A Cotswold Killing

By: Rebecca Tope

Narrated by: Caroline Lennon

Nestled in the hills of the Cotswolds, the village of Duntisbourne Abbots is a well-kept secret. When Joel Jennison is found slaughtered in the same field where his brother’s corpse had lain ten weeks previously, a whole community falls under suspicion. Was it a family feud? An act of revenge? As a forty-something woman with no previous experience of detective work, Thea Osborne knows she shouldn’t be getting involved but as she calls on her neighbours to get some answers, she uncovers more tragedy and intrigue that she thought possible behind the chocolate-box façade of a peaceful Gloucestershire village.

©2004 Rebecca Tope (P)2005 Soundings

Will try the next

There were some things I wanted more of and some less. I didn't think this was that "cozy" a story. Darker themes of pain and loss were widespread across characters to the point of discomfort to hear. Too much. And the self harm...didn't like that. Thought the character development was pretty good--I didn't get confused on who people were and the setting descriptions were good. I think another reviewer complained that Thea meandered about too much and didn't get on with the investigation---I didn't feel that way. Her "investigating" felt pretty authentic as someone who is a complete amateur and is just curious. I would expect future novels to be a bit more purposeful in this area as she gains more experience. I plan to give the next one a try as I like the premise and hope that it lightens up a little.

Series gets better with each book.

This first book in the series is a little slow going but but the series picks up, especially in the romance genre :-)

Armchair travel with a crime solved

Any additional comments?

First, I liked the book-- it had the English police detectives, pretty country village with its secrets and twists and turns required for a mystery. It kept me engaged and in the last few hours took on an almost creepy atmosphere. The author explores pain--all types--in what is essentially a running monologue. It can be a little saddening with all the discussion of loss, coping or coping in unusual ways in many cases,

The narration was a slight disappointment as the reader had a clipped style and just read the book with almost no attempt to alter voices with each character. I have gotten to expect the acting out of the book many narrators do so beautifully on audible. It is very entertaining to have the characters have their own voices. There were only two or three characters that I remotely cared about in the story and I wonder if the reading in voices would have changed that. It was all about the main character and everything in the storyline revolved around her--what she thought and did. Not a bad thing just limited to one person's point of view--first person narrative--not a multi character exploration. I guess that is where the mystery comes in as the story unfolds based on what one person perceives, ponders, and then in the end solves.

Given the chance I would listen again and I didn't feel that I had wasted a credit. If you like British crime/mystery stories and don't mind the lack of varied voices it's worth a try.

A very engaging murder mystery

Where does A Cotswold Killing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
About the middle - I enjoyed it wile I listened but it wasn't really memorable.

What other book might you compare A Cotswold Killing to and why?
Can't think of anything.

What does Caroline Lennon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
She does a good job of bringing the characters to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Not really. I was caught up in the mystery but didn't find it as consuming as some books. Maybe I'm getting jaded on British village mysteries.

good start to what I hope is a good series

What made the experience of listening to A Cotswold Killing the most enjoyable?

Mystery told from another point of view, from the view point of a house sitter, although how many times can a house sitter go to different homes and not be the prime suspect in the matter at hand.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

not really, just well paced.

What about Caroline Lennon’s performance did you like?

well read.

Pleasant Cozy

If you like hard-boiled, gritty, fast-paced, violent thrillers, DO NOT buy this book. It is a traditional English cozy set in the Cotswolds and full of both typical and quirky English characters. Just the sort of book I love to read or listen to.
I liked the main character and amateur sleuth, Thea Osbourne, right from the start. Her adventure begins when she takes on a house-sitting job complete with dogs and sheep to look after. Following an unexpected scream in the night, an even more unexpected body turns up in the little pond on the property.
There were several scenes that were laugh out loud funny for me, including all the rules the owner writes down for poor Thea to follow.
The reading was well done.
I recommend this book and this reading to anyone who loves a more laid-back and less in your face mystery.

Great detective work

I loved the whole book. Well written and kept you interested! Couldn’t wait to continue!

Disappointed

Kept waiting for something really mysterious happen just around the bend... never came to pass.

good story

a well thought out and tranquil murder mystery
I had no idea who the killer was

Rambled

The thoughts and actions of the main character in this book seemed disorganized and indecisive to me. She has been recently widowed at a relatively young age. She is embarking on a new experience - house sitting.

I can understand she might dither a little given her situation. I listened to the entire book thinking at some point her thoughts and actions might become a little more purposeful. They never did. I never empathized with her, I just became annoyed.