What a cosy story

I loved my first cosy crime story, equal measure of bodies and humanity very good.

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A thoroughly enjoyable listen!

I really enjoyed getting to know Beth and Greg and all the other characters in the story, even those with only a minor part to play were described perfectly. The story unfolds beautifully, sometimes very funny and always very human. Kept me gripped and guessing till the end.

I read and listened to the book using whispersync, and both were equally enjoyable. I must admit I preferred to read anything spoken by O'Shay as the narrator's portrayal of an Irish accent was somewhat offputting. Also I never did quite work out if Pete the shopkeeper was supposed to be Asian, Welsh or Scottish!

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Murder and Mug Handles

What a fabulous book! The two very likeable protagonists are Greg, whose life is ruled by his OCD, and Beth, who has mild cerebral palsy. They join together to try to find out who is murdering the residents of Kettle Street and sending clues to Greg. But there is also a wonderful cast of other characters, all beautifully drawn. The book is fast paced with snappy dialogue and there are plenty of red herrings to lead you astray. I thought I knew who the murderer was, but I was outsmarted by that crafty Mr. Bowen!

Running through the main murder plot is a sub-plot of a writing course, where the tutor, a famous crime novelist, teaches his students (including Beth) how a cosy crime novel is constructed, and we also hear excerpts of the novel Beth is writing. It’s all very cleverly done, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I listened to the audio version and the narration by Helen Clapp was perfect for the book.

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3 people found this helpful

Good in parts...

I loved the two central characters: they were sharp and funny and very engaging.

The performance though is a very flat somewhat monotonous read. Audible works for me when the reader gives individual characters a recognisable voice. It doesn't need to be a cast-list of regional accents, but some differentiation between the characters is so helpful, particularly in scenes where there is a conversation and you lose track of who has said what. Also most readers will vary the pace to reflect urgency or distress, for instance; Ms Clapp just reads it straight with minimal inflection. So sorry: it didn't really work for me.

In terms of story, one of the characters embarks on a novel-writing course, and the results of her efforts at producing a novel are woven into the plot. Again, I was not sure of the relevance to the main storyline - this is probably something easier to convey on the page rather than on Audible.

I did enjoy it and I did stay to the end and I hadn't guessed the perp. So as I say, this is a curate's egg of an audible book, but the good parts outweigh the less than perfect!

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A Cozy Thriller! I didn't know one existed!

Thank you John Bowen, for a charming, entertaining murder story which really felt like a cozy listen! I loved the main characters. Both had disabilities to overcome in e everyday life let alone on the track of a prolific murderer. And by George they did it! I'll look out for more books by this author. Although my usual taste is darker and more gory, this was a pleasant contrast, if murders can be that! The narrator was not really to my taste, but I think that was more to do with me than her. Her diction was excellent and she had no real faults, but I didn't enjoy listening to her voice for hours. On the whole a very pleasant surprise listen!

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Out of this world fantastic!

Any additional comments?

First and foremost my heartiest congratulations to Helen Clapp on her fabulous narration. Brilliantly done. I read this book some time ago and was absolutely blown away by the concept. John Bowen is an author of unparalleled inspiration and writes absorbing and heartfelt stories that grab your heart, mind and soul. This one, in particular, is so captivating and expresses so eloquently the difficulties the 'less-abled' face on a daily basis but without shaming, preaching or taking any kind of moral high ground. You've got to be a super special and extra talented author to be able to achieve all that. Books such as this make me want to go back to my primary school teachers and thank them from the bottom of my heart for teaching me to read. I've read it, I've listened to it and, when it's made into a film, I'll watch it in the cinema. An absolutely brilliant audio book that you won't want to miss.

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2 people found this helpful

How many murders?

I enjoyed this who-done-it, with one character who suffers with OCD and a second with mild cerebral palsy.

The killer is staging murders on Greg Unsworth's street, and making them appear to be either accidents or suicides. Greg is sure the police are missing something but his severe OCD prevents him from even crossing the road without counting in reverse from 100, so he's hardly in a position to go chasing around for evidence.
Beth Grue is a librarian suffering from cerebral palsy, but she is suspicious about the death of an elderly lady who she found at the foot of her stairs when she dropped off some library books. She and Greg form an unlikely partnership, to try and prove that the deaths are murder, before another can take place.

I enjoyed the way the author wrote, he has a lovely style, and Helen Clapp made an excellent job of the narration.
There was just one part that brought this down from a 5* novel for me - Beth was attending a class on how to write a murder mystery and used this as an opportunity to pick her lecturer's brains about the thinking of a murderer. Unfortunately I didn't like the lecturer and found the classes irritating.

John Bowen was a new author for me, but I shall definitely be taking a look at his other books soon.

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A Great Listen

Where does Death Stalks Kettle Street rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Really enjoyed this book, kept me on the edge of my seat

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

Love her narration

Any additional comments?

Had no idea who it was going to be in the end, I really thought I had it sussed!

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Full story & well worth listening to or reading

Great storyline. It just kept going and held my attention throughout.
At 1 point I thought it was someone then it wasn't then thought someone else but it wasn't!
The narrator did a great job and kept the flow really well.

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Intriguing Listen

This was an intriguing listen from the outset. I loved the main characters, Greg and his OCD made me laugh out loud although I felt guilty for doing so! Beth, a sound and solid character with mild cerebral palsy brings understanding and compassion into Greg's life. There is a murderer on the loose in Kettle Street and the two unlikely sleuths put their heads together to try to find out who is killing off residents. I did guess fairly early on who was responsible but that didn't detract from the story as it developed. Greg's struggles were funny and tragic at times but always compelling.

Helen Clapp does an amazing job with the narration and I would listen to her again. All in all, a great audiobook listen.

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