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Campbell and Carter Mystery #4
Pluie, pubs et chouettes hulottes
Le village de Weston St Ambrose, dans les Cotswolds, est confronté à l'hiver le plus pluvieux jamais enregistré. Alors que la rivière sort de son lit, on aperçoit une jeune fille flotter en aval. Morte...
Appelée pour enquêter, l'inspecteur Jess Campbell découvre que le corps est celui de Courtney Higson, la serveuse du restaurant où dîne le club d'écrivains local. Tous la connaissaient. Certains mieux que d'autres semble-t-il. Jusqu'à envisager un meurtre ?
Le commissaire Carter, de son côté, regarde du côté du père de la victime, petit bandit de la région, récemment sorti de prison. Carter et Campbell savent qu'ils doivent agir rapidement pour trouver l'assassin de Courtney avant que son père ne se fasse justice lui-même...
Appelée pour enquêter, l'inspecteur Jess Campbell découvre que le corps est celui de Courtney Higson, la serveuse du restaurant où dîne le club d'écrivains local. Tous la connaissaient. Certains mieux que d'autres semble-t-il. Jusqu'à envisager un meurtre ?
Le commissaire Carter, de son côté, regarde du côté du père de la victime, petit bandit de la région, récemment sorti de prison. Carter et Campbell savent qu'ils doivent agir rapidement pour trouver l'assassin de Courtney avant que son père ne se fasse justice lui-même...
342 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2015
141 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Ann Granger
76 books301 followersAnn Granger attended the Northern Grammar School for Girls, and had thoughts about becoming a veterinarian, but discovered women were not accepted into vet schools because they were not believed to be strong enough. Instead she earned a Modern Languages degree at the University of London, where she first developed a desire to become a writer. worked in British embassies in various parts of the world. She met her husband, who was also working for the British Embassy, in Prague and together they received postings to places as far apart as Munich and Lusaka. They had two children.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
June 29, 2023
Neil Stewart ist Schriftsteller. Gemeinsam mit seiner Frau Beth ist er aus London aufs Land gezogen. Ihr neues Heim liegt idyllisch an einem Fluss. Eines Tages ist es plötzlich mit der Ruhe vorbei, als am alten Anlegesteg hinter dem Haus der Stewarts die Leiche einer jungen Frau angespült wird. Offensichtlich wurde sie ermordet. Die Suche nach dem Täter beginnt.
**
Mein Leseeindruck:
Wer englische Kriminalromane mag, der kommt an Ann Granger eigentlich gar nicht vorbei. Auch "Mord mit spitzer Feder" ist für mich ein typischer englischer Wohlfühlkrimi. Es ist ein eher ruhiger Kriminalroman. Die Krimihandlung gerät schon fast ein wenig in den Hintergrund, dafür werden die zum Teil sehr schrulligen Figuren mehr beleuchtet. Die Spannung geht dadurch aber nicht verloren; mich hat das Buch von Anfang an fesseln können.
Ann Granger hat einen sehr angenehmen Schreib- und Erzählstil. Sie schreibt unkompliziert und konnte bei mir ein buntes Kopfkino auslösen. Ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen und habe dieses "englische Flair" sehr genossen.
Auch wenn das Buch schon der vierte Band einer Krimi-Reihe ist, so kann man diesen Teil durchaus auch ohne Vorwissen aus den Vorgängerbänden lesen. Ich habe auf jeden Fall jetzt richtig Lust bekommen, noch viele weitere Bücher der Autorin zu lesen.
**
Mein Leseeindruck:
Wer englische Kriminalromane mag, der kommt an Ann Granger eigentlich gar nicht vorbei. Auch "Mord mit spitzer Feder" ist für mich ein typischer englischer Wohlfühlkrimi. Es ist ein eher ruhiger Kriminalroman. Die Krimihandlung gerät schon fast ein wenig in den Hintergrund, dafür werden die zum Teil sehr schrulligen Figuren mehr beleuchtet. Die Spannung geht dadurch aber nicht verloren; mich hat das Buch von Anfang an fesseln können.
Ann Granger hat einen sehr angenehmen Schreib- und Erzählstil. Sie schreibt unkompliziert und konnte bei mir ein buntes Kopfkino auslösen. Ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen und habe dieses "englische Flair" sehr genossen.
Auch wenn das Buch schon der vierte Band einer Krimi-Reihe ist, so kann man diesen Teil durchaus auch ohne Vorwissen aus den Vorgängerbänden lesen. Ich habe auf jeden Fall jetzt richtig Lust bekommen, noch viele weitere Bücher der Autorin zu lesen.
February 25, 2016
This is an enjoyable, if not actually riveting, read. I liked the setting of the Cotswold Village of Weston St Ambrose and could picture it. I really liked the prologue which is very descriptive as it sets the scene of the dead girl in the river. This is the first book I have read by this author and I was initially attracted by the cover. I love blue/green covers.
The story held my interest throughout but never enough that I absolutely had to get back to it. I always felt a little detached from the characters. For me part of the problem was that with a couple of exceptions, some of the characters, especially those from the writing group tended to not be distinctive enough to keep track of who was who. Or maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention. I did notice whoever had the library book before me was perhaps an aspiring writing or editor themselves as they punctuated it with a couple of corrections and ‘overdone’ written next to one passage. I tend to agree a little.
On the positive side I liked the two main characters, Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter. It was the other characters that blurred for me. As usual I picked the murderer but that is not necessarily a deterrent, as it happens more often than not. If you like a cosy mystery without lots of sex or bad language, and a story that takes its time, you should enjoy it. It probably helps too if you have read other books in the series which I hadn’t. Maybe it also suffered a little from having followed a few books which I adored.
The story held my interest throughout but never enough that I absolutely had to get back to it. I always felt a little detached from the characters. For me part of the problem was that with a couple of exceptions, some of the characters, especially those from the writing group tended to not be distinctive enough to keep track of who was who. Or maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention. I did notice whoever had the library book before me was perhaps an aspiring writing or editor themselves as they punctuated it with a couple of corrections and ‘overdone’ written next to one passage. I tend to agree a little.
On the positive side I liked the two main characters, Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter. It was the other characters that blurred for me. As usual I picked the murderer but that is not necessarily a deterrent, as it happens more often than not. If you like a cosy mystery without lots of sex or bad language, and a story that takes its time, you should enjoy it. It probably helps too if you have read other books in the series which I hadn’t. Maybe it also suffered a little from having followed a few books which I adored.
November 6, 2021
I picked up two books in this series only because I have previously enjoyed the Mitchell and Markby series by this author. Although both series are set in the Cotswolds I really didn't engage with either of these lead characters. Jess Campbell in particular seeming lacking in personality and the mystery itself was dull. I will read the other book I bought and hopefully that will interest me more.
July 24, 2018
A pretty, young girl turns up dead in a swollen river; she’s soon identified both as a murder victim and as Courtney Higson, the daughter of an imprisoned criminal enforcer (think breaking legs for the mob). When the father is released from prison, Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter race to get to the culprit before the violence-prone father does.
Author Ann Granger has gotten a bit lazy in her old age. The denouement relies on the tired trope of the crazy — and, therefore, unsuspected — perpetrator, and the subplot about Carter’s self-absorbed ex-wife just doesn’t go anywhere. I’m not sorry I read it, but this series doesn’t have the staying power of the Markby and Meredith series she abandoned in 2004. (Yes, I’m still bitter.)
Author Ann Granger has gotten a bit lazy in her old age. The denouement relies on the tired trope of the crazy — and, therefore, unsuspected — perpetrator, and the subplot about Carter’s self-absorbed ex-wife just doesn’t go anywhere. I’m not sorry I read it, but this series doesn’t have the staying power of the Markby and Meredith series she abandoned in 2004. (Yes, I’m still bitter.)
January 21, 2016
Dead in the Water is the fourth outing in the series of ‘Campbell and Carter’. Although I haven’t read its predecessors I wasn’t lost for a single moment, as this remarkably well-written murder mystery unfolds at a leisurely pace, yet still leaves you with absolutely no idea as to whodunit until the very end.
Certain elements conjure a ‘Midsummer Murder-ish’ feel throughout. There’s a famous writer who relocated to the Cotswold village of Weston St Ambrose, hoping the idyllic rural life would coax his next best seller from his head and onto the blank pages staring back at him. For the most part he wanders around his garden raking leaves into neat little piles, much to the dismay of his wife.
Then we have the writers’ circle he mentors, where every quirky member has their own opinion of events taking place and frequently become disgruntled when their own works of wordiness are criticised.
Just to throw the whole village equilibrium into disarray, the body of an unidentified young woman is found floating in the swollen river, and this is where we meet our crime busters – Jess Campbell and Ian Carter – as they are called in to investigate how she came to be in the water. Did she fall? Was she pushed? More importantly, who on earth IS she?
Well, after a little bit of witness tussling it turns out our victim is the local villain’s daughter, which, let’s be honest, isn’t entirely good news. Main reason being he’s currently serving time for extreme menacing behaviour and is now hell-bent on discovering who is responsible, so he can take matters into his own hands, so to speak. Things could get very ugly indeed.
Weston St Ambrose is hiding more than the flood waters are covering up when it turns out that most of the residents seem to know the victim in one way or another. But Campbell and Carter make a ruddy marvellous team to root the culprit out, I must say. There’s no die hard heroics, nor a sniff of profanity, just tidy police work that I’m mightily impressed by. And it’s a relief to find there’s none of this repetitive drumming of character’s job titles down your throat with ‘Inspector Jess Campbell this’ and ‘Superintendent Ian Carter that’. The duo are generally referred to by their Christian names, which not only makes them more human it suits the style and grace of the story much better.
For me, quaint places never fail to make the most lethal backdrops and this was no exception. Dead in the Water is a quality village mystery yarn, spun with absolute class.
(I received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher following a Twitter giveaway, with thanks.)
Certain elements conjure a ‘Midsummer Murder-ish’ feel throughout. There’s a famous writer who relocated to the Cotswold village of Weston St Ambrose, hoping the idyllic rural life would coax his next best seller from his head and onto the blank pages staring back at him. For the most part he wanders around his garden raking leaves into neat little piles, much to the dismay of his wife.
Then we have the writers’ circle he mentors, where every quirky member has their own opinion of events taking place and frequently become disgruntled when their own works of wordiness are criticised.
Just to throw the whole village equilibrium into disarray, the body of an unidentified young woman is found floating in the swollen river, and this is where we meet our crime busters – Jess Campbell and Ian Carter – as they are called in to investigate how she came to be in the water. Did she fall? Was she pushed? More importantly, who on earth IS she?
Well, after a little bit of witness tussling it turns out our victim is the local villain’s daughter, which, let’s be honest, isn’t entirely good news. Main reason being he’s currently serving time for extreme menacing behaviour and is now hell-bent on discovering who is responsible, so he can take matters into his own hands, so to speak. Things could get very ugly indeed.
Weston St Ambrose is hiding more than the flood waters are covering up when it turns out that most of the residents seem to know the victim in one way or another. But Campbell and Carter make a ruddy marvellous team to root the culprit out, I must say. There’s no die hard heroics, nor a sniff of profanity, just tidy police work that I’m mightily impressed by. And it’s a relief to find there’s none of this repetitive drumming of character’s job titles down your throat with ‘Inspector Jess Campbell this’ and ‘Superintendent Ian Carter that’. The duo are generally referred to by their Christian names, which not only makes them more human it suits the style and grace of the story much better.
For me, quaint places never fail to make the most lethal backdrops and this was no exception. Dead in the Water is a quality village mystery yarn, spun with absolute class.
(I received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher following a Twitter giveaway, with thanks.)
June 14, 2017
I'm very disappointed to say this but I couldn't get on with this at all. I adored Ann Granger's Mitchell and Markby novels and even the first couple in this series were good. I remember being a bit underwhelmed by Bricks and Mortality but thought I'd give this a go and wish I hadn't. Its not a bad book by any means but it just wasn't grabbing me. Also sorry to say that unless I reread the Mitchell and Markby novels this will be the last book by Ann Granger that I'll be reading.
March 9, 2018
Book four in the "Campbell & Carter series & to be honest I didn't find it much improvement on book three....my review of which was " A reasonable enough read but this series always seems a little lack- lustre to me. It's missing both the charm of the Mitchell & Markby series & the likeable relationship between the characters. The storyline is ok but all the characters are a bit two dimensional & there's no chemistry between the Campbell & Carter. ...& the same pretty much goes for this one too.
The storyline itself is okay. There were one or two moments where my interest perked up but on the whole I found myself skim reading, not a good sign that a book is as absorbing as it should be - I want to be gripped! I did find myself smiling over Carter worrying about having a "spud" in his socks, haven't heard that term for donkeys but it's a bit sad that's about the highlight of the tale for me!
It's a shame because I honestly don't know why this series just doesn't grip me like others by this author. So will I give book five a go? As I used to adore the Fran Varady series & have read some of Mitchell & Markby ones over & over I somehow feel I owe it to Granger not to give up, so yes I guess I will but ONLY if I happen across one, I certainly won't be making an effort to track a copy down.
The storyline itself is okay. There were one or two moments where my interest perked up but on the whole I found myself skim reading, not a good sign that a book is as absorbing as it should be - I want to be gripped! I did find myself smiling over Carter worrying about having a "spud" in his socks, haven't heard that term for donkeys but it's a bit sad that's about the highlight of the tale for me!
It's a shame because I honestly don't know why this series just doesn't grip me like others by this author. So will I give book five a go? As I used to adore the Fran Varady series & have read some of Mitchell & Markby ones over & over I somehow feel I owe it to Granger not to give up, so yes I guess I will but ONLY if I happen across one, I certainly won't be making an effort to track a copy down.
July 26, 2018
Improvement over the last one but still not quite as good as book 2.
Ms. Granger knows how to weave a mystery... completing unique and interesting. Again, the supporting cast of characters was stellar. You had a little bit of everyone in this book... the mysterious man living all alone in his big house, the members of the book club, the fantasy writer plus more interaction between Campbell and Carter. However... the inspector and superintendent are moving at a snail's pace. I understand why but it's driving me crazy! These two have so much chemistry!
I did start to figure out "whodunit" around the 80% mark so the author kept me guessing for quite sometime. On to the next installment!
4 stars
Ms. Granger knows how to weave a mystery... completing unique and interesting. Again, the supporting cast of characters was stellar. You had a little bit of everyone in this book... the mysterious man living all alone in his big house, the members of the book club, the fantasy writer plus more interaction between Campbell and Carter. However... the inspector and superintendent are moving at a snail's pace. I understand why but it's driving me crazy! These two have so much chemistry!
I did start to figure out "whodunit" around the 80% mark so the author kept me guessing for quite sometime. On to the next installment!
4 stars
February 7, 2024
Adequate, not too exciting, but still holding my interest this deep into the series. I appreciate how Ann Granger builds her plots - through a lot of family history, local color and atmosphere, relationship dynamics. There is something gothic in her novels - in this one the impending doom of rain and destruction definitely heightened the stakes. Her characters, although numerous, are pretty easy to remember and follow. The villain seemed a bit over the top this time, not too congruous and convincing, but overall, a pleasant mystery.
February 20, 2023
J'ai passé un bon moment dans cette enquête, j'apprécie de plus en plus de découvrir Jess et Ian. L'enquête m'a surprise, j'ai eu plusieurs soupçons, mais pas trouvé la résolution finale. Une bonne surprise !
July 22, 2018
A young woman's body is found caught on something in a swollen, raging river in the Cotswolds during a period of interminable rains.
We learn that the victim worked at a local pub/restaurant and has been having an affair with the owner. Also, her father is a thug who is about to be released from prison.
Everything seems to center around a writer's group who had dinner at the restaurant the night before the girl disappeared.
We learn that the victim worked at a local pub/restaurant and has been having an affair with the owner. Also, her father is a thug who is about to be released from prison.
Everything seems to center around a writer's group who had dinner at the restaurant the night before the girl disappeared.
January 6, 2021
another good whodunnit I didn't guess this one!
October 23, 2024
A nice easy read. Will definitely look out for the other books in the series.
June 5, 2022
J'ai passé un moment très sympa avec ce cosy mystery
Nous sommes dans les Cotswolds et dans le petit village de Weston-Saint-Ambrose. Neil et Beth Steward ont quitté Londres pour s’y installer. Lui, écrivain, aspirait au charme et à la tranquillité de la campagne. Elle qui avait perdu son emploi l’a suivi. Mais aujourd’hui, elle regrette l’agitation de la grande ville.
Le jour où le fleuve sort de son lit, on retrouve le cadavre d’une jeune fille sous le ponton de leur propriété. Neil qui craint d’être suspecté, n’avoue pas tout de suite qu’il la connaît. Grossière erreur mon bonhomme !
Car il devient du coup, le premier dans le viseur du commissaire Carter et de l’inspectrice Jess Campbell. Mais comme cette jeune fille était la serveuse du pub où il a dîné avec les membres d’un club local d’apprentis écrivains, il ne va pas être le seul à passer à la moulinette.
Je ne sais pas si ça tient du village ou du club, mais ces écrivains en herbe sont d’un genre particulier. Atypiques, hors du commun, loufoques, étranges, originaux…. Entre celui qui tricote tous ses pulls, celui qui va épier les chouettes hulottes la nuit, celle qui est à l’affût du moindre ragot et se bat pour être la première à le diffuser, vous en avez un échantillon. Et faut pas oublier non plus que le père de la victime ne va pas tarder à sortir de taule et si la police n’a pas trouvé le meurtrier, lui risque bien de s’en charger.
En résumé, avec une enquête rondement menée, des scènes cocasses et des personnages marquants, c'est un roman très vivant.
Nous sommes dans les Cotswolds et dans le petit village de Weston-Saint-Ambrose. Neil et Beth Steward ont quitté Londres pour s’y installer. Lui, écrivain, aspirait au charme et à la tranquillité de la campagne. Elle qui avait perdu son emploi l’a suivi. Mais aujourd’hui, elle regrette l’agitation de la grande ville.
Le jour où le fleuve sort de son lit, on retrouve le cadavre d’une jeune fille sous le ponton de leur propriété. Neil qui craint d’être suspecté, n’avoue pas tout de suite qu’il la connaît. Grossière erreur mon bonhomme !
Car il devient du coup, le premier dans le viseur du commissaire Carter et de l’inspectrice Jess Campbell. Mais comme cette jeune fille était la serveuse du pub où il a dîné avec les membres d’un club local d’apprentis écrivains, il ne va pas être le seul à passer à la moulinette.
Je ne sais pas si ça tient du village ou du club, mais ces écrivains en herbe sont d’un genre particulier. Atypiques, hors du commun, loufoques, étranges, originaux…. Entre celui qui tricote tous ses pulls, celui qui va épier les chouettes hulottes la nuit, celle qui est à l’affût du moindre ragot et se bat pour être la première à le diffuser, vous en avez un échantillon. Et faut pas oublier non plus que le père de la victime ne va pas tarder à sortir de taule et si la police n’a pas trouvé le meurtrier, lui risque bien de s’en charger.
En résumé, avec une enquête rondement menée, des scènes cocasses et des personnages marquants, c'est un roman très vivant.
December 29, 2016
A lovely well written murder mystery, an amazing description in the prologue, a great read I loved it
February 2, 2022
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Pluie, Pubs et Chouettes Hulottes ?
"Plus j'avance dans cette série, plus je la trouve réussie. En plus, j'adore la couverture de ce tome-ci, j'étais donc ravie de pouvoir m'y replonger grâce aux éditions 10 18."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Les pluies torrentielles font déborder la rivière et alors que chaque habitant inspecte son jardin pour savoir où en est la crue, le corps d'une jeune fille est retrouvé sous le ponton de Glebe House, la maison de l'écrivain Neil Stewart..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Le talent d'Ann Granger pour planter l'ambiance n'est plus à démontrer et j'ai particulièrement aimé cet opus qui se passe presque exclusivement sous la pluie, avec la présence pressante de l'eau et la peur permanente de l'inondation... Retrouver Campbell et Carter était également un plaisir et le petit groupe d'écrivains en herbe légèrement siphonnés n'était pas pour me déplaire.
J'ai quand même deux petits bémols pour cette fois. Le premier concerne l'enquête. J'avais trouvé l'assassin, mais ça ne m'a pas vraiment gênée, en revanche, les policiers se concentrent exclusivement sur un noyau de suspect alors qu'absolument rien ne le justifie, un peu étrange tout de même. L'autre souci, c'est l'attitude de l'inspecteur Jess Campbell avec l'un des suspects, que j'ai trouvé extrêmement jugeante et déplacée. Je n'ai pas bien compris d'où ça sortait non plus."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai beaucoup aimé la fin qui a réussi à me faire ressentir, contre toute attente, beaucoup de peine pour l'assassin. En revanche, j'aurais aimé avoir des nouvelles de tous les personnages mais quelques uns manquent à l'appel. Il semblerait que l'auteur avait un compte à régler avec un certain type d'homme. Mais cela reste de l'ordre du détail et j'ai hâte de lire la suite."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Plus j'avance dans cette série, plus je la trouve réussie. En plus, j'adore la couverture de ce tome-ci, j'étais donc ravie de pouvoir m'y replonger grâce aux éditions 10 18."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Les pluies torrentielles font déborder la rivière et alors que chaque habitant inspecte son jardin pour savoir où en est la crue, le corps d'une jeune fille est retrouvé sous le ponton de Glebe House, la maison de l'écrivain Neil Stewart..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Le talent d'Ann Granger pour planter l'ambiance n'est plus à démontrer et j'ai particulièrement aimé cet opus qui se passe presque exclusivement sous la pluie, avec la présence pressante de l'eau et la peur permanente de l'inondation... Retrouver Campbell et Carter était également un plaisir et le petit groupe d'écrivains en herbe légèrement siphonnés n'était pas pour me déplaire.
J'ai quand même deux petits bémols pour cette fois. Le premier concerne l'enquête. J'avais trouvé l'assassin, mais ça ne m'a pas vraiment gênée, en revanche, les policiers se concentrent exclusivement sur un noyau de suspect alors qu'absolument rien ne le justifie, un peu étrange tout de même. L'autre souci, c'est l'attitude de l'inspecteur Jess Campbell avec l'un des suspects, que j'ai trouvé extrêmement jugeante et déplacée. Je n'ai pas bien compris d'où ça sortait non plus."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai beaucoup aimé la fin qui a réussi à me faire ressentir, contre toute attente, beaucoup de peine pour l'assassin. En revanche, j'aurais aimé avoir des nouvelles de tous les personnages mais quelques uns manquent à l'appel. Il semblerait que l'auteur avait un compte à régler avec un certain type d'homme. Mais cela reste de l'ordre du détail et j'ai hâte de lire la suite."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
February 17, 2022
This book was... okay. It was fine. The mystery kept me reading because obviously I wanted to know who the killer was. On the other hand, the reader isn't given anything; no clues, not much evidence, and when the perpetrator was finally revealed, it was entirely by accident. This is a book about police/detective work, but they didn't actually do much work or solve anything? None of the interviews, none of the actual detective work turned up anything useful at all and it felt like absolutely no one was a suspect.
Also, Jess Campbell is entirely unlikeable. I didn't realise until the scene where someone asked her to take her shoes off because the carpet had been cleaned, or something to that effect. She was appalled. I didn't understand why it was such a big deal, I thought it was common practice/courtesy to take your shoes off in other people's houses? So you don't trail in dirt from outside? Anyway, that was the first moment I felt anything towards her at all, until she was questioning the killer at the end and I realised... this woman has been bitchy and judgmental towards every person she's spoken to so far except the actual murderer, for whom she has an abundance of empathy. What?
Anyway, this book was fine. Just unsatisfying.
Also, Jess Campbell is entirely unlikeable. I didn't realise until the scene where someone asked her to take her shoes off because the carpet had been cleaned, or something to that effect. She was appalled. I didn't understand why it was such a big deal, I thought it was common practice/courtesy to take your shoes off in other people's houses? So you don't trail in dirt from outside? Anyway, that was the first moment I felt anything towards her at all, until she was questioning the killer at the end and I realised... this woman has been bitchy and judgmental towards every person she's spoken to so far except the actual murderer, for whom she has an abundance of empathy. What?
Anyway, this book was fine. Just unsatisfying.
September 5, 2017
Spoiler Free!
I'll admit, I'm not an avid reader of the mystery genre, and those that I have read were pretty much all by Agatha Christie. This book...lacked that certain charm and unique 'je ne sais quoi'. It felt like an average and sort of dull police case. All the way through I sort of hoped there'd be a surprise twist, a shocking reveal or something of the sort, but it never quite got there.
In the end I was almost disappointed to learn who the murderer was. Not because it was obvious, not at all, but because we weren't really given enough information to have an inkling ourself. Having too many Points of View confused me at first, and then I realised I could use it to work out who *wasn't* the murderer, as seeing into their private moments made me less suspicious of them.
I did enjoy the descriptive elements of the book and thought that was very well done, they really helped place you in the settling, in that cold rain or sullen pub.
I don't think I'll ever bother re-reading this, because I don't think it would at all help me like the story more, but it's an okay light read.
I'll admit, I'm not an avid reader of the mystery genre, and those that I have read were pretty much all by Agatha Christie. This book...lacked that certain charm and unique 'je ne sais quoi'. It felt like an average and sort of dull police case. All the way through I sort of hoped there'd be a surprise twist, a shocking reveal or something of the sort, but it never quite got there.
In the end I was almost disappointed to learn who the murderer was. Not because it was obvious, not at all, but because we weren't really given enough information to have an inkling ourself. Having too many Points of View confused me at first, and then I realised I could use it to work out who *wasn't* the murderer, as seeing into their private moments made me less suspicious of them.
I did enjoy the descriptive elements of the book and thought that was very well done, they really helped place you in the settling, in that cold rain or sullen pub.
I don't think I'll ever bother re-reading this, because I don't think it would at all help me like the story more, but it's an okay light read.
May 6, 2025
I liked this and found it well paced: steady, with just enough forward movement to allow one to "pause and ponder", as they say. I could also see this as a story line for a kind of Midsommer Murder two-parter.
That so-called summer the UK had almost a decade ago now when it rained constantly, may have been the inspiration for this plot line. Certainly the results of that watery climate and the floods that ensued laid the ground work for this plot as a real possibility.
I've been briefly in an amateur writers' group not unlike the one this novel encircles and Granger was being charitable in my opinion while also cleverly accurate and insightful with her choice of characters who participated in this group. And so I was smugly satisfied to see the finale reveal.
Yah. I've been hoping someone I know would end up like that.
Nasty me.
This title carried a greatly restorative sense of revenge for me. Thank you Ms Granger.
That so-called summer the UK had almost a decade ago now when it rained constantly, may have been the inspiration for this plot line. Certainly the results of that watery climate and the floods that ensued laid the ground work for this plot as a real possibility.
I've been briefly in an amateur writers' group not unlike the one this novel encircles and Granger was being charitable in my opinion while also cleverly accurate and insightful with her choice of characters who participated in this group. And so I was smugly satisfied to see the finale reveal.
Yah. I've been hoping someone I know would end up like that.
Nasty me.
This title carried a greatly restorative sense of revenge for me. Thank you Ms Granger.
September 22, 2024
I didn't have any expectations for the book as I had never heard of it. I just instinctively picked it up at a used book stall as a market when I'd forgotten to pack a book while on holiday. I actually pleasantly enjoyed it. I'm surprised this book has only almost crept into 4 stars. I'm not an avid reader of fictional crime so it's possible for someone who often reads them to find it was a predictable plot. However, for myself personally, I did enjoy the twist and turns, maybe not the most satisfying ending but it tied the story up nicely.
I think my best piece of advice for this book is to read it with no expectations and just enjoy a calmly written story about a police force that doesn't make you think too much.
I think my best piece of advice for this book is to read it with no expectations and just enjoy a calmly written story about a police force that doesn't make you think too much.
June 25, 2025
I really like Ann Granger’s books. This one was no exception. The mystery was tightly laid out, the characters well developed and interesting. Campbell and Carter are an excellent team of cops and I really got a feel for them as individuals as well. When the body of a young woman is seen floating in the churning flood waters on Weston St Ambrose, the hunt is on for who could have stabbed her so expertly. When it turns out her father is a huge (physically and metaphorically) local gangster, currently locked up, the hunt redoubles in case he gets in ahead of the police and does his own damage. Meanwhile, Carter has problems looming between himself and his ex-wife that he has to deal with while hunting the killer.
August 25, 2018
A complete twist that I never saw coming!
I have only continued to read this series because I purchased them as a set for Kindle. The first two were nothing to write home about, but it picked up in book #3, and book #4, "Dead in the Water", kept me guessing from start to finish. The characters were more likeable, the plot was more involved, and when the murderer was revealed, I was totally shocked! I had two other people tagged as possible suspects and didn't suspect the actual killer at all. Well done, Ann Granger, on this addition to the series! I look forward to reading book #5 to see if it continues the uphill pattern.
I have only continued to read this series because I purchased them as a set for Kindle. The first two were nothing to write home about, but it picked up in book #3, and book #4, "Dead in the Water", kept me guessing from start to finish. The characters were more likeable, the plot was more involved, and when the murderer was revealed, I was totally shocked! I had two other people tagged as possible suspects and didn't suspect the actual killer at all. Well done, Ann Granger, on this addition to the series! I look forward to reading book #5 to see if it continues the uphill pattern.
March 21, 2022
This was probably one of my favourite Campbell and Carter Mysteries so far (tied with the first). Still about as "soft" as a book about a dead body in a river could ever be but still interesting enough to grab a hold of your attention. I actually read this book amid a reading slump so the fact that it still captivated me with a break in the middle says a lot. I wanted to know who had done this. The only "negative" I might say is that I have mixed feelings about Still it doesn't do anything to ruin the series for me and I look forward to seeking out the next one in the series.
(Finished on Mar 18)
(Finished on Mar 18)
September 20, 2017
Cosy crime novel set in a Cotswold village. No sex and the violence is pretty tame. A bit "Midsommer Murders", if you know what I mean!
Dead in the Water is the 5th in this series, but that doesn't affect the reading. There is a barely discernible frisson between Campbell and Carter, which has obviously been developing over the previous books, and would appear to be heading in the right direction! But this novel is more about the murder mystery than the police officers' personal lives.
This would be a perfect holiday read!
Dead in the Water is the 5th in this series, but that doesn't affect the reading. There is a barely discernible frisson between Campbell and Carter, which has obviously been developing over the previous books, and would appear to be heading in the right direction! But this novel is more about the murder mystery than the police officers' personal lives.
This would be a perfect holiday read!
July 13, 2023
This is a fairly plodding mystery, where it is difficult to get involved. The characters are not well fleshed out and there is a feeling of unbelievability about the whole thing. I don't think there's much hope for whodunnit lovers to divine the culprit, either.
I don't think I will bother with any more of this particular series, which is a fairly recent release after a long writing career and other series.
It's quite long at over 300 pages, but is easy enough to finish in a day.
Rating 2.8.
I don't think I will bother with any more of this particular series, which is a fairly recent release after a long writing career and other series.
It's quite long at over 300 pages, but is easy enough to finish in a day.
Rating 2.8.
March 4, 2024
in this quaint, stereotypical English countryside village, where a group of would-be writers meets every week, the body of a young woman floats on the river, gets stuck in the pillars of a duck. Follows a description of characters that are so stereotypical as to be unreal: there are no immigrants, black, Jewish, or Muslim folks here. Only your straight-upper-lip Protestant English person with their cup of tea and/or glass of whisky. If you enjoy that image from the past, you may enjoy this murder novel. It is still enjoyable as the main detective Jess and Ian are endearing.
July 23, 2018
Not too bad read, but could have a bit more suspense and chemistry between the main characters. The ending came quite out of the blue for me, I didn't really pick up any hints at all trough the book. But then again for me it meant that I didn't think with the story at all, didn't try and figure out who the killer was or anything.
May 27, 2019
Who is making the dogs bark at night in Murcheson's garden? Who killed Courtney Higson? What lengths will her father, newly released from prison, go to to find out? Can Campbell and Carter find out first? Is there a connection to the Writers Club?
An enjoyable read. The concern about the river flooding is very real but it does not overshadow the story. On to read another in the series.
An enjoyable read. The concern about the river flooding is very real but it does not overshadow the story. On to read another in the series.
February 25, 2021
More like a 3.5*’s / added spoiler alert just incase but it doesn’t really contain any.
I’ve never read any of the other books in the Campbell & Carter mystery series but I didn’t feel lost or like I had started a series halfway through. I had oddly managed to guess the murderer but with the wrong motive! I will be reading some other books in the series for sure!
I’ve never read any of the other books in the Campbell & Carter mystery series but I didn’t feel lost or like I had started a series halfway through. I had oddly managed to guess the murderer but with the wrong motive! I will be reading some other books in the series for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2022
I havent read book by Ann Granger for a while, last time I did, I felt like I needed bit of break. And I am glad I did, I was able to enjoy the book more. But I still would not say this is the best book by the author. I personally prefered Meredith and Alan more, but this is the first book I read from this series. However I am definitely going to give it a bit of chance.
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