A Shot in the Dark

Mydworth Mysteries - A Cosy Historical Mystery Series 1

By: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards

Narrated by: Nathaniel Parker

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the authors of the best-selling series CHERRINGHAM

Sussex, England, 1929. Mydworth is a sleepy English market town just 50 miles from London. But things are about to liven up there, when young and handsome Sir Harry Mortimer returns home from his diplomatic posting in Cairo, with his beautiful and unconventional American wife, Kat.

No sooner have the two arrived, when a jewel robbery occurs at Harry's aunt's home - Mydworth Manor. The police are baffled and overwhelmed with the case. But Harry and Kat have an edge in the hunt for the dangerous culprit: not only do they have certain useful "skills" they've both picked up in service of King, President and Country, they also have access to parts of English society that your average bobby can't reach ...

Nathaniel Parker, born in 1962, graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and went on to join the Royal Shakespeare Company. His television career began in 1988 when he played Flying Officer 'Flash' Gordon in the LWT mini-series "Piece of Cake". He is also the lead in the BBC series "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries", based on the novels by Elizabeth George. Nathaniel Parker has an extensive list of audio books to his credit, ranging from the classics of Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy to more modern writings and children's books.

©2020 Lübbe Audio (P)2020 Lübbe Audio

A good start.

I got this title because I have enjoyed the joint author’s Cherringham stories so much. I don’t know if I would have continued with the next in what is set up to be a series if I hadn’t known their work from the other series. When I read the very first of those, Murder on Thames and Sarah and Jack meet, form an unlikely pair who frankly don’t care for each other much at that first meeting , and end up working together to solve what the local police are calling an accident. Sarah becomes involved by a personal connection to the victim and while trying to find out more, meets Jack who is living on a houseboat. not far from the site where the body was found. As soon as I had finished that one, I already wanted more and have since read/listened to all of the 30 plus titles, so far, in that series. So although this one didn’t quite grab me as much as the first Cherringham I will get at least the next in this series assuming that these 2 main characters get better as it goes. The roles are a bit reversed from Cherringham as the couple are married, the male is the native Englishman and the woman American. She is the one in this series (at least so far) has the higher set of “special skills”
i.e. picking locks when needs arise due to her former work as well as postings throughout the world in her previous work for the United States government. Also, while she may have been a bar owners daughter, he was born into the aristocracy.
If you like the Cherringham series, I’d definitely give this a shot. (yes, groan inducing pun intended)
Update. turns out there are already a few more titles in this series; #s 2 and 3 already published and the 4th available for pre-order. And again, like the Cherringham series the audio versions apparently take a bit longer to produce/publish. #2 and 3 are only, so far available as paperbacks or Kindle. Interestingly, while this first title has an overall stars, both of the next two are 4 1/2 stars.

Nathaniel not the one for this story

I like the story and the characters but NP is not good for a female American accent. he does much better with the Bunburry series. mostly British voices.

Disappointing!

I loved the Cherringham series. Read and enjoyed every one. This series fell flat. The narrator was of no help.

so so light weight mystery

My biggest question; what was the purpose of the prologue. The scene is never mentioned again.

I wasn't taken by the main characters and doubt I will spend time on another outing of the pair.

Unfortunate accent

Good lighthearted story as mysteries go. Unfortunately the narrator does an awful “American” accent. It’s like a southern/ New York accent. I assume they all sound the same to some people, however they are very different and shouldn’t be mixed. The rest of the narration is great and very enjoyable, but that accent is terrible.

Just okay

I’m a fan of the authors Cherringham series so I had high hopes for this one. Plot was rushed and one that’s been done too many times (thievery in a country manor house). I was more interested in the snippets of the protagonists backstories/time in Egypt than their present day mystery to solve. These two seem like fascinating people who are now embarking on a very boring life in England.

Delightful cozy

I very much enjoyed this light cozy with very likable characters. I thought that I would because I like the Cherringham series so much. I forward to the next in the series.

Very enjoyable!

Cozies aren't usually my thing, but I enjoyed this one. The characters are fun and the plot was good.

Lighthearted snack, moves right along

This first installment is to set the characters and locations in place. Narrator does a good job. we will have to see if the following installments provide any challenge to the listener in terms of plot. Very good audio quality.

Great new series!

Loved this! Even though Niel Dudgeon was missing the narrator was wonderful. I look forward to the next installment!

The perfect cosy mystery to transport us elsewhere

A Shot in the Dark kicks off another charming mystery series from the authors of the best-selling Cherringham audiobooks.

As I wait - rather impatiently - for new books in the Cherringham and Bunburry series' by this publisher, I took my first trip to Mydworth; where Harry Mortimer and his his wife, Kat, arrive with quite a splash. It's unusual to have a happily-married young couple as the amateur sleuths in a story like this, but they make such a good team that it was a very welcome change. Harry's unguarded devotion to his wife and the pride he took in her skills and successes was a delight, and made him far more likeable.

As with all Lubbe productions, this audiobook featured their signature jangly musical intro - which I'm not especially fond of.

Mydworth is another excellent cosy mystery series from Richards and Costello, and it was the perfect audiobook to take my mind off the tumult in the world right now. It's a short enough adventure that it didn't seem daunting to embark upon at a time when my attention is being pulled in 100 different directions at once, but it still packs a punch.

The narrator, Nathaniel Parker, was a joy to listen to, as ever. He has the perfect classic, refined voice to bring out the best in aristocratic characters from the roaring 20s, and even manages Kat's American accent without it sounding too false or out of place in the English village. He has such a soothing voice that he makes a wonderful narrator for cosy mysteries, and I knew the story was in good hands from the start.

I've already put book 2 on my wishlist, and I'd heartily recommend the Mydworth series to fans of Cherringham and Bunburry, but also to listeners who enjoy T. E. Kinsey's Lady Hardcastle series, which is set in a similar period.

superb narration

The story/plot was OK but the points are for Nathaniel Parker's narration without which the whole thing would have been rather dull.

Great narrator, rubbish plot.

Well it's labelled a "cosy" mystery by which they seem to mean completely lacking in surprises and complexity. You'll know who did it and why 5 mins in...spend the next few hrs waiting for a twist only to find there isn't one.

manor house mystery, gentle, well read.

A genteel Brit and Yank wife go sleuthing in a grand Manor. She's mildly interesting.He's not. Laboured, nothing novel, still a charming listen, suitable for young readers. reminded me of Nancy Drew

Silly childish drivel

Complete waste of two pounds twenty five , a load of childish drivel , almost like a fifteen minute per episode radio series for children. Audible scraping the barrel .

Enjoyable

Nice little story and easy listening with the Narrator drawing you into this with each characters voice and descriptive plot.

Was sorry when it finished.

too similar

to similar to the cherringham series, only the female is American and the man English.

Loved it

Nathaniel Parker is an excellent narrator .
light-hearted just the thing to unwind and take your mind of things.

Super Start to a New Series

Really enjoyed listening to this lighthearted mystery. It’s just the right length with excellent narration. Look forward to the next in the series.

Comfortable

Ye olde English country house mystery, comfortable but no challenges. The sort of thing one could see made into a TV series by Hollywood. Lighthearted but also
Lightweight. Nevertheless pleasant and will definitely have a market - my guess is more likely Americans. Narrator is very good.