The Heiress of Linn Hagh

By: Karen Charlton

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

Northumberland, 1809: A beautiful young heiress disappears from her locked bedchamber at Linn Hagh. The local constables are baffled and the townsfolk cry "witchcraft".

The heiress' uncle summons help from Detective Lavender and his assistant, Constable Woods, who face one of their most challenging cases: The servants and local gypsies aren't talking, Helen's siblings are uncooperative, and the sullen local farmers are about to take the law into their own hands.

Lavender and Woods find themselves trapped in the middle of a simmering feud as they uncover a world of family secrets, intrigue and deception in their search for the missing heiress.

Taut, wry, and delightful, The Heiress of Linn Hagh is a rollicking tale featuring Lavender and Woods - a double act worthy of Holmes and Watson.

©2015 Karen Charlton (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Good, solid cosy mystery

This was a good cosy mystery set roughly 200 years ago. Full of inheritance issues, dastardly deeds, gypsies and servants. There are two reasons that it was a four star for me (rather than a 5). The first is that the solution to the story was clear from about half way and so it got a bit annoying that Lavender took so much longer to get there. The second is the narrator who used the same voice for annoying women and old men regardless. I did like his voice but the characters could have done with a bit more variety.

56 of 58 people found this review helpful

Better in print

The mystery itself was very enjoyable-- complex and interesting. I really liked Constable Woods however I couldn't seem to form any attachment to Detective Lavender. He was a more than competent detective, not easily deceived but for whatever reason I didn't really like him much. As such, I probably won't continue with the series. But I do suggest giving it a try as I am sure some people will find him quite appealing and the mystery is quite good.

A note on the audio: I don't really recommend the audio version. The narrator did a decent (though not stellar) job with Detective Lavender and Constable Woods however all the other male characters sounded like they were yelling and most were quite indistinguishable from one another. It was a bit bothersome as the voices didn't feel "real" at all. I would stick with the print version.

68 of 71 people found this review helpful

Surprisingly good!

I looked at this book for a while, having difficulty deciding whether to take a chance on it. I'm happy that I finally did. I love the way the author has set up the story very slowly and carefully. Feels as though I know the characters well by the time the story gets into its fullness. The story has aspects of historical interest, a slight touch of gothic novel,a good variety of characters, and a pair of quite interesting detectives who have to tackle a "locked room" mystery. The narrator does a good job with various voices and accents I think. I sort of hope this might be the beginning of a series, though I don't see anything to indicate it will. I will happily read another book by this author/narrator team!

48 of 50 people found this review helpful

Fantastic!

Haven't listened to a mystery this good in a while! It was well narrated & the plot kept me guessing. Enjoyed this so much I finished it in a day. Can't wait for the next in the series.

23 of 24 people found this review helpful

narrator and setting terrific

A surprise how much I enjoyed the characters. I stayed awake to finish, and am eager to get the series. The setting (of early 1800 ) and overall storyline are enhanced by the narrator .

17 of 18 people found this review helpful

Absolutely Wonderful

Any additional comments?

This is one of the best mystery novels I've had the pleasure of reading this year. The author does an excellent job with the characters, plot, mystery....everything. I'm enthusiastically looking forward to the entire series. A definite must read.

22 of 24 people found this review helpful

Lazy listen

Yawn warning on this one - I guarantee you'll get there before the author does.. Formulaic period piece with gratuitous Iberian temptress, evil and idiot half-sibs, loyal servants, gypsies in the woods, rustic but underdeveloped locals and a plucky heroine. Narrator gave it a good shot, but didn't have much to work with: save your credit.

36 of 41 people found this review helpful

A storytellers story

Any additional comments?

This is a . . . sort of classical (not Agatha Christie) mystery, a bit on the Gothic mystery romance side, lots of ambiance of landscape, woods, old buildings, and florid, somewhat exaggerated fully-described characters. The basic plot is not new but has a few good bends and the "telling" of the tale is done in rich, storyteller charm and flourish -- satisfying in the way only "old time" storyteller quality can. I liked it.

13 of 15 people found this review helpful

I enjoyed it

I enjoyed this book. The story moved right along and the narrator did a great job.

13 of 15 people found this review helpful

EXCELLENT!

This a really good 19th century British detective mystery. I hope it is the first in a series. Well written, great characters and the perfect narrator. If you love this genre, it just doesn't get better than this.

30 of 36 people found this review helpful

Ready for the next installment

I made this purchase on the fly and was expecting just a little time filler.

However I was hooked from the first chapter as it is good little mystery, made even stronger by a great performance by the narrator.

Not wanting to give too much away, but it is essentially a mystery / who dunnit surrounding the mysterious disappearance of an heiress from a locked room and a Detective (Lavender) and his Sergeant (Wood) who try and unravel how this could of happened.

I found the narrator's range of voices impressive and will be looking out for other stories that use this actor in the future.

The story moved at pace and I found myself staying up till the early hours trying to get to the end of it. My only criticism and this is a personal preference only - so do not necessarily take my word for it is that in terms of a plot device, the story is concluded or hangs upon a character not seen in the whole book. I personally like who dunnits where we have been introduced to a character at some stage in the story, even if it is momentarily. This gives me a chance to sort of guess was it you, or you or you or at least some buy in to their character.

This sort of left me with a sense of being cheated. I am keen to read the next installment and understand that the author has a 3rd book due out later this year.
I just hope that the aforementioned isn't the authors' trademark.

I'll finish by saying that this is a worthwhile investment in your time and worth it to listen to the range of voices which were very believable.

Abbie

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Shades of Sherlock Holmes

A great find. Story line is quick to start and contines at 'page turner' pace. Characters were very well defined thanks to Michael Page. Enjoyable read and will look for more narratives by Mr Page.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable old-style detective fiction

Set in the Regency period and in the early years of the Bow Street police force this is a rollicking good yarn of good policemen pitted against dastardly relatives trying to get hold a young heiresses fortune. It's a gripping story that kept me listening helped by the bravura performance of the narrator.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

I choose this because of a good review but it was a disappointment. The narrator is excellent but the story predictable and the main characters unlikeable. The story was placed in the early 1800s but there was no feeling of this period and many anachronisms.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not worth the money

Why would an author go to the trouble of researching three different words for highwayman from the 1800s but not bother with anything about the history of detection? This book is clearly set in 1810 and the first detectives weren't established until 1842. The protagonist spends the book talking about leads, testing for poisons and even refers to someone as disabled! Unfortunately the plot doesn't go anywhere towards making up for the lack of genuine historical detail. I figured out what happened to the heiress about halfway through. Assumed there must be an exciting plot twist. There wasn't.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Easy listening

Slightly annoying narration, being from Northumberland myself I found the accent odd!! Easy enough to listen to although at times my mind wondered off

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent

What a superb story line, I enjoyed it so very much, lot's of twists and turns, with a great surprise to top it off

The heiress of Linn hagh

Another enjoyable lavender mystery.
A brilliant story. Great characters.
Will start the next one immediately!!

enjoyable romp through English countryside

This is a very enjoyable book. It is a light easy listen. There are many historical inaccuracies however if you're prepared to set those aside this is just an easy and pleasant listen. Can recommend.

rollicking

a great mystery delivered in a rolicking adventure story. very addictive with satisfying ending.
I will be listening to more by Karen Chalton