Once Upon a Haunted Moor

The Tyack & Frayne Mysteries, Book 1

By: Harper Fox

Narrated by: Tim Gilbert

Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Gideon Frayne has spent his whole working life as a policeman in the village of Dark on Bodmin Moor. It's not life in the fast lane, but he takes it very seriously, and his first missing-child case is eating him alive. When his own boss sends in a psychic to help with the case, he's gutted - he's a level-headed copper who doesn't believe in such things, and he can't help but think that the arrival of clairvoyant Lee Tyack is a comment on his failure to find the little girl.

But Lee is hard to hate, no matter how Gideon tries. At first Lee's insights into the case make no sense, but he seems to have a window straight into Gideon's heart. Son of a Methodist minister, raised in a tiny Cornish village, Gideon has hidden his sexuality for years. It's cost him one lover, and he can't believe it when this green-eyed newcomer stirs up old feelings and starts to exert a powerful force of attraction.

Gideon and Lee begin to work together on the case. But there are malignant forces at work in the sleepy little village of Dark, and not only human ones - Gideon is starting to wonder, against all common sense, if there might be some truth in the terrifying legend of the Bodmin Beast after all. As a misty Halloween night consumes the moor, Gideon must race against time to save not only the lost child but the man who's begun to restore his faith in his own heart.

©2013 Harper Fox (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Enjoyable start!

I'm not familiar with this author, but I'm glad I tried this book. The mysterious, romantic moors were the perfect setting for the plot and policeman Gideon was just the right amount of hard and soft to make a wonderful hero. Lee is enigmatic and witty, and I love that he's an actual psychic, with a terrifying talent, and with Gideon's help, they "put faces on the monsters." The romantic part is intense and immediate but believable, and the performance is top notch. The narrator does a beautiful job of making the MCs sound distinctive and real. Overall, a wonderful experience.

Not what was expected

This was a good story with good narration but the story was not as expected. This was more a romance then mystery.

So much to do...onto next book

There’s so much to unpack—this is a great book that deals with a missing child, local legend, bringing in a psychic into a police investigation. The author did a great job of “quickly” (because this is a bit shorter than most books I read) introducing us to the characters and rural England. I felt like we got enough of the backstory to leave me wanting to know more. There were a good amount of twists and turns none of them switchbacks. You find yourself rooting for the underlying love story. I enjoy human relationship in my mysteries. Reminds me in a strange way of Midsomers Murders with better police procedural. The mystery is wrapped up nicely yet I can’t wait to read the books in the series. I recommend this book. I do think the Narrator did a good job I just found some of female voices distracting. Otherwise it was not enough to pull me out of the story.

I enjoyed this book and if you love mysteries with a possible paranormal layer you will love this book too.

Not what I was expecting!

Ok, as an older cis woman this was not what I was looking for in a romance! That said, the story was gripping and the writing was excellent, as was the narration.

I have no way to judge the romance: I don’t love a lot of sex in the books I read, feels weird while I listen on the subway. Also, both the sex and romance were pretty fast - which I never like in straight romances but am willing to believe that there may be a cultural difference.

Anyhow, the sex - while a bit voyeuristic for me - was not enough to keep me from listening until the end of the book. The story was compelling, and I liked the main character finding his balls, so to speak.

this series is like wow

between Leigh and Gideon they were always a perfect fit and just that kind of love and friendship In today's world. I believe they are made to go on a life time of adventure

All good except Gideon's voice

I really enjoy Harper Fox stories and this one has her trademark excellent prose and good storyline. It's too short to be a five-star book for me but it's quite good. However, as far as the narration goes ... Lee's voice is okay, if a bit posh, and the reading in general is good. But Gideon's voice sounds like the grizzled, gruff old village fisherman instead of a man in his twenties (or maybe a bit older, not sure, but still quite young!). I just can't visualize him as young and attractive while I'm listening and that puts a major damper on the love story for me. I might read the rest of the series instead of listening to it.

Why haven’t I already read this?

It was lucky for me that I hadn’t already read this series because the audiobook version was really good. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. It’s a different spin I suppose that the perspective isn’t that of the psychic but instead his partner. I can’t remember a book that was a single point of view that wasn’t the other way around. The mystery was interesting and kinda creepy.

Love the Cornish Settling and the characters

Cornwall is so lovely, wild, and haunted by its own history and legends. It’s a wonderful backdrop for both mysteries and romance.

I’m looking forward to more in this series. The tough Cornish constable and his sweet, intuitive psychic are a wonderful couple.

Na

Sorry the story was not what I though I'm not in to gay men it sounded ok but I didn't realize the full content didn't finish it

Good story

Not exactly deep or thought provoking, but fun and a nice afternoon distraction. Keep in mind, this is a gay novel, so don't be homophobic if you are going to take a listen.