Tragedy at Piddleton Hotel

Churchill & Pemberley #1

by Emily Organ

*** Shortlisted for Amazon UK's Kindle Storyteller Award 2019 ***

Armed with a handbag and fuelled by cake, Annabel Churchill is a mature yet tenacious private detective. Together with her quirky sidekick, Doris Pemberley, she's determined to solve mysteries and chase down criminals in the sleepy English village of Compton Poppleford.

*** A new cozy mystery series from the author of the Penny Green Series, Emily Organ. ***

1932. Growing bored in the autumn of her years, Londoner Annabel Churchill decides to buy a private detective agency in a Dorset village. The purchase brings with it the eccentric Doris Pemberley and it’s not long before the two old ladies have their first case.

No one has made more enemies than the local busybody, Mrs Furzgate, but when she suffers a fatal fall at Piddleton Hotel everyone assumes it was an accident. The detective duo, Churchill and Pemberley, suspect murder and are soon on the case. But is it possible they’ll upset even more people than Mrs Furzgate managed to?

With the subtlety of two bulls in a china shop, Churchill and Pemberley employ unconventional sleuthing techniques. What appears to be a shortcoming is actually a skill: being consistently underestimated enables them to spring a clever surprise.

For fans of light-hearted mysteries and sharp-witted elderly sleuths.

Tragedy at Piddleton Hotel is the first book in the Churchill & Pemberley cozy mystery series.
Book 1: Tragedy at Piddleton Hotel
Book 2: Murder in Cold Mud

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2019

About the author

Emily Organ is the author of over thirty historical cozy mysteries set in Victorian and 1920s England. Her bestselling series include the Penny Green Victorian Mysteries, the Augusta Peel Mysteries, and her newest Emma Langley Victorian Mysteries, in which a plucky widow teams up with former reporter Penny Green. She also writes the Churchill & Pemberley cozy mysteries, featuring two spirited senior sleuths. Emily’s books combine warmth, wit, and a love of history, inspired by her fascination with London’s past. 

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Organ’s Penny Green series, so I bought this with high expectations. Unfortunately, Organ seems to have fallen into what appears to be a popular trend, that “cozy” mysteries must have a buffoon for a main character. I was hoping for an intelligent puzzle and instead I got slapstick.

I imagine that must be what readers want these days, but I find it painful and annoying to read. I wish Organ every success with this new series. I just hope the farcical tone doesn’t creep into the Penny Green series.

[Mr G · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very poor attempt to cash in on the "Agatha Raisin" market - older, assertive amateur sleuth. The main character (constantly referred to in the book by her surname) is beyond caricature, more like a pantomime dame. The plot is equally lame - could have been an entry in a schoolchildren's "Write a silly story" competition.
I haven't read any of this author's other books and, after this, I certainly won't be doing.

[Nadishka Aloysius · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book because I am a fan of the author's other series.
However, I was rather disappointed.
I liked the idea of two awkward old ladies running a detective agency. Some of the incidents were quite humorous, like the enactment at the hotel.
But, I found the pace really slow. The shenanigans got old quite fast. And the two detectives came across as silly and annoying. The final big reveal written in Agatha Christie style was not all that it was hyped up to be.
I am unsure whether the whole point of the tale was a tongue in cheek attitude to Christie and Conan Doyle (since famous cases of both Poirot and Holmes were mentioned), but it did not work for me.
Sorry!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light hearted read with two main characters, Mrs Churchill and Miss Pemberton. This is set in a village and has all the characteristics of village life. I enjoyed the quirky sense of humour and although they seem to bumble along, getting themselves in and out of many awkward situations, they do surprisingly solve the crime. I don’t know whether I was more surprised that they discovered the culprit or the identity of the murderer.

[Les Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but my least favourite of the book written by Emily that I have read so far.

[Racheli Zusiman · Rating 3 out of 5]

ספר cosy mystery חביב.
גברת צ'רצ'יל היא אלמנה. לאחר שבעלה, מפקח בכיר במשטרה, נפטר, היא עוזבת את לונדון ועוברת לגור בכפר בריטי, לאחר שרכשה שם את סוכנות הבלשות של הבלש הפרטי אטקינס, לאחר מותו, על מנת לפצוח בקריירה חדשה של בלשית פרטית. יחד עם הסוכנות מגיעה גם מזכירתו של אטקינס, מיס פמברלי.
במלון בכפר מתרחשת טרגדיה - גברת פורזגייט נופלת מראשו של גרם מדרגות במלון ומתה. המקרה נסגר כתאונה, אולם בן הסנדקות של גב' פורזגייט חושד כי מדובר ברצח, ושוכר את שירותיה של גברת צ'רצ'יל על מנת לגלות את האמת.
הספר חביב ודי משעשע, מלא באזכורים של דברי מאפה וקינוחים (החביבים על גברת צ'רצ'יל), וגם כמה אזכורים של תעלומות עבר שפתר אטקינס, שהם למעשה רפרנסים לתעלומות של בלשים ספרותיים מפורסמים אחרים (כמו הרקול פוארו ושרלוק הולמס. זה מאוד שעשע אותי), אבל הוא גם די איטי ולרגעים גם קצת חוזר על עצמו. סך הכל קריאה חביבה ונעימה.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know writing humor is hard. After all, the actor Edmund Gwenn supposedly said, "Dying is easy, comedy is hard." Therefore, not every author can--or SHOULD--pull off a comic novel. Now, I'm all for tongue-in-cheek humor or satire but this book tried way, way, way too hard to be both and ended up being neither. The characters were buffoonish, stupid and, in some cases, buffoonish, stupid AND unpleasant. The mystery itself was weak and obvious. I'm sure this might appeal to an audience that enjoys the English pantomime or even the WWE but it is certainly not my cup of tea! I think I'll have to cleanse my humor palate with some Wodehouse. May I suggest the author do the same and maybe pick up some pointers on REAL humor writing?!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny funny funny

This is a lighthearted mystery story. Full of funny characters, hilarious situations and uncertainty as to whether there has actually been a crime. Let alone who committed it, if there was a murder. An enjoyable read for mystery lovers.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun start to my reading year 2021. I have been introduced to Mrs. Churchill and Miss Pemberley. Mrs. Churchill takes over the private detective agency of Mr. Atkins after he passes away. Her qualifications are her own deceased husband's career as a police dectective inspector. She bumbles in in her unique way in this little English village of Compton Poppleford. Both Mrs. Churchill and Miss Pemberley are endearing characters who kept me entertained and even laughing out loud. But don't underestimate Mrs. Churchill because she will sniff out the culprit. A must read for any fan of atmospheric English detectives!

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hopes for this series, but Mrs. Churchill's irritating personality put paid to that. Won't be reading any more.

[Kay Shostak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book. So funny and clever!

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An often hilarious bit of fluff.

[Richard Kettlewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

RA

I like books that have female lead characters and reflect an older generation. There was still 'action': climbing through windows and pursuing cats (even if the garden had a low slate wall at times and a low hedge at others). The duo are a pair the reader can readily warm to. I enjoyed the way the story was driven along merrily by dialogue, with just enough description to hold the story together. This kept the narrative light and entertaining. I did guess the culprit, on the basis of who else could it be. An enjoyable 'cosy crime' and characters and a style of storytelling I want to read more of. Good stuff!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, English, cosy mystery! Exactly what a summer day at the lake calls for. Thank you to the lady at the airport gate who recommended it to me. I hope you made it to your final destination!

[ShanDizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!!! A delightful escape. Too, it seemed like a running gag that Atkins' old cases sounded similar to a famous fictional detective's cases.

[Karen Moe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, light stories

I'm glad I've gotten the whole series to read now. This first one is just fun and light. I already have in my mind, what everyone looks like. Looking forward to more adventures with these ladies.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky

I enjoyed reading book 1. Loved the characters a lot. Nice read. Looking forward to book 2 which I downloaded

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful cozy mystery

MS. Organ's Churchill & Pemberley 1st in a series, is delightful entertainment for those seeking an interesting cozy read not overwhelmed with sex, blood & gore. Her plot is intriguing and I personally loved the character of MS. Pemberley. The last of the investigations is solved, and you will enjoy the very end !

[Papri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. Obviously, it was meant as a lighthearted version of the cozy murder mystery , featuring two elderly ladies, who take up sleuthing and the overall effect is simply hilarious. From rather humble beginnings, it goes on to build quite a solid case that culminates to a satisfactory end, never losing its comic freshness.

[Mrs Marion A Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

A gentle murder mystery, quite amusing in parts - perfect for the uncertain times we are living in at present. Very enjoyable.

[Kacper Nedza · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.25 stars) I was a little dubious about this book at the start because of some of the lukewarm reviews, but really I thought it was delightful. Droll and charming with the right dose of slapstick, and Churchill and Pemberley are great characters. Churchill is certainly a bit silly, but I’ll take her over a sweetly perfect heroine any day.

[lucianne qoshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Couldn't put it down. Was like Mrs Bucket (Bouquet) had suddenly turned into Miss Marple. Extremely light hearted and definitely amusing

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun new cozy mystery series by Emily Organ. Mrs. Churchill, widow of Chief Inspector Churchill, decides to buy a detective agency in a small village and set up shop. The agency comes with its own Miss Pemberley, Mr. Atkin's former secretary. Together, the two ladies get started with a murder investigation. Who pushed an old lady down the stairs at the Piddleton Hotel? What follows is mayhem and odd occurences, but the ladies come through in the end. Inspector (but not Chief Inspector) Mappin is sorely tested by these two. I had a fun time getting introduced to these two incorrigible ladies.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I love her Penny Green series I was eagerly looking forward to reading this. But what a disappointment. The story, the characters, and sadly the writing was bordering on farcical at times. I nearly gave up with it but I stuck at it. Unfortunately it’s not a series of books I shall continue with.

Edit - Since I wrote the previous review I actually went back on my word and continued reading more in the series. And I have completely changed my mind! I now love the characters and enjoy the books enormously. I shall stick to the rating for this book because I think they have improved markedly from this one.

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

Since I have not read anything else by Emily Organ, I am not sure I will. This was a silly, silly book. Bumbling old ladies--one very fat and the other one is thin. The main character, Churchill, would not know a clue if it bit her on the nose. She dismisses almost all the clues she finds. This book is a comedy routine that is not funny. Churchill is a prig, bossy, stupid, arrogant, and annoying. The only reason I finished the book was I was doing dialysis and did not have another book to read.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure if I would like this at first as it is so different to Emily Organ's previous books. However I did persevere and found it better the more I read. I did find it hard to like Annabelle Churchill and wasn't sure about Doris Pemberley at the start but gradually changed my mind. The pair turned out to be cleverer than expected too.

Light hearted cosy.

There is a hint this could be a good series. Waiting for the next to find out ......

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

1932. Annabel Churchill widow of DCI of Scotland Yard decides to buy a private detective agency in the village of Compton Poppleford in Dorset. Soon she is employed by the godson to investigate the death of a Mrs Furzgate.
Unfortunately I didn't take to the two main characters or the sense of humour style of writing.

[Cyndie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the Penny Green series and I enjoyed Runaway Girl, but this one annoyed me. I think the main character was supposed to come across as quirky, but I thought she was annoying, clueless, and ditzy. I only finished the book to see how in the world she could figure out the case.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another clever mystery with Churchill and Pemberley. It reminds me of a classic who done it when the humorous sleuths gather all the suspects together in the end for the great reveal!

[Kathy Holm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy at Piddleton Hotel...Book 1

I just finished this book..never did I suspect who the murder was!!!...and you won't believe either who done it! ..and amazing story💓