Kuritegu koorikoolis

Detective Markham Mystery #1

by Catherine Moloney, Eva Nooni (Translator)

Huvitavate tegelastega haarav Briti krimipõnevik.

St Mary koorikooli territooriumilt leitakse kaks luustikku. Tegemist ei ole sajanditevanuse kristliku matusega. Luustike riided on tänapäevased ning tõendid viitavad kuritööle. Pühitsetud muld on sadistlikult rüvetatud.

Uurija Gilbert Markham on Bromgrove’i politsei tõusev täht. Ta on mõrvari jälil, kui veel üks elu vägivaldselt lõpetatakse. Kes on selles süütus paigas luurav sadistlik mõrvar?

Inspektor Markhamisse ja tema meeskonda suhtutakse uurimise kõigis etappides äärmiselt vaenulikult. Kas asi on lihtsalt kohalike vaenulikkuses? Või komistavad nad korruptsioonivõrku, mis on laiem, kui nad iial oodata oleksid osanud?

Uurija Markham jookseb ajaga võidu, et järgmine ohver ei oleks tema kallim.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Detective, British Literature, Audiobook

270 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2018

About the author

I was born in Ikom, Nigeria (where my parents were missionaries) and come from a Liverpool medical family, but am not a doctor of medicine. . After graduating in Jurisprudence from Jesus College (University of Oxford), I was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn. Despite qualifying as a barrister, my first love was English; this led to a PhD in English Literature at Birkbeck College (University of London).

In my academic career, I lectured and published widely on the subject of tuberculosis and nineteenth-century literature, but somehow managed to avoid contracting galloping hypochondria and turned my attention to crime fiction.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note this book was first published as “A Walking Shadow”

This is the beginning of a series that features DI Gil Markham and his team. Human remains are found buried in the underground of St. Mary's Choir School. Not too shocking ... until they discover the skeletons have not been buried for centuries ... there were signs of modern day clothing ... and definite foul play was indicated.

The powers that be who run the school and those who know of it's decades old history firmly look at the intrusion of the police to be antagonistic. Markham's girlfriend, Olivia, has just been offered a teaching position there and hopefully that will make things a little more comfortable on both sides.

But then there is another murder. Who wanted this person dead? And why?

DI Markham will be facing not only a puzzle, but one that may ultimately place someone close to him in danger.

I love getting in on the first of a series. New characters keep me interested and a terrific story premise keeps me riveted to the pages. I did find it just a tad slow in the beginning, but it is short lived. The pace picks up exponentially and doesn't let up until the final page .. an unsuspected ending.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Production for the digital copy of this crime fiction. I am looking forward to reading Book 2 .... CRIME IN THE SCHOOL. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Markham and DS Noakes are called to St. Mary's choir school when two skeletons are discovered on the grounds. It's clear that these are no holy relics since they are in modern clothing. Are these tied to a series of unexplained deaths going back several years when students have vanished from the school? Markham's girlfriend Olivia accepts a teaching position at the school but when one of the boys goes missing, Markham wonders if someone the students trust is up to no good in this suspenseful and well written British police procedural.

[Dsparks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Connoisseurs of Purple Prose Rejoice!
If you dig purple prose, no one can usurp it's queen, Catherine Moloney. If you find this style of writing insufferable as I do, don't waste your time.

[Joanna Larum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a series of murder mysteries with Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham and Detective Sergeant Noakes. St Mary's Choir School is next to St Mary's Cathedral where renovation work is being done. Two bodies of boys are found but they aren't historical burials, they are more modern burials of murdered boys. Markham is called in to investigate and recognises that they are the bodies of two boys who had disappeared about twenty years ago.
In an unusual twist, Markham's girlfriend, Olivia Mullen, is offered a job as a teacher in the Choir School, so we are presented with both the detective angle and a participant's angle. All the characters are well-drawn and I particularly liked the character of the bluff and hearty Noakes who has a softer underside.
Yet again, a boy goes missing and Markham has to bring his investigation to a swift conclusion, despite having to fight against the official line of leaving some of the suspects out of the investigation. I enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really painfuly scary

It moved quickly. Good character development. The cathedral was spooky.I loved Nat and Julian. I will definitely continue the series.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly conflicted as to how to rate this; on some axes it could almost be a five, on others just barely a two yet opting for three doesn't seem right either. Call it 3.5
The story being told is very good if a tad dark for my taste. Characterization good to very good. Descriptions - well I have a low tolerance for these whether of people, moods or the visual world around them so I feel these are overused, others might not agree. I love the quotations and classical allusions as well as the religious aspect which is very fair and sound. I'm just not sure about the author's writing style but it is definitely worth reading another in the series.
The relationship between Markham and Noakes promises to be tour de force.

[Krys · Rating 1 out of 5]

Far from the fiercely addictive story that was promised on the cover. This story was just too all over the place and unbelievable.

For all the pretty words the author used, it seemed more often than not that they simply bogged down the point she was trying to make (this could also have something to do with the fact that on more than one occasion, I had to stop reading and look up what the word used even meant).

Coupled with the fact that the story jumped between characters and points of view with no warning, this was a jumbled up mess that I found myself skimming more than reading. And even that became a chore after long.

Sadly, even though there are nine other books in this particular series, I do not feel inclined to continue on with them at this time.

[Bronwyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started quite interesting, but ultimately formulaic and boring. Child abuse and serial killers need to be written much more subtly than this. A shame the author didn’t stick to a single death and a realistic murderer instead of another conspiracy of evil and unlikely plot. Some of the characters were engaging and I wanted to enjoy the book, but... yuk.

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 of 4

This is book 1 in the Markham mystery series. 20 years earlier 3 boys went missing and Mike Bamber was working the case. Only one body was found and nobody was charged with the crime. 20 years later Mike Bamber has retired with the case of the missing boys continuing to haunt him - the one that got away.

Olivia is a teacher and is contacted by St Marys Choir School with the offer of a job. The school is based in an old building next to the Cathedral. Work is being carried out around the Cathedral and the bodies of 2 boys are found. DI Markham and DS Noakes are handed the case. Markham is in a relationship with Olivia but keeps it quiet to prevent being taken off the case.

It soon becomes clear that Mike's cold case has reared its head. Can Markham succeed where Mike failed? What exactly is going on at the Choir School? I had to keep turning the pages to find the answers.

I love Noakes he is big, brash and honest but underneath that lies a very compassionate man who is able to connect to people on many levels. Markham is a bit more reserved but still a realistic well built character.

It is clear from the beginning that the dead children have brought back memories he has kept well hidden. This makes him more determined to solve the case. He and Noakes are a very effective team and Markham has deflected all attempts to split up their partnership.

This is a bit slow going in the early part as the scene is set and the characters develop but it still holds the readers interest as the intrigue builds.

I am looking forward to reading book 2.

[Judith Hitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE

This book has good elements but it overflows with florid language while throwing away some great imagery. So much could have been made of the entwined skeletons. They were introduced, then largely ignored except for a few references with no further explanation of "why the posing?" . A novice mistake: don't put all your good ideas in at once. Like spices, they should be used judiciously. Also, please lose most of the poetry and quotations. Please work in translations of the ones not in English. It jars the flow of reading when one stops to wonder what was said and its significance, much less stopping to look it up. This should have been a really powerful book.

[Deb Snelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have read the reviews before purchasing this book.... I just couldn't get interested in this story. The characters were not people I would like to know, and the plot seemed so commonplace - I knew who the bad guy was long before the end. While the props and location were different, the story line was not even remotely unique. Maybe that is why the author needed to throw in all those "spelling bee" words. In each case a more common usage word could have been used. It was like the author was trying to impress us with words and not with a story. I will not read another book by this author.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story Okay—Writing Over the Top

The author frequently chooses obscure and highfalutin words, which not only did not enhance the story but actually served to interrupt it as I had to stop and look each up. It got annoying. I love mystery series; I am unlikely to read another in this one.

[Lorraine Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't believe the hype - 'fiercely addictive' it was not!

Overly florid. Too much use of 16th and 17th English. The style of writing struck more of the 1950's father than the 21st century. I'll read one more before I reach a conclusion about this series and author.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intense murder mystery with engaging main characters and despicable baddies. Sometimes lines are black or white and this plot draws the line clearly. Not a faint-of-heart read. No profanity. Plot involves the priesthood (though not ALL of them) in child crimes. Heavy kinda read. Very well narrated .

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An 'unputdownable' read. While there is no unnecessary padding the author's words immediately transport the reader to wherever the action is taking place. There is an overwhelming feeling of wanting to know what happens next and very quickly you share in Noakes' and Markham's feelings and reactions.

There was one cry in the final chapter which I wondered whether real or imagined although, "we all heard it", said Olivia. The 'explanation' given in the epilogue made me shiver.

[Anne Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tough read.

If you are not familiar with the Catholic faith, the many references, Latin, etc, will be overwhelming. Characters are good, the intellect and the common man work well together.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off slowly and builds and builds until you can't put it down, it's not an easy subject, and is set in a choir school for young boys, It's so believable it is frightening.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult book for me to rate. First off, the marketing with the "new" title Crime in the Choir is a little deceiving, making it sound like a lighter mystery than it is. The subject matter here is VERY dark which I was not at all expecting. The original title (which is the edition I'm choosing to use): A Walking Shadow is much more fitting!

I also want to mention that I started this on audio, but needed to switch to reading with my eyes, because I was finding it hard to follow. I ended up reading several chapters, then going back and listening to them. This really worked for me, even though I was doing "double duty".

The struggle with the book and audio was two-fold. The author switches scenes within chapters quite often and if I was not completely focused, I'd miss who we were following. And secondly, the writing was a little pretentious and archaic at times, using loads of unfamiliar words. I appreciated my kindle for looking up the definitions. There was also a lot of quoting of ancient text and even though I enjoyed some of it, I felt it was overdone and a little confusing in the audio.

On the plus side, I absolutely LOVED the two detectives. Markham and his sidekick, Noakes, make a great pair and I'd like to see how this partnership develops. It may be worth wading through the sometimes cumbersome text to spend more time with them. I will probably tackle the next book in the series, hoping the subject matter ( child abuse ) is not as disturbing.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published as "A Walking Shadow."

Trigger Warning: Child Abuse in a Religious Setting.

Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham and Detective Sergeant Noakes of the Bromgrove Police Department are investigating the discovery of skeletons on St. Mary's Choir School grounds. The DI has a personal interest in solving this investigation quickly.

I had viewed a few book covers browsing recommended series on my Kindle. The titles were interspersed with other cozy series. I decided to read Book 1. As I began reading, it wasn't a clean cozy. After reading the mystery, I visited the author's website, and the series is marketed as "Crime Thriller Books." It does not profess to be a cozy series, but ensure you realize it is not before beginning the book. I suggest merely crime fiction or mystery, not in the thriller category, as the fast-paced, page-turning suspense is not present, at least in Book 1.

At the book's close, reading the author's background and love of English might explain the language of her writing. It is purple prose or florid. However, during the reading experience, it seemed unnecessarily lofty and sometimes even pompous.

This was a challenging read in any sense of the experience. As an introduction to the author's writing, it has made a lasting impression, but surprise that this subject was used to begin a series. Law enforcement politics and religious politics are woven into the fabric of the investigation. Hence, the trigger warning at the beginning of the review rather than at the end in my usual review style.

The detectives' character development and interactions enabled me to finish the novel, but I will not continue reading the series.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crime in the Choir is book one in the Detective Markham Mystery series by Catherine Moloney. Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham caught a case of two skeletons discovered in the ground of St Mary's Choir School. At first, Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham thought they were historical Christian bodies until he found out the bodies were wearing modern-day clothes. However, someone wanted Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham to stop investigating, and he received hostility every turn in made in the investigation. The readers of Crime in the Choir will continue to follow Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham investigation to find out what happens.

Crime in the Choir is another fantastic book to read. Wow, I found another excellent series to read. Crime in the Choir is the first book I have read by Catherine Moloney, and I enjoyed her written style and the way she portrayed her characters. I like Catherine Moloney's description of Crime's settings in the Choir that complimented the book's plot.

The readers of Crime in the Choir will
understand the consequence of child molesting on the suffer and everyone around them. Also, the readers of Crime in the Choir will learn about the different uses of Diazepam.

I recommend this book.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime in the Choir is the first book in the series but the second one of these I’ve read. I believe that I read one as a book club read, but I’m not absolutely certain. The book surrounds a boy’s choir school and the discovery of two bodies during a dig. The bodies are found to be of students who disappeared twenty years ago. As the investigation proceeds, this develops as a solid police procedural, but it is also quite scary with a nicely drawn sense of menace about the setting . I was drawn in to the plight of Nat and Julian and definitely felt the need for urgency pushing me to turn the pages. Good read!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the years various boys have gone missing from Bromsgrove and St Mary's Choir School. At the same time Matron of the school, Irene Hummles, disappeared, presumed runaway from her responsibilities.
Twenty years later in 2017, two bodies are found in the graveyard of the school. DI Gilbert Markham partner Olivia Mullen is now the new English teacher at the school.
DI Markham and DS George Noakes investigate. But who or what is the hooded Night Watchman that seems to haunt the boys and the school.
An interesting well-written crime story, a good start to the series with its likeable main two policemen.

[Mrs J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wordy conundrum in the cloisters

The clue is in the title and laboured quite heavily throughout. DI Markham gets involved when two bodies are recovered on the site of a school and its cathedral. Lots of talk of being watched and ghostly goings on don’t necessarily build up the tension. Markham and his number two, Noakes, echo each other’s feelings a lot so there is no ambiguity although the reveal of Markham’s backstory is spread throughout the book. The ending wasn’t a surprise after heavy-handed hints from the beginning . Entertaining but not taxing and some verbose descriptions.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful characters and Eerie Atmosphere

Plunging into a tale that touches the phantasmagoric yet avoids the cliched paranormal tales of times gone by, the tale of a twisted ring of perverted clerics in a choir school gifts the reader with witty dialogue and clever twists through corridors and tunnels of both architecture and psyche. The characters of both children and their would-be mentors shine clearly. One is charmed by the relationships developed as the plot unwinds. Astute insight into human psychology is enhanced by reference to the cultural richness of British social history and literature, while remaining fresh and current. A delight!

[Ainee Beland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not find this book as fiercely addictive as stated and a thriller, unsure of this as well. It is well written with many find descripts of the village and St. Mary’s Parish.

This book made for a good reading; it is superb and full of gore and anxious moments; the language was well constructed within the theme of Christianity, good vs. evil; and had many good descriptors.

Those liken me who did not fully understand what has taken place can rest assured as all is revealed by the end of the book in layman's terms. No poetry or elaboration, just the ugly truth of it.

Is it fiction or a true tale? Matters not but to the one reading…what did you think it would be?

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn’t work out what I thought of this book. Erudite it definitely is, filled with quotes from T S Eliot, Shakespeare and packed with ecclesiastical paraphernalia. It’s not often that I have to look words up while reading. I did this three times….

Does this mean it wasn’t enjoyable… initially the florid style was hard to warm to. I found the characters’ idiosyncratic thoughts a bit overworked, maybe once I get into the other books in the series they will become more real.

As a murder mystery book it wasn’t too gory and the mass of detail stopped it being scary. Still can’t work out why this didn’t affect me more…

[Julie Angstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a Story! Hard to imagine such a tale

What happens when children disappear? What happens when someone in authority abuses his power? This is an interesting tale of how someone can abuse their power. The police officers are careful. But then Markim's girlfriend Olivia gets a teaching position at St. Mary's. She befriends two young boys--Nat and Julian.. Both have some family issues--Natvis an orphan living with a distant relative, and Julian's Mother has remarried, and is on an extended honeymoon. So, how will this all end? Gripping story.

[margaret chalmers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful stuff.

This one took my breath away with its beautiful writing, insight into feelings, wonderfully appealing characters and dark as dark can be ccrime at a church choir school, a sensitive but strong detective and his level headed sergeant. Add in a lovely girlfriend, thrilling peril for people you get to love and I was overwhelmed. He a hard story to top but I can't wait. Thoroughly recommended. Best read for ages.

[Jackie Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story full of twists and turns and grim events involving vulnerable pupils at a cathedral school. However, I had to keep reaching for the dictionary at a number of places because Moloney insisted on throwing in obscure words and I am not referring just to the religious elements. I found I wanted to finish the book as if it was a chore to do so and not something I was doing willingly. I can only put it down to this use of pretentious vocabulary.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should be a 3.5 for having so many characters of note and making the story a bit convoluted with multiple explanation fo the British choir scoll, its environs and personnel. I liked the main character, but the feeling of evil coming, lurking in the background, and characters who were questionably bad or seemed to me to be those I didn't like made up a portion of the folks in this book. I liked the plot and main good characters in general and think I might like to try a different mystery by the same author. This setting and school left me with a bad taste .