If I Could Only Live in Nether Monkslip

I'm so glad I bought this.

It has humor, intrigue and wonderful characters all in a quintessential English village setting.

I love the 'cozy' genre but get fed up with the theme of someone moving back to their home town after a breakup/divorce to run a cookie shop, deli etc. This is fresh and different,

I would say these are similar to the Agatha Raisin books. It has strong, interesting, eccentric characters.

The main character of Max Tudor is a vicar and ex MI-5 agent which makes an interesting mix. There's never a dull moment in Nether Monkslip.

I've now listened to 3 and am on the 4th. Splendid narration by Michael Page.

I never tire of my visits to Nether Monkslip.

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1 person found this helpful

Charming

Agree with many other reviewers this is like an Agatha Christie with a contemporary twist - and also very much in the Grantchester vein. The sleuthing vicar (tremendously good looking and ex MI5) is a lovely touch and the cast of village characters beautifully portrayed. Well read by Michael Page this is just a thoroughly pleasant listen.

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1 person found this helpful

excellent

I was a little confused at first, I thought the book was set in the 1920's and the narrators voice and delivery certainly seemed to suggest so, but it is actually set in the present day. The story kept me glued to the end.
An excellent story with excellent narration. Will certainly listen to the other books.

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1 person found this helpful

Not as. Dire or as Delicious as portrayed!

If you are accustomed to reading the Miss Silver novels, then this is on a par. Certainly no better, but definitely not worse. Maybe not as clever as Agatha Christie, but in my opinion, it gives Ngaio Marsh a run for her money.

So I definitely enjoyed it, in the way that I definitely do not enjoy the small village antics of Agatha French(!?! I've forgotten the characters' name!!), which is like marmite! I intend to keep on discovering this cast of characters. An enjoyable, gentle read.

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10 people found this helpful

Too, too twee

A pastiche of a British village where everyone seems a big fish in a small pond. The hero, if that is what he is is too, too dashingly handsome, the victim is such that even I am happy to see her dead etc...All this, combined with an unctuous reader who reads giving the impression that he wants us to know that he knows he is reading something very witty almost leads me to tear my hair out, gnash my teeth or stamp my foot and many other cliches.

I was totally mislead by the blurb!

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9 people found this helpful

More tea vicar?

Very enjoyable mystery with well developed characters and plot. Excellent story telling, very entertaining listen.

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4 people found this helpful

Wicked autumn Excellent. I didn’t unscramble it!!

Loved the reader’s voice and pace. Author really created a believable community. Continuous wondering of who might be involved

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For watchers of Midsommer Murders

What made the experience of listening to Wicked Autumn the most enjoyable?

Moments of laugh-out-loud character dynamics catch you entirely off guard in the best possible way.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The lead character is both human and endearing, without seeming impossibly perfect.

What does Michael Page bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

This is one of those narrators who reminds me why I love audio books.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me (and my beloved) laugh long and heartily.

Any additional comments?

One reviewer said it was twee. Well - yes. But in a GOOD way. It isn't gory, and it isn't dark. It reads like the best of the Midsommer Murder episodes and will appeal to those so inclined.

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11 people found this helpful

Enjoyable modern take on a classic village mystery

If you could sum up Wicked Autumn in three words, what would they be?

Classic mystery, modernised

Who was your favorite character and why?

The detective, a former MI 5 man turned village priest, is an intriguing character. Bits of his own past are slowly revealed as the book goes on, which gives an interesting additional dimension to the story.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

A description of the dinner with his 'new age' friend. It was a pleasant image of people who like each other despite their different persuasions.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. It was enjoyable to pick it up when I had time.

Any additional comments?

I will look for other books by this author, to see if he develops this character further.

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5 people found this helpful

Had to stop listening...too many cliches

Good narrator but flimsy tale. Unsuitable Americanisms ("rube" "all hepped up") are jarring and (with character clichés and lengthy historical asides) made it just too annoying and tedious in the end. Main character's violent background neither interesting nor credible.

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3 people found this helpful