This is a favorite in the series. Jude's lifelong friend, Suzy Longthorne owns The Hopwicke Country House Hotel and is trying her best to keep it afloat after 9/11 when Americans are loathe to fly and tighter restrictions have been instituted on all the airlines. Formerly a destination place for the rich and famous, her hotel is now limping along and she is forced to welcome more local groups, such as the Pillars of Sussex for the annual convention. The Pillars of Sussex are a bunch of sexist businessmen who make crude remarks, drink themselves into a stupor and try to outdo one another like school boys. The night of the event, Suzy is (once again) short handed and calls Jude to come and help her as she prepares to serve the group at their banquet dinner. Jude, ever the loyal friend, agrees and soon the pair are busy waiting on the raucous group. Jude, ever the observer, never misses a trick, and the interaction between the guests that night stick with her. About to turn in for the night at 3 a.m., she notices one of the young guests too drunk to make it into his room, and decides to help him. Soft hearted and kind, Jude gets the young fella into bed, and is glad to hear him say that things in his life are looking up. The next morning, the young man isn't at the breakfast table, and he is soon found hanging from his four poster bed. Police are quick to rule it a suicide. But a niggling feeling tells Jude it's NOT. Always a truth seeker, Jude goes about trying to discover what REALLY happened to him. Of course, Carole agrees to help. 😊 What a pair these two make. The twists and turns in this one will give you whiplash. 😂 So much fun! Great mystery and an ending well worth the wait!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Getting dull

Not a huge amount of variety getting through a series which seems to fall back on the same sorts of plots. At least neither Carole nor Jude was kidnapped and dragged off to a cellar/cave/barn in this one. Brett couldn't resist a couple of nasty jabs at Americans.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

How about Jude and Carole without a murder?

Characters rich and substantial. Language marvelous. But the murders are getting old. Would be welcome to have all of Simon Brett's engaging characters in another sort of story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Like a soup that got away from the chef

Narrator good, as always. The story in this one was pretty contrived. It COULD have been good - but it was like the author was trying too hard, then overdid it, then made a mess. Reminds me of making soup, adding too much of some spice, then adding too much of another to counteract the first one, then adding a bunch of water, then there’s not enough meat, then … you get the idea.
Least favorite of first 5. But still going on to number 6.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always intriguing!

I can’t get enough of Mr. Brett’s Fethering series! I’m so glad I found a new-to-me author to read!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Nice

Nice to listen to when drifting of. The ladies are investigating once again, Sheila’s son has updates in his life and murder pays a visit.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • ST
  • 04-24-23

entertaining story

I'm happy to say Carole and Jude are back on track. I love how different they are yet maintain a friendship and investigate mysteries together. The author weaves many different social conflicts throughout his stories but does so in an entertaining way through the murder mysteries. I been listening to these in series order and was disappointed with the previous story. I am glad I decided to listen to this one and will continue the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love the twists and turns!

Another enjoyable story by Simon Brett. Listening to this story also improves my vocabulary! I like the narrator, but sometimes have trouble figuring out who is speaking and have to back up the recording.

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