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A Fatal Obsession
- Ryder and Loveday, Book 1
- Narrated by: Stephanie Racine
- Series: Ryder & Loveday Mysteries, Book 1
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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Summary
The start of a brand-new series from the global best-selling author of the DI Hillary Greene series.
Oxford, 1960. There's a murderer on the loose, and two unlikely heroes are poised to solve the case.
Meet Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday - smart, enthusiastic and always underestimated.
In the hope of getting her out of the way, Trudy’s senior officer assigns her to help coroner Clement Ryder as he re-opens the case of a young woman's death. She can't believe her luck – she is actually going to be working on a real murder case.
Meanwhile, the rest of the police force are busy investigating a series of threats and murders in the local community, and Clement can't help but feel it's all linked.
As Trudy and Clement form an unlikely partnership, are they going to be the ones to solve these crimes before the murderer strikes again?
A gripping, twisty crime novel that you won't be able to pause. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton.
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton.
The Ryder and Loveday Series
Book 1: A Fatal Obsession
Book 2: A Fatal Mistake
Book 3: A Fatal Flaw
Book 4: A Fatal Secret
Book 5: A Fatal Truth
Book 6: A Fatal Affair
Critic reviews
"A beautifully crafted crime mystery..." (Anita Davison, author of the Flora Maguire series)
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What listeners say about A Fatal Obsession
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kerry Howard
- 17-11-19
Excellent listen
I thoroughly enjoyed this. it kept me company during a day of painting the kitchen (and afterwards, listening into the night). The narration was good so am surprised by other reviews berating it, but I suppose everyone has different preferences.
I loved the premise of a young probationary Wpc in a 60s police force tackling sexism and social expectations and the contrast with a more mature and experienced male coroner fighting a developing illness.
I would have liked Truly to have made more contributions to the reveal stages of the investigation towards the end, instead her role is mostly note taker. I also would have liked the discovery of the killer to have been revealed differently. It was too convenient. Can't say more without spoilers. These minor points did nothing to diminish my overall enjoyment of this excellent story.
I've downloaded the next audiobook in the series as company for today's painting.
5 people found this helpful
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- Jeni Quinn
- 23-06-20
A truly glorious story
My Mam recommended this series of books, she loves them. And now so do I.
The narration was tantalising and I am so pleased the same narrator has read all the series, so far.
The main characters are magnificent and so likeable.
The story seemed simple and quaint and then took a twist and a turn into being sinister...thrilling.
I'm off to download the second on in the series now!
4 people found this helpful
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- Rod Smith
- 05-05-19
Thoroughly enjoyable read.
Lovely for a wet and cold Sunday curled up in front a fire. great characters and a well developed plot make it a book you can't put down. can't wait to read the next one.
3 people found this helpful
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- VP
- 02-03-19
Throughly enjoyable.
Very pleasant characters who are portrayed in detail making the reader want to to get to know them more! An exciting story which is beautifully read.
3 people found this helpful
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- Omri
- 16-01-19
Oxford Blue
Whimsical and intriguing period murder mystery. Sympathetic protagonists, each with a cross to bear. Most enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful
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- Helen
- 13-08-18
Dull, boring, slow.
This should have been edited to a third of its length. I didn't finish it.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Kindle Customer
- 12-09-18
An amazing book
At first I was a bit hesitant, thinking that the pairing of two very different characters would never work, but I was wrong.
A very good storyline whilst in the background these two characters just seemed to become real and they did work well together.
Now on to book 2
2 people found this helpful
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- Caroline Adams
- 24-08-18
Wonderful partnership!
Loved this! So clever to introduce another female police officer having already given us Hilary Greene.
2 people found this helpful
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- Sparks
- 13-08-18
Slow and concise narrator very tiring
I enjoy Faith Martin novels this should have been a good book but it was not. The detail of the memorabilia of the decade did make me smile. Sadly the narrator was very slow and precise making it difficult to enjoy and I found it hard to finish. The storyline was weak and very longwinded. Sadly not for me.
4 people found this helpful
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- Jeanette Mitchell
- 31-10-21
Easy Listening
I enjoyed this story, with good narrator. A few twists in the story. I would recommend.
1 person found this helpful
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- Marie
- 04-12-19
Just didn't buy it
Clement Ryder, s retire surgeon turned Coroner, who we are reminded is "old" in every other sentence in the scenes in which he appears, teams up with WPC Trudy Loveday, a wet behind the ears 19 year old Probationary WPC who thinks she should be a detective, are paired up to reinvestigate an old death and its connection to a current murder. If Trudy had been on the force for a number of years and had been held back because she was a woman, I might have been more sympathetic with her constant internal complaining. Obviously she doesn't understand about paying your dues. I was also perplexed because she never mentions any other women in the police force or the status of women during the time period.
The story is told by a narrator who skips from character to character so fast in some scenes it is hard to follow who is acting or speaking. We are told at the beginning that the story is in the 1960, which is good because the lack of setting and description could set this story in many different decades. There are no references to 1960 culture, music, politics or literature to ground the reader. Though we do know Trudy's mother has a bakelite radio.
I might have considered a two star because the mystery is interesting until the ending. The buildup for a terrible revelation from the victims mother falls flat. Not only was the solution to the murders a stretch and a bit ridiculous, the fact that Trudy and the "old man" elicited a confession from the murderer without informing him/her of his/her rights, was unacceptable behavior on both their parts.
I can't see myself joining Ryder and Loveday for further adventures.
7 people found this helpful
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- barbara
- 08-09-19
The first entry in a challenging series
Faith Martin knows how to weave a tale. A little bit police procedural, a little bit cozy mystery and filled with interesting characters. This is the first in a series and I look forward to the team of one young female newbie policewoman and a dapper but crotchety former heart surgeon turned coroner. Fascinating pairing isn’t it!
3 people found this helpful
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- matt harrington
- 12-02-19
Great new series
Enjoyed it. Would recommend it. Would listen to another. Not too corny and the ending is possibly which a lot of books don't have these days.
3 people found this helpful
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- John
- 25-07-18
So Glad I Bought This Book
Faith Martin is a new author to me ,.. and I am so very glad to have found this book .. I am looking forward to her other series,.. and hope that Audible will purchase the other book in this very short ,.. but satisfying series.
6 people found this helpful
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- 4Christ
- 25-11-19
Really good
What a good classic mystery. A little disappointed at the end but, the ride was worth it!
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-01-19
A fantastic murder mystery!!!!
A must read, different way of writing and brings the reader in wondering what the ending will be. 100% recommend!
4 people found this helpful
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- Mary Colbert
- 20-02-21
Another good read by Faith Martin!
I miss my Hillary Greene and Jenny Starling series, but maybe this series woul end up being just a good. This book is definitely not a bad start to a new set of mysteries!
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 03-11-20
Could not stop listening!
I became a Faith Martin’s fan. Awesome story (I will not say what I liked about the story to not give away any spoilers) with a great style. Enough detail to give color on characters and not too much to be boring. Great hints of humor. Perfect narration.
1 person found this helpful
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- KoKee
- 16-02-20
very good
An excellent story, interesting and has twists and turns. I look forward to another story by this author, one for woman's lib in the beginning days.
1 person found this helpful
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- roseanna banana
- 20-03-22
That was excellent
I absolutely love Faith Martin's writing. She does a marvelous job with character building. There were so many surprises in this book. The book absolutely flows through to the end where everything makes sense. Just another great book. The narration was so well done I could forget that I was listening to someone reading to me. Excellent narration.