A Lesson in Dying

The first classic mystery novel featuring detective Inspector Ramsay from The Sunday Times bestselling author of the Vera, Shetland and Venn series, Ann Cleeves

By: Ann Cleeves

Narrated by: Simon Mattacks

A Lesson in Dying is the first mystery novel in the Inspector Ramsay series by Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope crime series.

Who hung the headmaster in the playground on the night of the school Halloween Party?

Almost everyone in Heppleburn either hated or feared the viper-tongued Harold Medburn. Inspector Ramsay is convinced it was the headmaster’s enigmatic wife but Jack Robson, school governor and caretaker, is determined to prove her innocence.

With the help of his restless daughter Patty, Jack digs into the secrets of Heppleburn, and uncovers a cesspit of lies, adultery, blackmail and madness . . .

Continue the classic whodunit series with Murder in My Backyard.

Ann Cleeves Classic Crime - engaging mysteries to savour, beloved characters to meet again.

Praise for Ann Cleeves:

'Ann Cleeves is a stone cold genius' – Marian Keyes, author of My Favorite Mistake

'Everything Ann Cleeves writes is incredible' – Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club

'Ann Cleeves’s elegance as a wordsmith, the ingenuity of her plots, and the depth of her characters can be matched by few writers' – David Baldacci, author of The 6:20 Man

Critic reviews

A fine writer

Cleeves is quietly carving out a reputation as the new Queen of Crime

Ann Cleeves is a skilful technician, keeping our interest alive and building slowly up to the denouement. Her easy use of language and clever story construction make her one of the best natural writers of detective fiction

Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves (Val McDermid)

Ann Cleeves has an enviable talent . . . I love these books

Her writing certainly got better since this book.

It’s hard to believe that this book was written by Ann Cleeves. If you’ve read all of the Shetland, Vera and other great books that she wrote and decide to try some of her earlier works, don’t. Characters are either completely underdeveloped or run the gamut of all the usual stereotypes.

Disappointed read

I was happy to hear that this was one of Ann Cleaves’ first books…she definitely got better as I love her books and just assumed I would love this as well… but not so much.

Enjoyed

Enjoyed listening to this first book, looking forward to listening to the next book while I knit.
Thanks

A bit confusing in the beginning

I love Ann Cleeves and everything she has written. However, when she sets the table for this story, all these characters are so confusing. Maybe I wasn’t listening close enough, but I was a little disoriented once I got it. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened as always with her stuff. Well done though well done.

So so

Love the author but this was hard to het into for me. Hope the series improves