The Pigeon Pie Mystery

A Novel

By: Julia Stuart

Narrated by: Hannah Curtis

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Julia Stuart returns in her follow-up to the best-selling The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise with this clever murder mystery set in Victorian England, brimming with her signature charm and fabulous characters.

When Indian Princess Alexandrina is left penniless by the sudden death of her father, the Maharaja of Brindor, Queen Victoria grants her a grace-and-favor home in Hampton Court Palace. Though rumored to be haunted, Alexandrina and her lady's maid, Pooki, have no choice but to take the Queen up on her offer.

Aside from the ghost sightings, Hampton Court doesn't seem so bad. The princess is soon befriended by three eccentric widows who invite her to a picnic with all the palace's inhabitants, for which Pooki bakes a pigeon pie. But when General-Major Bagshot dies after eating said pie, and the coroner finds traces of arsenic in his body, Pooki becomes the number-one suspect in a murder investigation.

Princess Alexandrina isn't about to let her faithful servant hang. She begins an investigation of her own, and discovers that Hampton Court isn't such a safe place to live after all.

With her trademark wit and charm, Julia Stuart introduces us to an outstanding cast of lovable oddballs, from the palace maze-keeper to the unconventional Lady Beatrice (who likes to dress up as a toucan - don't ask), as she guides us through the many delightful twists and turns in this fun and quirky murder mystery. Everyone is hiding a secret of the heart, and even Alexandrina may not realize when she's caught in a maze of love.

©2012 Julia Stuart (P)2012 Random House Audio

Very pleasant listen

Any additional comments?

The writer has a very subtle and dry wit that comes out very well in this story. The situational absurdities and comical satiric take on the English upper class mores are delightful.

The plot was good, even without the normal suspense seemingly required in most mysteries these days. One gets the feel of the renowned English emotional reserve very well. I did not guess who-dun-it, even though the clues were there.

The narrator was great. Just the right pace and displayed the author's witticisms with excellent tongue in cheek style. Her accents were great, except for the American one. But then, I've yet to hear an English narrator ever get the American accent down properly!

Overall, this book was delightful and look forward to more from this author/narrator duo.

a bit too long

The narration was good but the story got a bit too long with extraneous historical and other details . The was a lot of witty commentary which I enjoyed . The heroine /detective was rather irritating much of the time but it all came together well towards the end . Overall a good listen.

The best thing I've heard for ages!!!

The Pigeon Pie Mystery is wonderful! Julia Stuart has written a funny, "cozy" mystery. It is an extremely well researched story full of wonderfully complex characters who interact with each other in unexpected, yet completely believable, ways. The author makes you really care about her characters. The setting is a real place, and by the end of the book you feel like you have been there, too.

Hannah Curtis is a totally perfect reader for this. You never have to guess which character is speaking, as her characterization is remarkably good, without ever being overdone. And her accents are pitch-perfect.

I enjoyed it hugely, and did not guess who "done it" before the end. It was definitely worth the credit, and I will listen to it again.

Excellent story

The narration was very good and the story was quite entertaining. I actually laughed out loud at some of the antics of these lovable characters.

English book has some bite to it

I have never read anything by Julia Stuart but took a chance and was glad I did.
Book started out kinda slow and I had to get used to the English accent and some new words but all in all is was a entertaining book.
The last part of the book was the best and I was glad to have read it all.
The murder mystery as solved with a few little twists and I never had a guess on who "done it".
I will check other books from this author.

Delightful

What did you love best about The Pigeon Pie Mystery?

Clever plot, excellent characters, dry wit. The reader is also excellent, has the accents down pat.

Have you listened to any of Hannah Curtis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Never listened to one before

Children's book or adult

I enjoyed this book but can't decide if it is a children's book or meant for an adult audience. It was enjoyable.

Quirky

I downloaded this book for a road trip and it wasn’t quite the murder mystery I was hoping for. The pace is slower, BUT if you typically read historical fiction there is a lot of funny tidbits layered in this book. Both my husband and I laughed out loud multiple times. It would be perfect as a chill weekend or commuting listen.

Delightful Victorian 'Maybe Murder' Mystery

Victorian 'is it a murder' mystery (scene is thoroughly set as the death does not happen until about half way through) set in Hampton Court. Humour is delightful (one part made me chuckle out loud, and it was not the ludicrously amusing scene in the church, but at the garden party). This is a novel set in a very strongly held British Class Structure, where appearances are held up - whilst struggling with genteel poverty. The characters are, on the whole, engaging.

A mystery in the Ms. Marple vein

For those of you who can't get enough of Agatha Christie, I'd definitely recommend this book. It's not like her first, which I also like, but was a bit darker and more character driven. This novel is pure fun and hilarious and, oh yeah, that murder on the side. It's along the lines of a Ms. Marple by Christie: light, entertaining, with quirky characters.

The ending, which I will not give away, is more complex and complete than others who have tried the same style. Everything comes together and it's an enjoyable read.