Cherringham, Episode 25-27

Cherringham #25-27

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 25 - 27.

SECRET SANTA

Bill Vokes has played Santa at the children's Christmas show for years. But with the show just hours away, he vanishes with no explanation. The whole village is baffled. Did something bad happen to loveable Bill: upstanding citizen, churchgoer, life and soul of the party and the holiday season?

DEATH ON A MOONLIT NIGHT

When the boss of the big local DIY outlet is murdered on a moonlit night, all the evidence points to the store's junior manager. And when police retrieve the murder weapon from the Thames, the manager goes on the run. But Jack and Sarah are not at all sure of his guilt. Can they uncover the real killer before it's too late for the runaway suspect?

SCARED TO DEATH

When classic horror movie star Basil Coates becomes the victim of a series of scary pranks, the local police put it down to a crazed fan. Just pranks, after all ... But with Halloween only days away, the spectre of murder suddenly visits the ghostly Coates mansion on the hill outside Cherringham - and Jack and Sarah find themselves caught in a mystery worthy of Basil's spookiest roles ...

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.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Crime, Contemporary

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2018

Reviews

[Trish R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECRET SANTA

So, back to Cherringham after reading several other books. This is novella 25 in the series, and I’ve enjoyed this one and the other 24 before it.

I love Jack and Sarah and all the little mysteries they solve.

This one was about a missing Santa and a robbery that happened years before. It was another cute story.

Unfortunately, I’m a little lost. At the end of story 24, A Death in the Family, which had nothing to do with Jack’s family, Jack got a call from the United States telling him that his daughter and son-in-law were in a serious car accident and it was barely mentioned in this story, and I do mean barely, but that’s it. Not how long Jack was gone, how his family was, nothing. I didn’t like that at all.

DEATH ON A MOONLIT NIGHT

This was about a murder of a boss that deserved it BUT the man who was framed for it, Nick, did not deserve it. Nick was the fiancé of Sarah’s partner, so we knew all the while that he was innocent. It was a pretty good frame-job too, but they couldn’t pull anything over on Jack, our retired NYPD Detective.

SCARED TO DEATH

This was about an old horror film actor who was having spooky things done in his home to his wife and him until it killed him, then it was up to Jack and Sarah to figure out who killed Basil Coates.

As to the narration: Neil Dudgeon does a fantastic job on the voices and the emotions he reads with.

[Agnieszka · Rating 3 out of 5]

#1 (#25 in series) Secret Santa 3* 8/9-10/21 (103)
the case of the missing santa; Christmas

#2 (#26 in series) Death on a Moonlit Night 3.5* 8/13/21 (102)
murder mystery obsession, frame job rather predictable but nice

#3 (#27 in series) Scared to Death 2* 8/13/21 (110)
Halloween, atificial try of a scary cozy (not really working), horror movie industry
*

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recommend you read the full length novel “Dead in the Water before starting episode 25. It fills in the gap from 24. These later stories haven’t been as good as some of the earlier ones but they are still okay and worth the read.

[Kathryn Scarborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the way these cosy crime mysteries evolve are really creative and well done. I do believe I have read or listened to all of them. BUT no where in the books do you a description of Sarah or Jack, accept that Jack is a big guy and Sarah has blue eyes. I think once I read that Jack had a mustache. It would be very helpful to the readers if Costello could say what these characters look like.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compilation contains episodes 25 - 27.

SECRET SANTA

Bill Vokes has played Santa at the children's Christmas show for years. But with the show just hours away, he vanishes with no explanation. The whole village is baffled. Did something bad happen to loveable Bill: upstanding citizen, churchgoer, life and soul of the party and the holiday season?

SCARED TO DEATH

When classic horror movie star Basil Coates becomes the victim of a series of scary pranks, the local police put it down to a crazed fan. Just pranks, after all ... But with Halloween only days away, the spectre of murder suddenly visits the ghostly Coates mansion on the hill outside Cherringham - and Jack and Sarah find themselves caught in a mystery worthy of Basil's spookiest roles ...

DEATH ON A MOONLIT NIGHT

When the boss of the big local DIY outlet is murdered on a moonlit night, all the evidence points to the store's junior manager. And when police retrieve the murder weapon from the Thames, the manager goes on the run. But Jack and Sarah are not at all sure of his guilt. Can they uncover the real killer before it's too late for the runaway suspect?
☆★═══════════════★☆
So much fun to join Sarah and Jack in 3 new stories.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been listening to this series for a while now. (should probably go back and shelve them) but i have to say when listening to the first story, I was very upset. Because book 24 ended with Jack leaving town, apparently for good, and then we get the very next story picking up as if Jack never left although references are made to the departure. I wasn't happy with that gap in time. Still over all I did enjoy listening to the stories.
I don't think they're something I'd ever sit down and read, but they're great for when I'm working on a puzzle, coloring a picture, or driving in the car.
The narrator is great and the shorts are just long enough to be interesting but not overlong enough to be boring.
Recommended? sure, but start at the beginning, to get a feel of how Sarah and Jack grow to become friends and partners maybe more. Nothing definite yet but the feelings are there.
Buy/Borrow? either or, I tend to buy the audio books because they're generally around $6/7 dollars, so I don't mind adding them on to my order.

[Camara Brenegar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well defined characters.

I love the Cherringham books. The characters are so well drawn and the description of the places are so real, one feels as though one is right there. I am never bored, nor does any plot drag on, either reading or listening on Audible. Neil Dudgeon is the perfect narrator as well. Each book is a new adventure, and I never feel that the plots are repetitive. Matthew Costello and Neil Richards are great together. I would like to see Sarah and Jack finally get together. Maybe it would take Jack feeling like he was in danger of losing Sarah to bring him around.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been waiting a while for this next compilation group, expecting that the unexpected cliffhanger of Episode 24 would be resolved. I do like these short mysteries and the characters of Jack and Sarah, although their characters don't progress very much in description or relationship. Mostly it is Sarah's children who are getting older. You have to take with a grain of salt that (like the Miss Marple or Murder She Wrote stories) there really are quite a lot of murders in such a small town. I'll continue to follow these as long as they are written, and kinda, hope for a little romance between Jack and Sarah.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. I particularly enjoy the fact that Jack and Sarah investigate different kinds of mysteries and crimes, not just murders.

If you are a reader who likes reading a series more-or-less in order, I STRONGLY recommend reading the full length Cherringham novel "Dead in the Water" between reading episodes 24 and 25 in the shorts (i.e. before starting this compilation). The book explains what happens when Jack returns to the US, and his eventual return to the UK as well, which will be confusing if one simply goes from short #24 to #25.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this series boring and Sarah whiny, but it grew on me. Now I enjoy it.
Loved the slow hints for a romance between Jack and Sarah, just little things. Very sad that they seem to have abandoned that angle. And I like to complain about the sudden ends of the books. I would just need a tiny bit more story in the characters at the end. The case is over and they go to a party, end. Just one more page about them at the party would be lovely. <3

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crime Never Pays

Once again Jack and Sarah solve three more crimes as you sit on the edge of your seats. What would the towns of the Cotswolds do without Jack and Sarah. All ages will enjoy reading these episodes and you can just imagine the countryside. Read and enjoy.

[JayeL]

In 2024, I revisited this series starting with this series of episodes. At first, I didn't remember that I had read it before. I eventually remembered that I had read it, but I didn't remember the outcome of the stories.

[Sonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these stories. Seems like I now know most folks in this village...seems like I can simply show up for a cuppa....

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars I always enjoy returning to these characters

[Jocelyn Mack Balentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

always a good time.

I am never disappointed when I sit down to spend a little time with Jack and Sarah. Always a mental break for my mind.

[Lanae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of these. I can't get enough of Cherringham. The audio books are well done. Something about Neil
Dudgeon is very calming while he talks about murder! Ha!!

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the number of right old duds I’d read recently it was good to get back to Cherringham and solidly written cosy mysteries.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy and a fun way to get through chores especially picking blueberries.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, love these audiobooks.

The authors and the narrator is amazing.

The cost mysteries are always spot on, keep my interest.
Will keep following the series

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these little mysteries. The characters have become comfortable friends.