Date with Deceit

Dales Detective Agency, Book 6

By: Julia Chapman

Narrated by: Elizabeth Bower

Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Julia Chapman’s sixth Dales Detective Agency novel, Date with Deceit, sees Delilah going undercover at a shoot involving dangerous criminals. A pause-resisting cosy crime mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club and M.C. Beaton.

A woman in tears in the Dales Detective Agency is never the best way to start the week and when it's the town mayor's wife, asking the detective to investigate whether her husband is having an affair, Samson O’Brien and Delilah Metcalfe know they will have to tread carefully.

The case, however, proves to be more complex than even they had imagined. While Delilah is undercover at a local shoot to better keep tabs on the errant husband, she is on the scene for a fatal incident that sends the Yorkshire town into turmoil. Soon the detective duo are embroiled in a far more serious investigation than mere infidelity. Deceit is rife in Bruncliffe and it may well prove deadly....

Curl up with this delightful murder mystery, full of wit, warmth, and a cast of charming characters. Start the series with Date with Death. 

©2021 Julia Chapman (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd

Critic Reviews

"A classic whodunit set in the spectacular landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.... A satisfying read riddled with dry Yorkshire humour (and dry stone walls)." (Cath Staincliffe, author of the Scott & Bailey series)

Still on top form.

Loved it but with intersecting story lines I got a bit lost in the middle. This deserves listening to a couple of times in order to get the events straight in your head, but then the series itself seems to be heading towards its climax. At least Samson & Delilah appear to be getting their act together, but PLEASE make the baddie (& you know who that is) get his comeuppance soon!!!

Another fantastic adventure in the Dales!

I only found this series in February, and listened to the first 5 books back to back, and so have been eagerly awaiting this latest one. As have, I'm sure, all of Julia Chapman's more long standing fans.
I listened to it all, avidly, in one day, which was wonderful, but now means a very frustratingly long wait to (I really hope) the next one!
Highly recommend listening to all of these in order, from start to finish. It would be possible to enjoy it without hearing the others first, but not there is a cleverly crafted underlying story arc, which would be much better enjoyed in full!
Roll on Samson & Delilah's next adventure!!

Another interesting visit to the Dalez

Loved catching up with the Dales characters again. A great series - good plot, well written and a host of wonderful characters who become friends, looking forward to the next instalment.

Made even better by the narrator !

Another good yarn

Can't wait to read the next one. As a former resident of Hawes I can appreciate the tales it almost makes me homesick.

Loved it!

Love every single one of this series! My favourite cosy mystery series! Can't wait for the next one!

Great seties by Julia chapman

love this series just want to get the next one. The caracters are real the story gripping. The narrater brings the story alive.

A brilliant series - growing with each instalment

I’d throughly recommend the Dales Detective Agency Series. The quality has grown with each book. I love Boyd, Kerr, Le Carre, Camilleri, Ben Aaronvitch, Lee Child, Galbraith, Horowitz and Follett and come to these books from that direction - they are much lighter than some of those more at the Beaton, James Runcie end of the market. The setting is glorious. The characters are familiar and quirky and readers will invest in them. The background story has been very neatly plotted so far.
It’s coming to the point though where Samson’s career situation needs to resolved, Rick’s fate must be sealed and Samson and Delilah have to move on to the next step!
Once that has all been resolved it will be interesting to see where Julia Chapman takes the characters next.
The performance by Elizabeth Bower is great too. She has a very crisp style and a range of voices from Ida Capstick to Anna with some really hearty Yorkshire folk.
It’s been done before with Heartbeat and All Creatures … but here’s a wonderful tv series that seriously needs to be made to take these characters and this setting to a wider audience. There’s even a vet in it nicknamed Herriot! Meanwhile listen on Audible!!

great story

Gripping mystery set in Yorkshire, very enjoyable with touches of humour and many twists and turns to keep you guessing.

better and better ☺️

awesome. can't wait for the next one.....when will that be I wonder. hurry up Julia!