The Quartet Murders

A Yorkshire Murder Mystery, Book 2

By: J. R. Ellis

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

A priceless violin. And a dark secret someone is prepared to kill for.

DCI Oldroyd has seen his fair share of victims, but he has never witnessed a murder - until now. When world-famous violinist Hans Muller is shot and killed during a concert, the detective is faced with a case beyond logic. The culprit is nowhere to be found - and the victim’s priceless violin has disappeared too.

As Oldroyd investigates the mystery of the murderer’s identity and the motive for the killing, he enters the ruthless world of wealthy instrument collectors and stumbles upon a dark path where shocking secrets have been buried in the past. But the secrets will soon take centre stage.

Oldroyd must use all his cunning to recover the priceless instrument. But can he also solve the mystery of a murderer who vanished in front of his own eyes?

Revised edition: This edition of The Quartet Murders includes editorial revisions.

©2017, 2018 J. R. Ellis (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Outstanding plot; great narration

The Body in the Dales, Book 1 in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series, showed real promise but did not earn 5 stars. THE QUARTET MURDERS is an outstanding police procedural which fulfills the promise. I look forward to listening to The Murder at Redmire Hall. Narrator Micheal Page is one of the best. He never disappoints.

2nd J.R. Ellis winner!

I have already pre-ordered 3rd book in this series due in September. It is refreshing to find a mystery that is not a rework of others you have read. The narrator is outstanding. Mr. Ellis has a sincere fan. May his books in this series long continue.

Love ALL of J.R. Ellis Yorkshire Murder Series Book 2 was intense!

First, I could easily just repeat the verbiage contained in the description or put it in my words, which I always do 👍. This series ’Yorkshire Murder Mystery Series’ Book 2 are so filled with intrigue, a mass of details and an author that amazingly has characters use details from i.e. WWII, Nazis, etc. that I actually felt this was a none fiction vs. fiction.

The beginning of Book 2 starts like this. It opens up with a string quartet and the violin player is playing on a ’Stradivarius’ (one of the violins and other string instruments built by members of the Italian family Stradivari) one of a few violins made in the mid-1600s.
PRICELESS...

Once the first part of the Interlude is over, the violinist puts his Stradivarius next to him on a table, whether a pause in the rendition or what, the next minute we see the violinist on his stomach with a bullet in his head..a spoiler? No..because I'm not going to give anything else away.

Was it a ploy to steal the worlds most expensive violin? Was it vengeance? That is what the reader will determine.

Throughout this series here in Book 2 ’The Quartet Murders’ readers will be introduced to a lot of characters, collectors, eyewitnesses, groups, Nazi haters and more. Not to leave out the competent CI Oldroyd & Police Detective Carter from London & his ’newly’ relationship with Steph who is also in the Yorkshire police dept. In Book 2 we learn more about CI Oldroyd’s family issues and loneliness he's feeling at Christmas.

All in all this book by J.R. Ellis was so involved with not just the obvious, but also interviews with certain people that definitely had their views on why things may have happened ’this way’. No, they didn't take away from the investigation they definitely added to it. The last 37 minutes were so intriguing re: EVERYTHING I said to myself ”Bravo! Now this was a book that was researched!”

And lastly to Michael Page, of which I’m getting on my soap box, the narrator. For you Americans, of which I’m Americanized from being here in the states for a while, even though I was born and raised in the 60’s in the UK 🇬🇧 HE IS THE BEST NARRATOR FOR ANY AREA OF 🇬🇧..hands down! This is a Yorkshire accent! I read so many NEGATIVE comments from Book 1 about his accent and then the reviewers would say “but I’m not from the U.K. so I don’t know” while they gave him a 1 on narration! If you don’t know what a Yorkshire accent is, how can you make those assumptions??!! It really bothered me because Michael Page is one of Britain’s and Audibles biggest narrator! He may be older but NO HES NOT INCOMPETENT OR AN “OLD MAN”! The comments were rude and unless you know accents in Britain don’t leave a comment..I’m off my soap box.

I just downloaded the 3rd book in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery Series & I cant wait to finish! 5 stars ⭐️ Recommended for all—no foul language or sex—ENJOY YORKSHIRE

Oh no ... not the ‘Last Minute Twin’!

Story started off well ... then collapsed into several last-minute denouements introducing characters that were never there before ... very contrived ... very disappointing.

atmospheric mystery

The narration and the sense of place drew me in to this mystery. I felt transported to the chamber music concert in an old Yorkshire setting. The historical detail about the Stradivarius violin was fascinating as well. At times, I found the different characters a bit confusing. Overall, however, it was a compelling listen.

The Quartet Murders

Although I enjoyed this book, did find it stretched out a bit. The story was good, but a little bit too much detail. The narration was good.

Too much politics

I find myself saying this a lot these days. Why must everyone try to weave their politics into everything? If you’re a lefty, you’ll likely have no issues. As a conservative, I was frequently frustrated by lefty plugs and the righty zingers. Shame really, as I was just thinking I may continue with this author.....not now.

Great Read!/

Enjoying this series! This was my second to listen to and plan to do them all. Excellent narration - completely realistic and understandable. I appreciate the author's philosophical bent as well.

Slow, Plodding, Story

The best part of this book is the intro to each chapter describing the pedigree of various Stradivarius Violins. After that the lead characters just seem to go round and round getting nowhere. Great for listening in bed at night as it tends to put you right to sleep.

solid mystery

great narration! A mystery that lets you figure it out. Interesting overall! Will continue with the series!!! 😁 thanks!

listen to sample first!!!

As a yorkshire lass I could not listen to this due to the narration, AWFUL Yorkshire accent.
Listen to sample before buying, wish I had! Shame as I was looking forward to reading a thriller based in wonderful yorkshire.

The Quartet Murders by J.R.Ellis

The Quartet Murders by J.R.Ellis, is the second book of three and is excellent. Each book can be read as a stand alone and would be just as enjoyable. A beginning, a middle with a very good explained ending.
Nice ‘old fashioned’ without mobile phones, internet or annoying texts!

Terrible Yorkshire Accent

I'm sorry I can't bere to listen to this. Only a couple of chapters in and the Narration is appalling. And I'm not from Yorkshire! I'm a Lancashire lass and even I can't stand to listen.
Sending it back!

Down to Earth detectives

We love the down to Earth detectives in the story's and the twists in the storylines. Very enjoyable.

Yet another brilliant story !!!

The first novel The Body in the Dales was very good this story took it to a higher plain again the story was brilliantly read this time the twists well done again!!!

superb plot

thoroughly enjoyed this story with all its twists and turns, kept me guessing to the end, excellent narration.

Brilliant

Definitely did not see the solution coming. Very fond of this writer's work ,all three books digested and enjoyed. Love audio books while I do crochet

Perseverance pays.

Struggled with this book a bit to start with, but stayed with it and was glad I did.

Gripping yarn!

Excellent tale with nice historical touches about Stradivarius violins and about the music and makeup of String Quartets. Narration rather heavy and monotonous but Yorkshire dialects good.

Good Story Line

I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters are good but the narration was a bit too much at times