Murder in High Places

Bunburry #6

by Helena Marchmont

Miss Marple meets Oscar Wilde in this new series of cosy mysteries set in the picturesque Cotswolds village of Bunburry.

In Murder in High Places, the sixth Bunburry book, Oscar will brave the Cotswolds for the first time! Alfie has tried for months to convince his best friend to visit him - but when a glamorous High Society Party in honour of celebrated actor Dorian Stevens is announced, Oscar just can't resist. He is - after all - Dorian's greatest fan and can't wait to meet his hero. But the evening at the lovely Saville mansion takes a murderous turn ....

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 >i>Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Golden Samovar.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Novella, Cozy

86 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 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

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im sechsten Band der Reihe besucht Oscar endlich seinen Freund Alfie auf dem Land. Bisher hatte er sich geweigert, London zu verlassen, doch auf einer Party soll ein bekannter Schauspieler Gast sein, den Oscar unbedingt treffen möchte. Auf besagter Party geschieht dann ein Mord...
💜 Ein typischer Cosy Crime Roman, würde ich sagen. Verschrobene Charaktere, ein Mord und eine Mordermittlung, die nicht unbedingt im Vordergrund der Geschichte steht.
Mich konnte das Buch wunderbar unterhalten.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐ = Average Read.
This has been my least favourite in this Cotswold cosy mystery series. Still a decent read though. An easy read.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed all six of these novellas so far. The audios are fantastic!

[Stacie Haden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of novellas. I like the characters and the interesting mysteries. They're not whodunits, as there aren't enough clues to let you solve, but interesting nonetheless.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bunburry series by Helena Marchmont (pseudonym for the Scottish writer Olga Wojtas) certainly has its ups and downs. Some — like the debut, Murder at the Mousetrap, are sublime. And some are godawful, like Drop Dead, Gorgeous. With Murder in High Places, the sixth in the series, Marchmont has again redeemed herself.

Our hero Alfie McAllister finds himself trapped at a house party with his nemesis “Teflon” Charlie Tennison, a shady character who never seems to pay for his actions. A lot happens in novella (fabulously read by Nathaniel Parker in the Audible edition), including a murder, newfound love and a cliffhanger ending. I’d been about to abandon the series before this book, but now I’m sticking around for No. 7, Sweet Revenge.

[Triin Soom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tõeliselt armas muhekrimi sari. Eriti meeldivad mulle kõik otsesed või kaudsed viited ühele minu lemmikkirjanikule, Oscar Wilde'ile.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better episodes in this delightful series.

[Avely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sellised kiired raamatud on head kui sõidad bussis pikalt :)

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was mir gefallen hat?
Es ist der erste Band in dem Oscar nach Bunburry kommt und nicht nur der Telefonkontakt von Alfie ist - Was gibt es da also nicht zu lieben?
Der Band ist amüsant, glamourös und macht richtig Spaß, ganz besonders weil wir jetzt die Welt von Bunburry durch die Augen von Oscar sehen und mitbekommen wie die Einwohner auf den Exzentriker aus London reagieren.
Der Fall an sich war auch interessant und die Auflösung kam überraschend.

Was mir nicht gefallen hat?
Alfie verhält sich in diesem Band nicht unbedingt wie er selbst, was mich arg störte.

Fazit: Oscar in Bunburry! Das war genau das Ereignis auf das ich mich riesig gefreut habe und es war dann auch wirklich ein Vergnügen.

[Nancy Tuttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just keeps getting better

Love this series! It just keeps getting better, more engaging, with its ongoing characters and engrossing plot lines. What a wonderful TV miniseries this would make. Looking forward to the next episode, and its audible companion piece with Nathaniel Parker as the narrator. 😊

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alfie's good friend, Oscar, finally comes to visit Bunburry, and they are both invited to a big party at a country house where a new version of Pride and Prejudice was filmed. Alfie invites Betty as his plus-one, but when he finds the hosts have put them both in the same room, she kicks him out. Alfie is shocked to find the hated Charlie Tennison as a guest at the party. With Betty's rejection and seeing Tennison in the same house, Alfie begins to drink too much, and behaves badly at dinner, flirting with Tennison's wife. When she is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, Tennison is arrested for her murder, but the solution is a simple one. Quick story, and most of it takes place at "Pemberley".

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a bit weaker but the backstory still advanced.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to state for the record that I really, REALLY dislike Betty, the American tree-hugger. Or maybe it is just the atrocious voice that the narrator uses for her.

Audiobook
Nathaniel Parker - Narrator
Duration: 02:36:21

[Daire Lüüs · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://trekseklugemine.blogspot.com/...

[Diane Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t get enough of Bunburry

I just love these stories, not really books, but not short stories. Novellas, I suppose. My one complaint is Betty Thorndyke. I just can’t stand her. I can’t understand why Allie is remotely attracted to an American Feminazi tree hugger. Every word out of her mouth is irritating. Her behavior is appalling. Yet, it’s always adorable Alfie who ends up apologizing. Well, spoiler alert, I may enjoy the next one a lot more. If this is your first look at Bunburry, go back to the beginning. You have to read them in sequence to get the whole story. Make sure you have plenty of coffee and fudge.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love this series, especially the audio books! Nathaniel Parker is terrific. but this book was not that good and disappointing. especially since i couldn't wait for Oscar to make it to bunburry and this story just didn't live up to the rest. Also i hope Betty is gone for good. she is a pain in the ass.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A real ending.?

The story was not developed and ended strangely. The last 2 have been disappointing and over before they got started- the read more like a short stories- I doubt I will continue with the series.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the first of this mystery series within the past year, and when I found there were more "episodes" I thought I'd continue the series. Each is under a 3-hour audiobook listen. Because of the length, each feels like more of a short story than a novel/novelette, although, because core characters continue and relationships develop, listening to all six of them (so far) makes it more like one long story with several mysteries. Each could stand alone, but would be best read in order because of the development of character relationships. I generally do not do any plot synopsis in my reviews, so this review can apply to any of this series.

The mysteries themselves are not that great, so go into these without great expectations on anything mind-challenging. I thought it was very similar to the Cherringham mystery series, which I have also enjoyed. The narrator is fine, but I thought the volume and clarity of sound fluctuated so that it was better for me to listen to these with headphones than with a speaker. That might be because of my own hearing, but I noticed the same thing with the Lübbe Audio recordings of the Cherringham series.

[Tania Rook · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone so poorly attuned to the intentions of others, Alfie behaves extremely badly when provoked. Like, if you don't really understand why someone acts the way they do, maybe don't get super drunk and flirt with a woman you actively dislike as a form of revenge. In fact, once inebriated, maybe don't air dirty laundry. It's just maybe not the best time.

Rather than Murder in High Places, this one should maybe be called Men Behaving Badly In Slightly Famous Places. This one isn't really about murder at all. This one is the definitive answer to the question: where is the relationship between Betty and Alfie going? It's going to a party. Ooh, and Oscar must be a real person because he's at the party as well.

[Gary and Sandra Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Alfie is in a pickle, not only is he at a house party with his arch enemy who killed his grandparents, the man's objectionable wife who is flirting with him and a famous movie star, he has upset the one person who he wants most to impress, Betty , the Green lady. Put all this together and you spell disaster when the flirty wife is found dead at the bottom of the stairs. How did she get there? Was her husband the culprit, as the police suspect or someone else. Enter the Bunburry Triangle to solve the case. As they indeed do. Enjoyed the book immensely.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What really happened during those fireworks?

Another enjoyable mystery has come to a close. That triangle sure knows its stuff. In this story, You get quite a view of the inner workings of the real mind of Liz. Again we worry over Alfie.
To truly enjoy this set of books, you really must start at the first book. The growth of the characters and of understanding Bunburry is accumulative.

[lynne wildbore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and genius warm and witty

A lovely combination of characters that flow through each book. Enough and not too many people to familiarise with so that each book seamlessly fits into the next. Story lines that leave you waiting for more. I'd call it a winning recipe for a truly great writer and story teller.

[William Scarborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another pleasant death!

I always enjoy the Bunburry Triangle working their way through yet another cozy mystery. The descriptions of the characters, the scenery, the so very english attitudes are as important as the murder and the investigation after. Again, my heart recommendations ~ spend your money ~ spend your time ~ an excellent story.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Alfie, your behaviour was a bit disappointing in this one. That said, I'm not sad to see the back of Betty. She wasn't my favourite character, although I suspect she'll probably resurface later. I think it's time for a little break from Bunburry and I'll return to the series after a few other reads. Still enjoying the series very much.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are too many to review, thanks to Goodreads' not-working sidebar, so I'm copying and pasting a series review on each one:

Marchmont has created a delightful village, hilarious characters, and interesting mysteries that kept me buying the next to find out what's up in the Cotswolds. An absolute delight.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my least favourite of the series so far with Alfie acting out of character and a very thin story. At least we finally got Oscar to visit Bunburry. The ending did make me keen to carry on with the series though....assuming there are more to come!

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thrilling Bunburry jaunt to a Downton Abby-like estate where a recent adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was filmed. Love, lust, and intrigue. Someone dies. Someone lies. And Alfie’s future in Bunburry is in question.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This installment is much darker and less humorous than the previous ones. Alfie is becoming less likable than before. Oscar, on the other hand, is becoming more likable. Liz and Marge are as entertaining as ever.

[Nicole Rindlisbacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Triumph!

Having fallen in love with the series, my expectations are high and this one did not disappoint. Al's tender heart, Oscar's reliable friendship and the "Triangle's" cunning deductive reasoning are entertaining as always.

[Kaija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lukijana Nathaniel Parker.
Taas upeaa luentaa, joka tällä kertaa lisäsi yhden tähden. Itse tarina oli vähän mitäänsanomaton, ratkaisu tuli ihan puun takaa. Alfien suhderintaman käänne oli odottamaton.