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The Wintringham Mystery

Cicely Disappears

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The Wintringham Mystery

By: Anthony Berkeley, Tony Medawar
Narrated by: Mike Grady
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About this listen

Republished for the first time in nearly 95 years, a classic winter country house mystery by the founder of the Detection Club, with a twist that even Agatha Christie couldn’t solve!

Stephen Munro, a demobbed army officer, reconciles himself to taking a job as a footman to make ends meet. Employed at Wintringham Hall, the delightful but decaying Sussex country residence of the elderly Lady Susan Carey, his first task entails welcoming her eccentric guests to a weekend house-party, at which her bombastic nephew – who recognises Stephen from his former life – decides that an after-dinner séance would be more entertaining than bridge. Then Cicely disappears!

With Lady Susan reluctant to call the police about what is presumably a childish prank, Stephen and the plucky Pauline Mainwaring take it upon themselves to investigate. But then a suspicious death turns the game into an altogether more serious affair…

This classic winter mystery incorporates all the trappings of the Golden Age – a rambling country house, a séance, a murder, a room locked on the inside, with servants, suspects and alibis, a romance – and an ingenious puzzle.

First published as a 30-part newspaper serial in 1926 – the year The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was published, The Wintringham Mystery was written by Anthony Berkeley, founder of the famous Detection Club. Also known as Cicely Disappears, the Daily Mirror ran the story as a competition with a prize of £500 (equivalent to £30,000 today) for anyone who guessed the solution correctly. Nobody did – even Agatha Christie entered and couldn’t solve it. Can you?

©2021 Anthony Berkeley, A. Monmouth Platts, Tony Medawar (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Amateur Sleuths Cosy Fiction Mystery Traditional Detectives Detective Classics Winter
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Critic reviews

"Detection and crime at its wittiest - all Berkeley’s stories are amusing, intriguing and he is a master of the final twist." (Agatha Christie)

"Anthony Berkeley is the supreme master not of the 'twist' but of the 'double-twist'." (Milward Kennedy in the Sunday Times)

What listeners say about The Wintringham Mystery

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A jolly country manor crime romp

Nice easy gentle listen, well narrated and a story very much of it’s time. No sophistication, just a good old cosy crime story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Jolly good country house murder

No gore or police involved but the crimes get solved by the footman! Fun and easy going. I enjoyed this story, not so believable in parts but who cares.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly entertaining

The narration was excellent . the writing modern, speedy. And fun. I have listened to it twice & found new surprises the second time.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Beautifully read,

Grab a glass of wine and find an open fire.

The story doesn’t challenge, no twist and some rather off colour red herrings. But it is exactly what you’d expect when you buy.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good fun!

A comfortable listen and excellently read. I enjoyed it and found the story light but soothing

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable

Uncomplicated and thoroughly enjoyable story which ticks along nicely. The main characters are very familiar and relatable.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable listen

I loved the reader, the era in which the story was set, the entertaining characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A satisfying mystery

A classic country house mystery, with a cast of eccentric characters nicely voiced by the narrator.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

Easy listening period crime

Rather a confusing set of characters with an unconvincing denouement but well narrated and a harmless story to accompany my gardening

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mediocre

Kept me listening, but only barely. Liked the fact of its old-fashioned gentility (no gore), but the writing is dull and uncouth and the narration not the best.

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