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The Haunting of Mount Cod: A Laura Boxford Mystery
Lady Laura Boxford lives with her pug, Parker in the retirement complex of Wellworth Lawns, formerly her family home. One day she and her friend Venetia see the ancient actor, Sir Repton Willowby arriving. He's Venetia's cousin by marriage and Venetia says he murdered his wife. He lives at the Edwardian pile, Mount Cod and he says he's being haunted by the ghost of an eighteenth century serving wench called Rosalind.Laura is convinced he's a charlatan using the ghost as a ruse for finding a new wife. She determines to get to the bottom of the mystery on account of Venetia's daughter who stands to inherit Mount Cod. But did Sir Repton murder his wife and is the house haunted?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2018
65 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 10, 2018
I received a copy of the paperback from the publisher for an honest review.
Mysteries are not my usual genre to read, but I LOVE watching them on television. I never have the whodunit correct on TV and I didn't guess correctly in the book until the very end either. I guess I do not have a fall back career as a Detective in my future.
This story is somewhat funny, enough to anger you at times, drive you insane and always entertaining. From the moment we meet the character of Lady Laura, Venetia and Sir Reption, you know that soon you are going to see on or more of these people haunted by our "ghost." We are not disappointed. Soon activities begin and it is up to our heroine Lady Luara decipher the clues.
You can just imagine the geriatric stubbornness behind Laura's determination to ge to the bottom of all of this before the coffers' of the hauntings take all Sir Repton has to his name.
Mysteries are not my usual genre to read, but I LOVE watching them on television. I never have the whodunit correct on TV and I didn't guess correctly in the book until the very end either. I guess I do not have a fall back career as a Detective in my future.
This story is somewhat funny, enough to anger you at times, drive you insane and always entertaining. From the moment we meet the character of Lady Laura, Venetia and Sir Reption, you know that soon you are going to see on or more of these people haunted by our "ghost." We are not disappointed. Soon activities begin and it is up to our heroine Lady Luara decipher the clues.
You can just imagine the geriatric stubbornness behind Laura's determination to ge to the bottom of all of this before the coffers' of the hauntings take all Sir Repton has to his name.
December 12, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to Faye Rogers at Authoright and Clink Street Publishing. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy murder mystery. In fact, so much so that I went in search of the previous book as soon as I turned the last page!
In Wellworth Lawns retirement complex, Nicky Stratton has created a genteel yet surprisingly vigorous setting for her unique cast of elderly eccentrics. I was particularly fond of Laura, our main character, and her best friend, Venetia; they make an elegantly comedic double-act that all friends could aspire to in their elder years.
The plot was a relatively complex mystery, featuring a large range of highly plausible suspects with very different motives. I was inclined to agree with her friends’ observations about Lady Boxford’s effect on the workload of the local constabulary! There were times when this plethora of, if not all villainous, highly unpleasant individuals made the plotline seem a little chaotic and muddly, but that might equally be down to my blind rage at the flagrant elder abuse. I believe I may have actually gibbered in audible outrage on at least one occasion!
Thanks to Laura’s sardonic wit and calm demeanour though, the story remained a riotous easy read which I would recommend to fans of Wodehousian humour and sensibilities who enjoy a mystery twist.
‘Unless I’m much mistaken, that is my cousin Repton Willowby,’ Venetia said.
‘Sir Repton Willowby, the actor?’ Laura focused more closely. ‘Goodness I believe you’re right. I remember seeing him in Hamlet, at least forty years ago. But what do you mean your cousin?’
‘By marriage.’
Laura turned to Venetia. ‘Your cousin by marriage? You are full of surprises.’ She returned her gaze to the scene below. ‘He used to be so good-looking, of course his nostrils let him down – too wide for my liking. But would you look at him now; he’s positively haggard.’
‘That’s guilt for you; the murderous psychopath.’
– Nicky Stratton, The Haunting of Mount Cod
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy murder mystery. In fact, so much so that I went in search of the previous book as soon as I turned the last page!
In Wellworth Lawns retirement complex, Nicky Stratton has created a genteel yet surprisingly vigorous setting for her unique cast of elderly eccentrics. I was particularly fond of Laura, our main character, and her best friend, Venetia; they make an elegantly comedic double-act that all friends could aspire to in their elder years.
The plot was a relatively complex mystery, featuring a large range of highly plausible suspects with very different motives. I was inclined to agree with her friends’ observations about Lady Boxford’s effect on the workload of the local constabulary! There were times when this plethora of, if not all villainous, highly unpleasant individuals made the plotline seem a little chaotic and muddly, but that might equally be down to my blind rage at the flagrant elder abuse. I believe I may have actually gibbered in audible outrage on at least one occasion!
Thanks to Laura’s sardonic wit and calm demeanour though, the story remained a riotous easy read which I would recommend to fans of Wodehousian humour and sensibilities who enjoy a mystery twist.
‘Unless I’m much mistaken, that is my cousin Repton Willowby,’ Venetia said.
‘Sir Repton Willowby, the actor?’ Laura focused more closely. ‘Goodness I believe you’re right. I remember seeing him in Hamlet, at least forty years ago. But what do you mean your cousin?’
‘By marriage.’
Laura turned to Venetia. ‘Your cousin by marriage? You are full of surprises.’ She returned her gaze to the scene below. ‘He used to be so good-looking, of course his nostrils let him down – too wide for my liking. But would you look at him now; he’s positively haggard.’
‘That’s guilt for you; the murderous psychopath.’
– Nicky Stratton, The Haunting of Mount Cod
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
July 5, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I enjoyed this story, it was more of a cosy crime mystery to me than a crime thriller so it was a welcome change from what I normally read - and who doesn't enjoy a crime book with dogs as main characters!
Laura was a really good character, well developed and I loved her style. She isn't a huge fan at all of Sir Repton but gets drawn in to help him discover what is going on with Rosalind and also to unravel the alleged murder of his wife!
It has a well developed plot line that was really easy to follow and it is a really nice story in the way it flows too. It was a lovely book to read in the sunshine - 3.5 stars from me rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - I enjoyed the story!
I enjoyed this story, it was more of a cosy crime mystery to me than a crime thriller so it was a welcome change from what I normally read - and who doesn't enjoy a crime book with dogs as main characters!
Laura was a really good character, well developed and I loved her style. She isn't a huge fan at all of Sir Repton but gets drawn in to help him discover what is going on with Rosalind and also to unravel the alleged murder of his wife!
It has a well developed plot line that was really easy to follow and it is a really nice story in the way it flows too. It was a lovely book to read in the sunshine - 3.5 stars from me rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - I enjoyed the story!
October 11, 2020
This book is a fun cozy style mystery where a group of seniors investigate a potential haunting of Mount Cod without professional intervention. I enjoyed this book very much although I found a few parts hard to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, ghosts, and amateur sleuths.
May 7, 2019
Not quite as anticipated
Faux Brit in feel. Multiple characters quite confusing. Some seeming to have little purpose other than to expand a segment. Often have only time to read a few pages at a time making it difficult to retain continuity.
Faux Brit in feel. Multiple characters quite confusing. Some seeming to have little purpose other than to expand a segment. Often have only time to read a few pages at a time making it difficult to retain continuity.
July 18, 2018
An entertaining mystery.
May 5, 2019
DNF - incredibly tedious, for me.
February 15, 2020
Hilarious read with a great twist at the end!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews