Murder Comes to Call

De: Jessica Ellicott

Narrado por: Barbara Rosenblat

The lean years following World War I can lead to desperate acts - even in the quiet English village of Walmsley Parva. When a series of burglaries seems to culminate in murder, brash American Beryl Helliwell and proper, buttoned-up Brit Edwina Davenport (and her dog, Crumpet) are eager to solve the case in Jessica Ellicott's fourth Beryl and Edwina Mystery....

World-renowned adventuress Beryl Helliwell cited for "reckless" motoring? Why, the very idea! Constable Gibbs just has it in for her. The solution? Charm the magistrate, of course. But days after Beryl's appearance before the bench, she and Edwina pay a visit to the magistrate only to find his home ransacked and the man himself lying dead at the bottom of a grand staircase.

Given the state of the house, his death appears to be connected to a rash of robberies in the village. Declan O'Shea, the handsome helper Beryl hired to assist their aged gardener Simpkins, falls under suspicion after having had his own run-in with the magistrate - but mostly, Beryl believes, because he's Irish.

While unofficially looking into the magistrate's murder, the ladies are hired in their official capacity as private inquiry agents to find census reports that have gone missing. Is someone trying to hide something from the census takers - and could that theft have anything to do with the magistrate's death? Beryl and Edwina are once again in fine form as they engage in a little reckless sleuthing to bring these assorted mysteries to a speedy conclusion....

©2020 Jessica Ellicott (P)2020 Recorded Books

another good one

This series is so good. The setting, the characters, the mysteries, the writing - all wonderful. And Barbara Rosenblat is the best.

Slow Pace, Period Piece Focus, Mystery Lite

I love this series but I think one should go in with knowing what to expectation. I also want to say this is not my favorite in the series but I do still greatly enjoy it. There is clear character development of folks throughout the village that has built through the series so I do not think these can be listened to out of order or stand alone. The appreciation for this series will be greater listening in order. I enjoy seeing people around town grow, and forewarning a great deal of these stories is reflections on character interactions, society, and internal processing. If you are looking for action and suspense this will leave you bored and disappointed. I really don't feel as though the mystery is a main focus at all, more a back drop and something that drives deeper reflection and exploration of interpersonal dynamics within the local town and general culture. The pacing is very slow and meandering, porch swing in summer slow. Again for me this is a delight when I want something that isn't break neck speed but I understand for some this will feel like a snail's pace. I also really enjoy the exploration of small town England post WWI as well as the British/USA clashes that come up around social structure and interpersonal dynamics. This is a main thread of the series and I find it very interesting but compared to other cozy mysteries where the setting and local characteristics are barely sketched out and the action moves so quickly there is no time for reflection these stories might feel oversaturated with back drop and character and lacking in action and tension. Again helpful to know what you like and what you are in the mood for. I for one am always in the mood to listen to Barbara narrate these characters. She MAKES this series come to life and I am always delighted by her voicing of these characters and delivery of the dry British snarky commentary. Overall, I really love this series. I could not binge it, I need breaks between volumes but these are tales that make me slow down and savor like a nice easy walk on a country road.

Another pleasant murder mystery!

I enjoyed listening to the fourth book of these two ladies solving the twists and turns of the occurrences in their small and quaint village!

What's next? I will need to listen to the next book! I believe there are six books in the series.

Thank you!

Wonderful story line and suspense

This book has two wonderful characters who are not young mom's or elderly ladies. They're somewhere in the 50's maybe early 60's and are a total of couple. The story has a nice pace, the 'who dunnit' isn't so easy to guess. You'll be surprised who it turns out to be.

Charming mystery

A delightful Cozy Mystery series. The main characters are so different from each other, yet get along very well & manage to learn from each other’s differences. Their cases are complicated enough that you can’t always figure out the guilty parties. There is also a lot of subtle humor in the stories. They are never gloomy or depressing.

In addition they are beautifully read. The readers ability to switch between British, Irish & American accents is excellent. Well worth the read.

Barbara Rosenblat is always amusing

I enjoy this series, which admittedly have their slower moments compared to the modern trend of a body covered in gore every chapter or more. They have gentle humor, and the writer is genuinely if sometimes awkwardly trying to feel how the changes in society affected a small postwar village. However I am really writing this review to sing the praises of Barbara Rosenblat. She doesn't have the perfect british accent down, nor is she always convincingly in character, but she has the gift of adding entertainment value to any story she reads. Modern american female readers so often have an accentless babyish voice, with little expression. Not so Ms Rosenblat. I love the rich and scratchy vocal range she has at her command, and her evident sense of joie de vivre

Easy, well-written and well-narrated cozy

The diverting adventures of two female “inquiry agents” in a post WWI English village continues. Despite its slow start, the well -written story held my interest throughout. Barbara Rosenblat’s narration is (as always) wonderful.

Can’t get enough

I am trying not to cry because I just completed this series. Awesome stories. Excellent female mystery series. Fun and funny and interesting. Everything and everything. Two thumbs up!

Good English story

Pleasant characters, story developed slowly but drew you in. Definitely one of my favorite narrators!

The Judge is a meanie

Really this one is packed like sardines with mystery! I can give you a hit The plane written so we'll and narrated so d__n good!