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Mitchell and Markby #2
A Season for Murder
After several years abroad with the British Foreign Service, Meredith Mitchell settles in Pook's Common and soon finds herself solving the riddle of her neighbor's death. Reprint.
247 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
34 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Ann Granger
77 books302 followersAnn Granger attended the Northern Grammar School for Girls, and had thoughts about becoming a veterinarian, but discovered women were not accepted into vet schools because they were not believed to be strong enough. Instead she earned a Modern Languages degree at the University of London, where she first developed a desire to become a writer. worked in British embassies in various parts of the world. She met her husband, who was also working for the British Embassy, in Prague and together they received postings to places as far apart as Munich and Lusaka. They had two children.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 4, 2019
I'm reading this series in order and plan to continue. The second outing was as enjoyable as the first for me. The plot is intriguing, and I don't mind the slower pace because there's so much atmosphere to take in and Granger is quite good at describing the setting. The reader gets a sense of place without a great deal of effort. It's a lonely, almost desolate place, but that only makes it more interesting. The characters are well-developed, and I hope some reappear in subsequent books. I do find Meredith a little prickly at times, but then I realize she's not all that much different from me, so I can't fault her too much. I like the slow development of a relationship between Meredith and Alan, keeping the focus on the mystery. My main qualm with this book is the same as the first one in the series: the murderer simply confesses all in the end to his next intended victim. Not likely. I'm not sure the reader could have figured it out from any clues that were dropped. But all in all, I like this series very much.
July 30, 2024
1,5 Sterne.
Ich glaube, ich werde mit der Serie und den Charakteren nicht warm. Ich mochte den ersten Band nicht, der zweite war nicht viel besser. Das Buch ist nicht gut gealtert, viele Verhaltensweisen, die die Personen an den Tag legen, würde man so heute nicht als normal betrachten. Hier zwei Beispiele:
1. Ein junger, etwas schäbig aussehender Mann sammelt Unterschriften gegen die Fuchsjagd und spricht auf der Straße eine reiche Frau an, die ihn einfach zu Boden stößt. Für mich ein inakzeptables Verhalten. In diesem Buch aber völlig okay, weil sie ist ja reich und sympathisch und er schäbig und unsympathisch.... kein Kommentar
2. Als eine junge Kellnerin aus der Gaststätte auf den Vorplatz tritt und die Leiche sieht, schreit sie, woraufhin ihr ein alter, reicher Jagdteilnehmer eine schallende Ohrfeige gibt. Unter aller Kanone - aber in diesem Buch völlig okay, weil hey, er ist ja ein Mann einer gehobenen Gesellschaftsschicht.
Und so zieht sich das in dem Buch durch. Das gehobene Establishment, zu dem auf die beiden Hauptpersonen gehören, kann sich einfach alles erlauben, die unteren Schichten werden mit Verachtung und Herabwürdigung gestraft. Die Hauptperson, Meredith, ist mir so extrem unsympathisch, sie soll zwar 35 sein, aber verhält sich verknöchert und konservativ, als wäre sie 65. Wie sie, ohne psychologisches und empathisches Gefühl für Menschen im Diplomatischen Dienst tätig sein soll, ist mir ein Rätsel. Der Fall wäre ganz okay gewesen, aber durch die großen Mängel der Charaktere, war mir alles verleidet.
Ich glaube, ich werde mit der Serie und den Charakteren nicht warm. Ich mochte den ersten Band nicht, der zweite war nicht viel besser. Das Buch ist nicht gut gealtert, viele Verhaltensweisen, die die Personen an den Tag legen, würde man so heute nicht als normal betrachten. Hier zwei Beispiele:
1. Ein junger, etwas schäbig aussehender Mann sammelt Unterschriften gegen die Fuchsjagd und spricht auf der Straße eine reiche Frau an, die ihn einfach zu Boden stößt. Für mich ein inakzeptables Verhalten. In diesem Buch aber völlig okay, weil sie ist ja reich und sympathisch und er schäbig und unsympathisch.... kein Kommentar
2. Als eine junge Kellnerin aus der Gaststätte auf den Vorplatz tritt und die Leiche sieht, schreit sie, woraufhin ihr ein alter, reicher Jagdteilnehmer eine schallende Ohrfeige gibt. Unter aller Kanone - aber in diesem Buch völlig okay, weil hey, er ist ja ein Mann einer gehobenen Gesellschaftsschicht.
Und so zieht sich das in dem Buch durch. Das gehobene Establishment, zu dem auf die beiden Hauptpersonen gehören, kann sich einfach alles erlauben, die unteren Schichten werden mit Verachtung und Herabwürdigung gestraft. Die Hauptperson, Meredith, ist mir so extrem unsympathisch, sie soll zwar 35 sein, aber verhält sich verknöchert und konservativ, als wäre sie 65. Wie sie, ohne psychologisches und empathisches Gefühl für Menschen im Diplomatischen Dienst tätig sein soll, ist mir ein Rätsel. Der Fall wäre ganz okay gewesen, aber durch die großen Mängel der Charaktere, war mir alles verleidet.
June 4, 2015
This book was recommended to me and I enjoyed it very much. What is it about British mystery writers? It is rare I don't enjoy reading them. I liked the 2 protagonists. Very human and you can't help but smile. This is the first book I have read by Ann Granger and I look forward to reading more.
January 13, 2025
What can I say about this book. It was published in 1991 but seems old fashioned. Not much happens except at the beginning and the end. Also the print was too small. That about covers it.
June 1, 2022
I read this series *because* it’s a solid 3 stars affaire. I really prefer Granger’s other series but my local library has more Mitchell & Markby editions. While I hated Meredith in the last book in this one she’s far more likable than Alan.
April 25, 2016
This is the second book in this low key and well written crime series featuring Chief Inspector Alan Markby and diplomat Meredith Mitchell. In this book Meredith returns to Bamford when she has finished her spell abroad as consul. She hopes to be able commute from there to London every day.
During her first few days in her rented cottage she meets a neighbour - Harriet Needham and likes her. Unfortunately before Meredith can get to know her she is involved in a fatal accident at a Boxing Day Hunt. But was it in accident or perhaps something more sinister? Both Meredith and Alan believe it to have been murder and both set out to investigate in their own ways.
This is an interesting mystery with plenty of clues and plenty of red herrings. I certainly didn't work out who was responsible though the clues are there. It is interesting how the author is developing the relationship between the two main characters and I think this is a series which needs to be read in order so that the reader can follow this development.
During her first few days in her rented cottage she meets a neighbour - Harriet Needham and likes her. Unfortunately before Meredith can get to know her she is involved in a fatal accident at a Boxing Day Hunt. But was it in accident or perhaps something more sinister? Both Meredith and Alan believe it to have been murder and both set out to investigate in their own ways.
This is an interesting mystery with plenty of clues and plenty of red herrings. I certainly didn't work out who was responsible though the clues are there. It is interesting how the author is developing the relationship between the two main characters and I think this is a series which needs to be read in order so that the reader can follow this development.
April 27, 2021
The second book in this quality 'who done it' series this is an easy read that has a good plot and good characters with protagonists Chief Inspector Markby and reluctant sleuth and partner Meredith Mitchell. Set in a Cotswold market town, Bamford and Cottages on spooky Pook's Common it has a Christmas theme with the action happening on Boxing day, when a neighbour of Meredith's is killed in what appears to be a tragic accident. Meredith is not so sure however that the death is is an accident and she is not the only person who is suspicious, but what could the motive be and who might have done it?
Meredith has just returned to the Cotswolds after working abroad as a console she has been posted back to the foreign office in London . She rents a cottage from some friends and is welcomed back by Chief Inspector Markby who is hopeful of renewing their friendship, begun in the first book, 'Say it with Poison' and he hopes to move the relationship forward. Meredith is battling with her feelings for him so It will be interesting to read how things go in the next book.
Meredith has just returned to the Cotswolds after working abroad as a console she has been posted back to the foreign office in London . She rents a cottage from some friends and is welcomed back by Chief Inspector Markby who is hopeful of renewing their friendship, begun in the first book, 'Say it with Poison' and he hopes to move the relationship forward. Meredith is battling with her feelings for him so It will be interesting to read how things go in the next book.
September 25, 2021
2nd in the (Meredith) Mitchell & (Chief Inspector Alan) Markby series, set in the Cotswolds, England. Meredith has moved into Rose Cottage in the rural village of Pook's Common, a bit of a commute from London, her latest consul posting, but she's letting the place from friends very cheaply. The entire novel takes place in the two weeks around Christmas and New Year's, with Alan and Meredith once again seeing each other but stymied from anything beyond friendship by Meredith's fear of losing her independence. The crime story involves the death of Harriet Needham, a headstrong horsewoman living in Ivy Cottage, across from Rose Cottage; no sooner has Meredith met and come to like her than Harriet suffers a fatal fall from her horse at a Boxing Day hunt club event, moments after several people have noticed that she seems drunk, slumped over even before a local anti-fox-hunt protester charged the horse with his sign. There aren't a lot of folks in the rather isolated and somewhat creepy village but there are enough to make for a full slate of suspects. I enjoyed it, and it would make a good Christmastime read.
August 13, 2022
Meredith Mitchell has been assigned a Home Posting in London. Some friends have gone overseas and agree to rent her their house in a very small village called Pook Common. She arrives a few days before Christmas. The village is more a collection of houses and is quite deserted. Just as Meredith becomes friendly with her neighbour, Harriet dies. Could be accidental or it could be murder. Chief Inspector Markby and Meredith witness the death and both set about find out what happened. Meanwhile their relationship continues to develop.
February 16, 2023
Getting into the swing of it....
This is the second book of sixteen. Meredith has now been moved back to England after her job has gone. She has been given a desk job at the FO. However, the book centres around the Christmas season and Meredith's meeting of a neighbour who she has become friends with. The lady dies on Boxing Day, and everyone is saying the same thing. She never took tablets, so why were tablets in her system. Then shortly after New Year another murder what is going on? Can Markby find the murderer before he murders again? This time closer to home.
This is the second book of sixteen. Meredith has now been moved back to England after her job has gone. She has been given a desk job at the FO. However, the book centres around the Christmas season and Meredith's meeting of a neighbour who she has become friends with. The lady dies on Boxing Day, and everyone is saying the same thing. She never took tablets, so why were tablets in her system. Then shortly after New Year another murder what is going on? Can Markby find the murderer before he murders again? This time closer to home.
May 30, 2019
Most exciting read.
The novel moves at a fair pace from beginning to end. It’s an excellent read with very well drawn characters. This is the second book in a fifteen book series. I’ll be reading them all. Thoroughly recommended.
The novel moves at a fair pace from beginning to end. It’s an excellent read with very well drawn characters. This is the second book in a fifteen book series. I’ll be reading them all. Thoroughly recommended.
May 22, 2021
Mitchell is staying in a friends’ cottage
It is in a hamlet next to a moor and close to where Markby lives and works as a detective. They work together on a mysterious death while working through whether or not they have a relationship.
It is in a hamlet next to a moor and close to where Markby lives and works as a detective. They work together on a mysterious death while working through whether or not they have a relationship.
March 5, 2018
Loved the edition and the cover more than the story in the end.
August 12, 2020
What can I say? I’ve just bought book number theee!
October 18, 2021
Für mich persönlich, deutlich besser als der erste Roman der Reihe.
May 1, 2022
Meredith, a 35-year old foreign service employee, is renting a cottage in the Cotswolds prior to taking on her new posting in London. Her only acquaintance there is Alan Markby, the local police inspector, whom she got to know via a murder case, and for whom she has conflicted feelings. So she's happy to meet her neighbor, the vivacious, horse-loving, whisky-swilling Harriet. The budding friendship doesn't get very far, because Harriet soon falls off her horse and breaks her skull. Taken together with an epidemic of anonymous letters, an unpleasant young man with vague revolutionary ideas, and the do-gooder who takes up his cause, Meredith's Christmas break is far from restful.
What I liked about the book was the whiff of a bygone era (I'm talking about the late 1980s, early 1990s!). No cell phones. Fox hunts. Horses. Memories of WWII, local people with Romany ancestry. Pubs that serve pub food, not nouvelle cuisine. Young women who have independent income and fill their lives with either charity or hedonistic pursuits. Post-punk youngsters.
The book didn't quite make it out of 2-star territory because Meredith and Alan are so wishy-washy about their feelings for each other vs. their pleasant solitary lives. I understand that this type of tension is necessary to keep the series going.. .but it came across as clunky. The misunderstandings between the two of them were contrived and artificial, and by the end of the book. I was rather tired of both of them.
What I liked about the book was the whiff of a bygone era (I'm talking about the late 1980s, early 1990s!). No cell phones. Fox hunts. Horses. Memories of WWII, local people with Romany ancestry. Pubs that serve pub food, not nouvelle cuisine. Young women who have independent income and fill their lives with either charity or hedonistic pursuits. Post-punk youngsters.
The book didn't quite make it out of 2-star territory because Meredith and Alan are so wishy-washy about their feelings for each other vs. their pleasant solitary lives. I understand that this type of tension is necessary to keep the series going.. .but it came across as clunky. The misunderstandings between the two of them were contrived and artificial, and by the end of the book. I was rather tired of both of them.
June 20, 2018
Very well written mystery with great atmosphere, clever plot, and a satisfying conclusion. I liked a lot of the characters, especially Markby, but I didn't like chip-on-my-shoulder Mitchell, the main character. That, along with the fact that it started out pretty slow-going, was why I couldn't give it a five star rating -- and neither am I much motivated to continue with the series at this point because I got to like the main character to some degree. But I would recommend it for all its many good points as listed above.
August 11, 2018
Recently discovered this series, and am diving in to sample the first few. This second book builds on the first, as we see Meredith Mitchell shift her Foreign Office career from overseas postings to London, while living near Oxford. And of course, she continues her relationship with Inspector Alan Markby, while getting involved in one of his cases. A little slow getting going, but a satisfactory mystery and denouement, I’ll check out the 3rd next, before I take a break.
August 20, 2024
I am giving this one 3.5* as with book 1, but it was actually better than the first one. Although I still can’t see why Markby and Meredith actually like each other, they spend most of the time annoyed with each other! The style is still a bit formal but the characters were more natural and the plot was intriguing. Not sure I will read any more of these though - too many other books to read!
February 2, 2020
This was the first book I'd read in the series, but I felt like I was able to jump into Meredith's world pretty easily. The mystery was interesting with a focus on the thinking work that goes into solving crimes. I would be interested in reading more in the series.
January 5, 2021
Ann Granger is a good British mystery writer and there were a few twists and turns in this tale. The almost non-existant relationship between Meredith Mitchell and Chief Inspector Alan Markby is a little frustrating but I'm sure that will evolve as I read through the series.
November 21, 2022
This British mystery was simply OK for me. I liked the characters of Mitchell and Markby, but felt the book would have been twice as good if it had been half as long. The investigation dragged. Mild recommendation. Kristi & Abby Tabby
January 3, 2020
This novel is the first of this series that I have read. It was ok, with an attractive pair of sleuths, and a good puzzle mystery to solve. It moves a little slowly, but provides ok entertainment.
January 6, 2020
A solid 3 stars so I rounded up. Strong characters, atmospheric setting...typical British whodunnit. This was better than the first so I am hoping number three raises the bare even higher.
January 19, 2020
Kept me guessing.
February 28, 2020
Okay, but seemed pretty dated.
April 7, 2020
Rereading this after many years. This was always one of my favourite series and it held up well nearly 20 years later.
December 30, 2020
I should have guessed by the author, description and story setting that this was going to be another British snorefest of verbose descriptions, dwelling on relationship status ad nauseum, and two dimensional characters that I wouldn't bother to finish it.
I was right.
I was right.
July 30, 2021
Murder among the horsey set in the Cotswolds eventually reveals its source in long held family connections while Meredith resists Markby's marriage interests. The second in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews