What do you think?
Rate this book
Mydworth Mysteries #9
A Distant Voice
It's Midsummer in Mydworth - and celebrated medium Bellamy Smythe is in town with his lucrative supernatural show, claiming he can contact the departed. Still deep in mourning from the loss of her father in the Great War, spinster Alice Wetherby is desperate to make contact with 'The Other Side' and Smythe is happy to oblige - even though Alice is quite broke. Suspecting that Alice isbeing played, Harry and Kat investigate. As the Midsummer festivities intensify, they find themselves in a game of high stakes deception and clever tricks, where nothing is what it seems, and everyone is a suspect...
4 pages, Audiobook
First published July 30, 2021
55 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 25, 2024
Im neunten Band der Reihe dreht sich alles um einen dubiosen Hellseher. Er kann scheinbar tatsächlich Kontakt mit den Verstorbenen aufnehmen. Das kleine Städtchen Mydworth ist in Aufruhr, besonders eine Dame, die Kontakt zu ihrem toten Vater sucht.
Kat und Harry sind skeptisch. Wird hier auf Kosten der Trauernden Geld gemacht?
Ich mag diese Reihe, und auch dieser Band hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die Geschichten spielen in den 1920 Jahren; das hat schon mal seinen eigenen Reiz. Aber auch das Thema des Buches fand ich sehr interessant.
Ein Buch für kurzweilige und unterhaltsame Lesestunden.
Kat und Harry sind skeptisch. Wird hier auf Kosten der Trauernden Geld gemacht?
Ich mag diese Reihe, und auch dieser Band hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die Geschichten spielen in den 1920 Jahren; das hat schon mal seinen eigenen Reiz. Aber auch das Thema des Buches fand ich sehr interessant.
Ein Buch für kurzweilige und unterhaltsame Lesestunden.
November 6, 2021
This ninth entry in the delightful Mydworth Mystery series might well be my favorite. Sir Harry Mortimer and his American wife Kat Reilly investigate a renowned medium who is showing an interest in a poor spinster. Neither of them believe that Bellamy Smythe’s interest in the impoverished Alice Wetherby comes from altruism, so why is he spending an inordinate time on this gullible woman? Lots of twists and turns in a wonderful frolic. Highly recommended.
August 23, 2021
Barbara’s Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Mydworth Mysteries #9
Publication Date: 7/30/21
Period: Intra-war – Mydworth - ~ 1917-1919
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a well-written, fast-paced, well-done mystery, and the characters are well-developed and likable. You’ll know who the charlatan is right from the start, but you won’t know the why or the how until the end. When you add in the wonderful descriptions of the small village of Mydworth and its citizens, you’ll feel as if you are right there with Kat and Sir Harry every step of the way.
Alice Wetherby seems to be someone who was just waiting to be exploited in some way. She is easily led and fairly easily deceived. So, when Bellamy Smythe facilitated her ‘speaking’ to her deceased father, she was a bit skeptical, but soon believed it – hook, line, and sinker. She is poor as a church mouse, so Bellamy wouldn’t have any reason to ‘con’ her or deceive her. Would he? Surely not. No, her home, the Grange, is rotting down around her – if she had money, she’d at least rid the house of the cobwebs, spiders, and mice.
Kat Reilly, Lady Mortimer, and Sir Harry Mortimer are former ‘operatives’ for their respective governments -- Kat for the United States, and Sir Harry for Great Britain. Since their marriage and ‘retirement’ from the government, they have been living in Sir Harry’s home village of Mydworth. New Yorker Kat wasn’t sure how she’d adjust to small-town life, but she’s loving it so far, and now they’ve been asked by a friend to assure that Bellamy Smythe isn’t out to defraud Alice.
Kat and Harry begin to investigate and quickly learn Bellamy has pulled some shenanigans, but knowing it and proving it are two different things. They don’t just want Bellamy, they want to discover how he is getting his information about his marks. There must be more than just Bellamy involved, but they’ll have a devil of a time discovering who is discovering and passing on such personal information.
Once the mystery is solved – and the culprits identified – will Kat and Harry be able to save Alice? Will they even be able to save themselves? You’ll just have to read this entertaining book to find the answers.
Series: Mydworth Mysteries #9
Publication Date: 7/30/21
Period: Intra-war – Mydworth - ~ 1917-1919
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a well-written, fast-paced, well-done mystery, and the characters are well-developed and likable. You’ll know who the charlatan is right from the start, but you won’t know the why or the how until the end. When you add in the wonderful descriptions of the small village of Mydworth and its citizens, you’ll feel as if you are right there with Kat and Sir Harry every step of the way.
Alice Wetherby seems to be someone who was just waiting to be exploited in some way. She is easily led and fairly easily deceived. So, when Bellamy Smythe facilitated her ‘speaking’ to her deceased father, she was a bit skeptical, but soon believed it – hook, line, and sinker. She is poor as a church mouse, so Bellamy wouldn’t have any reason to ‘con’ her or deceive her. Would he? Surely not. No, her home, the Grange, is rotting down around her – if she had money, she’d at least rid the house of the cobwebs, spiders, and mice.
Kat Reilly, Lady Mortimer, and Sir Harry Mortimer are former ‘operatives’ for their respective governments -- Kat for the United States, and Sir Harry for Great Britain. Since their marriage and ‘retirement’ from the government, they have been living in Sir Harry’s home village of Mydworth. New Yorker Kat wasn’t sure how she’d adjust to small-town life, but she’s loving it so far, and now they’ve been asked by a friend to assure that Bellamy Smythe isn’t out to defraud Alice.
Kat and Harry begin to investigate and quickly learn Bellamy has pulled some shenanigans, but knowing it and proving it are two different things. They don’t just want Bellamy, they want to discover how he is getting his information about his marks. There must be more than just Bellamy involved, but they’ll have a devil of a time discovering who is discovering and passing on such personal information.
Once the mystery is solved – and the culprits identified – will Kat and Harry be able to save Alice? Will they even be able to save themselves? You’ll just have to read this entertaining book to find the answers.
September 27, 2021
Lukijana Nathaniel Parker.
Oikein miellyttävä kuuntelukokemus. Aihepiiri oli vähän erikoisempi ja Harry ja Cat olivat hyvässä iskussa tapausta selvittäessään. Nathaniel Parketin eläytyvää lukemista on vain niin ihana kuunnella.
Oikein miellyttävä kuuntelukokemus. Aihepiiri oli vähän erikoisempi ja Harry ja Cat olivat hyvässä iskussa tapausta selvittäessään. Nathaniel Parketin eläytyvää lukemista on vain niin ihana kuunnella.
May 29, 2022
Good fun!
December 1, 2025
I love how Mydworth Mysteries have this action packed Act V, and you don't get much more action packed than charging through unknown territory in the dark on a horse, wielding someone else's sword. I don't care how much espionage you have been called to do for your country up to that point, that particular set of circumstances has not come up before and you are surviving solely on ego and plot armour at that point.
But it's all for a good cause. A medium has come to town, one of those scamming bottom-feeders who capitalise on the distress of others to make money. And look there is the other side of the equation that where it is done well, you can give people closure, peace, a solid foundation that they are loved. From that perspective, it's the realists who insist on proving it's not real who ruin the day.
Ah, it's a difficult question. How much scam is an acceptable amount of scam if there are benefits to both parties? And if your answer is zero but that means you get to ride a horse in a thrilling chase while wielding someone else's sword, have you not significantly benefited from your position, whilst denying the scam believers their joy and is that not what is now called the patriarchy?
But it's all for a good cause. A medium has come to town, one of those scamming bottom-feeders who capitalise on the distress of others to make money. And look there is the other side of the equation that where it is done well, you can give people closure, peace, a solid foundation that they are loved. From that perspective, it's the realists who insist on proving it's not real who ruin the day.
Ah, it's a difficult question. How much scam is an acceptable amount of scam if there are benefits to both parties? And if your answer is zero but that means you get to ride a horse in a thrilling chase while wielding someone else's sword, have you not significantly benefited from your position, whilst denying the scam believers their joy and is that not what is now called the patriarchy?
January 30, 2025
Ninth in the Mydworth mysteries, A Distant Voice is, once again lots of fun! Unfortunately, and this really saddens me, I cannot find anymore of the books, not on Amazon and not at my library. I prefer a book in my hands rather a tablet (and which I do not own), so the remaining 8 stories I may never get to read.
I love the relationship between Sir Harry and Lady Kat Mortimer. The mysteries are never boring, are always fresh and so much fun!
It's Midsummer in Mydworth, an annual event new to American born Kat, not that they get to participate in it. Because wouldn't you know, there's trouble brewing in the small village again. This time a celebrated medium, Bellamy Smythe, is in town with his supernatural show claiming he can contact the dead. Spinster, Alice Wetherby, is still in mourning from the loss of her beloved father and is willing to contact "The Other Side", though it's apparent the family money is long gone. Harry and Kat suspect Bellamy is a fraud and decide that Alice isn't being played.
I love the relationship between Sir Harry and Lady Kat Mortimer. The mysteries are never boring, are always fresh and so much fun!
It's Midsummer in Mydworth, an annual event new to American born Kat, not that they get to participate in it. Because wouldn't you know, there's trouble brewing in the small village again. This time a celebrated medium, Bellamy Smythe, is in town with his supernatural show claiming he can contact the dead. Spinster, Alice Wetherby, is still in mourning from the loss of her beloved father and is willing to contact "The Other Side", though it's apparent the family money is long gone. Harry and Kat suspect Bellamy is a fraud and decide that Alice isn't being played.
March 15, 2022
I’ve listened to all of the Mydworth mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed A Distant Voice. It is well-written and fast-paced. I like Kat and Harry. They make a good pair and are both more than competent.
We know Bellamy Smythe is a fraud. Alice Wetherby is his target, but the question is why. She clearly has no money. Kat and Harry have been asked by a friend to make sure Smythe isn’t out to defraud Alice. Of course, he is but proving it is another matter. They don’t just want Bellamy, either, they want to know how he is getting his information about the townspeople. How, why, and who all need answers.
It’s an entertaining book. It takes a bit of research, some questioning, and a minor breaking and entering, for Harry and Kat to find the answers. There’s a bit of danger involved, as always, but nothing our couple can’t handle.
We know Bellamy Smythe is a fraud. Alice Wetherby is his target, but the question is why. She clearly has no money. Kat and Harry have been asked by a friend to make sure Smythe isn’t out to defraud Alice. Of course, he is but proving it is another matter. They don’t just want Bellamy, either, they want to know how he is getting his information about the townspeople. How, why, and who all need answers.
It’s an entertaining book. It takes a bit of research, some questioning, and a minor breaking and entering, for Harry and Kat to find the answers. There’s a bit of danger involved, as always, but nothing our couple can’t handle.
March 27, 2022
The mystery in this episode centers around unmasking a charlatan. An acclaimed medium has been invited to Mydworth by a woman living in genteel poverty who desperately wants to communicate with her dead father (or even her brothers who died in The Great War). A friend asks the pair to debunk this crook and the sleuthing begins.
Whether you've kept up with this series, haven't read one in over a year, or never read one at all, I guarantee that you'll be as caught up in this as I was. And they make a great background while doing mindless tasks or sitting and waiting!
Nathaniel Parker brings the characters alive and adds to the suspense!
Whether you've kept up with this series, haven't read one in over a year, or never read one at all, I guarantee that you'll be as caught up in this as I was. And they make a great background while doing mindless tasks or sitting and waiting!
Nathaniel Parker brings the characters alive and adds to the suspense!
October 19, 2021
A good premise of a story, but the dates where all over the place. At one point it seems Harry is both in his mid to late thirties or mid twenties. If he was a young boy in 1912 how could he have severed in WW1? There aren’t many such instances like that which really pulled me out of the story trying to figure out the chronology.
October 20, 2022
I love this series…
This series does not disappoint as long as you are willing to accept the Mydworth wold the authors have created. The danger is exciting without blood and gore. The romance is implied without detailed sexual content. The thrill keep going without being boring and unpredictable.
Keep up the good cozy stories. I will continue following Kit and Harry.
This series does not disappoint as long as you are willing to accept the Mydworth wold the authors have created. The danger is exciting without blood and gore. The romance is implied without detailed sexual content. The thrill keep going without being boring and unpredictable.
Keep up the good cozy stories. I will continue following Kit and Harry.
November 14, 2023
Bellamy Smythe är ett medium som nu kommit till Mydworth, där han ska hålla en seans för bland andra Alice Wetherby, som desperat försöker få kontakt med fadern som dog under kriget.
Vänner till henne tror att hon är på väg att bli lurad och kontaktar sir Harry, som tillsammans med sin fru Kat, börjar undersöka det hela.
De hittar spår som visar att det - så klart - är lurendrejeri, men vem mer än Smythe ligger bakom det hela och varför?
***
Kort, lite lagom spännande samt med viss humor: precis som tidigare böcker om de två. Och raskt slänger jag mig över nästa del i serien. 🙂
(Observera att jag inte sa nånting om den helt suveräne uppläsaren Nathaniel Parker, den här gången… 😉 )
Vänner till henne tror att hon är på väg att bli lurad och kontaktar sir Harry, som tillsammans med sin fru Kat, börjar undersöka det hela.
De hittar spår som visar att det - så klart - är lurendrejeri, men vem mer än Smythe ligger bakom det hela och varför?
***
Kort, lite lagom spännande samt med viss humor: precis som tidigare böcker om de två. Och raskt slänger jag mig över nästa del i serien. 🙂
(Observera att jag inte sa nånting om den helt suveräne uppläsaren Nathaniel Parker, den här gången… 😉 )
July 31, 2024
I really like this series. Great cozy mysteries, with Sir Harry, his American wife Kay and his Aunt Lavinia. Never seems to be a quiet or dull moment for long in their little village of Mydworth. Have been reading this since the very beginning and every time I read another book in the series, it’s like visiting with old friends.
April 2, 2025
Enjoy listening to these as the voice of Nathanial Parker is perfect for the time. Post WWI and starting to approach the Jazz Age Lord Harry and his wife find that a medium has come to their village and they wonder why he is intent on helping one of the poorer (old rich lost money) members of the community find her father on the other side.
October 24, 2021
I do love this series, along with Cherringham and Bunbury, because quick easy palate cleaners are actually hard to find and truly enjoyable ones even mores0. "A Distant Voice" delivers on everything it is supposed to. It is not my favorite of the series but it is fun and I had a great time with it.
August 16, 2022
Fun read!
This book seemed to be a bit more tame than some of the other Mydworth books by Costello and Richards. I really enjoy their style and imagination. Every one is a fun, easy read.
This book seemed to be a bit more tame than some of the other Mydworth books by Costello and Richards. I really enjoy their style and imagination. Every one is a fun, easy read.
May 17, 2023
Ghosts, mediums, and things that go bump in the night. Harry and Kat are pulled in when a medium comes to town. He’s going after one of the town’s poorest residents, but he may know more than he should.
January 9, 2024
For Kat, it is her first time at the Mydworth summer festivities. Although she finds them rather bizarre and, while the mystery is rather easily solved, she does eventually get into the spirit of things.
June 14, 2024
I love the variety of mysteries in this series. It’s not always murder! This was another very enjoyable and engaging story. They finally reveal, stating plainly, how Harry’s parents died (however, if you picked up the clues, then you know!). Such great storytelling!
Read
June 21, 2021Ich brauche das Buch jetzt!!! AAAHHHHHHHH.
July 31, 2021
To Hurried
Short is good, but not when important scenes are missing. Too much jumping around leaves the reader why the authors were in such a hurry to write the END.
Short is good, but not when important scenes are missing. Too much jumping around leaves the reader why the authors were in such a hurry to write the END.
August 7, 2021
Entertaining Read
Good short reads . Like the characters..always ready for the next book to come out! And , of course, I hope it is soon!
Good short reads . Like the characters..always ready for the next book to come out! And , of course, I hope it is soon!
August 10, 2021
Some ideas from Sir Harry...
He got some of the action too! I was getting a trifle weary of it always being Kat that had the ideas. More of the same please.
He got some of the action too! I was getting a trifle weary of it always being Kat that had the ideas. More of the same please.
September 12, 2021
Too predictable- but I still like this series.
September 26, 2021
Wieder eine kurzweilige Geschichte mit den bekannten Charakteren. Easy and fun read!
November 6, 2021
Audiobook : Spotify.
Read by Nathaniel Parker.
Read by Nathaniel Parker.
Read
November 16, 2021Audiobook
November 21, 2021
Great stories
I like the main characters. The story line keeps me in suspense! I read in on sitting. Love the stories
I like the main characters. The story line keeps me in suspense! I read in on sitting. Love the stories
December 4, 2021
,Cute
A fast little read. An enjoyable story regarding a seance and greed. How Harry and Kat solve the case and save a friend from deceit makes for an interesting story.
A fast little read. An enjoyable story regarding a seance and greed. How Harry and Kat solve the case and save a friend from deceit makes for an interesting story.
April 7, 2022
audiobook format
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews