The Hanged Man's Noose

By: Judy Penz Sheluk

Narrated by: Suzanne T. Fortin

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

Small-town secrets and subterfuge lead to murder in this fast-moving, deftly written tale of high-stakes real estate wrangling gone amok. 

Journalist Emily Garland lands a plum assignment as the editor of a niche magazine based in Lount’s Landing, a small town named after a colorful 19th-century Canadian traitor. As she interviews the local business owners for the magazine, Emily quickly learns that many people are unhappy with real estate mogul Garrett Stonehaven’s plans to convert an old schoolhouse into a mega-box store. At the top of that list is Arabella Carpenter, the outspoken owner of an antiques shop, who will do just about anything to preserve the integrity of the town’s historic Main Street. 

But Arabella is not alone in her opposition. Before long, a vocal dissenter at a town hall meeting about the proposed project dies. A few days later, another body is discovered, and although both deaths are ruled accidental, Emily’s journalistic suspicions are aroused. 

Putting her reporting skills to the ultimate test, Emily teams up with Arabella to discover the truth behind Stonehaven’s latest scheme before the murderer strikes again.

©2015 Judy Penz Sheluk (P)2017 Judy Penz Sheluk

A nice easy read.

This is a easy relaxing Mystery that you can enjoy anywhere you happen to be.It is a well constructed story with believable
characters.With a great Narrator you can be entertained and taken into this world and be satisfied that your time was spent well.



This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

An especially great book!

In <strong>Hanged Man's Noose</strong> by Judy Penz Sheluk, Emily Garland has spent several years working as a freelance journalist focusing on real estate issues when she gets a special job offer from Michelle Ellis, her boss. She ends up leaving her home of Toronto to a small town 90 minutes northeast of Toronto named Lount's Landing and taking on editorship of the local paper, <em>Inside the Landing</em>. However, her real assignment is to secretly investigate developer Garrett Stonehaven, whom Emily secretly hates for what she is certain is unproven corruption. Now, in Lount's Landing, Stonehaven seems to be up to no good for another time. He has bought the old elementary school and plans to turn it into a big box store, but is he up to something else?

Then, Emily goes to the Sunrise Cafe for breakfast, and Carter Dixon, one of Stonehaven's biggest opponents in development, dies of a peanut allergy that everyone in Lount's Landing knows about. It doesn't take long before Emily discovers another body, and though both deaths are treated as accidental, Emily's suspicions grow. Emily soon makes friends with Arabella Carpenter, a woman about to open her own antique shop, The Glass Dolphin. Together, the two women join forces to fight the development and solve the mysterious deaths.

From the moment I pushed play on <strong>Hanged Man's Noose</strong>, I was drawn to it and pulled right in. The book posed plenty of excitement without being too intense. It makes financial issues actually interesting, even giving a clear explanation of the difference between a Ponzi Scheme and a pyramid scheme, making them both understandable even to a non- business mind. The book has creative discussions of the antiques in Arabella's shop, adding to the greater interest of the book.

In addition to the little details in finances and antiques, the plot was fascinating and dramatic. The many twists and turns taken by the book drew my focus and held onto my attention until the book concluded with an exciting confrontation with a murderer. The setting to the plot served even further to make the book clever.

In addition, the characters in this book seem real and round, and the book is filled with strong women, good and bad. . Emily is a tenacious researcher who never lets go and keeps plugging away as she uncovers fact after fact, in unexpected twists. Arabella serves as an excellent partner for Emily, somewhat suspicious but also a strong woman who fights for what she believes to be right. I appreciate her view on life that people mirror what pose as antiques: the real thing, replicas, pieces with added details to make them more valuable, and deliberate forgeries. However, she also makes the statement that all people are capable of true change if they really choose. These are just two of the many strong women in the book.

Suzanne T. Fortin performs the audio edition of this book, doing justice to the well-written book in helping to bring it to life. She uses strong, creative expressions in her performance as well as clever voices for each character. I really enjoyed the way Fortin made this book all the more effective than it already was.

I greatly enjoyed listening to <strong>The Hanged Man's Noose</strong>, which is named after the pub owned by Arabella's best friend, another strong woman. I liked the message of female empowerment and the very creative plot. Instead of one obvious murder, we are left wondering about a series of accidents. That proved to be a refreshing change from the usual. I look forward to the next book's in the series being produced on audio, though it will have a high bar to reach to match this one. I give the book five very bright stars!

<strong>Disclaimer:</strong> I received this book through Audiobook BOOM, but that had no effect on the content of my review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

One of the best cozy mysteries I've read

Journalist Emily Garland is hired by a big company to try to unearth the secrets and find out the real intentions of Garrett Stonehaven, a famous and rich real estate agent. She will have to work undercover in the small town of Lount’s Landing, as the editor of a niche magazine. Emily will have to do some sleuth work, and nothing is what it seems. From a point onwards bodies start to pile up, and this mission seems to be more dangerous than she expected.

I always enjoy a good cozy mystery. I find this genre relaxing and an easy listen, especially when there is much going on in real life. Even though I love this kind of books, I am sometimes bothered because it seems they need to include a romantic story, which seems forced most of the times. This doesn’t happen here. The main character has a small attraction for one of the male characters but that’s it. There’s no blabbering, forced conversations, nor unrealistic sex scenes.

In fact, I can say that this is one of the best cozy mysteries I have read. The characters feel like real people, with clear motivations and normal reactions. I liked exploring the business located in Main Street, with their colorful names, and charismatic owners.

The book had a good rhythm, and it was easy to get into it. People start dying quite soon in the story, and the intrigue was well built from the start. Nothing and nobody is what it seems, and I especially enjoyed trying to guess who and why was doing those things. It was a book that kept my attention until the end, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Suzanne T. Fortin’s narration was correct. She delivered great characters’ interpretations, transmitting their emotions, and bringing them to life. I just missed some differentiation between voices. It’s like Fortin tried to make them sound different for the beginning of a paragraph, but soon after all voices blended in together, and male and female characters sounded quite similar. I had issues following several conversations between Emily and Arabella, Emily and her boss, and even Emily and one of the male characters, not really knowing who was talking and doing some guesswork that was not always right. But the interpretations and narration in general was good, so I enjoyed it.

I really liked this book, and would recommend it to anyone into cozy mysteries. It’s one of the best in the genre.

I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Who done it?

I loved the story and the characters. I look forward to more in this series. This book had me hooked from the start. The narrator great. I received this book as a gift in exchange for a honest review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ok mystery

This was an ok mystery with an average narration. I didn't find it to be particularly memorable compared to a lot of other mysteries I've listened to but it was interesting enough. This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

EXCELLENT MYSTERY, EASY READING, GREAT BOOK!

GREAT Emily Garland mystery, it was awesome, loved it!
I really enjoyed the character Emily, and the struggles she faced. Great plot, lots of action, suspense & drama, the narration was amazing, I'm really happy with this one, and would welcome the opportunity to listen to more of Judy's books :) Great job! Definitely recommend it!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The Hanged Man's Noose

Journalist Emily Garland gets stent out on a new assignment to investigate her nemesis Garrett Stonehaven, who she also suspects had something indirectly to do with her mothers supposed suicide. She meets a variety of unique characters in this small town, and like with any small town their are many secrets to dig up. Being told to trust no one, Emily takes a liking to her new friend Arabella, but can she trust her? As secrets start to unravel bodies start dropping and things get a bit crazy. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the book, and the surprises. Nice job on the narration. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fun read

I was gifted this book with the understanding that I would leave an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Judy Penz Sheluk is new to me but I found her book very interesting with many twists so I didn't quickly figure out what was going on. I did have a hard time at first keeping track of everyone. There are a lot of characters but about 1/4 of the way into the book I was doing fine. I really enjoyed Suzanne T. Fortin's narration of this story. She does a nice job of keeping you listening. The lead character is a journalist Emily Garland and you quickly get to like her. I really enjoyed the addition of descriptions of food and drinks. The lovely shortbread cookies that Arabella Carpenter, Glass Dolphin Antiques shop owner loves is one example and Judy Penz Sheluk has the recipe on her website so cool. She also has the signature drink The Treasontini, a blueberry martini, the drink on the cover and then the nacho's " Full Noose Nachos: are also included. So much fun.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

So Many Twist and Turns

I loved this roller coaster ride story, with so many turns throughout this story, that you have no idea "who done it". The author does such a great job developing each character, as the narrator does on portraying the characters. I am looking forward to more books by this author



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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

When a job is too good to be ture, it probably is.

Would you listen to The Hanged Man's Noose again? Why?

I rarely listen to mysteries a second time, but I will certainly listen to the next in this series. The quirky people who live in Lount’s Landing Landing are very entertaining. I am sure at least one of them will be dead soon.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All the characters were complex with secrets galore. I likes them and at the same time thought they were too scheming and self centered. They are people readers love to hate.

What about Suzanne T. Fortin’s performance did you like?

The audio was a pleasant and clearly articulated. Fortin was able to deliver the diverse personalities of both female and male characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were twists and turns right up to the end.

Any additional comments?

I listen to audio books as I go for a morning run because the suspense motivates me to get out. I did a lot of running during this book because I was compelled to listen to find out what happened next.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Deep, dark, and dangerous.

Toronto based freelance journalist Emily Garland is offered an assignment in a small town called Loundt's Landing, editing and revamping in local, failing monthly publication. The town had been in decline but there was a scheme that might help kick start it's recovery. Or not. Because the real reason Emily was being sent there by her boss was to investigate a certain charismatic developer and, if possible, expose him for the 'lieing, cheating bastard we both know he is."

After a somewhat conventional beginning, this enjoyable murder mystery introduces us to a cast of colourful characters, disturbing deaths, silent secrets and a fresh take on fakes and reproductions. Northern most believable of stories but great fun and well written (although the ending felt rather rushed). Suzanne T. Fortin, the narrator, did an excellent job, her pleasant, clearly enunciated voice well intoned, her reading well paced and delivered with understanding and gentle emotion. Not a great differentiation between characters voices, but the speaker was always obvious.

The Hanged Man's Noose is a pleasant mystery, fun to read and to try to guess at the answers. My thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me a complimentary copy, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. This could turn out to be an enjoyable series.

Cozy mystery

Any additional comments?

I loved skeleton in the attic, so when I saw this I thought I had to get my hands on it. I found that it is not as good as the book I mentioned however, I was still hooked and wanted to find out who did it. I must admit that I got it wrong, so the author suprised me there and the narrator did a great job.