A Little Night Murder

Mydworth Mysteries #2

by Neil Richards, Matthew Costello

From the authors of the best-selling series CHERRINGHAM

A young poacher is found shot dead in the woods of a grand estate near Mydworth. A sad accident it would seem. But the boy's mother is convinced it is murder and when Harry and Kat investigate, they find the poacher's life was not as innocent as he made out ...

Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), have been writing together since the mid-90s, creating innovative content and working on major 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 the best-selling mystery series Cherringham. Their latest series project is called Mydworth Mysteries.

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

119 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2019

About the author

Neil Richards has worked as a producer and writer in TV and film, creating scripts for BBC, Disney, and Channel 4, and earning numerous Bafta nominations along the way.

He's also written script and story for over 20 video games including The Da Vinci Code and Starship Titanic, co-written with Douglas Adams, and consults around the world on digital storytelling.

His writing partnership with NYC-based Matt Costello goes back to the late 90's and the two have written many hours of TV together. Cherringham the series is their first crime fiction as co-writers.

An American and an Englishman writing crime stories with an American and an English hero - what took us so long?

Reviews

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

Der zweite Band der Reihe. Lord und Lady Mortimer haben sich noch nicht wirklich eingelebt in ihrem neuen Zuhause, da geschieht erneut ein Mord. Diesmal wurde der junge Syd Buckman erschossen. Es sieht nach einem Jagdunfall aus, aber seine Mutter ist sich sicher, dass mehr dahinter stecken muss. Sie bittet also Sir Harry und Lady Kat Mortimer um Hilfe...
🐙💜🐙💜
Dieser Band hat mir sogar noch ein bisschen besser gefallen als der erste Band. Ich mag einfach das Setting schon sehr gerne - England in den 1920er Jahren, das hat schon eine ganz eigene Atmosphäre.
Der Kriminalfall hat auch gepasst. Spannend, rätselhaft, unterhaltsam und sehr kurzweilig.
Ich freue mich, dass ich noch ein paar Bände der Reihe vor mir habe!

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series: Mydworth Mysteries #2
Publication Date: 9/30/19
Number of Pages: 119

American Kat Reilly and Brit Sir Harry Mortimer are beginning to settle into their new life together in Mydworth. Kat is still a bit concerned that life in the quiet English countryside will be too quiet – especially since she’s not too fond of afternoon teas and other gentrified activities. Luckily, they’ve managed to keep busy with some local investigations – so maybe things won’t be too dull.

As much as Kat loved spending time admiring Harry working on his old motorbike that had been in storage since the war, she was really happy when their new phone rang. Nicola Green, from the WVS (Women’s Voluntary Service), was calling to ask Kat and Harry to stop by her office because she needed to speak with them.

The mother of a young poacher, Syd Buckman, doesn’t believe that her son died in an accident. Yes, the police have ruled that it was an accident, but she just doesn’t believe it. Her son was too good with guns to make such a rudimentary mistake. So, she approached Nicola and asked for her help and advice. Nicola, in turn, contacted Kat and Harry because of their reputations for solving mysteries.

At first, Kat and Harry were inclined to believe it really was an accident – but the more they learned, the more they became sure that Syd’s death wasn’t accidental. Why would anyone want to kill the young man? There are plenty of potential suspects around – other poachers, the owner of the land on which he was poaching, the land steward, a friend with whom he’d had an argument, even his father.

The investigation continues apace and leads in many directions – until at last, the final clues are revealed and the murder is finally solved.

I am really enjoying this series that reminds me a bit of the old Thin Man movies with the lighthearted banter between Kat and Harry – except Kat is more of a fully participating partner than Nora was in the movies. Definitely an entertaining read!

[ShanDizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little series with would-be-detectives Sir Harry & Lady Kat solving crimes. Too, Kat's and Harry's relationship is so sweet.

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A British Mystery type cozy, with an easy enough solution at the end. However, I enjoyed the delightful and silent chemistry between Harry and Kat the most, the married investigators assigned to work the case. They complement each other in their work and go together like toast and jam. It’s a light mystery, not too heavy, or mind jarring, or long.

Narration was by Nathaniel Parker. Mr. Parker does an outstanding job of narration with great distinction of characters, and a well executed job of accents and emotion.

4 Stars

[Ingie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - Addictive and quickly done with novella-like parts

#2 in a cozy mystery series about newly married American Kat Reilly and her British husband Sir Harry Mortimer. Nicely set in a country village called Mydworth in Sussex, England in 1929. — Nice, sweet with a joyful style to solve crimes in the countryside by this loving couple in the best amateur spirit. Almost no blood, a tough and cheeky wife, a handsome local noble husband and also narrated perfectly the English actor Nathaniel Parker. — Well worth my time.

Read August 16, 2021

[Ａｎｔｈｏｐｈｉｌｅ 🪴 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prologue very much interesting and enticing than the first book.

Easier to read and understand despite it's historical fiction genre and related to mystery thriller. A good starter for someone who wants to try historical thriller fiction for the first time.

ahh this book evoked the excitement in reading within me again, the long lost feeling i've been overly searching.

The pace was too relaxing fast and compulsive compacted with easy and pleasant writing. It also ever so constructive that i can articulate almost every words i want to review and the plot of the story.

The author knew exactly what to shortened and what to elucidated, so this is not a waste of time at all. Every single chapter and words were worth your time

Not to mention i love our Sir Harry still ever so smitten with his wife and i can 'sense' that he is handsome with perfect full smile , he could be funny and light at the same time fierce ♥️

[Anna Catharina · Rating 2 out of 5]

War ganz okay, aber gerade in der ersten Hälfte etwas zu langatmig.

[Heli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad, I gave the series a second chance. A really nice short cozy crime story with exactly the right amount of thrill for me before bedtime ;)

[Les Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing after Matthew Costello’s other books.

[Donna Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
A young poacher is found shot dead in the woods of a grand estate near Mydworth. A sad accident it would seem. But the boy's mother is convinced it is murder and when Harry and Kat investigate, they find the poacher's life was not as innocent as he made out ...

MY TAKE
Another quick mystery starring Harry and Kat that twists the heart and introduces more people. And looks to provide Kat with a job that will provide future mysteries.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say I enjoyed this short book and I read the entire story in a few hours (a good chunk of it sitting outside in the full sun).. I found it entertaining and the characters were interesting. I did not read the first one but had no problems getting into the swing of the story. And very quickly I had figured out it was set in 1929... At first I had no idea this was historical fiction but it was a fun, fast paced story set in England.

The story starts out with a young man sneaking over a wall into a huge forest preserve. He wants to get a deer but he may not be alone in the dark woods! So of course something happens. Harry and Kat are put on the case.

This story took many unexpected twists and turns! Boy did it ever! I guess that just proves you can never know about people now can you? So many have dark secrets. I sure didn't see any of this coming! But it really was a fun adventurous romp in a little town...

One tiny note: I wasn't aware that motor bikes back then could go at 70 MPH? I mean the story mentions Model Ts so I would think things would have been super slow? Really don't know but the story does mention some nice details of the time period like the ice box and the telephone.

I definitely prefer this story over the one I finished last night; about the cruise ship. This one was definitely more interesting.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the series that began with A Shot in the Dark isn’t as charming and twisty as the debut, but I enjoyed it quite a bit — so much so that I’ve already started London Calling!, No. 3 in this series by the English Neil Richards and American Matthew Costello.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Light, escapism, and fun reading. I really enjoy the main characters, a charming couple, realistically drawn, even if the situation is slightly unrealistic. I enjoyed the first one much more, but this was quite good and I do recommend the series.

[Dark Chocolate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young poacher is found dead in a forest he shouldn't be at and it is up to American Kat Reilly and Brit Sir Harry Mortimer to aid a mother's request to uncover what really happened to her son.

I enjoy the duo dynamic and the cases so far, although I am barely at book 2.

[Dona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice follow-up to the first book in the series. Being American it is interesting to hear how aristocracy was treated in early 1900s. I love the juxtaposition between the Bronx born Lady Mortimer and the English Sir Harry Mortimer and the secrets they have from each other about their years serving their respective countries.

[Sarah83 sbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tod im Mondschein" ist der zweite Teil der Krimireihe um Lord und Lady Mortimer. Angesiedelt ist diese Cosy Mystery Serie in Mydworth im England der 20er Jahre und spielt mit den diversen Vorurteilen der damaligen Zeit.
Die frisch verheiratete Lady Mortimer zieht nach der Hochzeit zu ihrem Mann in das ländliche England und fällt mit ihrer amerikanischen Lebensart den Dorfbewohner sofort auf.
Viel Zeit um sich auf das Landleben einzustellen, bleibt den beiden allerdings nicht, da in einer Nacht der junge Wilderer Syd Buckman im Wald erschossen vorgefunden wird. Alle gehen von einem Unfall aus und die Polizei legt den Fall schnell beiseite. Nur Syds Mutter kann nicht glauben, dass es sich um einen Unfall und wendet sich über eine Hilfsstelle an die Mortimers.
Durch seine Stellung im Dorf kann Lord Mortimer mit seiner Frau zusammen Nachforschungen im Dorf anstellen und schnell zeigt sich, dass es sich bei dem Dorf nicht um das ruhige, kleine, verschlafene Dorf handelt, dass sich Lady Mortimer in ihren Träumen vorgestellt hat. Vielmehr haben mehrere Personen (teilweise offene) Geheimnisse und die beiden bringen einige Wahrheiten zu Tage, die besser nicht zum Vorschein gekommen wären.
Witzige Dialoge, bissige Bemerkungen und eine gehörige Prise englischer Humor lassen die gut 140 Seiten wie im Flug vergehen und den Kurzkrimi nicht langweilig werden.

[Gitti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tod im Mondschein ist der zweite Band aus der Reihe um Lord und Lady Mortimer. Sie haben sich gerade etwas eingelebt, als sie gebeten werden den Tod von Syd Buckham zu untersuchen. Seine Familie glaubt nicht an einen Unfall und so machen sich die beiden auf um die Umstände zu klären.
Das Buch ließ sich wie nichts lesen und war recht unterhaltsam. Der Schreibstil ist anschaulich und man hatte von Anfang das Gefühl voll mit im Leben von Kat und Harry dabei zu sein. So schaffen es die Autoren, trotz der Kürze des Buches, den Leser von der ersten Seite an wieder voll ins Geschehen zu ziehen, ohne allzu viele Längen einzubauen.
Der Kürze des Buchs ist wohl auch das abrupte Ende geschuldet, was mich ein wenig unzufrieden zurückließ. Hier hätte man tatsächlich noch ein paar Seiten spendieren können um dem Ganzen einen etwas runderen Abschluss zu geben.

Alles in allem eine nette Serie, die kurzweiliges Lesevergnügen bietet.

[Jane Shibilski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid second in the Mydworth series. Although too brief, it did advance the series into what is now “the quiet life in the country”’. The mystery moved along quickly and there could have been more character development to fill in the gaps. I will give the third in the series a try, but if it still just a superficial cozy mystery, that will be the last in the series.

[Leasha Brown]

very enjoyable

[Tania Rook · Rating 4 out of 5]

1929. What's the penalty for shooting a poacher on your property? Doesn't matter if the official story is they tripped with their loaded gun pointed at themself and accidentally checked out. Pity about the dead deer though. Hope that doesn't go to waste.

Harry and Kat once again get drawn into a web of mystery, but this time, through an organisation with enough legs to furnish ongoing cases for months to come. Although temporarily without a base of operations, the Womens Volunteer Society exist to help women in whatever manner the women choose. Say if your son was out poaching on someone's property and ended up shot with his own gun and the official verdict was suicide but you just know your son wouldn't accidentally shoot himself in the head because he's not that stupid, you could ask the WVS to look into it. And because Mydworth is all about knowing other people's business, word on the street is already that if you have a mystery to solve, Lord and Lady Mortimer are probably up for it. Because if there is anyone willing to police a situation where they have no skin in the game, it's an American. And her fanboy husband, in this case.

Tragically, it turns out the dead boy was poaching on the property of a wealthy and connected man. So whilst he might not be stupid enough to walk around with a loaded gun with the safety off, I'm not sure we can make claims to him being intelligent to any degree. Anything the Mortimers can contribute is to the memory of the boy.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mydworth Mysteries are a 17 cozy book series and I've just discovered them. I have the first three and I adored the first one so much, I hopped on Amazon and ordered the following six. Unfortunately, the other 11 are not book form and I'm not sure what I'm going to do by then. My library doesn't carry them either. Ugh!

These are very short stories and can easily be read at one sitting, though I didn't want to do that. I needed it to stretch so I can be in the story a bit longer. The novels are written by two authors, one Brit, and the other American. The main characters are newly married and Harry is British and Kat is American, so it's cool how the authors took their own and made it into the story.

It's 1929 in the small village of Sussex, England - 20 year old poacher, Syd Buckman, is found shot dead, ruled accidental self inflicted in the woods of the Shreeve Estate. The victim's mother is convinced he was murdered and shows up at the home of Harry and Kat to ask for their help.

I love the relationship of Harry and Kat. I love their quick wit and fun the pair share. I love how Kat keeps surprising Harry like knowing how to ride a motorbike (and not driving it conservatively either), when women of that era were strictly the passengers only. I also love how Harry doesn't feel his manhood is fractured by having such an intelligent and adventurous wife with a past that must have included all that.

Tonight I start #3, London Calling!

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1920s near a great estate in England, this mystery will keep you wondering “Who did it?” until the end. Harry and his American wife, Kat, decide to investigate the death of a young man poaching on an estate. They do not believe his death was accidental.

Harry and Kat are quite charming, and it is delightful to go along with them as they peruse the neighborhood talking to people in search of clues to support their suspicion that a young man was murdered.

The secondary characters serve well to provide information and give readers clues to ponder. The physical details of the village add their own kind of charm, and the historical tid-bits fill out the imagery of the 1920s to perfection. People aren’t always as they seem, and Harry and Kat get to the bottom of things in a clever way.

It’s not a high-stress, page-turning type of story, but rather escapist reading, best enjoyed with a cup of tea. Readers are sure to enjoy putting pieces together. This story is an entertaining tale while being a fun intellectual exercise. I recommend this book to those who love light-hearted historical mysteries.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kat and Harry are starting to get a little bit of a reputation. First they solved a murder and then they found the silver plate missing from the church. Now, the woman who runs the local Women's V(I don't remember what this stood for) Center has reached out. She has been trying to get a local woman away from the woman's abusive husband. However, that's not why she called Kat. Instead, she would like some help proving that the woman's son did not die accidentally, he was murdered.
Sid had been a known poacher. And he was shot in an apparent accident. But Sid knew how to handle guns and it seems suspicious that he died in this manor. Add on that he was seeing the daughter of the man on whose land he was poaching and there could be some motive for murder.
The actual motive came a bit out of left field but the fun at this point is learning more about Kat and Harry, each of whom are more than they appear on the surface.

[Julie Huggler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and light, not to be taken too seriously.

I’ve read reviews from tubers about a thin plot, or not enough character development, etc. - that’s not what these are about. Short novellas, really better suited for a quick read - or listening (even better, as the narrator is marvelous).

As I have found with other series-style writes, the characters do become more developed as you go through the series. They are not meant to be deep, thought provoking literary masterpieces, though that is not
to say the authors aren’t good.

I like these short, fun cosy mysteries, and enjoy listening to them to and from work. They lighten the mood and are fun. I just started this series, and suspect I will move into Cherringham once I’ve finished with these.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Kat Reilly and Brit Sir Harry Mortimer are beginning to settle into married life together in Mydworth in the aftermath of their dramatic entry into the village. The women's help organization contacts Kat on behalf of the grieving mother (wife of a nasty drunk) whose (known) poacher son who died in an alleged hunting accident. Together the couple does an excellent job sleuthing with their trademark sense of humour. Full of twists and red herrings with characters who certainly are and well done imagery. Looking forward to listening to more of this series enjoyably narrated by Nathaniel Parker!

[Janet Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authors Neil Richards and Matthew Costello have written a delightful series set in rural England of 1929. This is their second endeavor, one where the protagonists are asked to discover if the death of a young poacher was accidental.
Sir Henry and his bride Kat quickly take it on. Kat, Henry is quickly discovering, is a woman of many talents. An American, not everyone is pleased with his choice of wife when he returns to sleepy Mydworth. They soon, however, discover her true worth, and the hunt is on.
Yes, it was murder and the couple soon solve the crime in this charming novella. Well plotted and written, the authors don't give away too much until the end of the story.

[Margaret SimpSon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Little Night Murder

I think that this book was really good. I do wish that they could have said it who the murderer was, but to know that the Head Estate guy had killed someone else in another town and gotten away with it for some years, was interesting.
The dead boy's father was just a drunk bully who thought that women were stupid and could not defend ourselves. I wish Kat had shown Billy the bully just what she had learned while working for her country, then Billy would be quiet.

[Victoria Beavers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, Short Read

I enjoy this series. It's not overly complicated, but the plots are always intriguing. The two protagonists are smart and brave. One of the main characters hails from England, the site of the stories, and the other from America. The contrast works nicely.

Overall, I would recommend these stories to persons who enjoy light, historical mysteries. The only negative aspect of these books for me is that I find them a little short. I would love to have a but more detail. It has everything it needs, however, for a nice couple of hours of mysterious distraction.

[ilse · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5... I'm trying really hard to like this series. The books are short, this one around 130 pages, and read very similar to what it would be like to watch an episode on TV. It is entertaining and fast paced. However, it lacks depth and the plot unfolds very suddenly. For the past two books I have felt as if the climax is very rushed and intertwined with the finale of the story. Overall, I will continue with the series as it is proving to be a distracting and easily digestible vacation read.

[Georgia Pankey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Wonderful characters.

I usually don't buy books, just wait till they come to "unlimited" but I bought this one because book #1 was very good and I wanted to follow the 2 main characters, Sir Harry and his wife Lady Kat! Shoot! Now I'm stuck. Do I wait for #3 to go to unlimited or buy it? Ill probably end up buying the darn thing😄. I'm not going to tell you anything about the story. You'll just have to read it your self and enjoy it Great characters, great story line and quick read but oh so satisfying. That's it, I'm done! Leaving to buy #3👍😄