Bunburry: Episode 1-3

Bunburry #1-3

by Helena Marchmont

Miss Marple meets Oscar Wilde in this new series of cosy mysteries set in the picturesque Cotswolds village of Bunburry. Here, fudge-making and quaffing real ale in the local pub are matched by an undercurrent of passion, jealousy, hatred and murder - laced with a welcome dose of humour.

This compilation contains episodes 1-3.

MURDER AT THE MOUSETRAP

Alfie McAlister has retreated from London to the peace and quiet of the country to recover from a personal tragedy. But an accidental death - which may have been no accident - reveals that the heart of England is far from the tranquil backwater he imagined. After arriving in Bunburry, he is co-opted as an amateur detective by Liz and Marge, two elderly ladies who were best friends with Alfie's late Aunt Augusta. And it is not long before their investigations take an even more dramatic turn ...

A MURDEROUS RIDE

Alfie discovers that he has not only inherited a cottage from his late Aunt Augusta but also a 1950s Jaguar. He is dismayed: for reasons of his own, he no longer drives. Aunt Augusta's best friends, Liz and Marge, persuade him to get behind the wheel again - but that's just the start of his Troubles ...

A TASTE OF MURDER

When a local beef farmer is found dead, Betty Thorndike - vegetarian and Bunburry's only Green Party member - is in the frame. Despite what everyone thinks, Betty is absolutely not Alfie McAlister's girlfriend. But Alfie knows what it's like to be wrongly accused, and enlists the help of his fellow amateur detectives, Liz and Marge, to find out who's responsible. There's just one problem about a farm-based investigation - Alfie's scared of cows ...

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, British Literature, Short Stories

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2019

About the author

Helena Marchmont is a pseudonym of Olga Wojtas, who was born and brought up in Edinburgh. She was encouraged to write by an inspirational English teacher, Iona M. Cameron. Olga won a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award in 2015, has had more than 30 short stories published in magazines and anthologies and recently published her first mystery Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Golden Samovar.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly because Nathaniel Parker narrates both, Audible kept recommending the Bunburry series by Helena Marchmont (pseudonym for the Scottish writer Olga Wojtas) after I got deep into the Mydworth Mysteries by Neil Richards and Matthew Costello. So with the first three books going for $6 total in an omnibus, why not try it?

You can read my opinion of Murder at the Mousetrap here.

You can read my opinion of A Murderous Ride, the second in the series, here.

You can read my opinion of No. 3 A Taste of Murder here.

The three novellas (they’re quite short) are uneven, with the first one better than the sequels, and the third better than the second. Still, they are mostly clever and funny, and I’m looking forward to the Audible edition of Bunburry: Episode 4-6.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This edition contains the first three "episodes" of the Bunburry cozy mysteries that take place in a small town in the Cotswold district of the UK. I listened to the audio which was quite an easy and pleasant listen. I will be continuing the series to see how Alfie fares as he gets used to living in this small community where everyone knows each other's business.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for Nathaniel Parker's brilliant narration.
This series should come with a warning....while the mysteries are a no-brainer to figure out, there's something so sweet and charming and endearing about Alfie, Liz and Marge and the lives of the inhabitants of Bunburry that I've developed an addiction to these stories. I'm not going to get a thing done until I've heard all that's available.

[Arnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Murder at the Mousetrap, the first Bunburry book, fudge-making and quaffing real ale in the local pub are matched by an undercurrent of passion, jealousy, hatred, and murder - laced with a welcome dose of humor. Alfie McAlister has retreated from London to the peace and quiet of the country to recover from a personal tragedy. But an accidental death - which may have been no accident - reveals that the heart of England is far from the tranquil backwater he imagined. After arriving in Bunbury, he is co-opted as an amateur detective by Liz and Marge, two elderly ladies who were best friends with Alfie's late Aunt Augusta. And it is not long before their investigations take an even more dramatic turn...

In A Murderous Ride, the second Bunburry book, Alfie discovers that he has not only inherited a cottage from his late Aunt Augusta but also a 1950s Jaguar. He is dismayed: for reasons of his own, he no longer drives. Aunt Augusta's best friends, Liz and Marge, persuade him to get behind the wheel again - but that's just the start of his troubles. Alfie discovers it's a seriously bad idea to get on the wrong side of the local police sergeant. Especially when he finds himself at a murder scene, and the sergeant decides Alfie's the murderer. There's only one thing to be done. Alfie has to track down the real murderer himself - which will force him to drive as he's never driven before.

In A Taste of Murder, the third Bunburry book, a local beef farmer is found dead, and Betty Thorndike, vegetarian and Bunburry's only Green Party member, is in the frame. Despite what everyone thinks, Betty is absolutely not Alfie McAlister's girlfriend. But Alfie knows what it's like to be wrongly accused and enlists the help of his fellow amateur detectives, Liz and Marge, to find out who's responsible. There's just one problem about a farm-based investigation - Alfie's scared of cows...

I really enjoyed Nathaniel Parker's narration. It felt very cozy.

[Ginger Gonzales-Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually listened to these on Audible, and they were just the right amount of fun, easy listening to distract somewhat from what was the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. I liked the constant setting and cast of characters (though, of course, there are always a few more added into each book to change the situation enough to include a murder), I thought that the characters were generally endearing, and though the narratives were relatively predictable, there were enough original details to keep it interesting.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just an entertaining original listen on Audible. Three mysteries but characters continuing through the story in small village of Bunburry which seems to have an endless supply of murders or possible murders. The resident characters are fun to follow and protagonist is learning to love his new home as he recovers from death of his girlfriend/almost wife. Entertaining and I suspect there will be further installments.

[Laine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but Lacking

The characters in the Bunburry series are becoming fully formed and interesting, but the stories themselves fall short. It feels like, just when the story is building up, the author takes a turn and gives the reader a quick, no frills ending instead of the meat of the story. I’m going to continue reading, as, with so many books now in the series, one hopes the writer has learned to flesh out the story into all it could be.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the Cotswolds' in the 21st century, these are cozy mysteries. I listened to these through Audible.
Nothing too exciting. Her writing must have improved because there are now 18 or more of these novellas. So if you like reading about small English towns, with quirky inhabitants, then you should enjoy this series.

[Nikki Morin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook, which was great, loved these v cozy mysteries mostly for the setting though as mysteries they are kind of lacking with an overall too quick wrap up, but I like all the characters!!

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 entertaining light mysteries

[Kerstin Pöschl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nette Unterhaltung für Zwischendurch

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF halfway through first story. Main character too perfect, others too silly. Good thing it didn't cost much.

[Fiona Ramsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on audible - narration by Nathanial Parker is fabulous, the stories are pleasant. Nothing very special.

[Dorothea Miller]

Cute Cozy Mystery. I love the characters!

[Heidi Nibbelink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I read and enjoyed this. I'm not proud of it, but I did it. Sometimes you just need a cozy mystery set in an English village populated by eccentric characters, okay?

[Bradoicich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful British mystery trio living the country life in the Cotswolds.

[Elaine Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this at a deep discount. I would read more in the series, but not at full price.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such wonderfully thought out English characters for cozy mystery fans.

[Leslee Williams]

3 nice stories

[Carôle Ceres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this title. The first story is a good introduction, but the second novel is disappointing. The third is better.

[Marguerite Czajka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable easy read cozy mystery.

[robbie jean lister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the three books in one,,I did like it but not to fond of thr reader,,plAn on reading the next in series,,

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable for those times when you don't want something deep.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

the audio book was especially well done

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun new (for me) series - short detective

[J]

Listened on Audible.

This is the begging of a pleasant cozy mystery series. Love the characters. It takes a village!

[Maria Tegtmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short fun summer read

[Brenda at MyShelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all three episodes. They sufficiently took me out of my small world. The Mysteries are interesting and kept me company on my evening walks. Alfie and the ladies are likable characters.