Cherringham - Episode 13-15: A Cosy Crime Series Compilation

Cherringham #13-15

by Matthew Costello, Neil Richards

Jack's a retired ex-cop from New York, seeking the simple life in Cherringham. Sarah's a Web designer who's moved back to the village find herself. But their lives are anything but quiet as the two team up to solve Cherringham's criminal mysteries. This compilation contains episodes 13 - 15:A LESSON IN MURDER When Jack and Sarah are called in to investigate mysterious pranks at Cherringham Girls School, it seems at first that it might be the work of a few mean pupils with a grudge. But things quickly turn serious when a popular teacher meets a sudden, violent death.THE SECRET OF COMBE CASTLEWhen the penniless FitzHenrys find themselves victims of a threatening campaign to oust them from their ancestral home, Jack and Sarah are called in to track down the culprit. Soon they discover that truth is often stranger than fiction, and in Combe Castle things do indeed go bump in the night...A FATAL FALLDylan McCabe - a labourer on a rushed Cherringham building project - has been complaining about the site's lack of safety. When he's discovered dead after a fall, it seems that Dylan's own warnings were all too true. Jack and Sarah get involved, and suddenly what looks like an accident, becomes a case of cold-blooded murder. Cherringham is a serial novel à la Charles Dickens, with a new mystery thriller released each month. Set in the sleepy English village of Cherringham, the detective series brings together an unlikely sleuthing English web designer Sarah and American ex-cop Jack. Thrilling and deadly - but with a spot of tea - it's like Rosamunde Pilcher meets Inspector Barnaby. Each of the self-contained episodes is a quick read for the morning commute, while waiting for the doctor, or when curling up with a hot cuppa. Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), have been writing together since the mid 90's, creating content and working on projects for the BBC, Disney Channel, Sony, ABC, Eidos, and Nintendo to name but a few. Their transatlantic collaboration has underpinned scores of TV drama scripts, computer games, radio shows, and - most recently - the successful crime fiction series Cherringham. Now into its second season of 12 novellas, Cherringham is popular around the world and has been adapted as a series of audiobooks in Germany.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Contemporary, Cozy Mystery

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2016

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful series, enjoyable characters. A great "I-need-a-break-from-the-intense" diversion.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series and becoming attached to the characters. Jack and Sarah are a great team! This set of three episodes was more of the same. I like the short story format as I can fit in a episode or two between other longer books. I also like that not all of the episodes are murders but rather various different kinds of mysteries.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An enjoyable, usually lightweight but not stupid, series.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hach, ich mag diese seichten Krimis für zwischendurch.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an addiction now. I can't stop until I've read them all.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lesson in Murder:
When Jack and Sarah are called in to investigate mysterious pranks at Cherringham Girls School, it seems at first that it might be the work of a few mean pupils with a grudge. But things quickly turn serious when a popular teacher meets a sudden, violent death.

The Secret of Combe Castle:
When the penniless FitzHenrys find themselves victims of a threatening campaign to oust them from their ancestral home, Jack and Sarah are called in to track down the culprit. Soon, they discover that truth is often stranger than fiction, and in Combe Castle, things do indeed go bump in the night...

A Fatal Fall:
Dylan McCabe - a laborer on a rushed Cherringham building project - has been complaining about the site's lack of safety. When he's discovered dead after a fall, it seems that Dylan's own warnings are all too true. Jack and Sarah get involved, and suddenly, what looks like an accident becomes a case of cold-blooded murder.

I enjoy these stories immensely. It's nice to pick up with Jack and Sarah and follow them as they solve the mysteries of Cherringham residents.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Cherringham stories are short cozy-type mysteries. I listened to them grouped as audiobooks into collections of three stories. The first three really set up the main characters and a few supporting characters, as well as the Cotswolds setting of the town of Cherringham. As in many of this style of mysteries (Miss Marple, Murder She Wrote, etc.) you might begin to wonder how so many murders can take place over such a short time period in one little town, and in that sense they are not realistic. However, views of daily life and activities and types of people do not stretch belief and make for an enjoyable series.

[Kaarin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, despite the tame “mystery” of these latest episodes. There wasn’t really a mystery, actually, since there didn’t seem to be an attempt to mislead the reader: the red herrings were only a very light shade of pink. I do wish the authors would go further into things. It has a feel of television mysteries. That said, I very much enjoy our protagonists and the setting, and I haven’t lost my appetite for the series. Very “cosy” mysteries, indeed.

[Sara Tilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, these episodes are centred round a private school, a castle and a building site. The second is the light relief while the other two touch on slightly meatier subjects.
Actually they’re all pretty fluffy, or they wouldn’t be such light bite pleasures.
But it’s interesting that the more I listen to, the less the narrator puts me in mind of Midsomer. I like his ‘Jack’ voice.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy this series, and in particular, I really like the fact that not every story is about a murder. There are all kinds of interesting crimes and deceptions that occur in this series, but Jack and Sarah solve them all! Great light mystery listening, and as always expertly narrated by Dudgeon.

[Ann Dewar · Rating 5 out of 5]

These cosy mysteries are great fun to listen to, very much Midsummer Murders-esque and narrated by Neil Dudgeon, which makes perfect sense.

If you are looking for a listen that you don’t need to concentrate on too hard and there are no gory bits, you’ll love this. No bad language or sex scenes to inhibit listening on a speaker either!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories continue to entertain and delight me. They are straightforward mysteries that are solved by the end in satisfying ways. I enjoy the partnership and friendship between Jack and Sarah.

[Jamie Reynolds Spellerberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 13 was my favorite in this compilation.

[Km · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[D. Higginbotham · Rating 4 out of 5]

see book I comments

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual I loved all three stories.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not all murder and mayhem. Very cosy mysteries that are a delight to listen to with Mr. Dudgeon narrating. Looking forward to many more.

[Margot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series of short stories of murders and mysteries.

[Marran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eventhough I'm not a fan of novellas I really like these short stories. I usually listen to them when I can't sleep at night. I find Neil Dungeons voice perfect. They are a kind of cozy crimes I like

[Wendy Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun instalment of the series of short mysteries. Great narration by Neil Dudgeon. 3 to 3 1/2 stars.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audible; Neil Dudgeon, narrator) Cotswold Cozy Crime Compilation #5:
13. A Lesson in Murder
14. The Secret of Combe Castle
15. A Fatal Fall

[GailW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been obsessed with these audios/books this year. They have been a wonderful antidote to the political climate and the work stresses. Makes the ride from and to home a real joy. They are just plain fun (with the mystery added in for good measure.)

[Trish R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A LESSON IN MURDER

I love these great little mysteries.

Jack and Sarah were called in to solve some mischief going on an expensive girl’s school, which soon turns into the death of a teacher.

No romance and a little bit of swearing.

THE SECRET OF COMBE CASTLE

This was a fun one. No one was hurt and it was all about a missing treasure and how Oswald and his son tricked Jack and Sarah in to finding it for them. It was nice to have one that was just fun and no one got hurt or killed or robbed.

A FATAL FALL

This was about the death of a really nice guy that Jack and Sarah had to prove was a murder.

And, again, I enjoyed all 3 stories.

As to the narration: Still needs help with his women’s voices but he’s still awesome. Neil Dudgeon doesn’t miss a trick. He laughs when he’s supposed to, yells, whispers, sounds disgruntled, surprised, everything he’s supposed to relay in his reading voice. He makes the stories worth listening to.

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars consistently entertaining audio series