The Case of the Beached Mermaid

Follet Valley Mysteries #0.5

by Ian Moore

Genres: Mystery

ebook

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Best-Selling author Ian Moore is also a stand-up comedian and conference host in the UK, and husband, father of three boys, farmhand, chutney-maker and Basil Fawlty impersonator in France. Since doing less stand-up, he's stopped taking himself so seriously.

Reviews

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny little story.

[Bonnie J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't care for this at all. Kept hoping it'd get better. What was really irritating was the author's assumption that we'd all know French slang. It was hard to enjoy when you didn't understand a lot of their slang words.

[Claire Smith-Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amuse bouche of a book and a great way to introduce the characters for the upcoming books.

Richard is busy enjoying life when he gets a call from the local government in the village calling him to a town meeting. Somehow he gets volunteered to be the one to investigate the strange event witnessed by the town drunk.

He discovered more than he bargained for but managed the situation in his very own slightly bumbling style.

A really quick read but great fun

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny novella of this series. Loving it

[Marie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard and Clare Ainsworth uproot their lives, buy a B & B in Follet Valley and are determined to become successful innkeepers in a small town. Richard is more than happy and content in his new life, but his wife is not and she is currently “away on business” for an indefinite period of time. When the town elder calls for an emergency town meeting, Richard reluctantly puts his wineglass down and attends. In the meeting they discuss the claim by the town drunk that he was attacked in the woods, at night, by a mermaid. Since they have to send someone out to investigate this outrageous claim, Richard is chosen since he is “the new kid in town.” Out he goes, again reluctantly putting down his wineglass, into the woods at night, to investigate the town drunk’s claim when suddenly he sees a glowing light in front of him. This light gradually forming into the shape of a beautiful woman, but instead of a mermaid, the woman’s body turns into a snake.
This story is the prequel to the book, Death and Croissants, which tells of the continuing adventures of Richard, who has had time to get another glass of wine or two, before counting his investigation in the woods.

[Hugh Dunnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more a preamble to the series than a short story:
Read either when about to start Death and Croissants or if well into the series and wanting a little more background. Still fun 'tho!

[Sue de Boeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much shorter than I expected. A very brief introduction into life in the Follet valley. Described as a prequel to the original first book I suppose it does introduce the characters, but not much else.
Still it was at least free!

[Chrystine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m glad I read the first book before reading this one, otherwise this would have been the end of Richard and Ava Gardner.

[Yoeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veeeeery short prequel.
Not bad, but wouldn't pay for it.
Luckily it was free.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction to the life of an abandoned/retired but now running a B&B Englishman in a small village in the Follet Valley.

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great novella introducing us to the main protagonist and supporting roles with a little mystery set in the woods

[Jason Arbuckle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 84 - Ian Moore - The Case of the Beached Mermaid

Sometimes, in the dregs of the free eBooks, there appears a little diamond, a witty, well written, wonderful little book.

It is the case that most of these free books are to get you to buy more…and you know what ? I am building up a short but lengthening list of authors I really want to revisit…ones I had never heard of but the dangling carrot of a short story or novel has got my attention.

I won’t deny…it is still hard reading on the iPad I don’t think anything will ever change my love of a good hardback book..l blame my Dad…

Anyway…The Case of the Beached Mermaid is set in France in a little village where one of the locals is attacked by a mermaid.

That is the hook…it is funny, silly, wonderfully crafted, short - as are most free eBooks, but I laughed out loud…I giggled and read it in one sitting. It was that good. His first full novel ‘Death and Croissants’ came out last month and is already on my list. A must read.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah life in Follet Valley. C’est la vie!