The Cryptic Lines

By: Richard Storry

Narrated by: Jake Urry

Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Set in a sprawling gothic mansion in a remote coastal location, somewhere in the British Isles, the elderly recluse Lord Alfred Willoughby is deciding what is to become of his vast fortune after his death. Whilst his head is telling him to leave nothing at all to his wastrel son, Matthew, his heart is speaking differently. After much deliberation, in a last-ditch attempt to try and show to his son the importance of applying himself to a task and staying with it to the end, he devises a series of enigmatic puzzles cunningly concealed within the lines of a poem - the cryptic lines. If he completes the task successfully and solves the puzzles he will inherit the entire estate; but if he fails he will receive nothing. However, from Lord Alfred's will it emerges that Matthew is not the only interested party. The mysterious old house holds many secrets, and nothing is as it first appears....

©2015 Richard Alan Storry (P)2016 Richard Alan Storry

This was an all-around solid, enjoyable audiobook

Wealthy Lord Alfred Willoughby is worried about what will happen to his estate when he dies. Strictly speaking, his son Matthew should inherit the fortune. But the boy has become a reckless squanderer. Quite cunningly, Lord Alfred decides to teach Matthew the value of gaining something through effort and perseverance. He devises a kind of treasure hunt and to make it even more enticing he involves another totally unassuming competitor in the pursuit of the fortune.Set in an expansive, traditional manor house in Britain, Richard Storry skillfully created the fitting atmosphere and provided vivid descriptions for this charming cozy mystery. The plot becomes far more complex than you would initially expect, and there were some great twists and turns with some revelations at the end that were totally unexpected. The premise is a bit different from the usual murder mysteries and was a lovely change. With its subtle humor and well-written prose, it was an immensely enjoyable and engaging listen.

Set in an expansive, traditional manor house in Britain, Richard Storry skillfully created the fitting atmosphere and provided vivid descriptions for this charming cozy mystery. The plot becomes far more complex than you would initially expect, and there were some great twists and turns with some revelations at the end that were totally unexpected. The premise is a bit different from the usual murder mysteries and was a lovely change. With its subtle humor and well-written prose, it was an immensely enjoyable and engaging listen.

Jake Urry proved to be exactly the right narrator for this story. His rhythm and pacing followed the plot appropriately, switching to a wonderfully ominous tone in the right places. James, the butler, was my favorite character in this story and Jake portrayed him brilliantly, exactly as you would imagine a traditional British butler. He also managed to perform the voices of two elderly female characters with a believable, fitting pitch. There were no issues with the quality of the production at all.

This was an all-around solid, enjoyable audiobook that I would highly recommend to anybody who likes cozy mysteries, British mysteries, mysteries without the standard hunt for murderers. Great entertainment!

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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Great Book – Mystery in a Billionaire Mansion

This was a really enjoyable book, and was just the right length for the story. It reminded me a little of the Robert Langdon Books by Dan Brown. There were all kinds of complex puzzles and clues that left paths of messages and more clues. The author didn’t give quite as complex and detailed of a backstory as Brown, but it was still a very well written story.

The main character is a solicitor (lawyer) who is responsible for the will of a billionaire businessman. After visiting him on a rainy night, the old man dies right after changing his will rather dramatically. The old man’s estranged and disreputable son arrives shortly after his death.

A film left behind by the billionaire states how he is disappointed and ashamed of his son and that he has created a contest for his son and his long-time loyal solicitor. He gives them hints to where an old piece of jewelry is hidden on the vast property. With the item are instructions for transferring all of his assets into the winner’s name. However, the contest ends in only a few weeks, and if it is not found by then it all be donated to charities. With time running out the solicitor and the son join forces to solve the puzzle and split the vast fortune.

However, all may not be as it seems on the sprawling grounds of the mansion. There are many more secrets than the location of a billionaire’s treasure to be known, and far more truths to discover.

This book was just the right length and was a very good listen. I listened to the entire book in one day. Great mystery and suspense. There are several twists that the reader doesn’t see coming, especially at the very end. The narration on this book was also very good. 5 stars!

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, publisher, or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. I was NOT required to write a positive review and this reflects my honest opinion of the work.

Great atmosphere

I really enjoyed this book. Its a mystery centered around finding a hidden treasure that is part of an inheritance. Hidden treasure, creepy house with hidden rooms - what's not to like? I loved the clues given to find the treasured item, and I loved that "booby prizes" were placed in every place where the characters initially looked, which only pointed out that the "seekers" weren't as clever as they thought, and nothing is what it appears to be. I listened to the Audible audio version narrated by Jake Urry, and I LOVED his narration. His voice really added to the atmosphere of the story. All his character voices were really good, he did great on female voices (which is a big test for me), and really everything about his narration was superb. I don't think I've ever listened to him before, but I can't wait to check out more stuff that he has done, along with Richard Storry and any more books he has written.

Mysterious treasure hunt!

Lord Alfred Willoughby is dying! He has written multiple wills but with the way his son Matthew is, he decides to write on last one. In it he stipulates that he will leave his faithful Butler 5 million, and the rest of his sizable fortune would be left to either of two contenders. But, nothing is ever easy and Lord Alfred sets a treasure hunt in place. The first to solve the clues and find a certain object, will inherit everything. All they have to do is solve The Cryptic Lines!

I absolutely flew through this suspenseful mystery! The authors descriptive writing really brought the scenery and atmosphere to life. You could just imagine the big sprawling manor house that they are searching, as well as the amazing land it's on! I also loved the whole treasure hunt and mysterious clues thing. It was awesome figuring things out along with the characters and trying to see was I right! You think you know what's going to happen but the author throws in twist after twist and the ending was brilliant!!

Character wise, their are only a few, but all were extremely well written and developed. James, the butler, was a typical English butler you see on the TV. The attorney was another awesome character. Such a nice person. Matthew is a money hungry man, who only wants his fathers vast fortune and will stop at nothing to get it. All of these, as well as the other characters, added up to a really enjoyable and thoroughly entertaining listen!

In all, this was a quick, fast paced, entertaining and suspenseful read.

Jake Urry was the perfect choice for this. He had an array of tones and cadences that really suited the feel of this story. He portrayed James and Lord Alfred perfectly with a really posh English voice and even did a perfect Matthew! He really brought this book to life and made it 10 times more enjoyable! I went looking for information on Jake Urry to see what else he has narrated and was shocked to see that he is so young!! I thought he was an older gentleman with the way he read this book!!! Brilliant narrator.

*I received this via Audiobook Boom but voluntarily reviewed it. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.*

Loved it

Brilliantly done mystery. The writing style is very old-school, reminded me of some of those classic mystery novels. Dark and creepy. It had a dry sort of humor I really enjoyed. The old mansion, cryptic messages left by a dead millionaire and the narrator gave a great ambiance to the story. Loved the ending!

The narrator was perfect for this story. Wonderful performance.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

A book with a great ending!

I had nearly turned off this book more than half way through because I found it to be rather boring, but I stuck it out until the end- and I am so glad that I did! The Cryptic lines starts off really slow, but it has a wonderful ending. This book made it onto my “listen again” list (which does not happen often for me) because I did not expect the ending; secrets are revealed which change the whole dynamic of the story line, so much so that the book begs to be read a second time.

The narration by Jake Urry is magnificent! He performs each character’s distinct personality, and he recites poetry beautifully too. My favourite character is James, the butler, but every character came to life by this talented narrator.

I highly recommend this book to fans of cozy mystery stories and for those that love a good ending!

This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Absolutely Fantastic

Any additional comments?

"The Cryptic Lines" is my favorite book I've listened to recently. Expertly crafted, absolutely masterful narration and a surprise ending make for a truly satisfying experience. Rarely do I intend on listening to a book twice, but this story had so much intricate nuance throughout that was only revealed at the end, that I just might have to listen again. This is a story about an old man and his jerk of an adopted son. Normally, this isn't a story line I would be even vaguely interested in but somehow Storry grabbed me by my eardrums and didn't let me go until the story ended. It was suspenseful, thrilling, mysterious, alluring, touching and unique. I would recommend this story to literally anyone who enjoys a good book. And Jake Urry is the best voice actor on Audible!

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Atmospheric, timeless tale of mystery and suspense

“The Cryptic Lines”, is a mystery tale and a treasure hunt, set in an isolated, old, spooky house. It’s also an excellent example of an audiobook where the author and the narrator make a perfect pair, and the book is strengthened by the narrator’s voice. As it began I was reminded of John Houseman’s foreboding campfire ghost story at the beginning of John Carpenter’s film “The Fog”. And despite this book having no supernatural elements, there was an atmosphere straight out of an old haunted house film, or an old late night radio show, the entire time I listened to it. It also has a great timelessness to it; the number of references to anything that even remotely dates when this takes place, are decidedly few - a fact that I think strengthens the story.
I know some people go into a mystery expecting the author to somehow top every ending of every previous mystery in existence, and then grumble when it doesn’t meet that impossible goal. The ending here is nothing earth-shattering, but it neatly and satisfactorily ties up a clever, twist-filled puzzle of a tale that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for this honest, unbiased review.

Scavenger Hunts have NEVER been this fun!

I LOVED this audiobook so much!!! Jake Urry shines and I just LOVE his voice.

The story was amazing. It was a quick listen and I was entranced by the plot.

It’s a story of a wealthy man who leaves behind a fortune. But instead of giving it to his a-hole son just because, he decides to make his son work for the fortune. If he doesn’t solve the puzzle/scavenger hunt, then he doesn’t get the fortune.

I just really loved how the author wrapped the storyline up in the end. My heart and my mind were like “oh no he didn’t!” It was such a thrill!

I received this book for free from Jake Urry, and I swear to you that because I got this book for free, it in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM changed my perception of this book. This was an honest review! Yasssss Jake, WERKKKK!!

A good, cozy mystery with plenty of suspense

If you could sum up The Cryptic Lines in three words, what would they be?

Suspenseful cozy mystery

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed that there weren’t an overwhelming number of characters to keep track of—a mistake many authors make in shorter tales. Mr. Storry presented us with a small handful who were nicely developed. They all stayed true to their motivations and personalities; no one suddenly took a left turn to Albuquerque just because the plot/author suddenly demanded it of them. James the Butler was probably my favorite and what we find out about him in the end is just heart-breaking. I didn’t see it coming and I imagine other readers won’t either. The surprise was refreshing.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last two or three chapters, especially the events in the crypt, were the best.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

You have to read between the cryptic lines

Any additional comments?

Jake Urry was the best possible choice as narrator. In fact, I’m pretty sure he was born to read books like this (I’d love to hear his renditions of Poe)! His accent fit the gothic setting perfectly and his inflection conveyed the ratcheting tension. I’d say he put the ‘cryptic’ in “The Cryptic Lines”. He read neither too fast nor too slow and he didn’t dramatize the characters, though it was still quite easy to distinguish each. I was able to form a detailed picture of everyone in my head simply from the way they were voiced and thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for not making Meg sound like every old lady we’ve ever heard in audio! Mr. Storry clearly intended her to be a bit feisty and Mr. Urry nailed it. The only sort of annoying thing was the occasionally inconsistent audio quality. There was at least one place towards the end where I’m guessing something was re-recorded and spliced in, but the volume was different from what preceded and followed. Otherwise, this was nicely recorded.

The Cryptic Lines

Who was your favorite character and why?

This book will keep you guessing all the way through with mind boggling twists, and a brilliant ending.

What about Jake Urry’s performance did you like?

He was the best narrator with this genre

Gripping tale from my favourite narrator!

Would you listen to The Cryptic Lines again? Why?

I will keep this on my iPod and listen again! In fact I imagine its one of those books that's a completely different story once you know the ending and are reading for the second time.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I loved the climax to the 'treasure hunt', and the dramatic revelations that happen towards the end of the book - really gripping and I couldn't stop listening, so I recommend you have a good hour to absorb the end of the book in one sitting!

Any additional comments?

I'm new to audiobooks and found this great narrator and love his work. Will be keeping an eye out for future narrations by him. This story is the kind of thing I love, and very well executed by both writer and Narrator.

Fabulous 5 Star Story

This is a truly enjoyable story that enthralled me from the very beginning, I just had to listen from beginning to end. The plot is unlike most of the mysteries I read or listen to in that it's not about murder. It's about a most unusual treasure hunt, the clues are provided from beyond the grave, albeit via a reel of film.

The setting is an old mansion that wouldn't be out of place in a horror story, full of hidden secrets. There is a faithful butler to attend their every need and a cook who prepares for them meals fit for the fussiest gourmet.

The clues they must solve are very cryptic, and the attempts to solve them lead along a convoluted route to some very eerie locations. The story has the feel of an Agatha Christie play and I realised I had no idea of the time period in which the story was set, though I might have missed that bit. The ending is both unexpected and satisfying, I felt I had just listened to a rather wonderful play on the wireless. I highly recommend this intriguing tale.

Narrator
Narrated by Jake Urry, and what a wonderful job he made of it, his voice conveyed an ominous significance to the words which was just perfect for this book. He maintains a good rhythmn and his voice has a pleasing cadence which helps bring life to story. I had no trouble differentiating between the characters because he bestowed them with distinct voices, he has also mastered the art of conveying the age appropriate voices. Jake also passed my "old lady voice" test, many of us listeners get tired of any female character over 60 being given a high pitched, weak and quavery voice. Darned good job Jake, I'm sure you will do exceedingly well in the audiobook narration business.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher in return for an honest review

Great fun! Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries

The Cryptic Lines was a delightful cozy mystery set in a sprawling old manor house somewhere in Britain. It was really different, as there were no dead bodies to be discovered or murderers to be hunted. Instead, the plot centers around a rather unusual treasure hunt to determine who would inherit Lord Alfred Willoughby's vast fortune. His squandering son Matthew is hoping it will be him. But there is also another unassuming contender. The story was beautifully written with subtle humour and reminded me of the traditional Agatha Christie mysteries. I adored the loyal butler, James. What a great character. Some of the reveals at the end were not what I had expected at all. A very satisfying end to the story. This was a really entertaining, light listen that kept me completely engaged for the full 4 hours.
Jake Urry was a new narrator for me. He had a lovely cadence that seemed very fitting for the story and switched to a great ominous tone where appropriate. There were two elderly ladies' voices that were performed admirably without any of the grating high-pitched tones that male narrators frequently use. His rendition of James was perfect, just as you would expect the classic British butler to sound like. I was really impressed how he managed to make the 'old' characters sound appropriate for their age because Jake Urry is actually a very young narrator. A very talented new voice artist.
I received the audiobook version in exchange for an unbiased review.

A short, but fantastically written suspense story

4.5★ Audiobook⎮ The Cryptic Lines was a pleasantly surprising story. It provided precisely what I was looking for on a rainy October night. It was a short listen, full of unexpected twists.

I’ve come away from this experience with much appreciation for Richard Storry’s writing abilities. His storytelling captivated me. He told a better story in just over four hours than some authors tell in double or triple that amount of time. The tale itself slightly called to mind The Count of Monte Christo or some other work of Poe, but without any gore. Richard Storry didn’t need blood and guts to tell this tale. He used skillful writing to create an atmosphere of suspense, which can be much more frightening than outright horror.

Atmosphere was very important in The Cryptic Lines. Storry’s visual imagery plays to the listener’s imagination, allowing it to run rampant for nearly 4 hours. Strangely enough, The Cryptic Lines reminded me of the 1985 movie Clue because of the sprawling mansion setting and the scavenger hunt-type mission the characters go on. Trying to solve the riddle was frustratingly fun and akin to being in a carnival’s haunted house.

I was never in fear of prematurely solving the riddle. The mystery was pretty well cloaked. Even if I had been on the verge of figuring things out, Storry still have plenty more twists up his sleeve. Some of the twists were actually quite heartbreaking. I wasn’t expecting a mystery/thriller story to tug at my heart this much. The ending may seem a little far-fetched to some, but it was written with such fluidity that I took it in stride. Besides, Storry had already thrown so many curveballs that I was prepared for just about anything.

I’m so glad that I saved The Cryptic Lines for October. It was just perfect for leading up to Halloween. Richard Storry’s writing was marvelous and I am very much a fan of his style. I definitely recommend The Cryptic Lines to anyone looking for a short, but fantastically written suspense story.

Narration review: Jake Urry’s narration was as surprising as the story itself. For a young man, Urry managed to sound ageless. If I hadn’t known better, I would have guessed that he was quite a few years (maybe even decades) older than he really is. His voice had an air of distinguishability that really made me buy into the story of an aging British Lord living in a gothic mansion. Urry’s timbre, accent and articulation held atmospheric qualities that greatly enhanced the story. I quite enjoyed listening to his narration and it intensified my feelings of suspense while listening. This was a case of a story and its narration having a perfectly symbiotic relationship which produced something remarkable. ♣︎

➜ This audiobook was graciously gifted to me by its narrator, Jake Urry, in exchange for a review containing my honest thoughts and opinions. Thanks, Jake!

Great spooky story

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was a good story with interesting characters and lots of unexpected twists and turns. Jake Urry, the narrator, got the tone just right. A very good listen!

Puzzles, Clues and Treasure! Well Narrated Story

Maybe it is just me, but there is something so deliciously inviting about a scavenger type hunt. Searching for clues, second guessing every hint.

This audio book is really a fun one. There is a will that has a challenge presented in a video left by the Matthew's father.

Matthew Willoughby has not lived up to the expectations of his father Lord Alfred Willoughby. His selfishness and immaturity shines through this story.

The book is filled with interesting and somewhat secretive characters. This is my first book by Richard Storry. I like the way he writes. He uses words that evoke emotion that go along with the mysterious old mansion and the out of the way corridors they keep searching through. The clues are tied to a love of classics that Lord Alfred loves. It was well written and entertaining to follow them in their puzzle solving.

Jake Urry has presented this story in the best voices. Each one is obviously different from the others. I keep forgetting there is only one person reading this book. His voice is strong yet when he does the elderly woman Meg, I hear an elderly woman. It is a craft he is well adept at.

This is a really great book. Nicely written and narrated so nicely.

Unturnoffable...The Cryptic Lines

This is a compelling story: the attention is held to the last word, belief in characters and narrative maintained throughout. Storry has a strong sense of pace, so that suspense and surprise are introduced with artful timing.

Richard Storry has a gift for creating atmosphere, and descriptions of place, people and plot are vivid and full of interest. To add to the book itself, Jake Urry's voice has a wonderfully hypnotic quality, and he draws out the characters skilfully.

This is a rattling good yarn, and the denouement won't disappoint!

Alison Moncrieff-Kelly

Great story

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a different genre for me and I listened to it in one day as it just flowed and I so wanted to know how it ended. This is the second audiobook that I have listened to narrated byJake Urry and he did another fabulous job with this book.

A cool thing happens

If you could sum up The Cryptic Lines in three words, what would they be?

A good listen .

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Cryptic Lines?

I can't give it away but it was the twist.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

When Matthew goes into a graveyard at night and makes a discovery.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

We listened to it before bed and it was scary enough just to listen to a bit of it..

Any additional comments?

Brilliant! I love the sort of story where a cool thing happens. I was a bit creeped out by the narrator's voice at first, but I got used to it in the end. There were a few words I didn't know the meaning of, though.