The Crimes of Clearwell Castle: A 1920s Mystery

Lord Edgington Investigates #7

by Benedict Brown, George Blagden (reader)

A string of murders, an ancient curse and a castle full of secrets.

England, 1926. When esteemed detective Lord Edgington and his novice grandson Christopher plan a trip to the beautiful Forest of Dean, they hope for nothing more than a relaxing weekend with old friends. What they discover among the dark halls and secret passageways of Clearwell Castle is a centuries-old injustice and a rivalry that has ripped the area apart.

After two apparently unconnected villagers are murdered, Lord Edgington must pick the killer from a parade of cheery locals, cagey aristocrats and their sworn rivals. The only certainty is that every last suspect has something to hide. With talk of a ghost walking the castle and a curse that goes back generations, it soon becomes clear that this is no ordinary murder investigation.

Lord Edgington's most thrilling and unusual mystery yet is packed with gothic intrigue and a labyrinthine plot that will keep you guessing until the final chapter. "The Crimes of Clearwell Castle" is an Agatha-Christie-style whodunit with a cast of unique characters and a loyal golden retriever along for the ride. Will the beloved detectives solve the case before there's anyone left in the village to bump off? Or will you spot the killer before they do?

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, British Literature

Audio CD

First published September 20, 2022

About the author

Writing has always been my passion. It was my favourite hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing. I spent a long time writing kids’ books, including funny fairy tales, dystopic adventures and serious issue-based YA, before switching to murder mysteries last year.

I grew up in a crime fiction family and spent a long time dreaming up the idea for my detective Izzy Palmer’s debut novel. A Corpse Called Bob is my first full-length book for adults in what is already becoming a long series.

I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living with my French/Spanish wife and slightly muddled daughter in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain. I write overlooking the Castilian countryside, trying not to be distracted by the vultures and red kites that fly past my window each day.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed each of the seven books of this series to date and look forward to the next. The book opens with the milestone of young Christopher graduating and leaving school and friends not knowing what might be next. Of course his grandfather has something planned and soon they are off in the Rolls headed for castles and curses and interesting family history.

Kindle Unlimited

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another victory! Each one of the Lord Edgington books gets better and better. I loved this one in particular because Christopher was given many opportunities to really think about things, was given proof of his growing skills FROM his grandfather, and still didn't nail everything like some kind of criminal investigative prodigy.

The mystery itself was well done--not just in the layers, clues, and red herrings, but in making me care about the victims without much time with them. That was pretty special. I also loved that this one was about a real place! That was super cool.

All in all, Benedict Brown writes with a unique and engaging voice, creates clever plots with wonderful twists, and makes the reader eager to go along for the mysterious ride--even with Lord Edgington driving!

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher has passed his final exams and is finally out of school. Now Lord Edgington and Christopher are heading to Gloucestershire to visit some relatives on his grandmother's side of the family. Christopher enjoyed the trip north, but when they finally reached Clearwell, it was not quite as expected. It seems that there is a 200 year old feud between the Wyndham family of Clearwell and the Mordaunt family of Scowles Folly. The feud stemmed from the death of Lady Morgana Maurdant, who the people of Scowles Folly claimed was killed by Thomas Wyndham. Several people in the area have claimed to have seen the ghost of Lady Morgana!

Lord Edgington's interest was peaked when first Cole Watkins mysteriously falls down a well and then the proprietor of The Wyndham Arms, Florence Keyse, is murdered after the bar closes for the evening.

Are the deaths of Cole Watkins and Florence Keyse related? Are their deaths connected to Lady Morgana? If so, how are they related? Were the Wyndham's really responsible for Lady Morgana's death? Can Lord Edgington and Christopher sort through the lies and unravel the clues to solve the mystery?

Benedict Brown has another fantastic mystery for Lord Edgington and his grandson, Christopher, to solve. The descriptions of the area and the people are wonderful and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged clear to the end. One of the best aspects of the Lord Edgington series is that each can be read as a stand-alone mystery without worrying about getting spoilers for earlier books that readers may have overlooked.

[Anne Kavcic · Rating 5 out of 5]

How wonderful to be back in the world of Lord Edgington and Christopher! Yes, "Chrissy" is almost 18 and not quite so bumbling as in the first books (as charming as that was). He has - glory be! - finished with school, and before he can give the future too much thought he is whisked away to visit distant relatives. He discovers a new cousin and has a grand time, but unfortunately there are bad memories between that village and the next, and slowly a mystery of past wrongs and a modern death appear and demand to be solved. This is quite an involved mystery and was marvellous to read, and the dry wit of Christopher and Lord Edgington is still there to give delight. I recommend starting at or near the beginning-to get to know everyone properly (especially the staff!). - I received an advance copy and freely leave this honest review.

[Lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I feel I should point out that, as I was still a mere adolescent, I didn’t consider myself a fully fledged toff. If anything, I was a toff in training. Of course, I didn’t dare contradict him. I was entirely petrified by this mountain of a man."

Chrissy is no longer a school boy! he graduated from school 🤓 and off on a trip with his grandpa. And yeah encounter a murder or two in a gothic setting which I loved.

secret tunnels, toff on training, Bible-itis, forbidden love, and sneaks!

who killed the bear!

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The seventh installment in the Lord Edgington mystery series. Lord Edgington and Christopher decide to visit some distant relatives in the Forest of Dean, but when they arrive they discover two towns embroiled in the fall out of an ancient curse and a castle full of really strange relatives. Then a local bar owner is murdered and the death seems to be linked to a previous death and the local curse. Lord Edgington and Christopher must wade through a gothic mystery, complete with ghost, to solve the case.

[Ann Gillaspie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such Humor!

Crimes at Clearwell Castle is another great whodunit in the style of Agatha Christy. Set in the 1920’s, Lord Edgington and his grandson, Christopher, are the perfect foil for each other as they step into yet another crime scene X3. Chrissy is such a good natured, self deprecating young man. His running side comments keep the story lighthearted. I laughed at the repartee between the generations of sleuths. Benedict Brown is a wonderful story teller of historical fiction.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

I have so much fun reading thrse books! Love the settings, the characters - including Lord E's dog - and the humor. Good action and dialogue moves the story along through twists. I might have figured out a culprit or two, but the mysteries are nicely complex. I'm ready for the next book!

[Ashley Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treat for the History Nerds

This one throws back to the days of Merry Old England, of lords & ladies.

One of the most puzzling Lord Edgington mysteries.

Fans of Midsomer Murders should like this one too.

[Amanda Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent whodunnit adventure with Lord Edgington and Christopher! Chrisy is becoming a better investigator before our eyes and I'm loving it! Great story! 😁

[Amy Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always good writing, but...

I admit to getting a wee bit tired of Chrissy's bumbling and self deprecating narrative. Either he's learned something by now, or he never will. The
plot was good, even though the nice people were bumped off, and as always I enjoyed the well drawn characters. But,, come on, Chrissy, stop thinking only with your stomach and try using your head more often.

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another bit of fun with Chrissy and his grandfather. This one seemed sillier than others in the series, between the bizarre inter-village feud over a 200-year-old incident and Chrissy's comments and behavior, like his obsession with food. I did quite a bit of rewinding because I was having more trouble than usual keeping track of all the characters; I have the impression that there are more of them to keep track of here than in the others because it takes in everyone in a pair of villages instead of being more of a country house setup with a small cast. I think I ended up listening to most of it two or three times and I was still unclear on who some of the characters were. (It's a personal weakness of mine related to audiobooks.)

Chrissy's eighteen and done with school. His grandfather takes him off to visit some distant relatives, with a side trip along the way to the town where cheddar cheese comes from. The distant relatives turn out to be at the center of a feud with the neighboring village, based on an old story about an ancestor who supposedly killed his fiancee from the other village so he could marry a wealthier woman. The mayor of the other village has resurrected the story and regularly drums up mobs to march into the relatives' village and throw blood on the streets and set fires. An inoffensive man who drinks a lot and sings songs falls into a well and drowns, which Chrissy and his grandfather deduce was actually a murder, and then a popular bartender is killed, and the investigation begins in earnest.

As always, these books' appeal to me is based on the setting, the voice, Chrissy's relationship with his grandfather, and the assortment of characters that turn up. The plot is just the scaffold to hang those other things on. The narration is excellent and I particularly appreciated the narrator's rendition of "who killed the bears," which the author's note says is based on a real incident involving some Frenchmen whose bears were unjustly accused of killing a child.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher has finally graduated in this installment and he and his grandfather take a summer tour of England. They visit his grandmother's relations at Clearwell Castle and learn that the Wyndham's have had a 200 year rivalry with the neighboring village over the death of Lada Morgana, who was engaged to a Wyndham before dying under suspicious circumstances. Her family put a curse on the Wyndham's and no daughter since has lived to adulthood. This is the anniversary of her death and the neighboring villagers are staging protests outside the gates of Clearwell Castle. Christopher is keen to spend time with his cousin, Dante, who is only a few months older but vastly more experienced. They head to the local pub where they meet inn keeper Florence who laments the death of Cole, a local who lived in a cottage on the grounds of Clearwell Castle and who was supposedly a distant relation of the Wyndham's. He had been working on cataloging the old library of the estate and supposedly found some intriguing information but he died before being able to reveal it by falling down a well, or was he pushed? When Florence is found dead later that night, Lord Edgington thinks that the two deaths are related. There are lots of conversations about the curse and family ties while Christopher and Dante explore the secret passageways of the castle. Prime suspects are Jimmy and his brother, who lead the annual protests. In truth, Jimmy is more into it than his brother and his young nephew, Sam, has actually been trying to make nice with the Wyndham's. In the end, it was Jimmy who killed Cole because he had discovered that Lady Morgana died in childbirth and so all of the current Wyndham's are descendants of hers, thereby negating the supposed curse. Jimmy couldn't accept it and didn't want the info getting out so he killed Cole and then killed Florence when she figured out who killed Cole. An entertaining addition to the series and a good one for October.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books. They soothe my troubled heart and soul. Why I love them so much:

*British whodunnit style mysteries - literally my favorite thing in the whole world to read.

*The relationship between Lord Edgington and Chris - I love this duo. Chris's self-deprecating humor, combined with Lord Edgington's quirky know-how is top notch.

*Lord Edgington always bringing his whole staff along. And even though they are minor characters, they are all so delightful and just help set the scene wherever Chris and Lord Edgington go.

*Chris's Mom - She's just the sweetest and I love how much Lord Edgington admires her and how much Chris adores her. I like when she's along for the mysteries.

*Chris's growth - we can see him "growing up" a little, and I love the subtle changes. It seems very natural.

*The author's notes at the end. He always talks about what inspired him and fun historical facts he learned while researching.

Lord Edgington and Chris are visiting some distant relatives at Clearwell Castle. They seem to be semi-living in some old Victorian times, including their feud.

The Wyndham family of Clearwell, has been feuding with the Mourdants in a neighboring village for centuries. Fingers start pointing when two inhabitants of the Clearwell village are murdered - the local drunk/minstrel, and the pub owner. Each side accuses of the other.

I loved the mystery but most of all I love watching Lord Edgington and Chris work. I know this is a series I'll return to over and over again.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magnificent mystery with a wonderful array of characters with Lord Eddington and his grandson Christopher finding themselves in another intriguing and complex murder mystery. The characters whether previously known to you or not will draw you with charming personalities and love for adventure and that of solving a mystery. A retired senior inspector near the end of his years and his grandson not yet old enough to vote but devoted to one another and their mutual fondness of England during the turn of the century. Each supporting character brings so much to the story and mystery through either their vibrant, colorful or quirky characteristics. Once the mystery begins with its intrigue, drama twists and turns and back and forth you we be enticed further, while the unique nature of the plot carries you throughout from the exciting beginning and throughout until you've reached the unexpected and climatic conclusion. I couldn't put it aside until I'd read it through in a few short hours staying up later than I intended, but this is such a fabulous read I just had to know what was happening next and then who did the dirty deed .Acquire " The Crimes of Clearwell Castle " (A 1920s Mystery Lord Eddington Investigates...Book 7) for hours of intriguing and enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher has finally graduated. Unlike three of his four close friends, he is not going to university. He is still unsure (mostly) of what he wants to do with his life so he's going to head out into the world. Of course, that will be with his adventurous grandfather. This time, they are heading to Clearwell Castle where a friend of his grandfather's resides.
When they get there, a festival of some sort seems to be going on. One featured around Morgana. They find out that hundreds of years ago, one of the castle residents was supposed to marry a local girl (best guess on spelling) from Scouse. She disappeared before the wedding and he married and had a baby very quickly thereafter. Lo, these many years later, the mayor of the neighboring town is still using this as a platform to be elected.
But there are more current matters to be concerned with as a local man has recently died under semi-suspicious and another person dies while Christopher and his grandfather are there.
This series is absolutely great in that we have an experienced detective along with the inexperienced amateur. Plus, Christopher isn't just immediately an awesome investigator, instead, he is learning the ropes.

[Ka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lord Edgington and Christopher head out on a road trip with Delilah the golden retriever, and end up visiting distant relations who live in a castle in a small village. The villagers are feuding with a neighboring hamlet, the inhabitants of which blame the castle-dwellers for their generations of woes. This book's setting is a major character in itself, as the castle has battlements and gates and towers and secret passages and such, which make for a few fun scenes.

Naturally there is a murder directly after Lord Edgington and his grandson arrive (along with a carful of servants, of course), which lets them pursue their favorite activity of murder investigation. They poke their noses into everyone's business, and we learn all about the interpersonal drama of the various locals. There's not a lot to say about this book other than that it is another in this series and very similar to the previous entries; if you liked those, you'll enjoy this one. Christopher is becoming more capable in each book; the growth of his character is nice to see. However, Delilah the dog is becoming my favorite character.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, the story is told from the point of view of Christopher and there's a lot of humor -- mostly he's poking fun at himself. I have to say I'm beginning to be a bit over that, however: his commenting about how not smart he is and the constant discussion of his looks, and food he wants to eat. He's nearly 18 by now, so one hopes he'll grow up soon.

In this case, he's on a sort of leaving celebratory trip as he's just finished up with school. As he's not planning on going on to university, he embarks with his grandfather on a tour of the country with the first stop the home of some semi-distant cousins. They're met by a group of villagers reciting a macabre story and discover there's a long standing feud between the village closest to the cousins and the next one over, all to do with the death of a young woman several hundred years ago. On top of that, the local drunk recently died by falling into a well, and within a day of their arrival, the pub barkeep is killed as well.

As usual, it was a well put together mystery. I like Christopher and his grandfather (with the caveats mentioned above) though I wish they'd get over calling him Chrissy. And their loyal retainers -- chauffeur, dog, cook, housemaid round out a quirky cast of secondary characters.

[Glenn Younger · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 murders, 3 mysteries, and great fun

Ancient rivalries and fresh murders mark book 7 in the whodunit adventures of Lord Edgington (of retired Scotland Yard fame) and his detective still-in-training and newly graduated grandson, Christoper. Even though cakes are still Christopher’s favorite and number one priority, he’s slowly growing in his detecting skills during his stay at Clearwell Castle. A 200 year old mystery sets the stage for an ongoing feud between two neighboring towns and muddies the waters in solving the murder of a happy singing drunk followed by a pretty barkeep not one month later. Are the two murders connected? If so, how? And what really happened all those generations ago?

As usual, Christopher is stumped between mouthfuls and even Lord E gets thrown off his game, although he’d never fully admit it. Colorful characters and a breezy writing style make this a fun read.

[Sue Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Crime Cocktail Worth Chugging

Although each book is a separate adventure, I've loved the whole Lord Edgington series since Book 1 and the zany Izzy Palmer murder mystery series. This book like the others is chock full of humor as Chrissy relates the story as a 17 yo w lovely naivete seeking his Grandfather's golden star approval.

If you have the urge to read this now, do but then go back and read all the wonderful books (1-6) of Benedict Brown's Lord Edgington Investigates series. As you get to know them, you'll fall in love with all the eclectic characters ... The Toffs and staff.

This one starts out a bit slow but if you've read the other books in the series, you'll appreciate each book is not simply another murder mystery but an exploration of an endearing, growing, loving relationship between grandfather and grandson.

[Cattie Whaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't get enough of this series!

Christopher has finally finished his schooling and as a reward, his grandfather is whisking him away on a cross-country adventure. First stop is Clearwell Castle...well ok, there might be a couple stops along the way. When they arrive into the quaint little town, they are met by a group from the neighboring village that are "celebrating" the 200th anniversary of the murder of one of their own by the Wyndham family. Excellent story line in this book. Great group of characters, new and old. I really enjoyed that Chrissy is finally growing into the part of learning to be a detective. He still has his moments where he says silly things, but he's maturing, and that is a great thing. Really enjoyed the ending. Can't wait for the next one! Highly recommend!

[SD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Edgington is always a hoot. Christopher has graduated from school with no idea of what he wants to do next. Never fear, grandfather aka Lord Edgington has that covered. As with the last story, Christopher has fewer and fewer questions, offering more ideas that are not readily dismissed.

We learn more about Christopher's family tree as he runs around the forest with a cousin close in age.
As the summary stated, written in the Agatha Christie style. It was well-written.

Sit back and immerse yourself, ride the curveballs and watch as Christopher, weeks from turning 18 years old, starts to become the detective his grandfather has been training him to be.

Stick around for the Author's Note, they are always full of cool info.

Happy Reading!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book

I have looked forward to this book and it was well worth the wait. The adventure continues as Lord Edington and Christopher travel to meet relatives at Clearwell Castle. The book is beautifully written. It has a lovely description of the various places Which always makes me want to look them up to view pictures of Places mentioned.
The humor is wonderful. Written from the viewpoint of a 17 year old who loves food, and appreciates beauty but is also still innocent and wants to please\impress his grandfather, Chrissy's viewpoint is refreshing as attempts to solve the crimes himself
I enjoyed reading the new book. It is delightfully entertaining.I

[peg craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why are dastardly villains causing trouble in the Forest of Dean?

Christopher has finished school and he and Lord Edgington are off to visit relatives in their castle in the Forest of Dean. The streets off the village are covered with blood and a weird group is declaiming threats and reiterating the ancient curse against the family in the castle. A murder brings the two investigators to action in order to prevent further bloodshed and solve the crimes.
This is a fascinating read and we are also entertained by the research findings behind the story and some of the use of language in the period.
Need a book to spend time with? Go to Clearwell Castle in the Forest of Dean with Christopher and his grandfather.

[Mark Lucas-Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Edgington Book 7

Once again Benedict has managed to entertain and confound us at the same time.
What was meant to be a holiday for Chrissy and his grandfather soon turns into a compelling and intricate tale of long standing feuds, family secrets and a possible ghost. The mystery deepens when a murder proves to be actually the second seemingly without any connection to each other. There are a veritable plethora of suspects and unraveling the conundrum will tax all the readers mental acuity.

[Joanne Purtill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these mysteries!

I was looking for a regency mystery when I came across this author. I'm so glad I decided to start with book one. Even though there's no spoilers in each book about how previous cases were solved, I really like seeing the characters develop throughout the series.
I love how the grandfather, a former police inspector, is training his 17 year-old grandson to think like a detective. There are enough clues where I've gotten close to guessing the criminal myself. However, I'm just not as good as Lord Edington.

[Susan Essea White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and Well Written

I’m enjoying‘watching’ Chrissy grow up and his relationship with his Grandfather bloom. The love and respect between the two warms my heart. I’m finding this series to be full of intrigue, surprising plot twists and delightfully crafted characters. The manners, customs and general way of life in the 1920s of the titled families adds another interesting layer to the series. Surprise! This book even has a Medieval storyline. If you like mysteries set in the 1920s in England, you’ll want to read this book.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be charming and worth the read

Benedict Brown weaves an engaging tale in Crimes of Clearwell Castle, delivering a well-told story filled with twists and an abundance of suspects. The cozy mystery keeps you guessing as secrets unravel in the grand setting of Clearwell Castle. Grandson Christopher’s journey is particularly compelling, as he begins to step into his own and grow as a character. A delightful read for fans of classic whodunits with a touch of humor and heart.

[Deirdre E Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chrissy mastered Oakton, rewards include cultural holiday with Lord E, Delilah, Dorie, Halfpenny, Henrietta, supplies, Todd and useful vehicles.
While visiting family and family, they find locals, bully’s, blood spillage, body’s, pseudo ghosts and strangers which all mean survivors, cool spots, interesting food stops, takeaways, walking, growth of thought, reasoning and decisions.
All the good things holidays are made for, thank you for your words Benedict Brown, much appreciated. :-)

[muriel somervell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful read!

Love lord Eddington and Chrissy! Thank you Benedict Brown for another great story! If you have not read any of this series start now! I save the books to read when I know I have the time to enjoy them. Lord Eddington and Benedict Brown joins a select few books and authors I watch and hope for the next book. And hope again that many more will follow! I'm off to make a cocktail named Lady Morgana....