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Herring Mysteries #6
Cat Among The Herrings
Robin Pagham is dead - drowned in a sailing accident. The reaction of everyone in the village on hearing this tragic news is that Robin must have been drunk. After all, that was what he did best - that and drug dealing and breaking his former girlfriend's nose, with a bit of TV acting on the side. Surprisingly, newspaper reports of the inquest state that no alcohol was found in Robin's blood. It was accidental death, with no clear cause. At the funeral however Robin's latest girlfriend - to whom he has just got engaged - stands up and, lifting back her veil, announces that somebody in the congregation has murdered Robin and that she's going to have their arse. Although estranged, Elsie and Ethelred begin simultaneous investigations into Robin's death - as ever with some comical results.
319 pages, Hardcover
First published February 18, 2016
About the author
L.C. Tyler
37 books90 followersL. C. Tyler grew up in Essex and studied geography at Jesus College Oxford University and systems analysis at City University in London. During a career with the British Council he lived in Malaysia, Sudan, Thailand and Denmark. More recently he has been based in Islington and West Sussex and is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, of which he was previously Chief Executive. He is married and has two children and one dog.
Series:
* Elsie and Ethelred Mystery
* John Grey Historical Mystery
Series:
* Elsie and Ethelred Mystery
* John Grey Historical Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 24, 2018
Funny and ingenious. Another romp with Elsie and Ethelred. Elsie is a person that you hate to love. She is a chocolate cookie eating nasty piece of goods. Except for Joyce Porter's inspector Dover I can't think of a more obnoxious detective. She causes you to laugh out loud in several scenes in this book. Her opposite is the prim and proper Ethelred. Between them they solve the murder mystery. But more as enemies than friends.
May 17, 2025
Things take a slightly darker turn in this one. The victim is a gf beater and possibly a rapist...
January 17, 2023
My first book in a very long time and it’s made me honestly want to read more and more. I feel like I’ve been missing out. This was such a fun, exciting book with so many twists and layers. There were great characters with so many moments where I laughed out loud.
I don’t think it was perfect and I don’t really have a much to compare it to but I did absolutely enjoy the book far more than I expected.
I found the way it balanced between the different plot lines to feel like it was abandoning the main plot. It made things very satisfying when it all fell into place but I spent 200 pages thinking “Can we get back to Robin’s murder?” “Why is everyone so nuts about this field??”
Elsie was a stand out favourite, I loved her sarcasm and brutally honest attitude. I can imagine in real life she wouldn’t be the most fun to hang around with but I honestly wanted to read about her more than Ethelred.
Can’t wait to keep reading, and catch up on this series it was honestly such a blast that I flew through more than I expected. My initial plan was to read two chapters a day but I got so invested that I couldn’t stop. In the final sitting I read almost half the book, which for most people who read enough to be on this app I can’t imagine 130 pages being some high achievement but like I said this was my first book in years.
I also recommend that anyone reading this puts the knives out score on in the background, especially during the final act.
I don’t think it was perfect and I don’t really have a much to compare it to but I did absolutely enjoy the book far more than I expected.
I found the way it balanced between the different plot lines to feel like it was abandoning the main plot. It made things very satisfying when it all fell into place but I spent 200 pages thinking “Can we get back to Robin’s murder?” “Why is everyone so nuts about this field??”
Elsie was a stand out favourite, I loved her sarcasm and brutally honest attitude. I can imagine in real life she wouldn’t be the most fun to hang around with but I honestly wanted to read about her more than Ethelred.
Can’t wait to keep reading, and catch up on this series it was honestly such a blast that I flew through more than I expected. My initial plan was to read two chapters a day but I got so invested that I couldn’t stop. In the final sitting I read almost half the book, which for most people who read enough to be on this app I can’t imagine 130 pages being some high achievement but like I said this was my first book in years.
I also recommend that anyone reading this puts the knives out score on in the background, especially during the final act.
April 13, 2018
This is a cosy crime novel - and what a little gem! The story has two first-person narrators, one an aging and only moderately successful author of crime novels and the other his former literary agent. It gently pokes fun at the genre while at the same time skilfully following the traditional ‘cosy’ set-up - I laughed out loud in places.
This is the sixth book in the series but is fine as a stand-alone novel. However I enjoyed it so much I intend to go back and start the series with book one.
This is the sixth book in the series but is fine as a stand-alone novel. However I enjoyed it so much I intend to go back and start the series with book one.
May 4, 2016
‘Cat Among the Herrings’ by L C Tyler
Published by Allison & Busby, 18 February 2016. ISBN: 978-0-74901-986-0
The village of West Wittering was burying the last of the Paghams, a family, the rector said had for centuries been significant landowners in the area. That the family fortunes had in recent years declined through gambling, drinking and bribery, he glossed over. Robin Pagham had met a tragic end when out sailing. “Probably drunk” mused the congregation. However, it appeared that Robin’s fiancée Catrina did not share the general view, as just as they were all ready to take their leave of the church and head for refreshment at the wake, Catrina lifted her veil and surveying the congregation declared: ‘One of you bastards murdered Robin, and I’m going to have your arse.’
At the wake Ethelred Tressidor funds himself buttonholed by Catrina to find out who killed Robin, but he politely refuses. However, when taxed by journalist Tom Gittings, who reveals that his family and the Paghams have lived side by side as it were for centuries, and asks Ethelred to look into the murder of his ancestor John Gittings, he is intrigued. After all, there might be a book in it.
When Ethelred’s former agent Elsie Thirkettle gets wind of a possible murder investigation in the village of West Wittering, she wastes no time in scheduling a visit. While Elthelred proceeds to investigate the murder of John Gittings, Elsie pursues her own investigations, with comic results.
Despite their current estrangement it was joy to visit again with Elthelred and Elsie. An intriguing murder, interspersed with the life of a literary agent. All those rejection letters to write, to point budding authors in the right direction with encouragement and kindness. And to help one’s PA to understand irony.
I loved this book. And heartily recommend it.
------
Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
Published by Allison & Busby, 18 February 2016. ISBN: 978-0-74901-986-0
The village of West Wittering was burying the last of the Paghams, a family, the rector said had for centuries been significant landowners in the area. That the family fortunes had in recent years declined through gambling, drinking and bribery, he glossed over. Robin Pagham had met a tragic end when out sailing. “Probably drunk” mused the congregation. However, it appeared that Robin’s fiancée Catrina did not share the general view, as just as they were all ready to take their leave of the church and head for refreshment at the wake, Catrina lifted her veil and surveying the congregation declared: ‘One of you bastards murdered Robin, and I’m going to have your arse.’
At the wake Ethelred Tressidor funds himself buttonholed by Catrina to find out who killed Robin, but he politely refuses. However, when taxed by journalist Tom Gittings, who reveals that his family and the Paghams have lived side by side as it were for centuries, and asks Ethelred to look into the murder of his ancestor John Gittings, he is intrigued. After all, there might be a book in it.
When Ethelred’s former agent Elsie Thirkettle gets wind of a possible murder investigation in the village of West Wittering, she wastes no time in scheduling a visit. While Elthelred proceeds to investigate the murder of John Gittings, Elsie pursues her own investigations, with comic results.
Despite their current estrangement it was joy to visit again with Elthelred and Elsie. An intriguing murder, interspersed with the life of a literary agent. All those rejection letters to write, to point budding authors in the right direction with encouragement and kindness. And to help one’s PA to understand irony.
I loved this book. And heartily recommend it.
------
Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
April 5, 2019
Couldn't even finish it. Thank-fully borrowed from the library so I didn't spend any money, if I had I'd be asking for my money back.
Trite and predictable with a meandering plot that relies too heavily on characters I couldn't care less about.
Trite and predictable with a meandering plot that relies too heavily on characters I couldn't care less about.
August 7, 2018
I think I'm over this series now. I got this from the library and I'm glad I did that rather than spending any money on it. Not bad, I'm just fed up of the gimmick/style.
July 12, 2020
A book of murder and mystery, even if the murder dates back to the nineteenth century, this is another unofficial investigation for Ethelred and his sometime agent, Elsie. Happily it can be read as a stand alone mystery, as in this book Ethelred has established himself in a seaside village with a new group of friends, and his writing has taken a back seat. This is a story with fascinating characters, especially Catarina, the bereft fiancee of the departed Robin, who has died in slightly mysterious circumstances. The book is really a hunt for the truth about Robin’s death in a sailing accident, but Ethelred is reluctant to get involved in an investigation, especially as most people seem to be prepared to accept the more mundane report in the newspaper by Tom, a member of a local family. As the story proceeds with humour and confusion, Elsie becomes embroiled if only for the biscuits, and it seems Ethelred will be persuaded to look into more than one suspicious death sooner or later. As with the other books in the series there is humour and some great plotting as Ethelred and Elsie try to discover the truth by any means necessary.
The book begins with a funeral attended by Ethelred, at which Catarina makes a chilling announcement “One of you bastards murdered Robin”. She follows this up by seizing hold of Ethelred and demanding that he investigate what she alleges was a suspicious death. As the book progresses, it seems her mysterious background includes some fairly devious means of getting what she wants, despite the fact that she seems to be certain that she will inherit Robin’s house and money. Ethelred is not keen, but does discuss the matter with his friend Tom who as a journalist reported on the inquest into Robin’s death, which found him to be sober and his death an unfortunate accident. Ethelred tries to ignore the local gossip and pressure and instead tries to discover the truth concerning a murder in a local field which took place in 1840. He discovers two families, the Paghams and the Gittings, who have been intertwined with each other locally, as a man was hanged for the crime which does not appear to Ethelred to be as clear cut as it once did; he wonders how they reached this point in the local area. Elsie, meanwhile, wants to avoid her assistant and her agency of authors whom she does not respect, so gets involved as only she can.
This is a well written mystery with a strongly humorous side. Some of the characters come over as thoroughly unlikable, but Ethelred is his usual impressionable self, who discovers that the pressure from a dominant woman and local pressure swings him into investigating a modern potential crime rather than sticking to an historical mystery. As usual Elsie is determined to get her way and the biscuits. I found this to be an excellent ‘cosy’ mystery, with some interesting characters such as Caterina and her dubious threats. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys somewhat off beat contemporary crime in a village setting, and look forward to the next episodes of Ethelred and Elsie’s investigations.
The book begins with a funeral attended by Ethelred, at which Catarina makes a chilling announcement “One of you bastards murdered Robin”. She follows this up by seizing hold of Ethelred and demanding that he investigate what she alleges was a suspicious death. As the book progresses, it seems her mysterious background includes some fairly devious means of getting what she wants, despite the fact that she seems to be certain that she will inherit Robin’s house and money. Ethelred is not keen, but does discuss the matter with his friend Tom who as a journalist reported on the inquest into Robin’s death, which found him to be sober and his death an unfortunate accident. Ethelred tries to ignore the local gossip and pressure and instead tries to discover the truth concerning a murder in a local field which took place in 1840. He discovers two families, the Paghams and the Gittings, who have been intertwined with each other locally, as a man was hanged for the crime which does not appear to Ethelred to be as clear cut as it once did; he wonders how they reached this point in the local area. Elsie, meanwhile, wants to avoid her assistant and her agency of authors whom she does not respect, so gets involved as only she can.
This is a well written mystery with a strongly humorous side. Some of the characters come over as thoroughly unlikable, but Ethelred is his usual impressionable self, who discovers that the pressure from a dominant woman and local pressure swings him into investigating a modern potential crime rather than sticking to an historical mystery. As usual Elsie is determined to get her way and the biscuits. I found this to be an excellent ‘cosy’ mystery, with some interesting characters such as Caterina and her dubious threats. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys somewhat off beat contemporary crime in a village setting, and look forward to the next episodes of Ethelred and Elsie’s investigations.
May 10, 2018
After reading books 1 & 2 in the amusing Elsie & Ethelred series I've found myself jumping to book 6. As ever the story is told from both Elsie & Ethelred's perspective, a format I enjoy.
Ethelred's share of the story involved the investigation into a mystery from the 1840's & these parts I found a bit convoluted. I struggled to keep the Pagham's & Gittings history & their relationships straight in my mind. This confusion did spoil the story slightly for me, however this was more than made up for by Elsie's narration.
She was on cracking form! I adored her rejection letters to potential authors, loved her sarcastic banter with assistant Tuesday & what a duo she'd make with Catarina - I'd love for those two to team up in a future book, just think what mischief Elsie could cause with Catarina's mafia connections :o)
A good read (if a bit complicated at times!) & worth a read for Elsie's letters alone :o)
Splitting the difference & awarding 3.5 stars (3 for Ethelred's messy at times tale & 4 for Elsie's
facetious quips)
Ethelred's share of the story involved the investigation into a mystery from the 1840's & these parts I found a bit convoluted. I struggled to keep the Pagham's & Gittings history & their relationships straight in my mind. This confusion did spoil the story slightly for me, however this was more than made up for by Elsie's narration.
She was on cracking form! I adored her rejection letters to potential authors, loved her sarcastic banter with assistant Tuesday & what a duo she'd make with Catarina - I'd love for those two to team up in a future book, just think what mischief Elsie could cause with Catarina's mafia connections :o)
A good read (if a bit complicated at times!) & worth a read for Elsie's letters alone :o)
Splitting the difference & awarding 3.5 stars (3 for Ethelred's messy at times tale & 4 for Elsie's
facetious quips)
August 18, 2024
2010s - UK, Sussex
first published 2016
It was not the happiest of funerals.
😳 WAS für ein erster Satz!!
A spiteful gale, gusting fitfully from the Channel, flung needles of sleet at our faces. I heard the rector utter that most final of instructions: ‘Commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes’. Then, for a page or so of the burial service, nothing reached me but the howling of the wind in the trees. Half blinded and more than half deafened, I stood, feeling the rain soak slowly through to my skin. No adjustment that I might make – turning up my collar, pulling my coat more closely about me – could do anything but bring an even colder, wetter layer of clothing into an even closer contact with myself. Black, billowing clouds were fleeing inland, but we had nowhere to run.
...und dann kommt Kapitel 2:
It was not the liveliest of wakes.
😂
Hat mir wieder deutlich besser gefallen als die letzten beiden Bücher der Serie. Ich mochte die Verbindung mit dem historischen Mordfall... Cold Cases sind mein Ding 😁
‘That’s the interesting thing about murder,’ I said. ‘You don’t have to be dishonest. You don’t have to be malicious. You don’t even need to be particularly violent. You just have to be backed into a corner and think there’s no other way out. It could happen to anyone. That’s why it’s murder we write about rather than fraud or theft.’
Naja, das erklärt nicht die inflationär vielen Serienmörder- und Blutbad-Thriller... für mich ist es das Rätsel, das zählt, ich denke ich würde auch einen Wirtschaftskrimi lesen wollen. Hier gab es jedenfalls schön viel zu rätseln und zu spekulieren.
Als "Intermezzo" zwischen den Kapiteln der eigentlichen Geschichte gibt es diesmal Ablehnungsschreiben, die Elsie an Autoren schickt, die ihre Manuskripte an sie eingereicht haben – von exquisiter Bösartigkeit.
Es gibt interessante Charaktere, viele Verwicklungen, natürlich die Titel gebenden roten Heringe, und einen befriedigenden Schluss. Verschroben, bedächtig, mit Keksen, very british.
first published 2016
It was not the happiest of funerals.
😳 WAS für ein erster Satz!!
A spiteful gale, gusting fitfully from the Channel, flung needles of sleet at our faces. I heard the rector utter that most final of instructions: ‘Commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes’. Then, for a page or so of the burial service, nothing reached me but the howling of the wind in the trees. Half blinded and more than half deafened, I stood, feeling the rain soak slowly through to my skin. No adjustment that I might make – turning up my collar, pulling my coat more closely about me – could do anything but bring an even colder, wetter layer of clothing into an even closer contact with myself. Black, billowing clouds were fleeing inland, but we had nowhere to run.
...und dann kommt Kapitel 2:
It was not the liveliest of wakes.
😂
Hat mir wieder deutlich besser gefallen als die letzten beiden Bücher der Serie. Ich mochte die Verbindung mit dem historischen Mordfall... Cold Cases sind mein Ding 😁
‘That’s the interesting thing about murder,’ I said. ‘You don’t have to be dishonest. You don’t have to be malicious. You don’t even need to be particularly violent. You just have to be backed into a corner and think there’s no other way out. It could happen to anyone. That’s why it’s murder we write about rather than fraud or theft.’
Naja, das erklärt nicht die inflationär vielen Serienmörder- und Blutbad-Thriller... für mich ist es das Rätsel, das zählt, ich denke ich würde auch einen Wirtschaftskrimi lesen wollen. Hier gab es jedenfalls schön viel zu rätseln und zu spekulieren.
Als "Intermezzo" zwischen den Kapiteln der eigentlichen Geschichte gibt es diesmal Ablehnungsschreiben, die Elsie an Autoren schickt, die ihre Manuskripte an sie eingereicht haben – von exquisiter Bösartigkeit.
Es gibt interessante Charaktere, viele Verwicklungen, natürlich die Titel gebenden roten Heringe, und einen befriedigenden Schluss. Verschroben, bedächtig, mit Keksen, very british.
July 5, 2018
This is an enjoyable, easy to read mystery. It's the first of L. C. Tyler's books I have read and it didn't matter it was out of sequence.
I think what kept me interested was the gentle humour in some of the ridiculous situations rather than the plot. It was simply fun to read.
I'll definitely be looking at reading more of these.
I think what kept me interested was the gentle humour in some of the ridiculous situations rather than the plot. It was simply fun to read.
I'll definitely be looking at reading more of these.
December 19, 2020
A literary agent and an author (who are polar opposites) investigate two murders that took place over a hundred years apart.
I thought this book was very clever / entertaining with a good plot and plenty of outrageous characters plus in places it was laugh out loud funny.
Reading time around six hours.
I thought this book was very clever / entertaining with a good plot and plenty of outrageous characters plus in places it was laugh out loud funny.
Reading time around six hours.
November 2, 2022
Another jolly herrings mystery -- I always enjoy the banter between Elsie the incorrigible literary agent and her long-suffering author Ethelred Tressider. In this somewhat complicated murder investigation, two local families and their generational economic competitions result in the death of one and doubts about another. Can't wait for the next in the series.
June 2, 2020
There were a LOT of red herrings in this one. The mystery was a good one (the murderer was quite obvious, but I didn't suspect him thanks to all the red herrings). The parallel murder mystery from the past was also tied in well. I enjoyed it.
Good series. 👍
Good series. 👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2020
Good classic murder mystery
Very pleasant reading.
However I found the motive for murder unnecessarily convoluted. That didn't diminish the the entertainment value of the book, just one (not so small) blemish on an otherwise neat story.
Very pleasant reading.
However I found the motive for murder unnecessarily convoluted. That didn't diminish the the entertainment value of the book, just one (not so small) blemish on an otherwise neat story.
April 5, 2021
Great story
The story and the characters, Ethelred and Elsie, are great. These books are easy to read, take you on a great adventure but are down to earth, ammusinng and well written.
The story and the characters, Ethelred and Elsie, are great. These books are easy to read, take you on a great adventure but are down to earth, ammusinng and well written.
June 30, 2021
Bit of Marmite about the reactions to these books, but I can't get enough of them. This is an ingenious double murder story and, as usual with these two sleuths, there are plenty of laughs. Highly recommendable.
June 13, 2025
This is the first I've read of this series and it will be the last.
I couldn't care about any of the characters and the relationships between the two main families involved was just too convoluted. I read to the end becouse a book has to be awful for me not to.
I couldn't care about any of the characters and the relationships between the two main families involved was just too convoluted. I read to the end becouse a book has to be awful for me not to.
March 11, 2017
gave up just over halfway through - realised I really didn't care what happened to any of the characters, nothing compellled me to read on
July 3, 2017
I love the dialogue between the characters, especially Ethelred and Elsie, but I found the mystery (especially the one from the 1840s) top convoluted. Still, I enjoy this series.
July 18, 2017
Quickly bored by this. The plot linking a Victorian murder with a present day one was quite clever but it didn't hold my interest at all
January 17, 2018
A great pastiche on the cozy crime genre. If you like Agatha Raisin you'll find much to like here.
May 25, 2018
An easy reading amateur sleuth story. A few good twists and turns and giggles to keep up interest.
The biscuit eating literary agent was the star of the show!
The biscuit eating literary agent was the star of the show!
June 24, 2018
I enjoyed this book, it was pleasant and quietly amusing. Nothing particularly ground breaking and i don’t 100% get what happened with the murder tbh.
October 1, 2018
Did not finish .
Bored stupid by this .
Bored stupid by this .
January 15, 2021
Very good
February 7, 2021
Elise's character is awesome and enjoyed her chapters the most. And the idea of solving a century old murder was definitely my favorite part. I am going with 3.5 stars.
September 19, 2023
3.75 stars. this series is fun
October 25, 2023
The Herring mysteries are my favourites in the comedy/crime genre. Each one of them is absolute joy.
February 5, 2026
My favourite of the series so far (I'm reading them in order).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews