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Utterly Dredged
On Maundy Thursday 2014, DI Clive Merry is called to a man found with his head submerged in a moat about to be dredged near Eye. Could something with a name as harmless as laughing gas be a murder weapon?
The killer moves like a shadow as old friends Chrissie, Nick and Matt welcome a relocated carpentry apprentice. But the repair of an old apothecary box leads to unexpected consequences. Suspicions are cemented when the Dunwich Jewel, a 9th century aestel hits the headlines as undeclared treasure for sale.
The action moves between a moated farmhouse near Eye and Needham Market; Bury St Edmunds and Woolpit; Stowmarket, Elmsett and Sudbury. This is the ninth book in the Utterly Crime Series, but can be read as a standalone.
The killer moves like a shadow as old friends Chrissie, Nick and Matt welcome a relocated carpentry apprentice. But the repair of an old apothecary box leads to unexpected consequences. Suspicions are cemented when the Dunwich Jewel, a 9th century aestel hits the headlines as undeclared treasure for sale.
The action moves between a moated farmhouse near Eye and Needham Market; Bury St Edmunds and Woolpit; Stowmarket, Elmsett and Sudbury. This is the ninth book in the Utterly Crime Series, but can be read as a standalone.
330 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2020
1 person want to read
About the author
Pauline Manders
15 books8 followersPauline Manders was born in London where she went on to train as an ENT surgeon. She moved to East Anglia with her husband and two children, where she worked for over 30 years before retiring from the NHS. She lives in rural Suffolk in a converted barn and gains inspiration for her crime novels by walking in the countryside with her Weimaraner, Otto. Since retirement, she has had time to write, pursue her shared interest with her husband in classic cars, and also attend a local carpentry group. She is still working on carving three diving ducks as legs for a small table - some projects are more of a challenge than others!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 2, 2021
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Utterly Dredged
Author: Pauline Manders
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 15 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
9 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
11 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is a good murder/mystery, and I liked the Suffolk setting very much, having lived in Ipswich when I was younger. The writing style is sort of cosy; sort of like putting on old slippers. Very enjoyable.” Female reader, aged 52
“An interesting tri of characters, all individual, trying to solve a complex crime. I liked all the little twists in the plot and the ending was excellent. I might even hunt out the rest of the books and try them on for size!” Female reader, aged 65
“A character-led story with an original plot. This is an excellent book to curl up with on a Sunday afternoon. Possibly, readers interested in Suffolk will get the most from this novel. I did feel the pacing was slightly off in parts; it got a little slow and felt a little padded in the middle – a bit like me! 😊 But, overall, the central characters work well together, and there’s plenty of chemistry.” Female reader, aged 62
“I could see people who enjoy a cleverly-crafted murder/mystery liking this set of books. It’s sort of like Midsomer Murders; not too gruesome and always very enjoyable.” Male reader, aged 49
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted murder/mystery populated with an interesting array of characters. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Utterly Dredged
Author: Pauline Manders
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 15 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
9 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
11 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is a good murder/mystery, and I liked the Suffolk setting very much, having lived in Ipswich when I was younger. The writing style is sort of cosy; sort of like putting on old slippers. Very enjoyable.” Female reader, aged 52
“An interesting tri of characters, all individual, trying to solve a complex crime. I liked all the little twists in the plot and the ending was excellent. I might even hunt out the rest of the books and try them on for size!” Female reader, aged 65
“A character-led story with an original plot. This is an excellent book to curl up with on a Sunday afternoon. Possibly, readers interested in Suffolk will get the most from this novel. I did feel the pacing was slightly off in parts; it got a little slow and felt a little padded in the middle – a bit like me! 😊 But, overall, the central characters work well together, and there’s plenty of chemistry.” Female reader, aged 62
“I could see people who enjoy a cleverly-crafted murder/mystery liking this set of books. It’s sort of like Midsomer Murders; not too gruesome and always very enjoyable.” Male reader, aged 49
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted murder/mystery populated with an interesting array of characters. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
March 4, 2021
Gill Mather
Upbeat, very enjoyable.
I really enjoyed Utterly Dredged, reading about and getting sucked into the world of Chrissie Jax and her quirky friends. Chrissie’s involvement in her boyfriend the DI Clive’s investigation is done with subtlety but is central to the crime/detective element of the book. Coming from Suffolk myself, I liked the detail about Suffolk towns, villages, roads and countryside. There’s quite a lot of well-researched technical detail, though it was easy to absorb and didn't overwhelm. Although it’s the ninth book in the series, it was easily able to be read alone. A very good read in an upbeat style and, having finished it, I shall miss it.
Upbeat, very enjoyable.
I really enjoyed Utterly Dredged, reading about and getting sucked into the world of Chrissie Jax and her quirky friends. Chrissie’s involvement in her boyfriend the DI Clive’s investigation is done with subtlety but is central to the crime/detective element of the book. Coming from Suffolk myself, I liked the detail about Suffolk towns, villages, roads and countryside. There’s quite a lot of well-researched technical detail, though it was easy to absorb and didn't overwhelm. Although it’s the ninth book in the series, it was easily able to be read alone. A very good read in an upbeat style and, having finished it, I shall miss it.
May 30, 2020
Nick, Chrissie and Matt have been inadvertently caught up in this latest Suffolk mystery involving nitrous oxide, antiques and stolen treasure, with dire consequences. The three Suffolk friends are now joined by a young apprentice from Leicester, herself bringing even more questions and intrigue, culminating in an unexpected and very tense finale. A very enjoyable read, with a fascinating look into the world of drugs and undeclared treasure.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews