Enjoyable overall

I really like the characters Archie and Josephine and I thought this was an enjoyable read by the end. However, at times I found the piling up of harrowing events all a bit much - page after page of misery and really awful images. The strength of the characterisation wins through though and I thought it was a good mystery with a good Cornish setting.

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Dark mystery

Another well-written novel by Nicola Upson. Archie Penrose invites author Josephine Tey to his family home in Cornwall. Poor Josephine! She arrives as the community gathers for a young man’s funeral and finds herself drawn into their web of secrets and lies.
The subject matter was dark and disturbing but handled sensitively by Upton. Apart from the familiar characters of Josephine, Archie and the Mottley family, the inhabitants of this close-knit community were an odd and unpleasant bunch. However, the glimpses into Josephine’s life and references to Daphne du Maurier and other figures from the era were fascinating inclusions in the story. Narration by Sandra Duncan is first class.

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So enjoying this series

The Author and Narrator are just a dynamic duo and make this series just addictive to listen to!!

There are a few gruesome bits and I may well skip by a couple of mins in future books, but only because I’m squeamish lol and they are written SO well, you almost feel you are there witnessing it!!

Beginning to feel that Josephine Tey is actually not required to appear in these books as Archie, his deputy and the cousins are so fab, that they could easily carry these books to be 5 stars every time!

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I loved this book

This book is kept my attention from start to finish. I loved the story and I felt very sad when I came to the end of the book. The narrator was excellent and she brought the characters to life. The author has developed a cast of interesting and believable characters and she somehow manages to deal with issues relevant to the present day in an historical setting.

I will come back to this book again because it is too good to only read once. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and I I have no hesitation in recommending this author.

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too dark to enjoy

Having listened to the first book in this series I was pleased to have found a new author to listen to . However, from the very beginning I found this book dark and depressing and wondered if i should continue. I did , thinking it would be ok once the detecting began but it just spiralled down into more misery and woe. It is well written and well performed but the story itself is not what i enjoy in my reading. I love to follow the detecting of the crime and how the writer tells you things and leads you down different paths but in this book it was more about the characters, few of whom were likeable and most of whom had little in their character to warm to. I will not be rushing to buy the next in the series but hope it comes up in the plus catalogue rather than commit to something that is more of the same.

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this story just keeps giving!

beautifully acted out by the reader, this story keeps dishing out surprises till the very end. A real joy.

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Very interesting story

A good story told well. Second in the series - planning on reading book 3 next

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Good reading helped plot that dragged a bit

My second Josephine Tey mystery and I continued to enjoy the characterisation, enhanced by reader

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Narration excellent.

A lovely listen, an interesting plot and wonderful setting but all very much enhanced by the perfect narration.

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A really enjoyable book

An excellent story beautifully read, and set in a most lovely part of Cornwall, that I am familiar with, which gives the story an additional layer of enjoyment for me. I am sure that I will listen to it again.

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