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Cherringham #14
The Secret of Combe Castle
When the penniless FitzHenrys, proprietors of the rundown Combe Castle Heritage Site, 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. But nothing is what it seems at this castle - from the curious and unnerving waxwork displays of the 'Odditorium' to the in-laws and neighbours who can't wait to see the last of aristocratic couple. Soon Jack and Sarah discover that truth is often stranger than fiction, and in Combe Castle things do indeed go bump in the night ...
-- Cherringham is 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 duo: 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.
-- For fans of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series, Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who series, Caroline Graham's Midsomer Murders, and the American TV series Murder She Wrote, starring Angela Lansbury.
-- Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), are known for their script work on major computer games. The Cherringham crime series is their first fictional transatlantic collaboration.
-- Cherringham is 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 duo: 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.
-- For fans of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series, Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who series, Caroline Graham's Midsomer Murders, and the American TV series Murder She Wrote, starring Angela Lansbury.
-- Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), are known for their script work on major computer games. The Cherringham crime series is their first fictional transatlantic collaboration.
Audiobook
First published April 6, 2015
69 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 10, 2024
Im 14. Band der Reihe geht es um ein heruntergekommenes Anwesen - Combe Castle. Die Eigentümer bekommen Drohbriefe und nun wurde scheinbar auch noch eingebrochen und Dinge verwüstet. Jack und Sarah werden engagiert, um den oder die Schuldigen auszumachen, doch sie erleben noch einige Überraschungen bei ihren Ermittlungen... 💜
💜 Und wieder ein sehr unterhaltsamer und kurzweiliger Band der Reihe! Hier hat mir das Setting wirklich gut gefallen, denn ich mag alte Burgen, Schlösser und Herrenhäuser! Und das Eigentümer-Ehepaar hier im Buch war auch sehr speziell :)
Eine schöne Unterhaltung!
💜 Und wieder ein sehr unterhaltsamer und kurzweiliger Band der Reihe! Hier hat mir das Setting wirklich gut gefallen, denn ich mag alte Burgen, Schlösser und Herrenhäuser! Und das Eigentümer-Ehepaar hier im Buch war auch sehr speziell :)
Eine schöne Unterhaltung!
July 18, 2021
The Secret of Combe Castle is a short and cute mystery. I never read the previous books of this series but that didn't seem to be a problem. We have an odd couple, the FitzHenrys, taking care of the old Combe Castle and it's decrepit torture chamber. It sounds morbid but the depiction is humorous. Then they find some threatening messages in their castle and the ameture detectives Sarah and Jack are called upon to find the culprit. It's nothing unique but it's a simple and cozy listen.
June 9, 2018
Pretty simple, no bodies in this one, was very easy to guess what happened, but still, highly enjoyable.
March 30, 2017
Cherringham fühlt sich immer nach Heimkommen an. Die Hörzeit verfliegt wie im Nu. Ich folge Sarah und Jack gerne auf ihren Wegen und finde sie noch immer sehr sympathisch. Auch diese Folge war wieder ein kurzweiliges Hörvergnügen, was nicht zuletzt auch an der Sprecherin Sabina Godec liegt.
October 18, 2024
Cheringham --The Secret of Combe Castle
Several years ago when I first started writing my thoughts on books on Goodreads, I was very anti short stories.
Since then although there have still been those that I believe were a total waste of time, I have learnt that for some, there is a place. This series of Cheringham books is a good example.
These were written as a series of self contained stories and were released monthly only in eBook format but seem almost like chapters of the same book. The characters are now well established and have their own back story running throughout. Cheringham, as a location for all the stories, is by now as familiar to its readers as their location is to any TV soap fan. Each individual story is just long enough and have sufficient detail. to be interesting, albeit without that much depth.
I have not yet read them all but they have helped changed my negative view on this means of storytelling.
As a series, most enjoyable and each just about right for completing in one session.
Several years ago when I first started writing my thoughts on books on Goodreads, I was very anti short stories.
Since then although there have still been those that I believe were a total waste of time, I have learnt that for some, there is a place. This series of Cheringham books is a good example.
These were written as a series of self contained stories and were released monthly only in eBook format but seem almost like chapters of the same book. The characters are now well established and have their own back story running throughout. Cheringham, as a location for all the stories, is by now as familiar to its readers as their location is to any TV soap fan. Each individual story is just long enough and have sufficient detail. to be interesting, albeit without that much depth.
I have not yet read them all but they have helped changed my negative view on this means of storytelling.
As a series, most enjoyable and each just about right for completing in one session.
September 21, 2024
Wederom een leuk deel. Jack en Sara gaan lekker. Dynamiek tussen die 2 is heerlijk. 3.75 ⭐️
October 27, 2017
The Secret of Combe Castle : Cherringham 14
Chronological order, not necessary but recommended.
In A Nutshell: Written in the vein of a classic mystery our amateur sleuths are investigating a 'hate campaign' at an ancestral mansion. Combe Castle Heritage is the home of the eccentric penniless FitzHenry's. Fun and silly and a pleasant way to pass the time.
The Protagonists: Take one hard-boiled former New York City Detective retired to Cherringham England and one British-born business minded divorcee who fled home to Cherringham, and you have our protagonists. The professional and amateur in the sleepy Oxford countryside. Jack Brennan is the gentleman, and Sarah Edwards mother of two is the techie.
The Plot:When secrets are uncovered at Combe Castle Heritage Site, fact proves stranger than fiction. But our detective duo are not the only canny ones.
Written in the old school style this formulaic cliche story works wonders. It transports the reader to a sleepy English village where murder happens without any of the gore. And there is no pressure on Jack or Sarah to have a relationship. Yet. They are just two people who work well together and enjoy what they do.
Well written, light and refreshing this book is a good read. It does what it says on the tin (well cover) and does it beautifully.
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Book Rating
Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next oneor reread ?: Yes
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
Chronological order, not necessary but recommended.
In A Nutshell: Written in the vein of a classic mystery our amateur sleuths are investigating a 'hate campaign' at an ancestral mansion. Combe Castle Heritage is the home of the eccentric penniless FitzHenry's. Fun and silly and a pleasant way to pass the time.
The Protagonists: Take one hard-boiled former New York City Detective retired to Cherringham England and one British-born business minded divorcee who fled home to Cherringham, and you have our protagonists. The professional and amateur in the sleepy Oxford countryside. Jack Brennan is the gentleman, and Sarah Edwards mother of two is the techie.
The Plot:When secrets are uncovered at Combe Castle Heritage Site, fact proves stranger than fiction. But our detective duo are not the only canny ones.
Written in the old school style this formulaic cliche story works wonders. It transports the reader to a sleepy English village where murder happens without any of the gore. And there is no pressure on Jack or Sarah to have a relationship. Yet. They are just two people who work well together and enjoy what they do.
Well written, light and refreshing this book is a good read. It does what it says on the tin (well cover) and does it beautifully.
Connect with me on Twitter
Follow my blog on Bloglovin’
Book Rating
Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next one
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
February 19, 2018
Combe Castle isn't in good shape. It's owners are in debt to the hilt and don't have the funds to do the repairs needed, nor do they have the funds to pay off their huge debts. Mrs. FitzHenry wants to sell but her husband is adamant that they keep the estate. They make a little money from the Odditorium that Mr. FitzHenry runs, featuring the history of his family and a chamber of horrors, but visitors are few and far between. When they begin receiving threatening letters and their Odditorium is vandalized warning them to get out of the castle, they are concerned enough to ask Jack and Sarah to look into the matter.
Jack and Sarah aren't certain what to make of the FitzHenry family. Eccentric to be sure, but something is being held back. Investigating the history of the family and the estate itself falls to Sarah, while Jack talks to Mr. FitzHenry's slightly younger twin brother who was left out of his father's will and to a neighboring farmer whose family has been feuding with the FitzHenry family for centuries. Could they be the ones threatening the Castle occupants? Or is there something else going on?
Jack and Sarah aren't certain what to make of the FitzHenry family. Eccentric to be sure, but something is being held back. Investigating the history of the family and the estate itself falls to Sarah, while Jack talks to Mr. FitzHenry's slightly younger twin brother who was left out of his father's will and to a neighboring farmer whose family has been feuding with the FitzHenry family for centuries. Could they be the ones threatening the Castle occupants? Or is there something else going on?
April 1, 2022
No murder this time, but there was that deadly duel centuries ago. Now it's about vandalism and more at the crumbling old penniless historic castle. Good sleuthing, surprises, and a lot of fun!
Love this idea of a series given in short bursts that are just the right size as well as so much more flexible than a whole novel! The ongoing sleuthing involves a retired and widowed older NYPD homicide cop who is finding life in the English countryside a fair antidote to his mourning, and a local recently divorced woman who has returned to her hometown with her children. They make a good sleuthing pair.
Voice actor Neil Dudgeon has been an excellent asset to my listening pleasure, making sure that
I know who's talking while I do mindless things.
Love this idea of a series given in short bursts that are just the right size as well as so much more flexible than a whole novel! The ongoing sleuthing involves a retired and widowed older NYPD homicide cop who is finding life in the English countryside a fair antidote to his mourning, and a local recently divorced woman who has returned to her hometown with her children. They make a good sleuthing pair.
Voice actor Neil Dudgeon has been an excellent asset to my listening pleasure, making sure that
I know who's talking while I do mindless things.
December 5, 2023
Book 14 in the Cherringham Novella series.
Further to my earlier speculation about the size of the “tiny village” of Cherringham, in this book I note that Sarah is shopping at the local Costco, which is just across the street from her office. Perhaps it’s different in England, but where I live Costco only opens in major cities, and certainly can’t accommodate their huge parking lots “across the street” in the downtown area. She also buys “juicy hamburgers” there. In my experience, Costco sells frozen hamburgers, or else huge portions of ground beef which may or not eventually become hamburgers.
This volume includes an “odditorium”, a museum-like collection of oddities. Listening to the audiobook, I was certain they were talking about an auditorium. Surely there must be more than one auditorium in England, I thought! However, checking a text version of the story, I found my error. Just shows that all is not necessarily good in audiobooks.
Further to my earlier speculation about the size of the “tiny village” of Cherringham, in this book I note that Sarah is shopping at the local Costco, which is just across the street from her office. Perhaps it’s different in England, but where I live Costco only opens in major cities, and certainly can’t accommodate their huge parking lots “across the street” in the downtown area. She also buys “juicy hamburgers” there. In my experience, Costco sells frozen hamburgers, or else huge portions of ground beef which may or not eventually become hamburgers.
This volume includes an “odditorium”, a museum-like collection of oddities. Listening to the audiobook, I was certain they were talking about an auditorium. Surely there must be more than one auditorium in England, I thought! However, checking a text version of the story, I found my error. Just shows that all is not necessarily good in audiobooks.
October 10, 2021
A quick trip back to Cherringham to check in with Jack and Sarah always seems to hit the spot. The 100+ page short stories are just enough for a quiet evening, weekend, or in between other books.
As I continue to say, there should be more of a following for this series. New readers should start at the beginning since the writing team occasionally references a previous investigation that may be unfamiliar and would be confusing as to what is going on if they hadn’t.
As I continue to say, there should be more of a following for this series. New readers should start at the beginning since the writing team occasionally references a previous investigation that may be unfamiliar and would be confusing as to what is going on if they hadn’t.
August 1, 2018
I had read this book before on my Kindle, but had to read again. I read all his books so far. I really enjoy the main characters. They are brave, funny and smart! A must read for everyone. You can't go wrong reading any of this authors books. I will keep ordering them and reading them till he stops writing them. If you want a great read, here it is!
October 22, 2023
Jack and Sarah once again on an adventure but this time it is a little different. The owners of Combe Castle has hired them to find who broke in their home and who sent threatening letters to them. Things just did not add up for the break ends so Jack decided to break in the castle himself. It is then he figures who, why and how the break ends have happened. Quite a surprise.
April 3, 2018
The mystery in Combe Caste was first book in Cherringham series with a boring case. Jack and Sarah searched for a culprit and found a lost treasure for penniless FitzHenrys. Nonetheless their adventure was comical and enjoyable.
December 13, 2017
This one is just weird!
January 3, 2018
Connie
Amusing story line. A mix of old with current technology! A modern family unit with the aspects of the old.
Amusing story line. A mix of old with current technology! A modern family unit with the aspects of the old.
June 28, 2018
Audiobook : Spotify.
Read by Neil Dudgeon.
Read by Neil Dudgeon.
August 5, 2018
Pretty good. Nice one
August 20, 2018
#14 ♥️
November 10, 2018
Love that it turned out to be nothing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2022
Kind of a letdown, this ending.
May 29, 2023
A spooky castle, a vandal intended to scare the owners, and a new mystery for Jack and Sarah.
March 18, 2024
It been awhile (about a year) but I felt it was time for a visit in Cherringham again.
A short cozy mystery.. Perfect when the mind can't concentrate as much.
A short cozy mystery.. Perfect when the mind can't concentrate as much.
August 27, 2024
Audiobook. Not one of my favorites in this series. It just didn't come together for me.
December 11, 2024
The reader was good and story was entertaining but some of the reveal just didn't make sense.
August 6, 2025
Excellent story with strange people!
September 13, 2025
A good book to listen too when you clean the house. It gives you ”Midsomer murders” wibes. It is fun to try to figure out how the guilty person is. Jack is a retired cop from US, Sarah is a singel mom and they solves crime together. This one was about a mystery.
April 22, 2024
Prima cosy crime!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews