Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our second Georgette Heyer mystery: Why Shoot a Butler? first published in 1933.

On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel. The girl protests her innocence and Amberley believes her--at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the evidence incriminating Shirley Brown begins to add up.

Why Shoot a Butler? is an English country-house murder with a twist. In this beloved classic by Georgette Heyer, the butler is the victim, every clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled. Fortunately, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant as he ferrets out the desperate killer--even though this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth...

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible. I haven't really enjoyed the narrator of the two books I have listened to so far.

Who was the narrator, Susan? The narrator makes so much difference to audiobooks!

And who else is reading this one?

I have just finished Why Shoot a Butler? and have to say I was disappointed overall, although there are always some good witty lines with Heyer and I did like the aunt, Lady Matthews - she is hilarious.

I will talk about the plot later over in the spoiler thread, but what does anyone think of Amberley? I think he is supposed to be a bit like Sherlock Holmes with his careless brilliance, but I do find him extremely arrogant, as many of the other characters do too, to be fair!

Susan wrote: "I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible. I haven't really enjoyed the narrator of the two books I have listened to so far."

It is regrettable that Audible only seem to have the mysteries narrated by Ulli Birvé. I started listening to it, but then found that I had a physical paperback, and switched to that. Much more enjoyable, without the odd mis-stressing of words, and the strangled accents.

Judy wrote: "I have just finished Why Shoot a Butler? and have to say I was disappointed overall, although there are always some good witty lines with Heyer and I did like the aunt, Lady Matthews - she is hilar..."

Even the witty banter was irritating - the other characters (except Lady Matthews) were barely two-dimensional - Joan in particular seemed to barely warrant the description of 'character'. (And was she Basil's step sister, as usually described, or half-sister?)

Susan wrote: "I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible. I haven't really enjoyed the narrator of the two books I have listened to so far."

Was it Ulli Berve? She really has mixed reviews, I have found- I dont mind her for Heyer mysteries, but don’t think I’d like her for her romantic comedies.

Odd that there are main characters called Amberley in both this book and another current buddy read, A Tangled Web by Nicholas Blake. The characters have nothing in common, though!

Judy wrote: "I have just finished Why Shoot a Butler? and have to say I was disappointed overall, although there are always some good witty lines with Heyer and I did like the aunt, Lady Matthews - she is hilar..."

Yes, Lady Matthews was a bright spot, I appreciated her.

Rosina wrote: "Susan wrote: "I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible. I haven't really enjoyed the narrator of the two books I have listene..."

Ok, good to know you think her accents sound strangled, as well - you’re English and don’t like her, I was afraid it was some type of English accent I hadn’t come across. I find her more bearable if I speed her up a bit - but I did return this to get my credit back, between her narration and a weak (for Heyer) plot, it wasn’t worthwhile to keep it.

Rosina wrote: "Judy wrote: "I have just finished Why Shoot a Butler? and have to say I was disappointed overall, although there are always some good witty lines with Heyer and I did like the aunt, Lady Matthews -..."

Very true about Joan being rather a cardboard cutout - I’m not sure what the exact relationship was to Basil. I think her intended, don’t remember his name, as an old school chum of Frank’s, was kind of a half-hearted attempt at a humorous Watson to Frank’s Sherlock, but he wasn’t around enough.

Susan in NC wrote: "Rosina wrote: "Susan wrote: "I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible. I haven't really enjoyed the narrator of the two books..."

I returned mine too ... But I hadn't finished it.

Rosina wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Rosina wrote: "Susan wrote: "I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible. I haven't really enjoyed the narra..."

You didn’t miss anything.

Susan in NC wrote: "Rosina wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Rosina wrote: "Susan wrote: "I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible. I haven't really en..."

I discovered the paperback copy I owned, and finished it on that. Though I have to to admit that I'd have liked rather less (view spoiler)[ preening and self-congratulation (and snide comments) from Frank in the denouement. It dragged terribly! (hide spoiler)]

Rosina wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Rosina wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Rosina wrote: "Susan wrote: "I have determined that, the next time I read a Heyer mystery, I will read it on kindle and not listen on Audible...."

Oh, yes, I thought so, too!

This is a reread for me but so far all that is familiar is the opening scene.

I was listening on audio, then a couple of hours in, realized I had no idea of characters or plot, found it on kindle and reread (or re-re-read?) until I caught up with the audio. I can't really blame my inattention on the narrator (same as the one mentioned) but plan to continue on kindle. Print is quicker and I have backlog.

Sandy wrote: "This is a reread for me but so far all that is familiar is the opening scene.

I was listening on audio, then a couple of hours in, realized I had no idea of characters or plot, found it on kindle..."

Yes, I agree, Ulli can be somewhat monotonous as a narrator! Sometimes my mind wanders as well...

Yes, same narrator. Ulli somebody or other. Not as bad as the narrator of the Nicholas Blake books, but annoying nonetheless.