An Oxford Murder

A Golden Age Mystery, The Catherine Tregowyn Mysteries

By: G.G. Vandagriff

Narrated by: Lillian Rachel

After Miss Catherine Tregowyn, poet, and Dr. Harry Bascombe, her bête noire, discover a body in the Somerville College chapel, they are declared suspects in a murder inquiry. How can they prove their innocence? The pair decide they must launch their own investigation into the strangling of Oxford don, Agatha Chenowith. But working as a team will not be easy. Their relations are anything but cordial.

It is not long before they uncover motives aplenty. Apparently, Dr. Chenowith was not at all what she seemed. As the surprises about the victim’s secret life multiply, they are awash in a sea of suspects.

Into this scenario sails the former love of Catherine’s life as he returns from Kenya. Is she going to give Rafe another chance to break her heart? He convinces her to give him a six-month trial, and eager to show his worth, he joins in the investigation. Rafe offers to fly Catherine and Harry in his de Havilland six-seater to the Isle of Man where they must pursue a lead. Inevitably, Rafe and Harry square off in a battle for Catherine’s affections.

Meanwhile, playing detectives proves to be a dangerous pursuit. Catherine and Harry shortly embroil themselves in a plot much larger than mere murder. No one wants to hear their theory, however. It contains truths too painful to contemplate. And it makes Catherine and Harry’s lives expendable.

©2019 G.G. Vandagriff (P)2020 G.G. Vandagriff

My favorite audio mystery of all time

This is probably my favorite audio mystery of all time. Great location, likeable characters, absorbing plot and just plain delightful. Should also mention the narrator is superb.

Charming, but...

Mild, cozy mystery with detail and characters of interest. The narrator, when I switched to whispersync, possessed a voice so high I could not tolerate listening. By slowing the speed to .4, it was acceptable.

Very pleased with this cozy mystery

The story was engaging, the characters well-developed and the plot spicy. I’m looking forward to the second book.

Where's the next one?!!

This was a fun listen and I was ready to get the next one in the series and... nothin.
Why did they not continue making audiobook versions?

A Spritely Ode to Dorothy Sayers

A 1934 British mystery with well-drawn characters, witty conversation and a delightful narrator. It took me a little bit to get into the story. But then, it took off. Catherine comes back to Somerville College, only to find a corpse in the college chapel who turns out to be her former professor. While the woman dead had provided a rave review of Catherine's first published book of poetry, it becomes clear that she has engaged in some bitter, predatory behavior. Catherine is surrounded by interesting women friends, long-serving Oxford scouts with noses for evidence, a on-again-off-again fiancé who is just returning from Kenya, a scholar mesmerized by Germanic myth and a male professor who might be miffed Catherine wrote a better biography of a literary figure that he considered his specialty. Between Oxford, London and an airplane trip to an island, the pacing is engaging. Will the solution involve the rising supporters of Hitler in pre-World War II England or a poisonous bit of scholarly skullduggery? For those who wish Dorothy L. Sayer had written more of Harriet Vane. When will Audible produce more of this series?

Wish I had given this one a miss!

Reading some of these reviews makes me wonder if they were listening to the same story. After 20 years on Audible and with over 1000 books in my library, you would think I wouldn’t allow myself to be influenced when another reviewer says a title is their favorite audio book of all time. But sadly, I used up a perfectly good credit on this inane, predictable, plodding bit of fluff. I forced myself to listen to the entire book so I could give an honest review, all the time thinking it just had to get better if someone liked it that much but no-it truly was painful from beginning to end. The entire story could have been told in an hour had it not been for the shameless padding of the dialogue. The narrator was not horrible but her “posh” accent was labored and all of the characters sounded very much alike. Needless to say, I won’t be listening to any more of this author’s books.

I wouldn't recommend it

Long and drawn out, a very boring read. It is very likely that the author was also quite bored because, oddly, the story seems to end abruptly. Would not read anymore of this author.