A Body at a Boarding School

Lord Edgington Investigates #2

by Benedict Brown

Something is rotten at the Oakton Academy for Distinguished Young Gentlemen.

With rumours of fighting, cheating, and all-night parties – and that’s just the teachers – the headmaster is losing control of the school.

When a body is discovered, bludgeoned to death with a monkey statue on the last day of term, renowned detective Lord Edgington and his bumbling grandson Christopher are on hand to search for the killer. But with such a range of despicable suspects, – again, that’s just the teachers – plotting prefects and maniacal students to choose from, will the discordant duo be up to the challenge?

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, British Literature

243 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2021

About the author

Writing has always been my passion. It was my favourite hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing. I spent a long time writing kids’ books, including funny fairy tales, dystopic adventures and serious issue-based YA, before switching to murder mysteries last year.

I grew up in a crime fiction family and spent a long time dreaming up the idea for my detective Izzy Palmer’s debut novel. A Corpse Called Bob is my first full-length book for adults in what is already becoming a long series.

I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living with my French/Spanish wife and slightly muddled daughter in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain. I write overlooking the Castilian countryside, trying not to be distracted by the vultures and red kites that fly past my window each day.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhh, boarding school...
It's the last day of school at Oakton Academy and Christopher has been looking forward to seeing his family. Especially his grandfather, Lord Edgington.
But first, he needs to steal back a rather impertinent drawing of the headmaster before it can be used to incriminate his ex-bully turned protector & friend, Marmaduke.
Unfortunately, instead of sneaking into the office to swipe a picture, he stumbles in and discovers the body of the recently murdered subject of said artwork.



And now Christopher and his grandfather are on the case!
Can they solve the crime before all the suspects pack up and go home for the summer holidays?



This is my second book by Benedict Brown in the Lord Edgington Investigates series, and this time around I noticed that I kept looking for excuses to keep listening to the story. Not because the mystery was blowing me away but because it was just charming.
I think I've found my new cozy mystery series.
Recommended.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

1920's murder mystery
I do enjoy the relationship of grandfather/grandson in this series, and this entry gives us lively action at a boy's school with the end of year party and recognition. Of course there will be murder and a long list of crimes at Lord Edgington's grandson's school. This makes 3 of 4 books for me, so just one left to enjoy. There is a good deal of detecting with good humour throughout the tale.

Kindle Unlimited

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

At about ninety-percent through the book, I was certain this would be a four-star read. I couldn't believe the author got the culprit WRONG! How could he do that? But alas, I was both wrong and right. And all is well in the mystery world of Lord Edgington and his grandson.

Also, can I just say that Mr. Adelaide needs a good kick? !!!! I'd like to give him a piece of my mind (and I can't afford to be throwing them away willy-nilly!). Harumph. Seriously, his bully of a son is worth ten of him. Maybe a hundred.

The characters in here was a delightful mix of stereotypical "boarding school" bullies--adult and child--sensible, kind people, and bumbling, "hardened," criminals. Reading wasn't just fun... it was a delight.

However, I did discover that Audible messed me up and did not send me to the book I needed to have read next. So I'm off to do that now. Harumph!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but not as enjoyable as some other murder mysteries I have read. Not sure I will be continuing on with the series at this point.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cosy Golden Age-style mystery. It’s the second in the series and I feel the author has settled into the light humorous style that is needed for his characters, and that these have developed enough from the first book for the reader to begin to care about them. The traditional boarding school setting also works well - we have the stereotypes of brutal punishment, horrible food, feuding masters, bullies and loyal friends - with a few added twists to keep the story fresh.

Christopher Prentiss has got himself into a bit of a scrape that leads to a detour to the headmaster’s office in the middle of a cross country run at the school Sports Day/Prizegiving. Unfortunately, he finds the headmaster dead with a jar of chemicals bubbling away on his head! Luckily Chrissy’s grandfather, retired Scotland Yard superintendent Lord Edgington, is present at the event, and begins an investigation with Chrissy tagging along.

This was a quick fun read, with plenty to smile at. The characters were nicely drawn and easy to keep track of, not always an easy task in this genre, and the plot was well structured and had enough twists to keep the reader engaged. The reveal section at the end was a little bit drawn out, but not so much that it spoiled my enjoyment. 3.5*, rounded up for the humour and for Delilah the dog!

[Janet Farnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! I loved the setting, the characters, and the writing style. This is a series for those who find a majority of cozy mysteries a bit too juvenile and regular detective stories often too gory and sleazy. Christopher and his eccentric grandfather are the perfect middle ground with stories (I have finished 2 of the books) that are complex and interesting with lots of humor and unexpected twists. The settings please the visual imagination and the plots are engaging. This is sophisticated writing without the need to "push the envelope" as the saying goes to excuse attempts at being "cool" and current that frequently plague modern storytelling. I am a huge fan and will hope for many more books in this series!

[Jenny Musson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strong sequel, I really enjoy the voice of the main character, Christopher, it give the story a lot of humour. The mystery was intriguing, however I felt that the ending dragged. The reveal and explanation was really drawn out that I started to lose interest.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weak case. Not much more against Steadfast as against the secretary

[Ann Gillaspie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery set in the 1920s England

This was a fun mystery to figure out along with young Master Christopher and his former police superintendent grandfather, Lord Edgington. One would think a boarding school is a most unlikely place for murder and mayhem but that is exactly what happens at Oakton Academy. I enjoyed the main characters in this plot twisting story. There is humor and affection entwined in the mystery and the description of the setting is beautifully done.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He smiled to himself in that way old people do when thinking back on their childhoods. I couldn’t tell you Mr Mayfield’s age exactly, but he was thirty if he was a day."

30? ouch!

Chrissy is not a runner, he is not good with math, nor chemistry, nor history...
but he can eat! and make an awesome sidekick for his Grandfather. He is simply adorable.

a cane, a chemistry experiment, a marathon, and an awesome set-down!

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book

[Rick Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit on the slow side, this episode was a step down from its predecessors. A decent mystery, but the narrator's lack of confidence and competence was wearing.

[Rex Branstetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Good One

Another good, easy-to-read mystery novel from B. Brown. The lead characters carry on from book 1 with the solving of another murder. Lord E. is still the master of observation and deduction, and his grandson is starting to improve his skills. I enjoyed the ending, and appreciate the author staying with the clean dialogue and avoiding the addition of crud to the novel just for novelty’s sake.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so charming and wholesome in the best way. Christopher and his grandfather, Lord Edgington are attending field day at Christopher's boarding school when the headmaster is murdered in his office, so this duo gets to use their skills to solve the case. Lord Edgington tries several times to give his grandson his moment to shine as an observant investigator, and I love the dynamic between these two characters. I hope Benedict Brown keeps writing these stories!

[Bobbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-2.5 stars. I enjoyed the first book in this series so much and was so looking forward to this book. I was so disappointed. The characters didn’t even seem the same- it was like I was reading an entirely different series.

[K.E. O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, thoroughly British boarding school romp with lots of vile suspects. Love the interactions between the grandad and the MC. Lots of fun.

[Danielle Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not as fun as the other books I’ve completed in the series but still enjoyable

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. I have the next one in the series and will read it, but most likely won't read any more of them.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1925 The last day of term has arrived at Oakton Academy with sports day. But Tobias Hardcastle, headmaster, is found murdered. Lord Edgington investigates.
An entertining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of varied characters.

[Amanda Meggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun story about Chrissy and Lord Edgington

Chrissy and his three friends are surprised to be joined by Marmelade, who also surprised Christopher by rescuing him from a beating. After their exploits on the eve of the end of the school year C & M are rescued themselves from a beating by the headmaster.

Chrissy discovers the bludgeoned body of the headmaster on the last day of school and runs to fetch Lord Edgington who is delighted to be given another chance to solve a murder

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christopher and his distinguished grandfather, renowned former Inspector Lord Edgington, are back on the hunt for a murderer. It's the last day of term at the Oakton Academy for Distinguished Young Gentleman and Christopher thinks the worst thing that might happen is a beating at the hands of the school bullies who have been after him ever since he laughed at a smiling pigeon and the ringleader thought Christopher was laughing at him. Or maybe it will just be that he has to run in the sixth form's cross country race--and Christopher hates few things more than running. But when his ex-bully, turned protector and friend Marmaduke asks him for a favor, he little suspects that he'll find a dead body.

Marmaduke had planned a grand joke on the cruel headmaster--a particularly hideous drawing that would be on display before the entire school on parents' day. But the headmaster caught him in the act of setting up the display and plans to out Marmaduke to his despicable father, so Marmaduke asks Christopher to slip into the headmaster's office while the race is being run and retrieve the drawing. Christopher is reluctant to risk the headmaster's wrath until he realizes that he will get out of running the race...and when he reaches the headmaster's office, he realizes that he won't have to worry about the headmaster's wrath ever again. Somebody has put an end to the man's cruelty for good. Fortunately, Christopher's grandfather is on hand to take over the investigation and bring the killer to justice.

I'm always a sucker for academically-inclined mysteries and one set during the Golden Age of Mysteries is definitely right up my alley. Fine setting, interesting characters, and a nice twisty plot with red herrings. What more could you ask for? Well, perhaps less of Christopher running on in the almost wrap-up scene. His grandfather gathers all the suspects, lines them up, and then tells Christopher to give them the big reveal of how "they" figured it all out. Except Christopher hasn't got all the threads in his hands and has to wander around and tell every single little detail that we, the readers, have already gotten first hand as we followed the sleuths around. It was just a tad bit tedious, especially since Christopher has none of the aplomb and self-assurance of a Poirot doing the same stunt in Agatha Christie. If you're going to put on a big show at the end, you should at least be absolutely sure that you're right. But, of course, Lord Edgington does do the honors eventually when we get to the absolutely final wrap-up scene.

This is a very good second story in the series. Often sophomore efforts tend to lose a little of the shine when debut novels have been strong. But other than the wrap-up scene, Brown does an excellent job continuing the series. I look forward to the next one (which I just recently picked up at a used book store). ★★★ and 1/2 (just slightly weaker than the debut--so not rounding up)

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Love a Good Mystery

This is a totally enjoyable book. Chrissy and his grandfather are great together. It's refreshing for the main character/narrator to admit that he doesn't know what is going on. Being young and not necessarily the brightest crayon in the box is very appealing to a reader like me. I must have changed my mind about the murderer at least three times.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different and so fun!

I'm so glad I stumbled on this series! Poor Chrissy is bullied again by brothers but a new ally both protects him and gets him into a pickle. It's a good kind of pickle investigating with his grandfather and and it's quite the challenge. Love the characters, the writing, the pace and how the plot unfolds. I'm ready for book 3!

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher and his grandfather are a treat. These books are fun, witty, and a great read. Christopher and his grandfather’s relationship is wonderful to read about especially as they solve mysteries and Chris is forced out of his comfort zone.

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't figure out till a good way in that this wasn't actually written in the 1920s. It has that Wodehouse/Christie feel that I love.

The story is told by a 14-year-old boy who's at a horrible English boarding school run by a tyrannical headmaster. His grandfather's a retired police detective who's at the school for the end of term festivities, so when the headmaster's murdered the boy and his grandfather conduct the investigation. Naturally they uncover all sorts of secrets along the way.

This was an audiobook for me so I can't comment on how well the plot holds up. There were whole chapters I thought I was listening to but discovered I'd actually slept through them; I did a lot of rewinding but I think I still missed a fair bit.

It's the characters and the setting, together with the writing style, that made this a fun read for me. I kept comparing it to my own boarding school experience in high school in the late 1960s, which thankfully was nothing at all like the Oakton Academy for Distinguished Young Gentlemen. The women who worked in our dining hall didn't throw ladles at students, our teachers were earnest and dedicated, and our headmaster didn't have a flogging block in his office. And Aunt Henri, our housemother, was as different from Oakton's matron as she could be.

One thing that struck me was that 1920s-era deference to people with titles. It's similar to what you see in Ngaio Marsh or Dorothy L. Sayers, where the detective is a Sir or a Lord or whatever, and therefore everyone cooperates with them, whether they have any official authority or not. There's a speech in the book - I think it's introducing the prize-giving - and the speaker says something like "Lord so-and-so, parents, honored guests," specifically acknowledging the boy's grandfather who happens to be a Lord but has no other special status at the school. He's just a student's grandpa. There's another spot where the narrator comments that the house they're visiting (I think it's the headmaster's house) is the smallest one he's ever been in, because everyone he knows lives in some great manor house or whatever. Such a strange way to live.

[Barbara Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Body at a Boarding School, the second book in Benedict Brown’s Lord Edgington Investigates series, is another engaging British mystery featuring the intrepid Lord Edgington and his grandson, Christopher.

It is the penultimate day of the term at Oakton Academy, and Christopher Prentiss is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his mother and grandfather to celebrate Parents’ Day, a day full of scholastic awards and athletic contests for the students. The festivities, however, are marred by the untimely murder of the school’s headmaster, Mr. Hardcastle. It is the quintessential whodunnit. Was it the headmaster’s wife? The teacher who was helplessly besotted with her? A vengeful student, tired of abusive punishment? Or one of the visiting parents with an axe to grind? Due to the impending dismissal of the students and teachers for summer, there is no time to waste in solving the crime. Never fear, Lord Edgington, who had formerly been with the police, has arrived. With a little help from Christopher, he must sift through clues, secrets, and red herrings to unmask a murderer.

I am fond of books set in schools, especially where there is a mystery involved. Here, Oakton Academy provides the perfect backdrop for murder and a plethora of ready suspects. Despite the straightforward tone of the investigation (conducted mainly through interrogation of the suspects), the mystery itself is quite complex, with various twists and turns that will have you rethinking your conclusion several times. And I enjoyed learning a bit more about Christopher’s classmates – especially “Marmalade.” I hope we will see more of him in future books.

A Body at a Boarding School is an utterly charming British cozy. Master Christopher is the perfect Watson to Lord Edgington’s Holmes, and the duo make reading a delight. I look forward to book three in this entertaining series.

[Ka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another serviceable cozy murder mystery. This time, set at Christopher's boarding school -- it's the last day of term, and while doing a huge favor for Marmalade (a vastly more interesting character), his school bully slash new friend, Christopher discovers their headmaster murdered in his office.

Luckily, his grandfather, Lord Edgington, is on site with all the other families for the end-of-term festivities (along with Christopher's mom, as well as Marmalade's crappy rich ex-criminal dad). Even more luckily, the police Inspector Blunt, despite his obvious antipathy towards Lord Edgington, has apparently just totally given up on inspecting and pretty much immediately lets Lord Edgington do his job for him. Which is whatever, I guess. I don't really get why the author made Blunt so antagonistic, which makes his behavior here seem strange; if Blunt liked or admired Lord Edgington, him allowing an old man and a 16-year-old boy to run free around the crime scene would make more sense.

Speaking of the latter, I'm trying to be generous because I know chubby teenage dweebs don't have the abilities of adults, but as someone else noted in a review, it can get a bit tiresome when the narrator, our perspective character, is so incompetent and lacking in confidence. Other reviews indicate that there are many people who do enjoy Christopher's point of view, so perhaps I'm just old and crotchety. It seems like a goal of the books overall will be to make Christopher not just an investigator like his grandfather, but also a Man, so perhaps if I give him time and a few more books, he'll get more interesting.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't love the first book of this series but thought it was good enough to merit a try at book 2. This one was much better. The mystery is solid and everything is well explained. And neither Christopher or his grandfather are nearly as annoying. I guess they're both a bit more self-aware. Also, of course, by this time Christopher is no longer 'just humoring' the old man and has gotten better at observing things, if not always drawing the logical conclusion.

The case involves the murder of the school's headmaster during parents day at the end of the school year. Christopher finds the body because he's sneaked away from the cross country run he's supposed to be on to retrieve a drawing from the head's office on behalf of a friend. Smartly, as soon as he sees the body, he heads straight for his grandfather.

Despite the crowds, there is a limited pool of reasonable suspects. And during the course of the investigation quite a bit comes out about some of the teachers, how the school is really run, and various illicit goings on. I have no idea how much of it is based on what a boys boarding school in the mid 1920s was really like, but I suspect there's some exaggeration. There were certain things that certainly could not have been kept secret, even at a school well in the country.

On the conclusion, Christopher has again gotten only partway there, but has definitely contributed some key insights. And is encouraged by his grandfather's promise to keep teaching him. I'll continue with the series for now.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good second installment in the series. Christopher has just finished the term at boarding school and his grandfather and mother have come for family day. Unfortunately, Christopher is ending the school year with a bang, literally, when he discovers the dead body of the headmaster after a chemical explosion drew his attention. The man was killed with a bash to the head and the explosion was nothing more than a distraction, but who killed him and why? The suspect list includes the history teacher, who wants the headmaster's job, the secretary, the chemistry teacher and a pair of former criminals who are working at the school. Through their investigations, Lord Edgington and Christopher learn that the history teacher was running an illegal night club and gambling hall in the dining room on weekends, the secretary noticed accounting discrepancies in the school records and reported it to the headmaster, and the chemistry teacher had a crush on the headmaster's wife. Eventually they figure out that the history teacher was the killer but that the headmaster's wife was the true mastermind behind the plot. She wanted a divorce but had no money so she started skimming money from the school once she learned that the history teacher was laundering the club's money through the school's accounts. She had been planning her escape but couldn't kill her husband herself or else it would look suspicious so she pretended to be in love with the history teacher so that he would do her bidding and together they tried to frame the chemistry teacher. Onto the next

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the end of the school year at Oakton Academy which is a day of celebration and activities. It is also Parent's Day at the academy, but it is not all peaceful! There have been rumors of school funds going missing and wild parties after hours. While on a special errand for Marmaduke Adelaide, Christopher finds the headmaster, Mr. Hardcastle, in his office...dead!

Lord Edgington recognizes two people at the school who he had previously arrested for petty crimes. When he talks with them, he knows they are hiding something, but they deny any involvement in anything illegal. When Mrs. Hardcastle is informed of her husband's death, she seemed unmoved by the news.

Who killed Hardcastle? Why was he killed? Who is stealing the school funds? Who is behind all of the gambling and all-night parties? Can Lord Edgington and Christopher unravel the mystery?

Benedict Brown has another wonderful adventure with this story. The characters are very realistic with believable situations. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged clear to the end. He also includes some refreshing humor throughout to give the story a more relaxed and laid-back feeling.