The Gentleman Vanishes

Cherringham - A Cosy Crime Series: Mystery Shorts 30

By: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards

Narrated by: Neil Dudgeon

Bernard Mandeville loves trains. Every Sunday, the elderly and frail Bernard, in perfect attire, purchases a ticket on the Great Cotswold's Steam Railway, takes a seat in First-Class and revels in a journey from the past. But on one particular Sunday, in the midst of that short trip, the impossible happens. Bernard vanishes without a trace... The family reaches out to Sarah and Jack who must make their own remarkable journey on the rails...to track down the vanished gentleman!

Set in the sleepy English village of Cherringham, the detective series brings together an unlikely sleuthing duo: English web designer Sarah and American ex-cop Jack. Thrilling and deadly - but with a spot of tea - it's like Rosamunde Pilcher meets Inspector Barnaby. Each of the self-contained episodes is a quick listen for the morning commute, while waiting for the doctor, or when curling up with a hot cuppa. For fans of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series, Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who series, Caroline Graham's Midsomer Murders, and the American TV series Murder She Wrote, starring Angela Lansbury. Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), have been writing together since the mid 90's, creating content and working on projects for the BBC, Disney Channel, Sony, ABC, Eidos, and Nintendo to name but a few.

Their transatlantic collaboration has underpinned scores of TV drama scripts, computer games, radio shows, and - most recently - the successful crime fiction series Cherringham. The narrator of the audiobook, Neil Dudgeon, has been in many British television programmes including the roles of DCI John Barnaby in "Midsomer Murders" and Jim Riley in "The Life of Riley". He is also known for his film roles in "The Nativity", "Sorted" and "Son of Rambow". In 2012 Dudgeon starred as Norman Birkett on BBC Radio 4's Afternoon Play series written by Caroline and David Stafford.

©2019 Lübbe Audio (P)2019 Lübbe Audio

Great story!

Fabulous. Hoping that Jack and Sarah get together romantically someday. Kind of a teaser when they were in the tunnel. I love this series.

Stories just get better...

What a fun time I have listening to the Cherringham series. Only problem is that I can listen faster than Mr Richards and Mr Costello can write. Neil Dudgeon, an actor I have admired for a number of years, narrates the series with, in my opinion, affection and enthusiasm for the two key characters, Sarah and Jack. If you enjoy the intrigue of Agatha Christie’s stories and plots, and the brilliant character development for which she is famous, you will enjoy this very inexpensive series. More gentlemen please, and thank you.

One of my favorites - of the first 30 episodes

My wife and I take turns and I finished while she is at Chapter 11. Can't comment or it would be a spoiler. Overall comment on the series: Neil Dudgeon is a great narrator -- but, don't start listening in bed without setting a time limit in timer mode.

Always a joy to listen

I absolutely love this series! Very lovable characters, such a joy to follow them through every episode and see them develop. Neil is such a wonderful narrator too, enjoy his voice and reading very much too.

Love a good mystery

I’ve read some of the last few Cherringham stories but nothing beats listening to Neil tell the stories. I love that they are short and I can hear the whole story in an afternoon. And that new stories come out every few months. But I hear Neil even when I’m doing the reading.

Light and friendly mystery

I really enjoy the Cheringham stories, the characters, and the setting are charming. Good lusten.

Delightful

Could see that ending coming a mile away, but still quite good fun. Great narrator made the most of it.

Deep due diligence

Talk about an unexpected ending! This one is VERY surprising! Not to be missed! Narrator is great.

Intriguing stor

Delightful mystery with a pleasing conclusion. Love this series. Can’t get enough. Neil Dodgen is an awesome narrator. Looking forward to another captivating adventure with Sara and Jack.

Cherringham is wonderfully addictive!

Episode 30, The Gentleman Vanishes was a thorough & satisfying listen! It started slow & the very few clues available to Jack & Sarah made it a bit dull early on.

But like then locomotive train featured in the story it built momentum & finished in style. This episode didn’t include many of the usual characters from the village of familiar characters we’ve met along the previous 29 episodes.

This audio series is extremely addictive in a good way. I’ve fallen in love with the reassuring lilt of Neil Dudgeon’s voice so much so that I’ve started watching Midsomer Murders (beginning Season 14 onwards when he replaces John Nettles) on Netflix. And that binge has further turned me on to Netflix’s Father Brown 50’s era mysteries also set in the Cotswolds.

I truly hope Audible’s Cherringham series will continue past Episode 30. Or, if not, maybe the talented transatlantic writing duo could replace it with an equally intriguing cozy Anglophilic mystery series. The formula works! More please!