Wicked Autumn

A Max Tudor Novel

By: G. M. Malliet

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Max Tudor has adapted well to his post as vicar of St. Edwold's in the idyllic village of Nether Monkslip. The quiet village seems the perfect home for Max, who has fled a harrowing past as an MI5 agent. But this new-found serenity is quickly shattered when the highly vocal and unpopular president of the Women's Institute turns up dead at the Harvest Fayre. The death looks like an accident, but Max's training as a former agent kicks in, and before long he suspects foul play. As the investigation unfolds, Max becomes more intricately involved. Memories he'd rather not revisit are stirred, evoking the demons from the past which led him to Nether Monkslip.

©2011 G.M. Malliet (P)2011 Dreamscape Media

Critic reviews

"Agatha Award-winning author Malliet (Death of a Cozy Writer) debuts a superb new series.... You’ll marvel at the author’s low-key humor and crystal-clear depictions of small-town life...Malliet, like Louise Penny, brings a contemporary freshness to the traditional mystery." (Library Journal)

"Malliet has mastered the delights of the cozy mystery so completely that she seems to be channeling Agatha Christie...with a hero who adds sex appeal to the mix...includes snippets of ironic humor...making the story even more delicious...winning." (Booklist)

"[A]n authentic village mystery that also pokes fun at the conventions...Malliet deftly juggles all of her characters...the murder plot here is quite devious and the motive quite evil.... The author provides a story that works on several levels, including the pleasure of a visit to a traditional English village." (January magazine)

Wonderful introduction to a series

For me Michael brought this book to life. G. M. Skillet has written a well constructed mystery. The main character, Max Tudor, is a very attractive ex-MI5 agent who has resigned from the agency and become a priest in the C of E, for the village of Nether Monkslip.
I love the wealth of recurring characters that begin to feel like family, friends and neighbors. Max puts his knowledge and observational skills of people to use in helping to solve mysteries and bring secrets to life. There are plenty of distractions from his adoring female parishioners, his less than capable housekeeper, meeting his Boston's expectations, a leaky church roof, and writing his sermon among others to keep him busy.
But what puts this book over the top and the series on my continuing radar of just reads is the narration of Michael Page. I look forward to his narration of these stories.
Remember these are quintessential cozy mysteries written in and about the places they play--quiet, close knit villages with their share of eccentric characters.

Not a Fan of the Reader

What didn’t you like about Michael Page’s performance?

I really enjoy this series when I read them so I decided to get them on Audible to enjoy them again. Big mistake. The reader sort of ruined them for me. I don't think I could have found a reader so far removed from my inner picture of the main character. I'm going to try to return the others.

Really Good English Village Mystery

Interesting characters, really good introduction to the village, great descriptions - esp of TildyAnn, twisty murder, very good narrator. I'm getting the next book!

A Delightful Listen

Wicked Autumn is a nicely constructed tale of murder in an English village. The plot is complex enough to keep you from jumping to conclusions and the characters wallow in eccentricities. The primary sleuth, an Anglican priest, is hardly a stuffed shirt but his past non-clerical life fits him for this challenge. I am glad I stumbled on this story.

Brilliant, but not for everybody

I loved Wicked Autumn, but some may find the writing too literary and the British reader too stuffy. I enjoyed the characters and the setting and found the prose brilliant. When I first started listening, I wasn't able to concentrate to follow the rhythm and accent of the reader, and it doesn't help that they start with the list of character descriptions, which I think was a mistake. However, when I restarted I was completely drawn in and loved the intelligent and elegant prose and the uptight British reserve. It is vital to listen to a segment to see if it appeals to you as much as it does to me.

Just OK

I really wanted to like this book and enjoyed the first several chapters where the cast of characters was introduced, and was intrigued by the idea of Max Tudor. Unfortunately, the mystery grew a bit tedious and Max's backstory wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. The resolution was anticlimactic and there were some plot flaws that grated. The narration was okay but I felt the voice of Max should have been more smooth and charming and less pinched. He sounded a bit peevish at times.

A fair start for a genre..

I enjoy a good British village mystery... this has promise: well drawn characters, a small village
in transition from the past to what it might be. Putting clergy in an investigative role isn't new,
but let's give the series a change.

Entertaining Mystery

The Story was very entertaining and held my interest. Narrator was excellent. Loved his voices and accents for each character. Ready to read the rest of the series.

A cozy British mystery

If you like 'em, this one's for you! Along with a few one liners that even had my husband chortling! This one was an Audible suggestion. I'm glad it was as both the author and narrator have been added to our list of preferences!

A really good listen.

I'll admit I'm skeptical when choosing an audible, if it will be interesting enough to keep my attention while I'm distracted, working. This one does. The descriptions are so clear and humorous, that you can actually "see" what he is talking about. The cast of characters, though there are several, in this small English village, are easily identifiable by the narrators distinctly different voices, and the authors humorous descriptions of each person. I never guessed "whondunnit'" until the end, which pleasantly, wasn't the end, at all. There was a full epilogue to follow. I ordered the next book, now confidently, because I have no reason to think it won't be just as fun.