Murder at Melrose Court

Heathcliff Lennox, Book 1

De: Karen Baugh Menuhin

Narrado por: Sam Dewhurst-Phillips

Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie with a touch of Wodehouse and a dog of distinction.

It's 1920 and Christmas is coming. Major Lennox finds a body on his doorstep—why on his doorstep? Was it to do with the Countess? Was it about the ruby necklace? Lennox goes to Melrose Court home to his uncle, Lord Melrose, to uncover the mystery. But then the murders begin and it snows and it all becomes very complicated....

Major Heathcliff Lenno, ex WW1 war pilot, 6feet 3inch, tousled dark blond hair, age around 30—named after the hero of Wuthering Heights by his romantically minded mother—much to his great annoyance. Murder at Melrose Court is the first book in the Lennox series—Book 2, The Black Cat Murders is number 2 in the series. Follow Karen Menuhin for more news.

©2022 Karen Baugh Menuhin (P)2024 Little Cat Publishing Ltd.

Silliness

I love murder mysteries, but they need to include suspense and allow the reader to make logical deductions to solve the case along with the detective. This book was silly and fun, but I guessed who the murderer was immediately after all of the characters were introduced because the villain is so predictable. However, I couldn’t support that guess with evidence from the text because half of the essential clues were not revealed until the “detective” revealed the murderer. Blah. Not a murder mystery but more of a farcical mystery romp. Not my cup of tea.

Pleasantly surprised, this was every entertaining

Hope Audible makes the next two books in the series available with Sam Dewhurst-Phillips the continuing narrator.

More of this, please!

The story begins with the body of an unknown hatless man on the doorstep, a slip of paper bearing the name of a Russian Countess in his pocket, and Major Heathcliff Lennox -- call him Lennox, he hates the name Heathcliff -- greatly put out by the inconvenience of it all just when he's ready to push off to his uncle's grand house for Christmas, and some ol' English country huntin' and shootin' with his dog, Mr. Fogg.

Only to discover that his batty old uncle is about to marry that same Russian Countess, a gushing, squealing, girly woman who is poised to run the uncle's estate with an iron fist. And who once cheated Lennox out of a large sum.

It just keeps getting better from there.

A bit Agatha Christie, a bit P.G. Wodehouse, the author's style bounces along between serious moments and comic interludes. The ending buckles down into grimness appropriate to a multiple-body murder mystery. But there are plenty of chuckles, surprises, and satisfying scenes along the way.

The next volume? Even better.

Unpleasant Production Values

The sound effects (music, dog) were annoying and added nothing to the story. The narrator employed dreadful female voices and Russian accents.

The story failed as a spoof or parody and was not engaging enough to be a good mystery. After listening to the whole thing, I was left feeling like I had wasted more hours than I should have

Well done old bean

Shades of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle. I will read and listen to more.

Fun Period Piece

It’s a fun mystery, like a cross between Christie and Wodehouse. The narrator’s RP is a bit over the top, but the rest of his accents and voices are well done. Not a fan of screechy falsettos, but it works for the countess. If you like Jeeves & Wooster and Poirot then give it a go. Highly mannered 1920s shenanigans abound, and the highly literary butcher is a highlight.

my 1st audible

loved this. this was my 1st audible book wont be my last loved it. great story linr

Fun and mysterious!

Loved the first book and this one was just as fun! So bummed that the third book of this series isn’t available for listening! I will definitely be waiting for it!

brilliant

Brilliant absolutely wonderful. It had me from the very beginning highly recommended. Enjoy try
to decide for yourself the murderer.

Great narration and wonderful character

the main character is character. the narrator did an amazing job of capturing him.