phillyhart's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
claudia_is_reading's review
4.0
Well, this is my kind of book! A great mystery, with characters that behave like adults and even one very smart dog :P
The mystery was very well done, with the clues right there, and yet, difficult to solve until the very end because you only know as much as the investigators knew at that time.
The romance between Adam Matthews and Inspector Robin Bright is really slow-paced which fits perfectly with the circumstances. Hello! Police Inspector and possible suspect! Of course they can't get involved during the investigation!
The cast of secondary characters is quirky and well-chosen; I particularly liked Robin's Seargent :P
And it is so British! A small British village, a vicar, a bobby, and a village school: the ingredients of every lovely British mystery *laughs*
A truly enjoyable story and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
David Maxwell does a really good job with the narration.
The mystery was very well done, with the clues right there, and yet, difficult to solve until the very end because you only know as much as the investigators knew at that time.
The romance between Adam Matthews and Inspector Robin Bright is really slow-paced which fits perfectly with the circumstances. Hello! Police Inspector and possible suspect! Of course they can't get involved during the investigation!
The cast of secondary characters is quirky and well-chosen; I particularly liked Robin's Seargent :P
And it is so British! A small British village, a vicar, a bobby, and a village school: the ingredients of every lovely British mystery *laughs*
A truly enjoyable story and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
David Maxwell does a really good job with the narration.
ctsquirrel's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been off and on my TBR shelf probably half a dozen times. Silly me. Very good slow burn, cozy-ish mystery. (It even had the requisite charming pet )
I didn't realise this was a series when I first added it, now I have to read the rest obviously.
Spoiler
- who saves the dayI didn't realise this was a series when I first added it, now I have to read the rest obviously.
cmira2027's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Really good mystery, I enjoyed following the clues and working out who done it. Light romance with engaging main characters, there was a nice balance between the mystery and the romance. Definitely recommended.
Really good mystery, I enjoyed following the clues and working out who done it. Light romance with engaging main characters, there was a nice balance between the mystery and the romance. Definitely recommended.
callen_charlemagne's review against another edition
5.0
Midsomer Murders but gay. Everything I've ever wanted in a book.
terriaminute's review against another edition
Thank you, local library, for saving me from spending money on this.
There is no intrigue, no suspense, thus, no curiosity. By 20% in we ought to have Potential For More Danger and Conflicting Alibies and so on, but all we get is polite confusion and one of the dullest gay attractions I've ever read. Which, since apparently nothing's done with it, is superfluous in the worst way. It could've offered bits of levity in an intense investigation, had there been any sign of the latter, but fellow reviewers warn there's nothing much to it.
This is the diet food of the cozy mystery genre, all puff, no substance.
There is no intrigue, no suspense, thus, no curiosity. By 20% in we ought to have Potential For More Danger and Conflicting Alibies and so on, but all we get is polite confusion and one of the dullest gay attractions I've ever read. Which, since apparently nothing's done with it, is superfluous in the worst way. It could've offered bits of levity in an intense investigation, had there been any sign of the latter, but fellow reviewers warn there's nothing much to it.
This is the diet food of the cozy mystery genre, all puff, no substance.
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this gentle romp through the archetypal English village - with murder in the midst I was almost envisaging Miss Marple striding through! 3.75*
Whilst there is murder most foul, it is off page so the gentleness is embedded through the story and in the writing, no great angst or even great swathes of passion between Robin and Adam.
I think fans of high angst and gritty murder mystery would be disappointed but it is British murder writing in the old style and I enjoyed it.
Not sure if there will be more from Robin and Adam, but there are still some questions lurking - about Robin's time at St Crispin's, his arch nemesis Ryan now visiting the local gay bar.
If you are wanting a nice read, lots of suspects, but not needing to invest too heavily into complicated plot, look no further.
Whilst there is murder most foul, it is off page so the gentleness is embedded through the story and in the writing, no great angst or even great swathes of passion between Robin and Adam.
I think fans of high angst and gritty murder mystery would be disappointed but it is British murder writing in the old style and I enjoyed it.
Not sure if there will be more from Robin and Adam, but there are still some questions lurking - about Robin's time at St Crispin's, his arch nemesis Ryan now visiting the local gay bar.
If you are wanting a nice read, lots of suspects, but not needing to invest too heavily into complicated plot, look no further.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy cozy mysteries, teachers and cops, and this was a fun one. The two MCs are a young teacher doing his best for his pupils in a small school, and a local cop called in to solve a murder at the school where he was badly bullied as a child. Both characters are easy to relate to, imperfect but well meaning, and fun to watch slowly coming together while aware of the ethical limits on their relationship, in the middle of an open murder case.
The relationship progression is slow, and just barely beginning at the end of the book. Although I'd love to have seen more, I thought it fit well with the characters and their situation, and I got some warm fuzzies from imagining where they go from here.
Where the book lost a star from me was in the action climax, where the reader can see it coming from a mile, and the cop MC felt like he failed to act promptly. But perhaps, I'm judging this British cop by American standards, in expecting him to move a bit more ruthlessly professionally. There was a bit of exposition of "this was what happened" that was convenient. Over all, a nice, sweet, smoothly-written cozy mystery that was a good way to pass an evening.
The relationship progression is slow, and just barely beginning at the end of the book. Although I'd love to have seen more, I thought it fit well with the characters and their situation, and I got some warm fuzzies from imagining where they go from here.
Where the book lost a star from me was in the action climax, where the reader can see it coming from a mile, and the cop MC felt like he failed to act promptly. But perhaps, I'm judging this British cop by American standards, in expecting him to move a bit more ruthlessly professionally. There was a bit of exposition of "this was what happened" that was convenient.
Spoiler
I don't like confessions from criminals about how they did the crime as a way to wrap things up.juank1301's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the book. I think that the story sometimes wanders off and forgets about the crime. The crime is very interesting, but the book often leaves it aside to focus on the attraction between the detective and Adam. I believe that the book would have worked better just as a crime story, without the love side story.