The Threlkeld Theory

Lake District #11

by Rebecca Tope

A wedding day turns into a far darker affair in the idyllic Lake District. On a glorious July morning in the pretty Lake District village of Threlkeld, Simmy Brown and Christopher Henderson celebrate their wedding day. While the event passes off without undue calamity, when most of the guests have departed a severely injured young man is found nearby. Pressure on police resources compromises the investigation and speculation is rife. Was it an accident or something more sinister? What was just a chilling suspicion develops into an altogether more disturbing theory.

Genres: Mystery

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2022

About the author

Rebecca Tope is best known as the author of over twenty crime novels. She has also recently produced the e-book entitled 'The Indifference of Tumbleweed'. She has every intention of continuing with the murder stories, as well as a variety of other kinds of fiction.

She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.

She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.

Reviews

[Gabriele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this book from A to Z.

[Lidia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of RT's novels and this one was a good addition to the Lake District series. I think the real challenge for writers of series books is not so much the plot lines but the character development. I think RT is particularly skilled at this. I don't always like the way that characters evolve and change or the choices they make but that makes the series and the characters more believable. Actually the plot in this one was definitely up to scratch. They aren't always a typical whodunnit but if that element is important to you I don't think you'll be disappointed with this one. Each of the main characters has moved on from the last book and by the end of this story the seeds have been sown for more changes. I remain unconvinced about Simmy's choice of husband but that's not uncommon in life is it that we aren't always sure about our friend's romantic choices?

[Leeanne McHarg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 11 of the Lake District series finally gives us the moment we’ve all been waiting for – Simmy marries her childhood sweetheart! Of course, in true Lakes fashion, a murder is never far away, and this time it’s uncomfortably close to the wedding, with guests linked to the crime.

Ben and Bonnie do most of the investigating in this instalment, which is a refreshing shift. It’s lovely to see the growth in their relationship too, especially as they navigate the challenges of long distance.

As with previous books, the ongoing lives of the characters remain more compelling than the murder itself. The Lake District series really is like a cosy soap opera you can drop into at any time to see what your favourite characters are up to, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the UK.

Another enjoyable instalment — and I’m already looking forward to seeing what the gang get up to next.

[Simon Franklin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this is the worst written book I’ve ever read. The first three quarters of the book is people having unrealistic conversations with each other to try and explain who all the other characters are.

For research the author appears to have had a pub lunch at the Horse and Farrier and then a five minute walk around the village. Either that or has just looked on Google Maps. For a series of books obviously aimed at tourists or lovers of the area the opportunity to build any background beyond “It’s a lovely quiet village, but probably has an undertow of mystery” is completely bypassed. The denouement arrives with zero build up and makes very little sense.

I’m pretty sure I won’t be searching out the previous 10 in the series the next time I’m in Booths in Keswick.

[sue emsley smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

P9

Entertaining if totally unrealistic stories.
Simmy is a bit pathetic, scared of many things and obsessed with babies and worst of all doesn't like dogs!
Ben, although clever, is a rather arrogant brat, sure of his own importance and lacking empathy or tact.
Moxon is a lovely character. 8n 5jis book he is married to Jane who cannot have children. In book 4 when Simmy first finds out he is married his wife is called Sue as and they have 2 sons away at college. I fail to understand such a major error.

[Irene Calera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this a Christmas present. After I started reading it, I realised that I was missing back story, it's the 11th book of a series. It has its own story but keeps mentioning things from the past that I'm not aware of. I would have enjoyed it more if I would have read the previous books. It was entertaining.

[Rowena Onions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to on Audible.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focused a lot on Ben whose skills were rather weak in this book. He did come around at the end.

[Stephen Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read but getting the plot to unravel in the last chapter makes the reader feel that much time has been wasted and a sudden move from the author to get finished. Glad it’s the last one.

[JenniferB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good example of the Lake District series. Good development of the main characters and their situation.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great story in this Lake District series.

[Susan Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Tope's books are always enjoyable I have read them all.