agonychristie27's review against another edition
5.0
The longer books are just as delightful as the shorter ones, and yet again the audiobook is phenomenal.
10/10 cozy mystery!
10/10 cozy mystery!
arce's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
Dead in the Water is the first full length novel in the Cherringham series. Previously Sarah and Jack’s adventures had taken place in a series of monthly mysteries. I have never read any of these but on the strength of this novel I will be doing so. I really enjoyed it.
On the press release it is likened to Midsomer Murders, the long running very unbelievable detective series on British TV. I preferred this novel. I found the main characters convincing and likeable, Sarah especially. A single parent whose children were reaching the age where everything becomes a battle.
The main theme of the novel must be every parent’s nightmare, that of drugs being found on school premises and then a suspicious death linked to that find. Despite the theme there are no gory details in the novel. It does remain very much in the ‘cosy crime’ genre, showing that it is possible to read and enjoy a story without every grim detail.
There are a few discussions about previous cases, but no spoilers so if like me you want to read the short stories published previously. It’s a very good novel, I have struggled with cosy crime novels previously but this will be a series that I will follow.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
On the press release it is likened to Midsomer Murders, the long running very unbelievable detective series on British TV. I preferred this novel. I found the main characters convincing and likeable, Sarah especially. A single parent whose children were reaching the age where everything becomes a battle.
The main theme of the novel must be every parent’s nightmare, that of drugs being found on school premises and then a suspicious death linked to that find. Despite the theme there are no gory details in the novel. It does remain very much in the ‘cosy crime’ genre, showing that it is possible to read and enjoy a story without every grim detail.
There are a few discussions about previous cases, but no spoilers so if like me you want to read the short stories published previously. It’s a very good novel, I have struggled with cosy crime novels previously but this will be a series that I will follow.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
damppebbles's review
4.0
The end of the school year is a time for celebration. A prom maybe? Followed by a rather loud and lively night in the local pub, present are a mix of teachers and senior students. All making the most of the time they have together. But for one teacher, that time is shorter than he thinks. Full of drink and drugs, Josh Owen’s body is found later that night following a tumble from Cherringham’s idyllic stone bridge, into the freezing Thames. Was it an accident? Did Josh commit suicide? Or was it something more sinister? Amateur sleuth, Sarah Edwards, a local web designer with a history of solving difficult criminal cases with her ex-cop partner, Jack Brennan, is called in to investigate. But Sarah is on her own this time. Jack returned to the US a year ago and Sarah hasn’t heard from him recently. Can she use her detective skills to work out what happened to Josh? Is the school’s drug problem bigger than she originally thought? Has Sarah managed to get herself in too deep…?
I’ll openly admit to being a huge fan of the TV show Midsomer Murders. I cried a little when John Nettles left but soon fell completely in love with Neil Dudgeon’s Barnaby. Being such a fan of the series, I have tried to read Caroline Graham’s original novels but strangely, I didn’t really enjoy them as much as I expected. Midsomer Murders is one series (and please forgive me for saying this booky people) where the tv adaptation, in my eyes, is far superior. Anyway, get to the point Emma! The point being, that you cannot move for comparisons between Midsomer and Cherringham on the web. But Cherringham stands alone (and stands strong!) and I really enjoyed it. What I’m trying to say in a very round-about way is that this book (or rather this series) feels like the perfect read for fans of that cosy style of village crime series. And having read Dead in the Water I would always recommend Cherringham above others.
For those not familiar with the series, co-authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards have written 24 short eBook novellas featuring Sarah Edwards and Jack Brennan. Dead in the Water is their first full length novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m adding all 24 eBooks to my wishlist as there was something so wonderfully endearing and engaging about these characters that I need to read more. The plot wasn’t the usual thrill a minute I crave in my other reads but it was very well written and to be honest, I went in expecting a cosy mystery and that was what I got…I just enjoyed it more than I expected too!
I enjoyed the plot; the search for what really happened to Josh Owens and the sub plot of the drugs epidemic at the local school. I did realise fairly early on ‘whodunit’ with regards to Josh’s demise but that certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the novel as I was caught up in the hunt for the drugs lord.
Would I recommend this book? I would! It has a wonderful gentleness about it that I know will appeal to many people. If you don’t normally read crime but would like to start, this would be a good series to start with. Very enjoyable, wonderful characters with lots of heart and a beautiful Cotswold setting (just down the road from me!).
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an ARC of Dead in the Water. Many thanks to Sophie Goodfellow at edpr.
I’ll openly admit to being a huge fan of the TV show Midsomer Murders. I cried a little when John Nettles left but soon fell completely in love with Neil Dudgeon’s Barnaby. Being such a fan of the series, I have tried to read Caroline Graham’s original novels but strangely, I didn’t really enjoy them as much as I expected. Midsomer Murders is one series (and please forgive me for saying this booky people) where the tv adaptation, in my eyes, is far superior. Anyway, get to the point Emma! The point being, that you cannot move for comparisons between Midsomer and Cherringham on the web. But Cherringham stands alone (and stands strong!) and I really enjoyed it. What I’m trying to say in a very round-about way is that this book (or rather this series) feels like the perfect read for fans of that cosy style of village crime series. And having read Dead in the Water I would always recommend Cherringham above others.
For those not familiar with the series, co-authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards have written 24 short eBook novellas featuring Sarah Edwards and Jack Brennan. Dead in the Water is their first full length novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m adding all 24 eBooks to my wishlist as there was something so wonderfully endearing and engaging about these characters that I need to read more. The plot wasn’t the usual thrill a minute I crave in my other reads but it was very well written and to be honest, I went in expecting a cosy mystery and that was what I got…I just enjoyed it more than I expected too!
I enjoyed the plot; the search for what really happened to Josh Owens and the sub plot of the drugs epidemic at the local school. I did realise fairly early on ‘whodunit’ with regards to Josh’s demise but that certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the novel as I was caught up in the hunt for the drugs lord.
Would I recommend this book? I would! It has a wonderful gentleness about it that I know will appeal to many people. If you don’t normally read crime but would like to start, this would be a good series to start with. Very enjoyable, wonderful characters with lots of heart and a beautiful Cotswold setting (just down the road from me!).
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an ARC of Dead in the Water. Many thanks to Sophie Goodfellow at edpr.
allandanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
vesper1931's review
2.0
When a body of a teacher is discovered in the river the day after the school's prom, Sarah Edwards a part time investigator is asked by the school's head to find out what happened.
For me a bit of a disappointment (I have read another in the series which I enjoyed) because the story really didn't take off for me. It just felt a little flat and the characters seemed one-dimensional.
A NetGalley Book.
For me a bit of a disappointment (I have read another in the series which I enjoyed) because the story really didn't take off for me. It just felt a little flat and the characters seemed one-dimensional.
A NetGalley Book.
marietheresle's review against another edition
4.0
Tiefer Grund von Matthew Costello (Amerikaner) und Neil Richards (Brite) hat mir echt gut gefallen.
Im Klappentext steht eig. alles was es über die Story zu erzählen gibt.
Es geht um den Mord an einem beliebten Lehrer und Drogenhandel - Alles im beschaulichen Cherringham.
War der Lehrer Dealer? Haben ihn wirklich alle so sehr gemocht wie es scheint?
Tiefer Grund ist in wirklich schöner, moderner englischer Krimi.
Die Figuren waren mir neu, da ich die Cherringham-Kurzromane bisher nicht gekannt habe.
Dennoch habe ich sehr gut in die Story reingefunden. Sarah (Britin) und Jack (Amerikaner) sind sehr angenehme Ermittler und die Szenerie in den englischen Cotswolds einfach sehr passend.
Die privaten Ermittlungen der Beiden sind sehr schön beschrieben und machen Lust auf mehr.
Insgesamt ein schöner Krimi für zwischendurch.
Im Klappentext steht eig. alles was es über die Story zu erzählen gibt.
Es geht um den Mord an einem beliebten Lehrer und Drogenhandel - Alles im beschaulichen Cherringham.
War der Lehrer Dealer? Haben ihn wirklich alle so sehr gemocht wie es scheint?
Tiefer Grund ist in wirklich schöner, moderner englischer Krimi.
Die Figuren waren mir neu, da ich die Cherringham-Kurzromane bisher nicht gekannt habe.
Dennoch habe ich sehr gut in die Story reingefunden. Sarah (Britin) und Jack (Amerikaner) sind sehr angenehme Ermittler und die Szenerie in den englischen Cotswolds einfach sehr passend.
Die privaten Ermittlungen der Beiden sind sehr schön beschrieben und machen Lust auf mehr.
Insgesamt ein schöner Krimi für zwischendurch.
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