Killer Pitch

Cherringham #49

by Matthew Costello, Neil Richards

When a major network offers a TV deal to a group of new writers, the stakes couldn't be higher. They’ll have a workshop in Cherringham to shape their show ideas - and win the prized contract. But when the writers get ominous threats, it seems their lives are in danger. Can Jack and Sarah find the culprit in time ... before there’s a real ‘killer pitch’?


Set in the sleepy English village of Cherringham, the detective series brings together an unlikely sleuthing English web designer Sarah and American ex-cop Jack. Thrilling and deadly - but with a spot of tea - it's like Rosamunde Pilcher meets Inspector Barnaby. Each of the self-contained episodes is a quick read for the morning commute, while waiting for the doctor, or when curling up with a hot cuppa.


Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), have been writing together since the mid-90s, creating innovative content and working on major projects for the BBC, Disney Channel, Sony, ABC, Eidos, and Nintendo to name but a few. Their transatlantic collaboration has underpinned scores of TV drama scripts, computer games, radio shows, and the best-selling mystery series Cherringham. Their latest series project is called Mydworth Mysteries.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery, Modern

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Laur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 4.0
Audio Version, Narrator -1.0
Note: Just couldn’t get use to Emma’s voice in particular, sounded like a person getting a wedge-gee …. the character voice change was disappointing.

Overall Rating 3.0

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack and Sarah just being great as usual. Even Chloe gets to help a little bit. I now wonder just how long they can all go on. Surely there can't be that many places left that Jack and Sarah haven't investigated. Though they haven't had to investigate anything at Huffington's (other than the coffee and cakes that is). I always worry that each story will be the last, whilst fervently hoping for more.

[Sandy Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book length

I wish the writers would put all of the cherringham into a book.they are that good. Now I'm going to reread my favourite s

[Catherine Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

There are only a few series that I am rushing to purchase and read the next book as soon as it comes out. And this is definitely one of those. And I enjoyed the latest story as much as all the previous ones. Great characters, fun twists.

[GailW · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the first rating I've given to an installment in this series below a 4. The story was good. The dialogue was disappointing. Somewhere along the way, the speech patterns that are used for Jack were being used for most of the characters. It's somewhat charming in Jack. Not so for the others. I found it too distracting unfortunately.

[MaryAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love listening to the Cherringham series by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards, narrated by Neil Dudgeon (best known for his role as DCI John Barnaby on the long-running TV series "Midsommer Murders") and was at a bit of a loss when I finished #48, "A Fatal Illusion," and had to wait for the release of #49, "Killer Pitch." In the interim I listened to the Mydworth series by the same authors, a few of which I've written about here. I don't like the Mydworth mysteries as much, primarily because i don't find the main characters as interesting and likable, but they did help to fill the need for short, cozy mysteries until I could get "Killer Pitch" on Hoopla from my library. Alas, now I've finished it and have to wait for the next one to be released.
A few words about the Cherringham series in general since I'm definitely not going back to write a review go the other 48 titles. The authors describe Cherringham as a serial-novel, like the novels of Charles Dickens, and the episodes are best read in order. In audiobook format, each episode is roughly 3 hours long. The series is set in the Cotswolds, and features a pair of amateur investigators who solve mysteries pro bono, primarily it seems because they enjoy both the challenge and the opportunity to work together. Sarah Edwards is an English web designer with two children (teens at the start of the series, maturing into young adults as it continues), who moved back to her hometown of Cherringham after her divorce. Her partner in crime solving is Jack Brennan, a retired New York City homicide detective. Jack moved to Cherringham after the death of his wife and lives on a boat on the Thames. These two characters and the relationship between them is my favorite thing about the series, especially as it develops as the series progresses. There is a genuine affection and enjoyment of each other's company that grows over time, paired with complementary detection skills that make them a great team.
In "Killer Pitch" they are called upon to investigate a series of threats to participants in a workshop/competition sponsored by a major streaming service. The winner will be awarded a contract to develop an original tv series. Of course it turns out that everybody has their secrets and everybody could potentially be the one using threats to sabotage their competitors' chances.
One slight quibble: I really enjoy Neil Dudgeon's narration of the series. For the most part, he does an excellent job of making each character's voice distinct and reflective of their personality and background, but hoo-boy I can't imagine how he came up with the voice for Emma, a recent university graduate, employed as an intern at the streaming service, who finds herself called upon to run the conference when her boss suffers a skiing injury. I guess Dudgeon was trying to convey her youth and insecurity in the position by giving her a very high-pitched voice, but yikes! she sounds like a cartoon granny. Oh well, nobody's perfect.

[Kaija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lukijana Neil Dudgeon.
Taas erikoismaininta lukijalle, mainiota eläytymistä ja hyvää artikulaatiota. Juoni oli vähän erilainen kuin aiemmissa, mikä oli ihan hyvä. Sarah ja Jack ovat mainio pääpari, olisiko tällä kertaa jotenkin vaisu meno.

[Kiersten Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It should come as no surprise that someone who commits to reading 49 episodes of a mystery novella series is a fan. This episode was no exception for me! This is one of my comfort series and I love immersing myself in cherringham with some of my favorite characters.

[Cecilia Gustavsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to listen too when you clean the house. It gives you ”Midsomer murders” wibes. It is fun to try to figure out how the guilty person is. Jack is a retired cop from US, Sarah is a singel mom and they solves crime together. This one was about a mystery.

[Jayne]

Audiobook

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the plotted mystery a bit dull, but still enjoyable enough.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was a big fan of this series but found the plot slow going and dull. Also the dialog seems to be on repeat, nothing new….

[Janette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best story I read in ages!! Different, exciting and as usual very real.

[Lisa G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this title. It was a true whodunnit and kept me guessing.

[Silke Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

LZ 17.01.26 bei Coci