A Dangerous Lesson

Bunburry #17

by Helena Marchmont, Nathaniel Parker (Narrator)

Miss Marple meets Oscar Wilde in this series of cosy mysteries set in the picturesque Cotswolds village of Bunburry.

There is shock in the local high school when Alison Shaw, a young, dynamic chemistry teacher, goes into a coma after being struck by a falling smart board. But is it an unfortunate accident or something more sinister? When the headteacher asks amateur sleuth Alfie McAlister to investigate, Alfie enlists the help of Liz and Marge, his fellow members of the Bunburry Triangle. And Noah, a pupil at the school and an aspiring detective, is also determined to help the investigation. As they delve deeper, they encounter an alarming number of possible suspects. Will they uncover the truth behind the dangerous events unfolding at the school?

Nathaniel Parker, born in 1962, graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and went on to join the Royal Shakespeare Company. His television career began in 1988 when he played Flying Officer 'Flash' Gordon in the LWT mini-series Piece of Cake. He is also the lead in the BBC series The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, based on the novels by Elizabeth George. Nathaniel Parker has an extensive list of audio books to his credit, ranging from the classics of Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy to more modern writings and children's books.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Crime, British Literature, Cozy

Audiobook

Published December 15, 2023

About the author

Helena Marchmont is a pseudonym of Olga Wojtas, who was born and brought up in Edinburgh. She was encouraged to write by an inspirational English teacher, Iona M. Cameron. Olga won a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award in 2015, has had more than 30 short stories published in magazines and anthologies and recently published her first mystery Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Golden Samovar.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sry aber was für ein 🅿️uritanischer Sch🥚ß!
Kitschig, lächerlich, piefig, spℹ️eßig...
Das wurde von Band zu Band stetig schlimmer aber jetzt hat Helena Marchmont nicht nur sämtliches Pulver verschossen, sondern auch noch das aller andere mittelmäßigen Kitschautoren. Mit diesem Roman kann man nicht einmal mehr die Wartezeit beim Zahnarzt überbrücken. Da möchte man sofort eine Vollnarkose.

[Kathy Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story wrapped up, nice and neat.

Love the characters, they stay consistant to the original development. Every book feels like a visit home after being away. Somehow a new adventure is contrived, like the idea that it's not always a murder. But the plot grabs my interest from the start. Only down side is ( and it's more and more modern writers it seems) they get to a certain point and go into an epilogue and tie up all the loose ends nice and neat in 20 words or less. Always leaves me disappointed that we couldn't read the plot to the end not just an abrupt end " the ctook goes to jail...and they lived happily ever after"

[Anne Jane Forte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dangerous Lesson

Loved this short story! Have read all previous books in the series but this one in particular brought all my favorite characters together in a surprising way. Don’t miss spending an evening reading this. No spoilers!

[Kelly Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the story was good, though not a great mystery. I do wish Alfie would stop being afraid to talk with Emma, like the author is setting the characters up for failure. It’s not adding any suspense or good tension, just annoying this reader.

[Kaija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lukijana Nathaniel Parker.
Parker on kyllä loistava lukija ja hänenäänensä muuntautuminen eri hahmoiksi ansaitsee kyllä oman tähden.
Ihanaa, että Alfien yksityiselämä etenee. Kyläläisiä ja muita tuttuja hahmoja oli taas enemmän esillä, mistä pidän myös. Itse rikos jäi taas vähän sivuosaan, mutta tuli selvitettyä sekin

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually don't read series books back-to-back, but since we FINALLY got the relationship we were all looking for at the very end of the last book, I wanted to see where it was headed. I wish the author hadn't zoomed quite so quickly through all the stages of it though. I would have enjoyed a little more "romance".

Really? You move in together after just 1 night together?

Audiobook BRK
Narrated by Nathaniel Parker
Duration: 03:01:38

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are too many to review, thanks to Goodreads' not-working sidebar, so I'm copying and pasting a series review on each one:

Marchmont has created a delightful village, hilarious characters, and interesting mysteries that kept me buying the next to find out what's up in the Cotswolds. An absolute delight.

[Kathy Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this Series

I love the Bunburry mysteries! Great characters and fun interplay between them. The only problem is that they are always too far between--and then so short! Each one is over long before I'm ready to leave Bunburry again!

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are changing with the Bunburry Triangle and the Bunburry adjacent investigators. This volume sees the triangle investigating an incident that takes place at a secondary school. It’s a little gritty but gets resolved nicely.

[Judy Mccartney]

Great Ending

I didn't see it coming. Different style than usual Bunbury series. My only complaint is they are never long enough! Next book is awaited!

[MS M ADAMS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely cozy series

Always a feel good factor even where crime is involved! A little bit of romance mixed with a bit of mystery. What more could you need!

[Macky · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5⭐️

[Kathryn Scarborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

You'll not find out who dun it until the end! Terrific story. More and more scenes with Oscar in Bunbury please.....

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 love the consistent characters

[Eileen s connelly-kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more!!!

I love the characters, their development and the stories. The author has a rich talent for the use of the language and I hope for more tales of Bunburry.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️

[Arliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunburry is always, always charming. Just read them!

[Elise Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed visiting Bunburry as always. KInd of a twist with Emma and Alfi getting along. But the mystery had a twist I did not forsee.

[❁ Vane ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich bin tatsächlich ein bisschen traurig, dass es jetzt schon vorbei sein soll :(

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In which our hero starts a new chapter. this volume is more about the characters than the mystery, but I'm very attached to them now.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always nice to hear about Bunburry.

[Dark Chocolate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know it is a cosy mystery but this one felt more like just a romance short than mystery really, hence my rating.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the audio book.

[Gary and Sandra Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute

Fast read. When a teacher is injured at school, the Bunburry Triangle is brought in to find out who caused the accident. All the regular characters appear and some surprises abound. Go Archie.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

These novellas are quite entertaining. This one - finally - resolves the romantic indecision of appealing main character Alfie.

[Kataklicik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook : Spotify.
Read by Nathaniel Parker.

Love this instalment! Best so far, I think…

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All time favorite

Bunburry is my all time favorite cosy series. I love Alfie, Emma, Oscar, the Aunts. I love everyone who lives in Bunburry. This is a fun series which sometimes gets a little bit serious.