Murder at the Manor: A 1920s Cozy Mystery

A Tommy & Evelyn Christie Mystery

By: Catherine Coles

Narrated by: Alex Lee

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Downton Abbey...with murder and intrigue!

Evelyn Christie has resigned herself to another long, boring weekend at Hessleham Hall, the home of her husband, Tommy's, family. However, it turns out to be anything but dull when his uncle, the Earl of Northmoor, is shockingly murdered! 

Evelyn must use all of her sleuthing knowledge, gained whilst she was a member of the Police force during the war, to find out who the murderer is before the bungling local police force decide the Earl was bumped off so Tommy could inherit his title.

If you enjoy the glamour of bygone eras like 1920s Downton Abbey and gentle, cozy mysteries set in the English countryside, then you will love this new series.

©2020 Joanne Louise Catherine Coles (P)2020 Joanne Louise Catherine Coles

A nice escape with a whodunit mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and audio production. I enjoyed the actress who read the audio book to us and thought that the book set a nice stage and drew me into the story at the beginning. I found myself trying to solve the mystery before the end of the story and 2nd guessed myself a few times. Well done. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.

Entertaining

This is a fine book with an interesting mystery. My only complaint is that the author occasionally over explains things, as though we won’t get the point without telling us what a conversation, facial expression, tone, or thought means, etc. Hopefully she’ll learn to trust readers in her future books and do more showing than telling. The narration was very good.

great book

Loved this book kept me guessing and the ending was great. Can't wait to get next book.

So so weak

Story line pathetic and predictable
Performance below par and irritating
Would not recommend to anyone

Delightful Classic Cozy

This was my first experience with Catherine Coles' work and I enjoyed it. She has written a cozy mystery that is set in the English countryside, amid the elegance of a bygone era, and added an inspiring love story between Tommy and his wife Evelyn, the amateur sleuth. I recommend this story to others who enjoy cozy mysteries. Alex Lee's narration is great adding an extra layer of entertainment to the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.

Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey

This is an entertaining listen full of colorful (and devious) characters, luxurious manor pursuits, and a classic whodunnit. The story is well-paced and the world of the manor thoroughly drawn. The narration is excellent. I look forward to listening to number 2!

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook for free and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

Boring

Did not like the voice reading the book. the story was too long and dragged out.

Narration was in-listenable! I even slowed the speed. Got ripped off on this one

This was in-listenable. I got ripped off. I even slowed the speed. I would have thought Audible knew better

Everyone needs a therapist!

The protagonists and their staff seem to be the only ones that think clearly or have morals that show respect for anyone including themselves. I’ve never heard so much strange reasoning (or lack thereof) in other light mysteries. This is a very strange book and is hard to follow. Potential motives are buried amidst a bunch of people that have nothing in common, hate each other, and have secrets that should’ve just stayed buried. The whole story leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I’ll give the second book in the series a try to see if the author got all this weird stuff out of her system in order to get the protagonists in the position she wanted them for future stories.

a quiet time in country

this was a very fun period piece, there were several murders in quick succession the death duties would have been awful

Story ok

Story is ok, quite a good plot. Did not like that the narrator though! Poor reading, emphasis on all the wrong places, she tried far to hard to speak in "upper class" English and go it wrong in my view!🤔 I hope the next audio book with these characters has a different person reading it, to sound more natural and easier to listen too.

Murder at the Manor

A good story and fun to listen to. But the narrator, although very clear and concise , sounds as if lecturing five year olds. The clipped upper class accent was fair enough and the characters good. But it didn't flow or feel natural. A bit more relaxed next time maybe.

Lost the will to live

Not the greatest book I have listened to. I have also bought the next two books in the series. I hope they are better than this one, which I am going to return.

Couldn’t finish the narrator was too irritating

I tried I really did. I gave it three goes but I just couldn’t get passed the narrator’s main voice, it is facile, condescending and so forced it put my teeth on edge. I just can’t finish the book.
The story sounded like it could be okay but as I only got the the middle of chapter 3 I don’t think it’s fair to comment.