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Herring Mysteries #3
The Herring in the Library: Ethelred & Elsie #3 (The Ethelred and Elsie Mysteries)
TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES, TWO EDGAR NOMINATIONSEthelred and Elsie are an unlikely duo: He s a deeply mediocre mystery writer (first encountered in the Edgar-nominated The Herring Seller s Apprentice), and she s his deeply nosy, chocolate-chomping agent. And yet they are stuck with one another, if only because their combined sleuthing abilities are much more impressive than anything either one of them can come up with alone.Tonight s agenda: Dinner with Ethelred s pal Shagger Muntham and his titled wife. Elsie may not be overly fond of the Shag, but she wasn t exactly hoping someone would murder him in the library of his own stately home. However, now that someone has done the dastardly deed, would it kill Ethelred to take a little interest, show a little Sherlockian spirit for once?
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2010
25 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
L.C. Tyler
34 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 31, 2016
This wasn't the best in the series so far just couldn't into it felt the characters were wooden
May 10, 2018
Literary agent Elsie Thirkettle and crime writer, 'third-rate' according to Elsie, Ethelred Tressider get together once more to investigate a murder that takes place while they are dining at Muntham Court. Their hosts are Sir Robert 'Shagger' Muntham (his nickname dating back to his earlier days at college) and his wife Lady Annabelle Muntham and Elsie is expecting to pour scorn on Ethelred's posh friends. But she does not get the opportunity to any great degree because, early in the proceedings, one of them is found dead in the library.
When the body is discovered it transpires that the library is a locked room and there would appear no way for any murderer to have escaped from it. The police, therefore, consider the death to be a suicide. But Annabelle is not happy with this verdict for she feels sure that her husband would not have committed suicide so she asks Ethelred, who is something of an amateur sleuth, to undertake his own investigations into the crime.
He begins his enquiries with questions for all the guests but conflicting stories and what appear to be a series of lies are initially all that he gets from them. And while questioning them he is also engaged on his own next epic novel, a tale of the 14th-century starring Master Talbot as detective, that Elsie is sceptical about, as she always is about his work. The text of the novel appears throughout the book and is somewhat distracting even though it purports to be helpful in trying to solve the modern day mystery - but for me it isn't.
The lead in the story is variously taken by Elsie and Ethelred who each relate what they have been doing in trying to solve the mystery and this sequence of events leads to some duplication as at times both of them are involved in the one scene so when they relate it we read the same story twice - but I suppose it is told from a different perspective.
Ethelred pursues his various leads and ends up with a solution and also with a surprising, and unexpected, piece of action. 'The Herring in the Library', the series titles based on Agatha Christie novels with 'Herring' replacing other nouns such as Body, Murder, Death and others, is an entertaining read and the two characters are fun when they poke fun at each other.
When the body is discovered it transpires that the library is a locked room and there would appear no way for any murderer to have escaped from it. The police, therefore, consider the death to be a suicide. But Annabelle is not happy with this verdict for she feels sure that her husband would not have committed suicide so she asks Ethelred, who is something of an amateur sleuth, to undertake his own investigations into the crime.
He begins his enquiries with questions for all the guests but conflicting stories and what appear to be a series of lies are initially all that he gets from them. And while questioning them he is also engaged on his own next epic novel, a tale of the 14th-century starring Master Talbot as detective, that Elsie is sceptical about, as she always is about his work. The text of the novel appears throughout the book and is somewhat distracting even though it purports to be helpful in trying to solve the modern day mystery - but for me it isn't.
The lead in the story is variously taken by Elsie and Ethelred who each relate what they have been doing in trying to solve the mystery and this sequence of events leads to some duplication as at times both of them are involved in the one scene so when they relate it we read the same story twice - but I suppose it is told from a different perspective.
Ethelred pursues his various leads and ends up with a solution and also with a surprising, and unexpected, piece of action. 'The Herring in the Library', the series titles based on Agatha Christie novels with 'Herring' replacing other nouns such as Body, Murder, Death and others, is an entertaining read and the two characters are fun when they poke fun at each other.
August 26, 2015
Ethelred and Elsie are invited to dinner by an old university acquaintance of Ethelred's - Sir Robert Mundham. Their dinner companions seem an ill-assorted and ill at ease group of people and the pair are starting to wonder what is going to happen as it seems like an ideal set up for a murder and the house reminds them of the game of Cluedo they had been playing earlier in the day.
Half way through the meal the host makes a speech and disappears. He is found dead in his library shortly afterwards. Suicide or murder? That is the important question. Nearly everyone present had means motive and opportunity. Ethelred and Elsie - crime writer and agent - are immediately intrigued.
The story is told alternately by Ethelred and Elsie interspersed with chapters from Ethelred's historical novel which he is currently writing which somehow seems to be taking on aspects of the real life events he is involved in.
I found this an entertaining read with some nice twists and turns in the plot. I like the relationship between Elsie and Ethelred and the banter that goes on between them. The book is well written and if you like classic murder mysteries with a twist then you could try this series - they can be read in any order.
Half way through the meal the host makes a speech and disappears. He is found dead in his library shortly afterwards. Suicide or murder? That is the important question. Nearly everyone present had means motive and opportunity. Ethelred and Elsie - crime writer and agent - are immediately intrigued.
The story is told alternately by Ethelred and Elsie interspersed with chapters from Ethelred's historical novel which he is currently writing which somehow seems to be taking on aspects of the real life events he is involved in.
I found this an entertaining read with some nice twists and turns in the plot. I like the relationship between Elsie and Ethelred and the banter that goes on between them. The book is well written and if you like classic murder mysteries with a twist then you could try this series - they can be read in any order.
April 10, 2019
Usual delightful caper from a duo who are fast becoming a firm favourite of mine. I love the way that Ethelred & Elsie see events from such different viewpoints.....especially where women are involved - Ethelred does get a bit blinkered! As amusing as always & bound to raise a smile or two. For example,
"Annabelle's cleaner's gone to the West Indies", I (Elsie) said.
"Jamaica?"
"No, but I'm wondering if somebody else did."
Well it had to be said...... ;o)
"Annabelle's cleaner's gone to the West Indies", I (Elsie) said.
"Jamaica?"
"No, but I'm wondering if somebody else did."
Well it had to be said...... ;o)
November 21, 2021
If you enjoy humor in your mysteries, you will enjoy this series. The voice of Elsie Thirkettle, D-list literary agent, is particularly amusing, as the chapters alternate point of view with fictional author Ethelred Tressider. The book gets off to a rousing start and remained interesting throughout, though the chapters excerpted from Ethelred's historical crime novel-in-proress, funny though they were, bogged down the action of the main mystery for me. I would have gladly given this four stars, but the wrap-up felt a little of a let-down. Still the ride was fun.
November 19, 2020
Wonderful
July 4, 2011
Ethelred and Elsie are at it again--this time taking their sleuthing skills to the old country manor house and investigating The Herring in the Library. L. C. Taylor's third installment in his comic mystery series once again provides readers with a send-up of Agatha Christie and her Golden Age contemporaries. We have a gathering of dear old chums at a dinner party given by Sir Robert "Shagger" Muntham at his newly acquired country home. Nearly everyone on the guest list has a reason to be glad when Muntham mysteriously leaves the dinner table and, quite literally, never returns. Muntham is later found strangled in the library with all the doors and windows locked from the inside. The classic locked room mystery. Given the circumstances and the word of two doctors in the party, the police are all set to list the death as suicide. But the "grieving" widow isn't about to accept that...not with an insurance policy hanging in the balance. She asks Ethelred to use his crime writer's skills to get to the bottom of things and soon he finds that he has more clues than he knows what to do with. Is someone leading him up the garden path? And what about the mysterious notes that Shagger has left for Ethelred? There's one more to be found that just might hold the answer to everything....
The Herring series is an absolutely wonderful take on the Golden Age of mysteries. I love how Tyler takes all the conventions, stands them on their heads, and still manages to make a terrific crime novel out of them. All that was missing from this country house outing was the snow storm to trap them all while the murderer ran amok. But not to worry, Tyler is still on the top of his game and I'm sure he's got the whole deck of vintage cards up his sleeve and ready to produce when the time is right. Again (as with The Ten Little Herrings), if you're looking for a fun and funny mystery novel, this is the one for you. Four stars.
The Herring series is an absolutely wonderful take on the Golden Age of mysteries. I love how Tyler takes all the conventions, stands them on their heads, and still manages to make a terrific crime novel out of them. All that was missing from this country house outing was the snow storm to trap them all while the murderer ran amok. But not to worry, Tyler is still on the top of his game and I'm sure he's got the whole deck of vintage cards up his sleeve and ready to produce when the time is right. Again (as with The Ten Little Herrings), if you're looking for a fun and funny mystery novel, this is the one for you. Four stars.
August 8, 2011
Ethelred Tressider is a mystery writer although not first rate. His agent, Elsie Thirkettle, is visiting Ethelred and while occupying their time with a game of Clue (Cludeo) Elsie is attempting to get Ethelred busy on his next book. The game that occupies their time is one that they will soon be playing with a real life mystery.
Ethelred reminds Elsie that they are soon due at the estate of Sir Robert and Lady Muntham of Muntham Court for dinner. Sir Robert is an old friend of Ethelred’s who was known in earlier days as Shagger. Although Elsie was not a bit excited about having to dress up to meet the hosts she certainly wasn’t about to be left at home.
The dinner party turns into a disaster when Sir Robert is found dead in the locked library. Lady Muntham prevails upon Ethelred to act as detective and locate the murderer. Elsie does not have a lot of faith in Ethelred’s detective talents and proceeds to uncover her own clues.
The story is told in turns from the point of view of Ethelred and from Elsie’s point of view. Both views are quite different.
A very entertaining story and the third in the Elsie and Ethelred series. If you enjoy this book, you are sure to enjoy The Herring Seller’s Apprentice and Ten Little Herrings.
Ethelred reminds Elsie that they are soon due at the estate of Sir Robert and Lady Muntham of Muntham Court for dinner. Sir Robert is an old friend of Ethelred’s who was known in earlier days as Shagger. Although Elsie was not a bit excited about having to dress up to meet the hosts she certainly wasn’t about to be left at home.
The dinner party turns into a disaster when Sir Robert is found dead in the locked library. Lady Muntham prevails upon Ethelred to act as detective and locate the murderer. Elsie does not have a lot of faith in Ethelred’s detective talents and proceeds to uncover her own clues.
The story is told in turns from the point of view of Ethelred and from Elsie’s point of view. Both views are quite different.
A very entertaining story and the third in the Elsie and Ethelred series. If you enjoy this book, you are sure to enjoy The Herring Seller’s Apprentice and Ten Little Herrings.
June 28, 2018
I love the Herring books. They are full of humor and mystery. The conflict between Ethelred, the third rate crime writer, and Elsie, his literary agent, brings the laughter of which we can have more. Certain scenes are written from Ethelred's point of view and others from Elsie's point of view. And it is amusing to see how different they see things. It reflects life where people have so many different ideas. In real life this can cause lots of strife and even wars. The mysteries of this author differs from all other mysteries where there is always a certain predictable pattern. But this author always comes with something quite unexpected. This book certainly does not disappoint in this respect. The board game Cluedo also plays a role in this story. But you have to be very sharp to see it. And I don't think I saw everything. An enjoyable and relaxing read.
June 10, 2020
Anyone who has read a previous Ethelred and Elsie will know that a dinner invitation is likely to end up involving a suspicious death. If you have not encountered them before, this is a standalone novel which imitates the familiar mystery novel themes of a manor house and a locked room. Not that this tale of potential revenge and secrets is a standard murder mystery; just as Ethelred and Elsie are not the most typical of amateur detectives. Ethelred is an author of three different genres of books, crime, romance and history. It is as a crime expert he is called in to ask more questions than the police, yet it is his historical character, Thomas, who features in the extracts of his book which provide some of the commentary on this story. Elsie is his agent, but also his companion in crime investigation who has some strange ideas, and a keen eye for some of those involved, especially the gardener. This third novel in this sort of series is an light hearted overturning of many of the traditional points of a murder investigation, with many red herrings, ideas and bouncing around being barely contained by anyone. It is a comedy with some really interesting ideas, and some sharp observations on life and love.
Ethelred and Elsie are playing a peaceful game of Cluedo, with Elsie cheating shamelessly, when he points out that an old university friend has invited both of them to dinner in the local manor house. While Elsie continues in her usual unconvincing way about her appearance, Ethelred recalls how he recently met up with his friend after many years as the retired banker has bought the big house in the area. Not that Sir Robert Muntham is known to Ethelred as Robert; his nickname reflects his behaviour at college. There are several people at the house when the meal takes place, including an embittered friend, a couple of doctors and other people. The host makes a strange speech much to his wife’s discomfort before disappearing into his study. The discovery of a body in a locked room seems to suggest suicide, but the new widow asks Ethelred to investigate after the police withdraw baffled. Being flattered and inquisitive he is thrilled to be asked, but Elsie has more interest in clues that seem suspicious of themselves.
This is a funny and cheeky story of enquiries that are unusual into a mystery which, like Ethelred’s tale of Thomas, brings in poetic clues and beanie hats, excellent wine and high finance. As Sir Robert’s past is debated, his odious wife Annabelle makes suggestions that may lead to many possible solutions to the question of how he died. Elsie is dubious about Annabelle, Ethelred is the recipient of many theories, and witnesses find different ways of hinting about what they know. Ingenious and amusing, this book ticks many of the mystery fiction boxes and forms a commentary on the usual murder mystery. I recommend this book to those who are fans of the hapless twosome, and those who come to the series new as it does not take long to work out the relationship between the two main characters. An easy read for dull times.
Ethelred and Elsie are playing a peaceful game of Cluedo, with Elsie cheating shamelessly, when he points out that an old university friend has invited both of them to dinner in the local manor house. While Elsie continues in her usual unconvincing way about her appearance, Ethelred recalls how he recently met up with his friend after many years as the retired banker has bought the big house in the area. Not that Sir Robert Muntham is known to Ethelred as Robert; his nickname reflects his behaviour at college. There are several people at the house when the meal takes place, including an embittered friend, a couple of doctors and other people. The host makes a strange speech much to his wife’s discomfort before disappearing into his study. The discovery of a body in a locked room seems to suggest suicide, but the new widow asks Ethelred to investigate after the police withdraw baffled. Being flattered and inquisitive he is thrilled to be asked, but Elsie has more interest in clues that seem suspicious of themselves.
This is a funny and cheeky story of enquiries that are unusual into a mystery which, like Ethelred’s tale of Thomas, brings in poetic clues and beanie hats, excellent wine and high finance. As Sir Robert’s past is debated, his odious wife Annabelle makes suggestions that may lead to many possible solutions to the question of how he died. Elsie is dubious about Annabelle, Ethelred is the recipient of many theories, and witnesses find different ways of hinting about what they know. Ingenious and amusing, this book ticks many of the mystery fiction boxes and forms a commentary on the usual murder mystery. I recommend this book to those who are fans of the hapless twosome, and those who come to the series new as it does not take long to work out the relationship between the two main characters. An easy read for dull times.
October 28, 2018
by L C Tyler
It all begins with Elsie and Ethelred enjoying a quiet game of Cluedo. As usual, Elsie is cheating, making up the rules as she goes along, very much as she does in life. By contrast, Ethelred plays by the rules and loses out as a result. Although I don't think that she believes that rules are made to be broken the are certainly optional and are to be overlooked if they become inconvenient. Elsie Thirkwttle is a literary agent and self-proclaimed chocoholic, a juggernaut of a woman who takes no prisoners when it comes to getting what and where she wants.
Ethelred Tressider is one of Elsie's long-suffering authors who seems to have little enthusiasm for his chosen profession. He has been fairly successful, publishing novels under several pseudonyms, but he dreams of one day doing something serious under his own name. Elsie is not so sure.
This is the third outing for this unlikely literary pair who have developed an uncanny habit of being in the wrong place at the right time. In this case, the Cluedo theme merges into their real lives following the mysterious death of Ethelred's former school pal, Sir Robert Muntham at a dinner party at Muntham Hall.
As a crime writer, Ethelred is expected to use his skills to help solve the age-old "locked room" mystery. But, as those who have read the first two books will know, Ethelred's grasp of simple police procedures and interview techniques are not as honed as one might expect.
The same cannot be said of Elsie who's natural scepticism and bulldog approach find her unravelling the truth while Ethelred is still blundering around the dark alleyways the lovely Lady Muntham has lead him down.
Not only is "The Herring In The Library" a very funny and enjoyable tale, there is also a nicely plotted murder mystery to follow. I particularly enjoy the way these books switch narrative between Ethelred and Elsie. Their polar opposite observations and opinions make the whole thing so much more enjoyable than seeing things from one point of view. These are very much about the pair, not the individuals.
And as a treat, we also get a glimpse for the first time of one of Ethelred's recurring characters, Master Thomas, whose latest adventure bears an uncanny resemblance to the predicament he finds himself in at Munford Hall. All in all, another excellent outing for the odd couple of crime fiction.
It all begins with Elsie and Ethelred enjoying a quiet game of Cluedo. As usual, Elsie is cheating, making up the rules as she goes along, very much as she does in life. By contrast, Ethelred plays by the rules and loses out as a result. Although I don't think that she believes that rules are made to be broken the are certainly optional and are to be overlooked if they become inconvenient. Elsie Thirkwttle is a literary agent and self-proclaimed chocoholic, a juggernaut of a woman who takes no prisoners when it comes to getting what and where she wants.
Ethelred Tressider is one of Elsie's long-suffering authors who seems to have little enthusiasm for his chosen profession. He has been fairly successful, publishing novels under several pseudonyms, but he dreams of one day doing something serious under his own name. Elsie is not so sure.
This is the third outing for this unlikely literary pair who have developed an uncanny habit of being in the wrong place at the right time. In this case, the Cluedo theme merges into their real lives following the mysterious death of Ethelred's former school pal, Sir Robert Muntham at a dinner party at Muntham Hall.
As a crime writer, Ethelred is expected to use his skills to help solve the age-old "locked room" mystery. But, as those who have read the first two books will know, Ethelred's grasp of simple police procedures and interview techniques are not as honed as one might expect.
The same cannot be said of Elsie who's natural scepticism and bulldog approach find her unravelling the truth while Ethelred is still blundering around the dark alleyways the lovely Lady Muntham has lead him down.
Not only is "The Herring In The Library" a very funny and enjoyable tale, there is also a nicely plotted murder mystery to follow. I particularly enjoy the way these books switch narrative between Ethelred and Elsie. Their polar opposite observations and opinions make the whole thing so much more enjoyable than seeing things from one point of view. These are very much about the pair, not the individuals.
And as a treat, we also get a glimpse for the first time of one of Ethelred's recurring characters, Master Thomas, whose latest adventure bears an uncanny resemblance to the predicament he finds himself in at Munford Hall. All in all, another excellent outing for the odd couple of crime fiction.
August 4, 2022
"Ethelred and Elsie are an unlikely duo: he's a deeply mediocre mystery writer (first encountered in The Herring Seller's Apprentice and then inTen Little Herrings ...), and she's his deeply nosy, chocolate-chomping agent. And yet they are stuck with one another, if only because their combined sleuthing abilities are much more impressive than anything either one of them can come up with alone.
"Tonight's agenda: Dinner with Ethelred;s pall 'Shagger' Muntham and his titled wife. Elsie may not be overly fond of the Shag, but she wasn't exactly hoping someone would murder him in the library of his own stately home. However, now that someone has done the dastardly deed, would it kill Ethelred to take a little interest, show a little Sherlockian spirit for once?"
~~back cover
A very clever plot and a plethora of complicated and suspicious characters the Ethelred and Elsie have to wade through to arrive at the truth. Perhaps through a tunnel hidden behind a secret panel? But I was a little disappointed at Ethelred's character development in this book: he comes across as slightly stupid and naive, and much too willing to be seduced by a lady batting her eyelashes and showing her cleavage. I like him better when he wasn't a bumbling wannabe Lothario but an ordinary man who erred on the side of being realistic, even when being realistic wasn't solving the mystery.
"Tonight's agenda: Dinner with Ethelred;s pall 'Shagger' Muntham and his titled wife. Elsie may not be overly fond of the Shag, but she wasn't exactly hoping someone would murder him in the library of his own stately home. However, now that someone has done the dastardly deed, would it kill Ethelred to take a little interest, show a little Sherlockian spirit for once?"
~~back cover
A very clever plot and a plethora of complicated and suspicious characters the Ethelred and Elsie have to wade through to arrive at the truth. Perhaps through a tunnel hidden behind a secret panel? But I was a little disappointed at Ethelred's character development in this book: he comes across as slightly stupid and naive, and much too willing to be seduced by a lady batting her eyelashes and showing her cleavage. I like him better when he wasn't a bumbling wannabe Lothario but an ordinary man who erred on the side of being realistic, even when being realistic wasn't solving the mystery.
November 10, 2018
I'm gradually working my way through the Herring series. I began with a later one that was lent me by a friend, "Herring in the Smoke". Now I'm reading them through from the start.
I'm now up to "The Herring in the Library", the title adapted from Agatha Christie's "The Body in the Library".
I love Elsie Thirkettle, the literary agent. She's a brilliant creation. I do like Ethelred but I am starting to find his endless gullibility about certain types of women more and more irritating though. He never seems to learn anything from experience. His views on Annabelle, Lady Muntham are a case in point.
I love the style of the books, the way Elsie and Ethelred take turns to narrate a chapter and have wildly different views about the other characters. I particularly like the two endings in this novel, one from Elsie's point of view and one from Ethelred's.
In this novel, we have the added bonus of excerpts from Ethelred's latest historical crime novel, which is very funny and parallels the main story. The Lady Prioress is Elsie by another name.
Not entirely sure about the plot but it was an enjoyable read.
I'm now up to "The Herring in the Library", the title adapted from Agatha Christie's "The Body in the Library".
I love Elsie Thirkettle, the literary agent. She's a brilliant creation. I do like Ethelred but I am starting to find his endless gullibility about certain types of women more and more irritating though. He never seems to learn anything from experience. His views on Annabelle, Lady Muntham are a case in point.
I love the style of the books, the way Elsie and Ethelred take turns to narrate a chapter and have wildly different views about the other characters. I particularly like the two endings in this novel, one from Elsie's point of view and one from Ethelred's.
In this novel, we have the added bonus of excerpts from Ethelred's latest historical crime novel, which is very funny and parallels the main story. The Lady Prioress is Elsie by another name.
Not entirely sure about the plot but it was an enjoyable read.
July 31, 2024
2000s - UK, Sussex
first published 2010
There is nothing more tiresome, when you are about to expose a murderer, than to discover that you have been wilfully misled by the one person that you had thought you could trust. Elsie had, since mid-afternoon, been cheating at Cluedo, at first subtly but now with little or no pretence of following the same rules that I was.
“If,” I said, “you really do have Miss Scarlett’s card in your hand, then remarkably nobody has committed a murder and Dr Black has died in the library of natural causes.”
Elsie, immune since birth to irony, simply nodded at this self-evident truth.
“That seems reasonable to me. Natural causes in the library. That also means I win.”
She picked up my piece (Colonel Mustard) and flicked him back into the box, where he spun for a moment before coming to rest in sad and friendless isolation. The other five pieces, all now happily cleared of any suspicion of guilt, were allowed to remain in their various locations on the board.
Parodie auf den klassischen Landhaus-Krimi... mit Gärtner, gieriger Erbin und witzigen Anspielungen auf das (großartige😁) Spiel Cluedo...
Eingestreut zwischen den Kapiteln finden sich Auszüge aus dem "Historischen Roman", den Ethelred gerade schreibt - vielmehr: zu schreiben versucht. Wer die typischen "Historical Romance Books" mit Argwohn oder gar Lästerlust betrachtet, kommt hier auf seine Kosten.
“My lady has gone to Chichester on urgent business,” said a servant. “But we have another guest, caught in last night’s storm and happily still with us – a holy sister, from a convent near London. She is warming herself by the fire. If you would like to join her, I will bring you some mulled wine.”
Wenn LC Tyler darüber lästern kann, sollte er es besser machen können... also werde ich mir mal einen von seinen historischen Romanen ansehen...
Elsie said nothing but her smile was deafening.
Wie es sich für das Britische Landhaus Szenario gehört, ist eine ziemlich schräge Auswahl von Personen anwesend. Und die "bessere Gesellschaft" wird respektlos witzig entlarvt. Unterhaltsame leichte Lektüre mit Hintersinn :-)
Carpe diem as they say. Seize the day, because it’s the only day you’ve got, and tomorrow will deal you the same shitty hand whether you enjoy today or not.
So ist es. Darum: her mit dem nächsten Buch!
first published 2010
There is nothing more tiresome, when you are about to expose a murderer, than to discover that you have been wilfully misled by the one person that you had thought you could trust. Elsie had, since mid-afternoon, been cheating at Cluedo, at first subtly but now with little or no pretence of following the same rules that I was.
“If,” I said, “you really do have Miss Scarlett’s card in your hand, then remarkably nobody has committed a murder and Dr Black has died in the library of natural causes.”
Elsie, immune since birth to irony, simply nodded at this self-evident truth.
“That seems reasonable to me. Natural causes in the library. That also means I win.”
She picked up my piece (Colonel Mustard) and flicked him back into the box, where he spun for a moment before coming to rest in sad and friendless isolation. The other five pieces, all now happily cleared of any suspicion of guilt, were allowed to remain in their various locations on the board.
Parodie auf den klassischen Landhaus-Krimi... mit Gärtner, gieriger Erbin und witzigen Anspielungen auf das (großartige😁) Spiel Cluedo...
Eingestreut zwischen den Kapiteln finden sich Auszüge aus dem "Historischen Roman", den Ethelred gerade schreibt - vielmehr: zu schreiben versucht. Wer die typischen "Historical Romance Books" mit Argwohn oder gar Lästerlust betrachtet, kommt hier auf seine Kosten.
“My lady has gone to Chichester on urgent business,” said a servant. “But we have another guest, caught in last night’s storm and happily still with us – a holy sister, from a convent near London. She is warming herself by the fire. If you would like to join her, I will bring you some mulled wine.”
Wenn LC Tyler darüber lästern kann, sollte er es besser machen können... also werde ich mir mal einen von seinen historischen Romanen ansehen...
Elsie said nothing but her smile was deafening.
Wie es sich für das Britische Landhaus Szenario gehört, ist eine ziemlich schräge Auswahl von Personen anwesend. Und die "bessere Gesellschaft" wird respektlos witzig entlarvt. Unterhaltsame leichte Lektüre mit Hintersinn :-)
Carpe diem as they say. Seize the day, because it’s the only day you’ve got, and tomorrow will deal you the same shitty hand whether you enjoy today or not.
So ist es. Darum: her mit dem nächsten Buch!
April 17, 2023
What a load of rubbish! This is a story about Ethelred, Z grade author, and his extremely annoying publisher's rep Elsie. Methylhed is somehow invited to a country manor and carts Elsie along with him. The lord of the manor is found dead in a locked room, but the verdict is - suicide! The lady of the manor asks Ethelred to investigate. After listening to the most outrageous lies from all and sundry, Dedhed just nods and carries on. In his spare time he makes a start on his next book, set in the Middle Ages, and, worse luck, we have to read it. This is a complete waste of time and paper, full of ridiculous dialogue and anachronistic words and speech patterns. It adds nothing to the main story, but I suppose it added a few dollars to the author's pocket.
I just don't have a single good word to say about this. If you have any respect for yourself, don't bother with this one.
I just don't have a single good word to say about this. If you have any respect for yourself, don't bother with this one.
September 22, 2022
3.5 I guess. This is an adequately entertaining take on the 'locked room' murder/mystery. I think this is the third of these books, I haven't read the others. I'm not completely convinced by the dual POV thing and I have to say that although Elthelred convinces as a 'third rate writer' Elsie is not a very convincing literary agent. Also she's completely riven with (one assumes) internalised misongyny, which I find quite tiring. I know this is supposed to contrast with Elthelred's willingness to believe anything an attractive woman tells him, but that's doesn't make it better.
As often happens in trad style murder/detective novels, pretty much all the suspects are reasonably unpleasant and so is the victim. I wasn't massively invested I have to admit.
As often happens in trad style murder/detective novels, pretty much all the suspects are reasonably unpleasant and so is the victim. I wasn't massively invested I have to admit.
January 22, 2022
Elthelred has old college friends. Who knew? Well, at least one of them, Shagger Muntham, shows up in this book. Shagger seems to have a lot going on what with a new wife and a new estate. But he spends some of his days hanging out with Elthelred. And invites him to dinner. Of course, Elsie is going to come along with him.
Friend? Literary agent? Muse? Who knows what Elsie really is. But we get a fun mystery surrounding the fact that Shagger exits, stage left, and ends up dead. But is is really suicide? Shagger's wife (with shades of personality that resemble Elthered's ex) is determined that it be determined murder.
Three and a half stars rounded up
Friend? Literary agent? Muse? Who knows what Elsie really is. But we get a fun mystery surrounding the fact that Shagger exits, stage left, and ends up dead. But is is really suicide? Shagger's wife (with shades of personality that resemble Elthered's ex) is determined that it be determined murder.
Three and a half stars rounded up
May 23, 2020
The banter between Elsie and Ethelred is what makes these books fun.
There were a lot of red herrings in this mystery, as advertised in the book's title.
I guessed some of the clues right, and I fell for some of the red herrings.
I'm gathering, from my reading of this series, that even intelligent (straight) men will fall for the blatant lies of good-looking women who will flatter them.
(But I knew that already.)
There were a lot of red herrings in this mystery, as advertised in the book's title.
I guessed some of the clues right, and I fell for some of the red herrings.
I'm gathering, from my reading of this series, that even intelligent (straight) men will fall for the blatant lies of good-looking women who will flatter them.
(But I knew that already.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2020
Rating between 2 & 2.5
I thought I had read all of these but found this one on my kindle unread so decided to finish them.
An okay story that doesn't really go any where in my opinion.
I just do not like the 2 main characters and that definitely impacts on my opinion of these novels.
It was quite easy to read, but the split POV chapters do not usually work for me. And in this case the POV plus unlikable characters make the overall score lower.
I thought I had read all of these but found this one on my kindle unread so decided to finish them.
An okay story that doesn't really go any where in my opinion.
I just do not like the 2 main characters and that definitely impacts on my opinion of these novels.
It was quite easy to read, but the split POV chapters do not usually work for me. And in this case the POV plus unlikable characters make the overall score lower.
September 24, 2017
Two characters that need and depend on each other that get themselves in situations that defy logic! I enjoy this series and am looking forward to the next book.
A dinner party, a corpse in a locked room with possibly no exit, several suspects with various secrets, murder or suicide? Ethelred and Elsie will figure it out-- or will they?
A dinner party, a corpse in a locked room with possibly no exit, several suspects with various secrets, murder or suicide? Ethelred and Elsie will figure it out-- or will they?
October 4, 2019
Ethelred Tressider and his opinionated literary agent Elsie Thirkettle pursue their romp through classic mystery tropes. This time its the library with a secret passage and a poetic clue. Chapters are in three fonts to indicate Ethelred's POV, Elsie's POV and chapters from a medieval mystery that Ethelred is trying to writing.
July 30, 2021
I'm honestly not sure why I am binging this series right now, as I'm not entirely convinced that it's actually that good? Elsie can be a bit much, but in a way I find very entertaining. Ethelred, I'm staring to think, is a complete idiot. And the ending made me indignant, but also made me immediately load the next one in the series on my Kindle, so annoyingly but effectively played, I suppose.
January 29, 2018
It took me a while to get into the rhythm of this book, particularly the shifting narrators. Once into it, though, I was eager to see where it would lead, and was ultimately disappointed by the lack of resolution. This was a book with potential that just missed the mark for me.
October 20, 2021
This series is such a giggle -- but cleverly written too, alternating between the two narrators and their VERY different perspectives. This instalment is an homage to the "closed-room murder" mystery and has fun with it. .
June 9, 2022
Cute
The story is cute. I enjoyed the switch between Elsie and Ethelred's narrations. There are a number of interesting insights, but the book is somewhat repetitious. I will have to read another one to decide how I feel about the series.
The story is cute. I enjoyed the switch between Elsie and Ethelred's narrations. There are a number of interesting insights, but the book is somewhat repetitious. I will have to read another one to decide how I feel about the series.
December 6, 2022
hahahah.
Well that was fun. Dumb ending sort of…hmmm..unusual anyway. You pays your money and takes your choice. I’ll have to move on to the next one..after I reread the end of this one..
Well that was fun. Dumb ending sort of…hmmm..unusual anyway. You pays your money and takes your choice. I’ll have to move on to the next one..after I reread the end of this one..
March 11, 2023
This was the first book in this series that I’ve read. It was an easy read but I did find the ‘book within a book’ a bit tiresome and the ending was rather a let down. But I did enjoy the characters of Elsie and Ethelred and plan to read other books in the series.
August 25, 2018
A light and entertaining murder mystery, the third in the series. Funny in places and a decent plot but the meta fictional elements are becoming a bit predictable.
February 25, 2019
An occasional chuckle just wasn't enough to keep my interest. This spoof of the common mystery trope of a country house filled with suspects, just seemed to deflate the genre.
October 8, 2019
An enjoyable plot, but sadly let down by the ending. I also found the character of Elsie incredibly annoying.
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