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Lindenshaw Mysteries #2
Jury of One
A Lindenshaw Mysteries Novel
Inspector Robin Bright is enjoying a quiet Saturday with his lover, Adam Matthews, when murder strikes in nearby Abbotston, and he’s called in to investigate. He hopes for a quick resolution, but as the case builds, he’s drawn into a tangled web of crimes, new and old, that threatens to ensnare him and destroy his fledgling relationship.
Adam is enjoying his final term teaching at Lindenshaw School, and is also delighted to be settling down with Robin at last. Only Robin doesn’t seem so thrilled. Then an old crush of Adam’s shows up in the murder investigation, and suddenly Adam is yet again fighting to stay out of one of Robin’s cases, to say nothing of trying to keep their relationship from falling apart.
Between murder, stabbings, robberies, and a suspect with a charming smile, the case threatens to ruin everything both Robin and Adam hold dear. What does it take to realize where your heart really lies, and can a big, black dog hold the key?
Inspector Robin Bright is enjoying a quiet Saturday with his lover, Adam Matthews, when murder strikes in nearby Abbotston, and he’s called in to investigate. He hopes for a quick resolution, but as the case builds, he’s drawn into a tangled web of crimes, new and old, that threatens to ensnare him and destroy his fledgling relationship.
Adam is enjoying his final term teaching at Lindenshaw School, and is also delighted to be settling down with Robin at last. Only Robin doesn’t seem so thrilled. Then an old crush of Adam’s shows up in the murder investigation, and suddenly Adam is yet again fighting to stay out of one of Robin’s cases, to say nothing of trying to keep their relationship from falling apart.
Between murder, stabbings, robberies, and a suspect with a charming smile, the case threatens to ruin everything both Robin and Adam hold dear. What does it take to realize where your heart really lies, and can a big, black dog hold the key?
298 pages, Paperback
Published March 21, 2016
About the author
Charlie Cochrane
87 books373 followersBecause Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes. Her mystery novels include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, series, and the contemporary Best Corpse for the Job. Multi-published, she has titles with Carina, Samhain, Riptide and Bold Strokes, among others.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
July 18, 2022
Robin and Adam are together and learning how to live with one another. Adam is leaving his position at the Lindenshaw school and is off to take a lead teacher position at a new school and Inspector Robin Bright has a new murder to investigate. Robin' finds that something in his past is connected to the case and that as well as his future play a big role in this case. It even shakes the relationship he and Robin have fought so hard to obtain. Miscommunication and founded and unfounded fears also get in the way of their relationship. Fortunately, underneath it all, they are there for one another. It's a great mystery complete with lots of twists and turns. I wish it could have been a bit longer. 246 pages seemed to only get started good, but then I always want good books to be longer. It's enough to draw you in and keep you reading until you know who did what and why it happened...and you'll love Campbell, the dog.
October 29, 2018
I enjoyed the book's laid-back, mellow atmosphere -- despite the violent crimes driving the mystery side of the story, I could almost describe this as "soothing." Not at all boring, just... soothing. But the last 10% or so didn't live up to the rest; action scenes apparently aren't the author's forte, and the final scenes seemed awkward and rushed. That drove me to drop my rating from 3.5 stars rounded to 4, to just a plain 3.
Well, that and the fact that I had trouble keeping up with all the complications and suspects in the investigation. Which could have just been me having difficulties concentrating -- I'm not sure I can blame the book for that. But regardless, the net result is that I'm going with 3 stars.
What I liked most: British slang is thrown about with abandon, and I learned some delightful new words and expressions, like wazzock, telling porkie pies, and get a butcher's. Occasionally I needed help from my Kindle dictionary, Google, or my GoodReads friends, but discovering new-to-me ways to use the English language is my idea of fun. American publishers who remove such colloquialisms from British books are my sworn enemies.
What I liked least: I thought I'd (grudgingly) come to grips with the fact that this series is as hot and smexy and explicit as a Disney movie. But then Adam reflected back to their first night together (which we didn't get to see in the first book): What they'd done since had been part of an unhurried progression, slowly venturing into a deeper understanding of each other's needs and desires -- and I thought we were (finally!) going to get some insight into those needs and desires, so I perked right up. But... that was it.
Seriously, author? Why even bring it up, only to walk away and say no more? That's just mean! Either don't mention it at all, or give us more than fade-to-black. Do not tease the readers! That makes them very grumpy. 😡
I'm open to continuing on to Book 3, but it'll have to wait until I'm in the mood for another inexplicably soothing but G-rated murder mystery.
Well, that and the fact that I had trouble keeping up with all the complications and suspects in the investigation. Which could have just been me having difficulties concentrating -- I'm not sure I can blame the book for that. But regardless, the net result is that I'm going with 3 stars.
What I liked most: British slang is thrown about with abandon, and I learned some delightful new words and expressions, like wazzock, telling porkie pies, and get a butcher's. Occasionally I needed help from my Kindle dictionary, Google, or my GoodReads friends, but discovering new-to-me ways to use the English language is my idea of fun. American publishers who remove such colloquialisms from British books are my sworn enemies.
What I liked least: I thought I'd (grudgingly) come to grips with the fact that this series is as hot and smexy and explicit as a Disney movie. But then Adam reflected back to their first night together (which we didn't get to see in the first book): What they'd done since had been part of an unhurried progression, slowly venturing into a deeper understanding of each other's needs and desires -- and I thought we were (finally!) going to get some insight into those needs and desires, so I perked right up. But... that was it.
Seriously, author? Why even bring it up, only to walk away and say no more? That's just mean! Either don't mention it at all, or give us more than fade-to-black. Do not tease the readers! That makes them very grumpy. 😡
I'm open to continuing on to Book 3, but it'll have to wait until I'm in the mood for another inexplicably soothing but G-rated murder mystery.
November 27, 2017
After finding a dead body in his school nearly a year ago, Adam would be quite happy to never be involved with another murder investigation again. Sadly for him his boyfriend Robin is a detective and he can’t seem to avoid them. Though he certainly was giving it a right good go for the last couple months.
Their luck breaks, though, when Robin gets called in to investigate the knifing of a man in a neighboring town, and both he and Adam get dragged in (and out) of several different murder mysteries that are a lot more tied together than any one would think possible. With a murderer (or murderers?) on the loose, and witnesses and suspects both determined to drag Adam into the whole mess, Robin will have to rely on more than just his wits and his snarky partner to cut thru the threads that are holding the mess together. Hopefully he and Adam won’t still be standing under it when the whole thing breaks loose.
After a quick reread of The Best Corpse for the Job I was all ready to start Jury of One. I’ve been looking forward to the sequel for a while (since book one was published, to be exact) and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next to Adam and Robin. When all was said and done I was not disappointed in the least. The mystery was just as clever, the characters just as witty, and despite the fact that the “falling” part of falling in love was pretty much covered in the last book, the “love” part was just as great in this one.
One of my biggest hangups in crime and cop type stories is the fact that due to my background I tend to get really picky about policing and how it is displayed in certain books. And really, it isn’t so much as people get things wrong, it is that I get so distracted by what they did wrong I forget to actually enjoy the other parts of the story. I don’t have any problem with that in this series. I love the twisting and looping way the crimes interacted and pulled apart. I love how I was able to just let go and let Robin solve things (or not solve things, sometimes). I just love that I never really had to think Is this how it is actually done? and got to simply enjoy it being done. I still have no clue how the British justice system works (so this book could have got it wrong, right, or a mix of both), but I love a good mystery and this book gave us a great one.
And while I would have loved to have more Adam–-and Campbell, Adam’s dog with superhero aspirations–-I did really enjoy his part of the story. The parts of the story with him and Robin might have seemed a bit small, but did a good job of bringing the story back down when it had been twisting about trying to tie our intrepid detective into knots. Plus I love watching Adam and Robin trying to figure out where to go with their relationship. No relationship is perfect and it is what comes after the I love yous that really gets my attention.
I had a lot of fun reading this and though it probably prompted me to drink an unhealthy amount of tea (tea and British crime mysteries are tied irrevocably in my mind. I can’t seem to have one without wanting the other) I would not trade the experience for anything. Ok, maybe for like a city block of chocolate and a never-ending cup of coffee, but not much else. I love when I can just sink into a book and forget about everything else. This book was the written equivalent of a…well, a steaming hot mug of tea. A little sweet, a little dark, and a bit dangerous if you’re not careful.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Their luck breaks, though, when Robin gets called in to investigate the knifing of a man in a neighboring town, and both he and Adam get dragged in (and out) of several different murder mysteries that are a lot more tied together than any one would think possible. With a murderer (or murderers?) on the loose, and witnesses and suspects both determined to drag Adam into the whole mess, Robin will have to rely on more than just his wits and his snarky partner to cut thru the threads that are holding the mess together. Hopefully he and Adam won’t still be standing under it when the whole thing breaks loose.
After a quick reread of The Best Corpse for the Job I was all ready to start Jury of One. I’ve been looking forward to the sequel for a while (since book one was published, to be exact) and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next to Adam and Robin. When all was said and done I was not disappointed in the least. The mystery was just as clever, the characters just as witty, and despite the fact that the “falling” part of falling in love was pretty much covered in the last book, the “love” part was just as great in this one.
One of my biggest hangups in crime and cop type stories is the fact that due to my background I tend to get really picky about policing and how it is displayed in certain books. And really, it isn’t so much as people get things wrong, it is that I get so distracted by what they did wrong I forget to actually enjoy the other parts of the story. I don’t have any problem with that in this series. I love the twisting and looping way the crimes interacted and pulled apart. I love how I was able to just let go and let Robin solve things (or not solve things, sometimes). I just love that I never really had to think Is this how it is actually done? and got to simply enjoy it being done. I still have no clue how the British justice system works (so this book could have got it wrong, right, or a mix of both), but I love a good mystery and this book gave us a great one.
And while I would have loved to have more Adam–-and Campbell, Adam’s dog with superhero aspirations–-I did really enjoy his part of the story. The parts of the story with him and Robin might have seemed a bit small, but did a good job of bringing the story back down when it had been twisting about trying to tie our intrepid detective into knots. Plus I love watching Adam and Robin trying to figure out where to go with their relationship. No relationship is perfect and it is what comes after the I love yous that really gets my attention.
I had a lot of fun reading this and though it probably prompted me to drink an unhealthy amount of tea (tea and British crime mysteries are tied irrevocably in my mind. I can’t seem to have one without wanting the other) I would not trade the experience for anything. Ok, maybe for like a city block of chocolate and a never-ending cup of coffee, but not much else. I love when I can just sink into a book and forget about everything else. This book was the written equivalent of a…well, a steaming hot mug of tea. A little sweet, a little dark, and a bit dangerous if you’re not careful.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 6, 2016
Book 2 in the Lindenshaw Mysteries series
Although this is the second book in the series and there are references to events in book 1, it still reads very well as a standalone. It's definitely more mystery than romance but there are some lovely scenes between the heroes and Charlie Cochrane handled that new relationship vibe very well. It is clear Robin and Adam are still working on how their lives are going to mesh but it is also clear that they love each other very much. The terror each experiences at the thought of the other in danger feels very real and demonstrates how deeply they love each other.
I enjoyed the mystery element to this book, reminiscent of British murder mysteries like Midsommer Murders. It was quite slow and gently paced, some aspects I had guessed before the big reveal but I was intrigued nonetheless and will definitely be reading more of this series.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Although this is the second book in the series and there are references to events in book 1, it still reads very well as a standalone. It's definitely more mystery than romance but there are some lovely scenes between the heroes and Charlie Cochrane handled that new relationship vibe very well. It is clear Robin and Adam are still working on how their lives are going to mesh but it is also clear that they love each other very much. The terror each experiences at the thought of the other in danger feels very real and demonstrates how deeply they love each other.
I enjoyed the mystery element to this book, reminiscent of British murder mysteries like Midsommer Murders. It was quite slow and gently paced, some aspects I had guessed before the big reveal but I was intrigued nonetheless and will definitely be reading more of this series.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
August 24, 2020
Audiobook reviewInspector Robin Bright and Adam Matthews might not have met under the most ideal – or romantic of circumstances, but it worked for them. About a year later they are very much in love an enjoying life together in their English small town. That is until another murder happens nearby and stirs up trouble, not only with a murderer on the loose, but also in the form of an ex-lover making his re-appearance.
The mystery, or rather mysteries in this book were great. There were many twists and turns and clues to follow. At times it kind of reminded me of the Midsomer Murder Mysteries with the many, many crimes happening in an English small town, but that’s also the charm of it. You know, in the way that murder and mayhem is charming and makes you cuddle up on the couch and just having a great time. As for Adam and Robin I kind of like that they aren’t perfect, that they still have to work for what they have. What is it that they say, falling in love is easy, but staying in love takes work. And this book was a great mix of cozy mystery with a dash of romance thrown in.
This story was, like the first book in the series, performed by David Maxwell, someone I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for. He has such a great voice and it’s easy to get lost in it and the story. He captured the characters just right and made you feel like you know them.
There are times where you overlook minor flaws in the narration or the production, that one mistake that while annoying at the time is quickly forgotten in the scheme of things. This time I cannot, and while it was a one-time thing it’s also something that makes me wonder if the file uploaded was a pre-edited version. Towards the end Robin is on the phone with someone. Now I’ve loved the previous phone calls in this book, there was this distance with the person on the other side, where Maxwell really made it sound like it came through a phone. But for this call, the distance is still there, but the dialogues are overlapping and the two people are speaking at the same time (and not intentionally in the story). And it’s not a word or two that overlap, it’s sentences. Added to it there are long pauses between the lines as well, pauses that shouldn’t have been there. Now, this only happens on that one phone-call, but it’s not something that’s easily overlooked. I actually had to re-listen to that section on different devices just to make sure it wasn’t my phone that had screwed up the file or gone wonky on me.
I still loved the narration of this book and I still recommend listening to it, Maxwell is widely talented and makes this book a great experience. And maybe the audio file will be updated to another version in the future. Who knows? I do know that I will be listening to any future books released in this series, because I’m hooked.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
December 20, 2017
3.5 Stars
Good grief, there were so many names floating around, I’m not sure I know what happened to them all. This puzzle became much more complicated than book one; too complicated for me to enjoy as much. The police procedural aspect was quite good, lots of slogging after witnesses and suspects, but honestly, it was an awful lot of coincidence and serendipity. The misdirection did its work, as the true villains of the piece were impossible to figure out. But it was so much work for me, flipping back and forth to remember which name belonged to whom and where they fit in. It ended up with two or three cases all overlapping. I’m not even sure.
There was a little more romance in the narrative, I guess, if you include a lovers quarrel as a setup for another part of the case. Cases? Like book one, there is zero steam factor included without much description of even the kisses. Campbell the Newfoundland is one of the best parts for me. It’s wonderful writing and if I could have just kept all the names associated with their actions, I’d have enjoyed it more. I’ll see how book three goes.
Good grief, there were so many names floating around, I’m not sure I know what happened to them all. This puzzle became much more complicated than book one; too complicated for me to enjoy as much. The police procedural aspect was quite good, lots of slogging after witnesses and suspects, but honestly, it was an awful lot of coincidence and serendipity. The misdirection did its work, as the true villains of the piece were impossible to figure out. But it was so much work for me, flipping back and forth to remember which name belonged to whom and where they fit in. It ended up with two or three cases all overlapping. I’m not even sure.
There was a little more romance in the narrative, I guess, if you include a lovers quarrel as a setup for another part of the case. Cases? Like book one, there is zero steam factor included without much description of even the kisses. Campbell the Newfoundland is one of the best parts for me. It’s wonderful writing and if I could have just kept all the names associated with their actions, I’d have enjoyed it more. I’ll see how book three goes.
November 21, 2020
While I throughly enjoyed this one and was excited to meeting Adam and Robin again, this wasn’t as good as the first book in the series.
The first book took care of Adam and Robin falling in love. This one the first steps of making their relationship work. It’s not picture perfect. They have things to work through to make it work. And while I enjoyed it, it got old pretty quickly. I got the the point where I just wanted Robin to get his shit together and stop taking the relationship for granted. The romance is really taking the backseat in this book, making the relationship feeling a bit shallow. I think the book would’ve benefited from being more balanced between the mystery and the romance.
But let’s talk about the mystery. It was pretty darn amazing. Taking twists and turns making everyone feel as a suspect at least once. And while I had my suspicions about who it actually was, and I turned out to be right in the end, I was entertained through the whole book.
If you liked the first book you should totally read this one too but don’t expect too much romance.
The first book took care of Adam and Robin falling in love. This one the first steps of making their relationship work. It’s not picture perfect. They have things to work through to make it work. And while I enjoyed it, it got old pretty quickly. I got the the point where I just wanted Robin to get his shit together and stop taking the relationship for granted. The romance is really taking the backseat in this book, making the relationship feeling a bit shallow. I think the book would’ve benefited from being more balanced between the mystery and the romance.
But let’s talk about the mystery. It was pretty darn amazing. Taking twists and turns making everyone feel as a suspect at least once. And while I had my suspicions about who it actually was, and I turned out to be right in the end, I was entertained through the whole book.
If you liked the first book you should totally read this one too but don’t expect too much romance.
May 17, 2024
This book gives me mixed feelings.
In one hand the investigation was very interesting and kept me on my toes....yet on the other I'm having difficulties with how much of a 'last thought/deep in the background' the romantic connection between the MCs is.
Not saying there always needs to be sex scenes on the books but the domestic scenes fall a bit too flat on the romantic front throughout the book and even the 'jealousy' bit feels lacking in one respect and forced in others.
Final tally:
4.5 for plot/mystery sakes
1 star for the romantic interaction between MCs
In one hand the investigation was very interesting and kept me on my toes....yet on the other I'm having difficulties with how much of a 'last thought/deep in the background' the romantic connection between the MCs is.
Not saying there always needs to be sex scenes on the books but the domestic scenes fall a bit too flat on the romantic front throughout the book and even the 'jealousy' bit feels lacking in one respect and forced in others.
Final tally:
4.5 for plot/mystery sakes
1 star for the romantic interaction between MCs
August 11, 2016
Look at this, a sequel and I'd actually read book 1, go me.
I do love me a Charlie Cochrane book with it's oh-so-British feel. Adam and Robin have moved in together although Robin hasn't sold his apartment yet, leaving Adam feeling a bit unsure. However when a man is murdered in the next town over and Robin is pulled in, things from the past crop up, like a case that Adam was a juror on years ago and the sexy witness he fantasized about at the time is a key person in the new investigation.
I have to say I was kept guessing for quite a bit as to who the bad guy was and I appreciated that Adam and Robin had their issues and had to work though taking that next "formal" step of saying they were together in it for the long haul. Both her great guys who did some stupid stuff.
Anyway, read book 1 in this case to understand how they met and the background (and because it's a good read) and then enjoy this mystery.
I do love me a Charlie Cochrane book with it's oh-so-British feel. Adam and Robin have moved in together although Robin hasn't sold his apartment yet, leaving Adam feeling a bit unsure. However when a man is murdered in the next town over and Robin is pulled in, things from the past crop up, like a case that Adam was a juror on years ago and the sexy witness he fantasized about at the time is a key person in the new investigation.
I have to say I was kept guessing for quite a bit as to who the bad guy was and I appreciated that Adam and Robin had their issues and had to work though taking that next "formal" step of saying they were together in it for the long haul. Both her great guys who did some stupid stuff.
Anyway, read book 1 in this case to understand how they met and the background (and because it's a good read) and then enjoy this mystery.
January 7, 2018
Robin and Adam pick up in their relationship in this next book of the series. Now they are together and learning how to live with one another. Adam is leaving his post at the Lindenshaw school and off to be a headteacher and Robin has a new murder to look into.
The story is captivating and fun. Adam is embroiled again in the murder without even trying. here he has a past connected to the case and how fascinating it becomes for the past and his future play a big role in this murder mystery. At times it even rocks the relationship he and Robin have fought so hard to have. We see some miscommunication and fears come in the way of their relationship as well. But underneath it all they are there for one another no matter what.
Charlie Cochrane has created the perfect title because as you see people really are making themselves jury of ones and bringing justice the way they see fit. So many secrets and twists with corruption involved as well in this second book of the series. What I love is that the book doesn’t fall into that second book slump. the story propels our main characters forward and once again into the fray of danger and even Campbell the adorable Newfoundland plays a part as well. That is one very smart and protective dog.
Robin is riddled with riddles in this book. He has lies to sift through, mistaken identities to deal with, and two murders one he and his Sergeant end p in by accident. Nothing adds up and it does get Robin frustrated. Top that with the flirty witness and his nerves are frayed. Although when he does silly things he realizes it and makes it right.
Our main characters once again capture you in their hearts from the Chief Inspector to the Sergeant, Davis, robin, Adam and Campbell. They all just make you smile. The muddiness of family tears your heart because it does bring good people down the wrong path and they pay the consequences as well in this book. Again the romance is understated and sweet. It just has you root for Adam and Robin to make it together while being each others rock and support. They help one another with seeing things differently and escaping their jobs. their home is their safe haven and where they are the calm the other needs. The ending just wow.
A great mystery with twists, turns and reveals. It captivates and draws you in from beginning to end as you cannot put the book down until you know who did what and why.
The story is captivating and fun. Adam is embroiled again in the murder without even trying. here he has a past connected to the case and how fascinating it becomes for the past and his future play a big role in this murder mystery. At times it even rocks the relationship he and Robin have fought so hard to have. We see some miscommunication and fears come in the way of their relationship as well. But underneath it all they are there for one another no matter what.
Charlie Cochrane has created the perfect title because as you see people really are making themselves jury of ones and bringing justice the way they see fit. So many secrets and twists with corruption involved as well in this second book of the series. What I love is that the book doesn’t fall into that second book slump. the story propels our main characters forward and once again into the fray of danger and even Campbell the adorable Newfoundland plays a part as well. That is one very smart and protective dog.
Robin is riddled with riddles in this book. He has lies to sift through, mistaken identities to deal with, and two murders one he and his Sergeant end p in by accident. Nothing adds up and it does get Robin frustrated. Top that with the flirty witness and his nerves are frayed. Although when he does silly things he realizes it and makes it right.
Our main characters once again capture you in their hearts from the Chief Inspector to the Sergeant, Davis, robin, Adam and Campbell. They all just make you smile. The muddiness of family tears your heart because it does bring good people down the wrong path and they pay the consequences as well in this book. Again the romance is understated and sweet. It just has you root for Adam and Robin to make it together while being each others rock and support. They help one another with seeing things differently and escaping their jobs. their home is their safe haven and where they are the calm the other needs. The ending just wow.
A great mystery with twists, turns and reveals. It captivates and draws you in from beginning to end as you cannot put the book down until you know who did what and why.
March 22, 2016
So much subterfuge! So many lies! Jury of One is the second book in the Lindenshaw Mysteries series; it follows The Best Corpse for the Job. These books are about Inspector Robin Bright, of the Stanebridge Police Department. The cast of main characters is rounded out with Anderson, Robin’s partner on the force and Adam, Robin’s partner at home. Robin and Adam meet in the first book of the series, but their relationship really doesn’t get off the ground until the end of that book—this book is set a short year later. The two men are still very new with each other, and with what each expects from their relationship. Be warned, however, this is not a romance book. Adam and Robin’s relationship is touched on because it is part of the mystery and rounds out the characters, but it is not the focus of the book. The mystery is. We could not, however, have a clear picture of Robin if we did not have Adam. There is also a cast of secondary characters that totally hold their own in the story and are exceptionally well written.
So, the mystery… It’s a mystery! Haha! Thing is, the red herrings have red herrings in this book. It is a complicated storyline, from beginning to end, and you are left wondering and reading to try to make sense of it all—and doesn’t that make a good murder mystery novel? You will not be able to guess the ending. I promise that nothing is straight forward in this book.
Robin pulled a face. “It’s like straws in a haystack. Perhaps somebody Edwards upset in prison, somebody who doesn’t like his business dealings, somebody who thinks he did in Hatton and is getting their own back. There are far too many threads in this case—these cases—and none of them are tying up anywhere. Who knows which will be the one that gets pulled and unravels the whole tapestry?”
I have to admit that while I love reading books written with British slang, it may have gotten a little overwhelming in this book. It was a little hard to follow the plot sometimes when I was trying to figure out what the characters were saying. But that is nitpicking when, overall, I really enjoyed this book as much as the first book in the series and can’t wait to see what crime Robin has to solve next time. Also, be aware these books are not about the flash bang of a CSI novel; they are full of solid police work and logical inferences, puzzles and pieces. This is what sets Charlie Cochrane apart from other mystery writers. It is the well written, well thought out, no stone left unturned storyline that leaves you satisfied in the end. I highly recommend this book!
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
So, the mystery… It’s a mystery! Haha! Thing is, the red herrings have red herrings in this book. It is a complicated storyline, from beginning to end, and you are left wondering and reading to try to make sense of it all—and doesn’t that make a good murder mystery novel? You will not be able to guess the ending. I promise that nothing is straight forward in this book.
Robin pulled a face. “It’s like straws in a haystack. Perhaps somebody Edwards upset in prison, somebody who doesn’t like his business dealings, somebody who thinks he did in Hatton and is getting their own back. There are far too many threads in this case—these cases—and none of them are tying up anywhere. Who knows which will be the one that gets pulled and unravels the whole tapestry?”
I have to admit that while I love reading books written with British slang, it may have gotten a little overwhelming in this book. It was a little hard to follow the plot sometimes when I was trying to figure out what the characters were saying. But that is nitpicking when, overall, I really enjoyed this book as much as the first book in the series and can’t wait to see what crime Robin has to solve next time. Also, be aware these books are not about the flash bang of a CSI novel; they are full of solid police work and logical inferences, puzzles and pieces. This is what sets Charlie Cochrane apart from other mystery writers. It is the well written, well thought out, no stone left unturned storyline that leaves you satisfied in the end. I highly recommend this book!
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
February 24, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a more exciting and a more complicated story than the first book in the series. I enjoyed the intertwining strands of the multiple crimes in this story. There are perhaps too many characters this time - I had a difficult time keeping everyone straight - but I enjoyed Robin’s crime solving escapades.
If Adam and Robin felt old for their years in the first book, the domesticity of this second story makes them both seem positively ancient. Between cosy meals at home with the dog for company and a slightly overblown quarrel, these two enjoy a harmonious, if strangely platonic, relationship this time around.
These stories are on the gentler side of the classic English murder mystery - Robin feels more like a contemporary Miss Marple than even an Adam Dalgliesh and there is something very traditional and conservative about both Adam and Robin.
Like the first story, this one wanders round in circles a bit. The circles are more complex this time which makes for a more interesting read but it didn’t completely hold my attention and I really had to force myself to plow through to the end.
This is a more exciting and a more complicated story than the first book in the series. I enjoyed the intertwining strands of the multiple crimes in this story. There are perhaps too many characters this time - I had a difficult time keeping everyone straight - but I enjoyed Robin’s crime solving escapades.
If Adam and Robin felt old for their years in the first book, the domesticity of this second story makes them both seem positively ancient. Between cosy meals at home with the dog for company and a slightly overblown quarrel, these two enjoy a harmonious, if strangely platonic, relationship this time around.
These stories are on the gentler side of the classic English murder mystery - Robin feels more like a contemporary Miss Marple than even an Adam Dalgliesh and there is something very traditional and conservative about both Adam and Robin.
Like the first story, this one wanders round in circles a bit. The circles are more complex this time which makes for a more interesting read but it didn’t completely hold my attention and I really had to force myself to plow through to the end.
March 2, 2016
This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. This was my first book by this author and it was very good. I didn’t get a connection to either of the MC’s, Robin or Adam immediately but eventually I connected with them. I really enjoyed the mystery in the story and that seems to be in the guts of the story. I enjoyed how Mr. Cochrane gave life to the story in the background, which was the romance between Robin and Adam and still keeping up with the mystery in the book. I would definitely consider trying more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2016
I received an ARC from Inked Rainbow Reviews in exchange for an honest review. This is book 2 in the series. I didn’t realize how much I had missed reading mystery/suspense books until I read this book. Although I didn’t read book one I was able to follow along with the story fairly well. The toughest part of the book was trying to mentally translate he British slang into English/American language. Otherwise I enjoyed the story a great deal.
August 16, 2021
Another great cosy mystery story with Robin and Adam. I think I like this less than the first book. There's less flirting and teasing and somehow, the couple felt like they were not moving forward. It's a bit more bloody this time with Robin trying to solve a slasher case but the violence and blood weren't that graphical to deter readers with a light stomach. I do enjoy it and will definitely follow this series to see more of Robin and Adam.
January 20, 2018
This is a super fun series.
March 23, 2016
A great murder-mystery with British flare. I loved it. Charlie Cochrane writes excellent murder-mysteries, intricate plots, lots of red herrings and something to really get your teeth into. The other fact is I love the characters, they’re not over exaggerated but real and normal.
Robin and Adam met in the first book when Robin came to investigate a murder in Adam’s school. Since then they are now living together at Adam’s house, in a solid relationship and everything couldn’t be more perfect. However, there is always the small problem of balancing their relationship with their work, both being extremely dedicated but sometimes the workload can take it’s toll on any relationship and this is the case when Robin is called to investigate a murder. It means lots of hours and the moments they get together are few. Adam is very understanding of this but things do start to put a strain on things. The thing I like about Charlie’s books are that they are plot driven. The sex is off page so you have gay characters who “just are” leading normal lives and coping with the stresses and strains of what their jobs bring. As much as hot sex is nice I always find it refreshing to read a plot driven story with gay characters that are not jumping into bed every five minutes.You could say Adam’s job is not as glamourous or exciting as Robin’s being a teacher, but Adam is necessary as a centre of gravity and voice of reason in Robin’s extremely turbulent job.
This case proves to be a real headache having so many leads but nothing conclusive at the beginning. Throw in a rival police precinct with a few bent coppers and the race is on as to who will get to the bottom of Hatton’s murder first. I loved how there are several plot devices happening at the same time, how everything doesn’t always seem to appear as it is upon first inspection. This case becomes a real challenge for Robin and once again Adam becomes involved by default due to Robin’s current case going back to another court case where Adam was on the jury. It was a long time ago when Adam was a lot younger but his experience of being on the jury for this particular conviction is essential in unravelling the mystery of Robin’s current case. Again an excellent piece of plotting by Charlie Cochrane making up an enthralling murder-mystery.
There is one bone of contention between the happy couple, not only the case and their work, but Robin’s flat is still not sold or rented out. Adam feels due to this that Robin is not 100% committed to them being together as though he is leaving his options open if things don’t work out. Understandable I suppose but for Robin this is a difficult step to take as his previous relationships didn’t work out, job always getting in the way, and feels that maybe the bubble will burst with this relationship too. I know this might be the realistic and logical thing to do, but honestly? As much as these two love each other I could have slapped Robin on several occasions for being such an emotionally stunted ignoramus! If he isn’t sure about what he has with Adam then he shouldn’t ever bother trying to be in a relationship at all. But as in all solid relationships here they both are tried and tested but manage to make things work and come out the other side all the stronger for it. Basically, what doesn’t kill us or split us up only makes us stronger,
This book is the second in a series and it can be read as a standalone for sure. However, reading the first book will invariably give you all the essential background to understand the MCs motives, what makes them tick and how they got to where they are now. It’s also an excellent murder-mystery and with any such crime duo stories both MCs are well balanced and compliment each other perfectly. So if you’re a fan of British style crime series, a murder or two, a duffing up or two, antsy witnesses, bent coppers, more red herrings than you can shake a stick at, then you’ll love this second murder-mystery in the Lindshaw series by Charlie Cochrane. I hope there’ll be many more to come.
Robin and Adam met in the first book when Robin came to investigate a murder in Adam’s school. Since then they are now living together at Adam’s house, in a solid relationship and everything couldn’t be more perfect. However, there is always the small problem of balancing their relationship with their work, both being extremely dedicated but sometimes the workload can take it’s toll on any relationship and this is the case when Robin is called to investigate a murder. It means lots of hours and the moments they get together are few. Adam is very understanding of this but things do start to put a strain on things. The thing I like about Charlie’s books are that they are plot driven. The sex is off page so you have gay characters who “just are” leading normal lives and coping with the stresses and strains of what their jobs bring. As much as hot sex is nice I always find it refreshing to read a plot driven story with gay characters that are not jumping into bed every five minutes.You could say Adam’s job is not as glamourous or exciting as Robin’s being a teacher, but Adam is necessary as a centre of gravity and voice of reason in Robin’s extremely turbulent job.
This case proves to be a real headache having so many leads but nothing conclusive at the beginning. Throw in a rival police precinct with a few bent coppers and the race is on as to who will get to the bottom of Hatton’s murder first. I loved how there are several plot devices happening at the same time, how everything doesn’t always seem to appear as it is upon first inspection. This case becomes a real challenge for Robin and once again Adam becomes involved by default due to Robin’s current case going back to another court case where Adam was on the jury. It was a long time ago when Adam was a lot younger but his experience of being on the jury for this particular conviction is essential in unravelling the mystery of Robin’s current case. Again an excellent piece of plotting by Charlie Cochrane making up an enthralling murder-mystery.
There is one bone of contention between the happy couple, not only the case and their work, but Robin’s flat is still not sold or rented out. Adam feels due to this that Robin is not 100% committed to them being together as though he is leaving his options open if things don’t work out. Understandable I suppose but for Robin this is a difficult step to take as his previous relationships didn’t work out, job always getting in the way, and feels that maybe the bubble will burst with this relationship too. I know this might be the realistic and logical thing to do, but honestly? As much as these two love each other I could have slapped Robin on several occasions for being such an emotionally stunted ignoramus! If he isn’t sure about what he has with Adam then he shouldn’t ever bother trying to be in a relationship at all. But as in all solid relationships here they both are tried and tested but manage to make things work and come out the other side all the stronger for it. Basically, what doesn’t kill us or split us up only makes us stronger,
This book is the second in a series and it can be read as a standalone for sure. However, reading the first book will invariably give you all the essential background to understand the MCs motives, what makes them tick and how they got to where they are now. It’s also an excellent murder-mystery and with any such crime duo stories both MCs are well balanced and compliment each other perfectly. So if you’re a fan of British style crime series, a murder or two, a duffing up or two, antsy witnesses, bent coppers, more red herrings than you can shake a stick at, then you’ll love this second murder-mystery in the Lindshaw series by Charlie Cochrane. I hope there’ll be many more to come.
September 24, 2016
Jury of One
Charlie Cochrane
Riptide Publishing, 2016
ISBN: 9781626493766
Four stars
How interesting that Charlie Cochrane’s quintessentially British books are published by a house right near me in the USA. I had such fun highlighting all of the English slang as I read through this second in the Lindenshaw mystery series. Fortunately all of it makes perfect sense in context.
Adam Matthews and Robin Bright are back with more trouble in their newly-domestic life together. Adam is looking forward to a career change, and Robin’s own prospects are looking ever rosier. Their life together in Adam’s neat little house in Lindenshaw is marred only by the fact that Robin still hasn’t rented out his own place, leaving Adam wondering at moments if he really means to stay.
Then another local murder crops up, which begins to look like it’s linked with a serial attacker in the neighboring town of Abbottston. Suddenly Adam and Robin’s cozy evenings with their dog Campbell are interrupted, and the stress of being a cop in a relationship begins to strain the weak spots in their domesticity.
Once more, the Miss Marple-like aspect of life in small-town England is called into play with good effect. I very much liked the way Cochrane mixes the details of a semi-rural police procedural with the natural anxieties of a young gay couple at the moment the honeymoon ends and the realities of long-term life together begin to loom before them. What is lacking, if I may complain mildly (as Miss Marple would), is that, absent the sexual and professional tension that drove “The Best Corpse for the Job,” it is harder to maintain interest in Adam and Robin as a couple. Cochrane has to resort to a bit of reaching, and I’m afraid the result is that both Adam and Robin take turns looking like idiots just to move the plot along. As a reader, I was not fully convinced that they would actually behave that way, and thus it felt rather forced.
On the other hand, the mystery itself is nicely convoluted to the point that I stopped trying to keep track, and Cochrane managed to ramp up the excitement in the last part of the story to a most satisfying degree. I think taking our boys to a third mystery together will be a challenge. I hope Charlie’s up to it, because I like Adam and Robin and want to see more of them in future
Charlie Cochrane
Riptide Publishing, 2016
ISBN: 9781626493766
Four stars
How interesting that Charlie Cochrane’s quintessentially British books are published by a house right near me in the USA. I had such fun highlighting all of the English slang as I read through this second in the Lindenshaw mystery series. Fortunately all of it makes perfect sense in context.
Adam Matthews and Robin Bright are back with more trouble in their newly-domestic life together. Adam is looking forward to a career change, and Robin’s own prospects are looking ever rosier. Their life together in Adam’s neat little house in Lindenshaw is marred only by the fact that Robin still hasn’t rented out his own place, leaving Adam wondering at moments if he really means to stay.
Then another local murder crops up, which begins to look like it’s linked with a serial attacker in the neighboring town of Abbottston. Suddenly Adam and Robin’s cozy evenings with their dog Campbell are interrupted, and the stress of being a cop in a relationship begins to strain the weak spots in their domesticity.
Once more, the Miss Marple-like aspect of life in small-town England is called into play with good effect. I very much liked the way Cochrane mixes the details of a semi-rural police procedural with the natural anxieties of a young gay couple at the moment the honeymoon ends and the realities of long-term life together begin to loom before them. What is lacking, if I may complain mildly (as Miss Marple would), is that, absent the sexual and professional tension that drove “The Best Corpse for the Job,” it is harder to maintain interest in Adam and Robin as a couple. Cochrane has to resort to a bit of reaching, and I’m afraid the result is that both Adam and Robin take turns looking like idiots just to move the plot along. As a reader, I was not fully convinced that they would actually behave that way, and thus it felt rather forced.
On the other hand, the mystery itself is nicely convoluted to the point that I stopped trying to keep track, and Cochrane managed to ramp up the excitement in the last part of the story to a most satisfying degree. I think taking our boys to a third mystery together will be a challenge. I hope Charlie’s up to it, because I like Adam and Robin and want to see more of them in future
September 20, 2022
Original Audiobook Review September 2022:
Can't believe it's been 6 years since I read Jury of One. 6 YEARS?!?!?! How is that possible? Where does the time go? Well, let's be honest, time and life go by faster and faster with each year😉😉. In regard to Jury of One, I can't believe it's been 6 years because 1. I love this series so much and 2. I remember the culprit like it was yesterday. As for the whys, that was sort of hazy which actually was a plus because that helped bring back a little of the adrenaline rush I got the first time around.
I really love the balance of mystery and romance the author brings to this series. Lindenshaw Mysteries is definitely a mystery-centric story but Robin and Adam's romantic journey is strong but not overshadowing. Of course as it is with mystery romances the two paths cross no matter how hard Adam tries to stay away the mayhem powers-that-be have other plans. As with my original review, this is as much of the plot that I'm going to give😉😉.
As for the narration, David Maxwell once again brings life to Charlie Cochrane's characters perfectly. Could someone else done as good a job? Sure but for me his take on Robin, Adam, and the whole Lindenshaw cast is spot-on. The combination of voice and words is a delightfully entertaining gem and leaves no doubt in my mind that life in an English village is one of the most dangerous places to find yourself.
Original Review March 2016:
Once again Charlie Cochrane reminds me why I love English murder mysteries so much. The relationship between Robin and Anderson, his sergeant is reminiscent of Barnaby and Troy/Scott/Jones(Midsomer Murders), Morse and Lewis(Inspector Morse), and many more. I enjoyed seeing how Robin and Adam have grown since The Best Corpse for the Job and Adam may not be at the center of this mystery but he is drawn into it and not just because he is living with Robin. As for the mystery, it may not have been as heart pounding as book one but it still managed to keep me on my toes guessing the outcome. A true gem that is well deserving of the English murder mystery genre that has left me hungry for further adventures from the apparently dangerous Lindenshaw countryside.
Can't believe it's been 6 years since I read Jury of One. 6 YEARS?!?!?! How is that possible? Where does the time go? Well, let's be honest, time and life go by faster and faster with each year😉😉. In regard to Jury of One, I can't believe it's been 6 years because 1. I love this series so much and 2. I remember the culprit like it was yesterday. As for the whys, that was sort of hazy which actually was a plus because that helped bring back a little of the adrenaline rush I got the first time around.
I really love the balance of mystery and romance the author brings to this series. Lindenshaw Mysteries is definitely a mystery-centric story but Robin and Adam's romantic journey is strong but not overshadowing. Of course as it is with mystery romances the two paths cross no matter how hard Adam tries to stay away the mayhem powers-that-be have other plans. As with my original review, this is as much of the plot that I'm going to give😉😉.
As for the narration, David Maxwell once again brings life to Charlie Cochrane's characters perfectly. Could someone else done as good a job? Sure but for me his take on Robin, Adam, and the whole Lindenshaw cast is spot-on. The combination of voice and words is a delightfully entertaining gem and leaves no doubt in my mind that life in an English village is one of the most dangerous places to find yourself.
Original Review March 2016:
Once again Charlie Cochrane reminds me why I love English murder mysteries so much. The relationship between Robin and Anderson, his sergeant is reminiscent of Barnaby and Troy/Scott/Jones(Midsomer Murders), Morse and Lewis(Inspector Morse), and many more. I enjoyed seeing how Robin and Adam have grown since The Best Corpse for the Job and Adam may not be at the center of this mystery but he is drawn into it and not just because he is living with Robin. As for the mystery, it may not have been as heart pounding as book one but it still managed to keep me on my toes guessing the outcome. A true gem that is well deserving of the English murder mystery genre that has left me hungry for further adventures from the apparently dangerous Lindenshaw countryside.
Read
September 7, 2017A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is a contemporary mystery, and it was well-paced and well-plotted. There are lots of diversions distancing us from the culprits and Robin and his investigators are diligent in their duty. As a mystery, it works nicely. The romance/love between Robin and Adam is present, but I’d characterize it mostly as longing. They long to be near one another. They are mostly comfortable, and they do not burn up the sheets on the page. They spend long evenings apart and are sometimes too knackered to get it on when they manage to have a night in together. And, it’s always fade-to-black when they do have the energy.
I’d highly recommend this series to readers who love both mysteries and British colloquial English as the language could be frustrating to people who haven’t developed an ear for the vernacular. (Note: I’ve used some of the fun Brit-y vocab I picked up from the book in this review.) I’m a little sorry I didn’t read the first book, because I would have liked to see Robin and Adam connect. The story wasn’t hard to follow, having not read the first book, though. One other note: Robin and Adam are dog daddies to Campbell, a protective Newfoundland who is quite heroic in both stories. It’s fun how much they love him.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is a contemporary mystery, and it was well-paced and well-plotted. There are lots of diversions distancing us from the culprits and Robin and his investigators are diligent in their duty. As a mystery, it works nicely. The romance/love between Robin and Adam is present, but I’d characterize it mostly as longing. They long to be near one another. They are mostly comfortable, and they do not burn up the sheets on the page. They spend long evenings apart and are sometimes too knackered to get it on when they manage to have a night in together. And, it’s always fade-to-black when they do have the energy.
I’d highly recommend this series to readers who love both mysteries and British colloquial English as the language could be frustrating to people who haven’t developed an ear for the vernacular. (Note: I’ve used some of the fun Brit-y vocab I picked up from the book in this review.) I’m a little sorry I didn’t read the first book, because I would have liked to see Robin and Adam connect. The story wasn’t hard to follow, having not read the first book, though. One other note: Robin and Adam are dog daddies to Campbell, a protective Newfoundland who is quite heroic in both stories. It’s fun how much they love him.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
December 6, 2022
The second book in this series was as good as the first one.
Adam and Robin are trying to adjust to their new life together, although not everything is roses and rainbows. There are some very real issues going on here and I liked that a lot!
And then, we have the case that ends up being a lot more complicated than either of them imagined and it's somehow linked to Adam's past and present. I really enjoyed the case, it's complicated enough that I didn't see the resolution coming.
Very good!
Adam and Robin are trying to adjust to their new life together, although not everything is roses and rainbows. There are some very real issues going on here and I liked that a lot!
And then, we have the case that ends up being a lot more complicated than either of them imagined and it's somehow linked to Adam's past and present. I really enjoyed the case, it's complicated enough that I didn't see the resolution coming.
Very good!
September 23, 2017
This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2017/09/review...
Jury of One is the second book in a series, and reads fine as a standalone. It is also a mystery, with a faint hint of romance.
Inspector Robin Bright and his partner, teacher Adam Matthews, met nearly a year ago when Robin investigated a murder at the school where Adam teaches. Their attraction was initially tempered by suspicion, but that’s all water under the bridge. They’ve been together just long enough to have moved in together, but Robin still has yet to let out his flat, and they both work a lot. Thus, building their new relationship has been difficult.
challenge month 2017 copyRobin being assigned a new murder investigation in a neighboring town makes life more difficult. Abbotson has plenty of constables, but the detecting force is out for the Abbotson Slasher, a scrote who’s stabbed three women over the past few months on the night of the new moon. So, when a male ex-spy is murdered on the night of the next expected slashing, Robin and his sergeant are called in to work that case.
The thing is, the witnesses are odd, and one turns up on Robin’s doorstep. He’d been a witness in a case on which Adam had served as a juror more than a decade ago, and he’s currently openly flirting with both Adam and Robin. The deeper Robin digs, the more likely it seems that some members of the police force are mixed in shady dealings.
Robin and his team are good rozzers, and find the bad guys despite the red herrings, but it doesn’t mean that all’s well, because Adam’s at risk; he knows some of the players in this case quite well, which, yeah, gets him into deep trouble by the end.
I picked this one for TBR Pile Week for Reading Challenge Month because it’s been out over a year and I have enjoyed some of the historical mysteries I’ve read from Charlie Cochrane. This is a contemporary mystery, and it was well-paced and well-plotted. There are lots of diversions distancing us from the culprits and Robin and his investigators are diligent in their duty. As a mystery, it works nicely. The romance/love between Robin and Adam is present, but I’d characterize it mostly as longing. They long to be near one another. They are mostly comfortable, and they do not burn up the sheets on the page. They spend long evenings apart and are sometimes too knackered to get it on when they manage to have a night in together. And, it’s always fade-to-black when they do have the energy.
I’d highly recommend this series to readers who love both mysteries and British colloquial English as the language could be frustrating to people who haven’t developed an ear for the vernacular. (Note: I’ve used some of the fun Brit-y vocab I picked up from the book in this review.) I’m a little sorry I didn’t read the first book, because I would have liked to see Robin and Adam connect. The story wasn’t hard to follow, having not read the first book, though. One other note: Robin and Adam are dog daddies to Campbell, a protective Newfoundland who is quite heroic in both stories. It’s fun how much they love him. A review copy was provided by NetGalley.
Jury of One is the second book in a series, and reads fine as a standalone. It is also a mystery, with a faint hint of romance.
Inspector Robin Bright and his partner, teacher Adam Matthews, met nearly a year ago when Robin investigated a murder at the school where Adam teaches. Their attraction was initially tempered by suspicion, but that’s all water under the bridge. They’ve been together just long enough to have moved in together, but Robin still has yet to let out his flat, and they both work a lot. Thus, building their new relationship has been difficult.
challenge month 2017 copyRobin being assigned a new murder investigation in a neighboring town makes life more difficult. Abbotson has plenty of constables, but the detecting force is out for the Abbotson Slasher, a scrote who’s stabbed three women over the past few months on the night of the new moon. So, when a male ex-spy is murdered on the night of the next expected slashing, Robin and his sergeant are called in to work that case.
The thing is, the witnesses are odd, and one turns up on Robin’s doorstep. He’d been a witness in a case on which Adam had served as a juror more than a decade ago, and he’s currently openly flirting with both Adam and Robin. The deeper Robin digs, the more likely it seems that some members of the police force are mixed in shady dealings.
Robin and his team are good rozzers, and find the bad guys despite the red herrings, but it doesn’t mean that all’s well, because Adam’s at risk; he knows some of the players in this case quite well, which, yeah, gets him into deep trouble by the end.
I picked this one for TBR Pile Week for Reading Challenge Month because it’s been out over a year and I have enjoyed some of the historical mysteries I’ve read from Charlie Cochrane. This is a contemporary mystery, and it was well-paced and well-plotted. There are lots of diversions distancing us from the culprits and Robin and his investigators are diligent in their duty. As a mystery, it works nicely. The romance/love between Robin and Adam is present, but I’d characterize it mostly as longing. They long to be near one another. They are mostly comfortable, and they do not burn up the sheets on the page. They spend long evenings apart and are sometimes too knackered to get it on when they manage to have a night in together. And, it’s always fade-to-black when they do have the energy.
I’d highly recommend this series to readers who love both mysteries and British colloquial English as the language could be frustrating to people who haven’t developed an ear for the vernacular. (Note: I’ve used some of the fun Brit-y vocab I picked up from the book in this review.) I’m a little sorry I didn’t read the first book, because I would have liked to see Robin and Adam connect. The story wasn’t hard to follow, having not read the first book, though. One other note: Robin and Adam are dog daddies to Campbell, a protective Newfoundland who is quite heroic in both stories. It’s fun how much they love him. A review copy was provided by NetGalley.
September 4, 2018
Second book in the Lindenshaw series, this one was very complex, with connections all over the place and Robin and crew working slowly through the evidence to bring it all together.
It's a year after the first story in the series and Robin has moved in to Adam's house. Their romance was off to a great start but Adam is slightly worried that Robin hasn't sold his apartment yet. Does Robin have doubts about their relationship? Both men are a little bit nervous, wondering if the other will get tired of being together and want out. Robin's job as a detective is time consuming and sometimes dangerous. Adam's job as a teacher requires a lot of curriculum planning and grade marking outside of school time. They have to figure out how to deal with each other's occupations, which each are passionate about. Robin loves being a policeman just as Adam loves being a teacher. As new as their relationship is, they both know they have to work to make it succeed but sometimes it's too easy to just focus on their jobs rather than their relationship.
Into all this personal struggle, comes a murder investigation. Robin is called in to work on a case in another town when the town's police force is focused on a serial slasher case and can't spare forces for this murder. The murder was brutal, and like the slasher case, involves knives. When Robin and his crew are able to solve the slasher case in the midst of investigating the murder, the local Inspector is not happy. He resents Robin,, in particular. The local force takes back the murder case and Robin isn't happy about that but quickly becomes involved in a series of robberies back home. Somehow, he and Sgt. Anderson keep finding links to the other case. Can they pull it all together and find the murderer and the men behind the robberies? And how does all this tie back to case from years earlier where Adam was one of the jurors?
I'm really enjoying this series.
It's a year after the first story in the series and Robin has moved in to Adam's house. Their romance was off to a great start but Adam is slightly worried that Robin hasn't sold his apartment yet. Does Robin have doubts about their relationship? Both men are a little bit nervous, wondering if the other will get tired of being together and want out. Robin's job as a detective is time consuming and sometimes dangerous. Adam's job as a teacher requires a lot of curriculum planning and grade marking outside of school time. They have to figure out how to deal with each other's occupations, which each are passionate about. Robin loves being a policeman just as Adam loves being a teacher. As new as their relationship is, they both know they have to work to make it succeed but sometimes it's too easy to just focus on their jobs rather than their relationship.
Into all this personal struggle, comes a murder investigation. Robin is called in to work on a case in another town when the town's police force is focused on a serial slasher case and can't spare forces for this murder. The murder was brutal, and like the slasher case, involves knives. When Robin and his crew are able to solve the slasher case in the midst of investigating the murder, the local Inspector is not happy. He resents Robin,, in particular. The local force takes back the murder case and Robin isn't happy about that but quickly becomes involved in a series of robberies back home. Somehow, he and Sgt. Anderson keep finding links to the other case. Can they pull it all together and find the murderer and the men behind the robberies? And how does all this tie back to case from years earlier where Adam was one of the jurors?
I'm really enjoying this series.
April 16, 2020
I have really enjoyed this series so far. This life in a small English village genre really appeals to me and Robin and Adam are quietly amazing.
Robin and Adam are a year into their relationship and things are going well. Their were a few instances where they clearly were not communicating well, but it is so obvious that they love and adore each other.
There is a serial killer on the loose in Lindenshaw, but that is not the Robin is assigned to investigate. A man was murdered in the dark parking lot of a restaurant owned by a celebrity chef. This was full of so many twists and turns and suspects that I did not figure this on out. Anderson's snarkiness about everything was so funny.
Robin and Adam are a year into their relationship and things are going well. Their were a few instances where they clearly were not communicating well, but it is so obvious that they love and adore each other.
There is a serial killer on the loose in Lindenshaw, but that is not the Robin is assigned to investigate. A man was murdered in the dark parking lot of a restaurant owned by a celebrity chef. This was full of so many twists and turns and suspects that I did not figure this on out. Anderson's snarkiness about everything was so funny.
November 30, 2017
If you love the British mystery shows on PBS you will love this book.
Inspector Robin Bright is back with his trusty sidekick Sargent Anderson, his boyfriend Adam and the ever lovable Newfie Campbell and murder is on his agenda. This time it is in a nearby town that is short staffed investigating a serial killer. This is a really convoluted tale of several murders, robberies and plain old assault. This story played out in my mind like Masterpiece Theater. I really enjoyed trying to figure out who dunnit. I think you will too.
Even if you don’t like m/m you should enjoy this story as anything other than a kiss happens behind closed doors.
Inspector Robin Bright is back with his trusty sidekick Sargent Anderson, his boyfriend Adam and the ever lovable Newfie Campbell and murder is on his agenda. This time it is in a nearby town that is short staffed investigating a serial killer. This is a really convoluted tale of several murders, robberies and plain old assault. This story played out in my mind like Masterpiece Theater. I really enjoyed trying to figure out who dunnit. I think you will too.
Even if you don’t like m/m you should enjoy this story as anything other than a kiss happens behind closed doors.
January 8, 2018
The mystery was a bit convoluted and there were a few too many coincidences to make it believable for me. The climax was also very unbelievable and a bit frustrating for me. I'll try one more in this series but it just may not be for me.
May 13, 2024
Detective Inspector Robin Bright and his teacher boyfriend Adam Matthews are settling down happily to living in Adam's cottage when another murder case threatens not only their comfortable routine but even their relationship.
The tension between our new couple was cleverly plotted to fit into the various strands of the mystery and to show the differences in their personalities without huge amounts of angst. After all, this is a cosy mystery!
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery plot and I find Adam, Robin and their dog Campbell endearing. On to the next!
The tension between our new couple was cleverly plotted to fit into the various strands of the mystery and to show the differences in their personalities without huge amounts of angst. After all, this is a cosy mystery!
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery plot and I find Adam, Robin and their dog Campbell endearing. On to the next!
July 4, 2019
Slow but enjoyable cozy mystery. However, just as I was thinking that it was a refreshing change of pace that Adam, the non-law enforcement partner wasn't always inserting himself into the case, like some other series, he pulled a TSTL move . *Facepalm*
December 15, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up
I forgot to review this one after listening to the audiobook in September. In any case, it's the kind of cozy mystery I crave every so often and it was a good follow-up to the first book. I've cancelled my Audible membership so I'll probably need to read the books from now on, but I did enjoy the narrator and the story.
I forgot to review this one after listening to the audiobook in September. In any case, it's the kind of cozy mystery I crave every so often and it was a good follow-up to the first book. I've cancelled my Audible membership so I'll probably need to read the books from now on, but I did enjoy the narrator and the story.
June 12, 2020
Totally fine little cozy. Liked it well enough but after 2 books in the series I don’t know that I feel invested enough in the MCs to keep going through 3 more books. I’ll keep them on my TBR shelf, but I’m in no rush.
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