A Man of Some Repute

A Very English Mystery, Book 1

De: Elizabeth Edmondson

Narrado por: Michael Page

Truth is rarely pure and never simple...

Selchester Castle in 1953 sits quiet and near-empty, its corridors echoing with glories of the past.

Or so it seems to intelligence officer Hugo Hawksworth, wounded on a secret mission and now reluctantly assuming an altogether less perilous role at Selchester.

The Castle's faded grandeur hides a web of secrets and scandals - the Earl has been missing for seven years, lost without a trace since the night he left his guests and walked out into a blizzard.

When a skeleton is uncovered beneath the flagstones of the Old Chapel, the police produce a suspect and declare the case closed.

Hugo is not convinced. With the help of the spirited Freya Wryton, the Earl's niece, he is drawn back into active service, and the ancient town of Selchester is dragged into the intrigues and conspiracies of the Cold War era.

With a touch of Downton Abbey, a whisper of Agatha Christie and a nod to Le Carré, A Man of Some Repute is the first book in this delightfully classic and witty murder mystery series.

©2015 Elizabeth Edmondson (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

More, please!!

Thoroughly enjoyed this new cozy! Interesting, likeable characters. There are indications that there will be more episodes to follow. Nothing objectionable here - no sexual situations, no vulgar language. I'll be looking for the next one, for sure!! Michael Page's narration was very good!!

Charming, solid and well-written.

Very charming – polar opposite to that Det. Lavender one I tried to read. Now this is what I expected a ‘cozy’ mystery would be like. Charming, old-fashioned and will remind you of Downton Abbey, from the setting to the time-period.

The protagonist is interesting and has a logical reason to be getting involved in solving mysteries – it’s part of his job as a (semi-retired) government spy. In this case, he’s directly ordered to investigate but I imagine the following books will just be him in the right place at the right time – being retired here, any big cases will automatically include him, especially after solving this one. Might even be for the same reason – given the government installation here, any local drama would draw unwanted attention. Definitely an excellent reason instead of the overused private detective or the far more ridiculous reasons authors come up with to justify their character getting involved.

The reader is incredibly English – it’s glorious! I approve! Lovely, old-fashioned accents – fun and charming. Even the female voices are good. Perfect choice for the reader.

Very enjoyable, solid, well written mystery with an excellent reader. I will definitely be buying the rest of the series.

Honesty

What did you love best about A Man of Some Repute?

I loved the twist and turns. As you go along with the characters you learn and you believe you have finally figured it out and than you get another clue that spins the tail.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Freya was my favorite character I love her spirit and determinate nature.

What does Michael Page bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Micheal Page really draws you into characters and shows you their personality through his reading. You can tell he takes the time to read over and know the characters better.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Cold case shocks all.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait to read more from this author. I was initially hesitant as the book started a little slower than the books I normally read, but I am so glad that I waited. I fell in love with the story and intrigue.

English "Who done it"

Good old English Mystery. Great in depth characters. Reader extremely talented, and you won't know "Who done it?" Keeps you unknowingly questioning till the end.

Amusing

Well written and amusing, the final resolution less than completely fulfilling. Still recommend if you like British mystery.

Not terrible but felt that it dragged a bit.

What did you like best about A Man of Some Repute? What did you like least?

The ending was good, unexpected.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I felt the story dragged a bit, too slow for me.

Which character – as performed by Michael Page – was your favorite?

Frayer and Gretchen.

Hello Agatha!!

Would you listen to A Man of Some Repute again? Why?

No, I wouldn't listen again. Though it was charming and quite Agatha Christy-like, its character development lacked real depth, plus the author's prose didn't ring my bells. Even with those short-comings, I'm a sucker for whodunits.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Nice twist.

Which scene was your favorite?

Love the truth in life as well as in novels, so discovering the "truth" about the Lord and the mystery, is what propels this reader/listener forward in a book with a mystery.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Agatha Christy Revisited

Any additional comments?

No. It was worth my credit, but not something I'd write home about.

Wonderful Depiction of Post War England

Hugo and his sister came to Selchester Castle start a new life. He a wounded war veteran and she haunted by the death of her parents and being trapped in the rubble during the bombings. Freya was the temporary caretaker of the Castle since her uncle’s disappearance. As they search for truth and a new life the all grow closer. Great performance and story. Recommend.

A VERY GOOD ENGLISH MURDER MYSTERY!

Most enjoyable. I hope there will be more books in this series soon. The plot was good and well written. Performance by Michael Page is superb.

A Well-written and Thoughtful Mystery

A most enjoyable first book in a series.

A well made mystery without a lot of needless exposition. A good character mix without needless physical details.

The slightly "telegraphed" pointers at the end to a likely sequel are, for me unnecessary. There are enough unresolved side issues within the story that hint at a sequel.