What do you think?
Rate this book
The Quiet Village
John Brookes retires after a busy career as a London detective. He discovers a quiet village deep in the countryside and settles there. He makes new friends and finds a new love, but there are undercurrents; events that threaten his newfound peace. Then a murder occurs and he finds himself drawn into the investigation, unsure of who among his new friends he can trust. How will he overcome this without losing all he has gained?
499 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2017
83 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 25, 2017
This was recommended to me by Amazon and is available under kindle unlimited subscription. This book has pretty much everything from soup to nuts and could have been cut into two or three books allowing the reader to take a breath.
This is a great book for someone who wants a very slow, sedate telling of a Scotland Yard inspector retiring at age 50, deciding to buy a country cottage where he can start writing mysteries, hooking up with a neighbor lady who is the region's potter, inviting his two adult children to visit with their attitudes of disapproval...(autobiographical elements?)
Of course he is put to use solving sheep wrangling, break-ins, murder, diamond smuggling and more. Celtic history factoids and other miscellaneous output from his research clutter up the story to the extreme.
This is a great book for someone who wants a very slow, sedate telling of a Scotland Yard inspector retiring at age 50, deciding to buy a country cottage where he can start writing mysteries, hooking up with a neighbor lady who is the region's potter, inviting his two adult children to visit with their attitudes of disapproval...(autobiographical elements?)
Of course he is put to use solving sheep wrangling, break-ins, murder, diamond smuggling and more. Celtic history factoids and other miscellaneous output from his research clutter up the story to the extreme.
November 1, 2017
Bland style that relies on cliches. Crimes are simplistic. Badly needs an editor in places. There are some sentences that make no sense whatever or are not actually sentences. Words that are distracting because their definition does not match the intended meaning. Superficial information dumps and a tendency to tell rather than show are some of the other problems.
It's readable, but very far from the excellencies of James Harriot. (A comparison that would not have occurred to me, but does to other reviewers.) Rambling and reasonably pleasent overall.
The author states that it is a fantasy, a what-if he had retired to the county. The lack of direct knowledge means that the depiction of the countryside and it's denizens is too often fantastical and unconvincing.
It's readable, but very far from the excellencies of James Harriot. (A comparison that would not have occurred to me, but does to other reviewers.) Rambling and reasonably pleasent overall.
The author states that it is a fantasy, a what-if he had retired to the county. The lack of direct knowledge means that the depiction of the countryside and it's denizens is too often fantastical and unconvincing.
April 10, 2018
Wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the "Murder on the Orient Express-esque" solution to the crime(s). interesting characters, wonderful setting, a couple of whodunnits, and an overall nice visit to this quiet village. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
November 20, 2017
Beautiful countryside descriptions
I love any story set in England! In many ways Mr. Walter's writing is reminiscent of easy days gone by. I enjoyed reading about Brookes transition from being a detective to a would-be writer in a quiet, secluded village. The characters were well developed and enjoyable. I did however think Mr. Walter's went overlong in background details. I found myself skimming paragraphs searching for relevance. I wanted the book to just reach a completion. Otherwise, I would have rated this 4 stars. It was a good story.
I love any story set in England! In many ways Mr. Walter's writing is reminiscent of easy days gone by. I enjoyed reading about Brookes transition from being a detective to a would-be writer in a quiet, secluded village. The characters were well developed and enjoyable. I did however think Mr. Walter's went overlong in background details. I found myself skimming paragraphs searching for relevance. I wanted the book to just reach a completion. Otherwise, I would have rated this 4 stars. It was a good story.
September 18, 2017
Fun diversion...
Ramble of a yarn on the life of a big city detective retired to rural Cornwall. It lacks the homey charm of "All Creatures Great and Small" while retaining the same rambling style. The mysteries are predictable and heavily foreshadowed. The romance pervasive but terribly bland. An entertaining read for a day when mild is good. Price point may be a factor for many readers, I received my copy for free and consider the time spent reading very pleasant.
Ramble of a yarn on the life of a big city detective retired to rural Cornwall. It lacks the homey charm of "All Creatures Great and Small" while retaining the same rambling style. The mysteries are predictable and heavily foreshadowed. The romance pervasive but terribly bland. An entertaining read for a day when mild is good. Price point may be a factor for many readers, I received my copy for free and consider the time spent reading very pleasant.
November 29, 2017
A good read
The book started out very well and had me quite gripped with the plots and sub plots that filled the detective ‘s life . I did however feel that 3/4 th way into the book , it dragged a bit and wound all over before the author rightly felt the need to bring it to a decent end . The countryside description and its characters were interesting enough so all in all , I say it was a god read
The book started out very well and had me quite gripped with the plots and sub plots that filled the detective ‘s life . I did however feel that 3/4 th way into the book , it dragged a bit and wound all over before the author rightly felt the need to bring it to a decent end . The countryside description and its characters were interesting enough so all in all , I say it was a god read
August 16, 2017
Interesting and different
I enjoyedthis book. The many twists and turns to the storyline. The simplicity of the characters while hiding so many details. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
I enjoyedthis book. The many twists and turns to the storyline. The simplicity of the characters while hiding so many details. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
August 27, 2017
The book reads as much a memoir as a novel. The multiple subplots are woven together so the love story comfortably exists with credit history and murder. On Googling the author we find confirmation of much of the personal matters. A good read over all.
October 2, 2017
A great story.
It’s a wonderful story (or should I call it a group of stories). I found it intriguing, funny, educational and quite interesting.
Especially enjoyed the fact that the loose ends were all tied up satisfactorily.
It’s a wonderful story (or should I call it a group of stories). I found it intriguing, funny, educational and quite interesting.
Especially enjoyed the fact that the loose ends were all tied up satisfactorily.
October 14, 2017
A Cracking Good Read!
A thoroughly enjoyable book that reminded me of the stories of James Herriot. I loved every minute of it and I'm looking forward to reading the next book and hoping for more beyond that.
A thoroughly enjoyable book that reminded me of the stories of James Herriot. I loved every minute of it and I'm looking forward to reading the next book and hoping for more beyond that.
November 26, 2017
Very satisfying
This book was quite enjoyable. There was just enough description of local custom to make the action believable. How nice to find an attractive and sensitive main character. Looking forward to book two.
This book was quite enjoyable. There was just enough description of local custom to make the action believable. How nice to find an attractive and sensitive main character. Looking forward to book two.
September 13, 2023
Enjoyable read
Enjoyed reading about life in a small English village with all its idiosyncrasies and nuances. Sometimes more diff than living in a big city. But a life I wouldn't mind living. Enjoyable read
Enjoyed reading about life in a small English village with all its idiosyncrasies and nuances. Sometimes more diff than living in a big city. But a life I wouldn't mind living. Enjoyable read
August 16, 2017
Super read!!!!!
This was truly a great read. A good story line at kept me turning pages. Can't wait to read note by this author!!!!
This was truly a great read. A good story line at kept me turning pages. Can't wait to read note by this author!!!!
August 30, 2017
Very good
Enjoyed it but your requirements of 18 words is just a bit of an imposition to a old man of few words.
Enjoyed it but your requirements of 18 words is just a bit of an imposition to a old man of few words.
August 18, 2017
Very good book
Very believable characters. Very good plot, great mystery.
I did not want to put it down and I'm looking forward to reading another book by this author.
Very believable characters. Very good plot, great mystery.
I did not want to put it down and I'm looking forward to reading another book by this author.
August 20, 2017
Sweet
Very endearing story with some nice twists and turns. I enjoyed the descriptions of the village and it's interesting characters.
Very endearing story with some nice twists and turns. I enjoyed the descriptions of the village and it's interesting characters.
August 27, 2017
Excellent
What a very good tale, full of goodness, love and humor. Also, the literary quotes at the start of each chapter were welcome and amusing. A feel good adventure !
What a very good tale, full of goodness, love and humor. Also, the literary quotes at the start of each chapter were welcome and amusing. A feel good adventure !
October 4, 2017
I love books set in the English countryside and this book is wonderful-multiple mysteries and interesting characters so glad I read it!
October 17, 2017
Outstanding
I will keep this book at the top of my list to read again and again. The authors development of the characters was spot on. What a great story!!!!
I will keep this book at the top of my list to read again and again. The authors development of the characters was spot on. What a great story!!!!
December 16, 2017
British Mystery
Appeared to be similar to Agatha Christy type mystery. The title was suggestive. The plot was good and kept me interested. Very good story!
Appeared to be similar to Agatha Christy type mystery. The title was suggestive. The plot was good and kept me interested. Very good story!
March 24, 2018
This story doesn’t quite live up to its promise. The editing is careless and, like many novice novelists, the author does far too much explaining and not enough showing. As a result, the bland tale lacks tension and never becomes very believable.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews