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  • Murder Most Malicious

  • A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery, Book 1
  • By: Alyssa Maxwell
  • Narrated by: Mandy Weston
  • Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (98 ratings)
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Murder Most Malicious cover art

Murder Most Malicious

By: Alyssa Maxwell
Narrated by: Mandy Weston
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Summary

In post-World War I England, Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, step outside of their social roles and put their lives at risk to apprehend a vicious killer....

December 1918: There is much to celebrate for 19-year-old Phoebe Renshaw and her three siblings at their beloved family estate of Foxwood Hall. The war is finally over; eldest daughter Julia’s engagement to the Marquis of Allerton appears imminent; and all have gathered to enjoy peace on earth, good will toward men. But the peace is shattered on Boxing Day, when the Marquis goes missing and macabre evidence of foul play turns up in gift boxes given to lady’s maid Eva Huntford and a handful of others. Having overheard her sister and the Marquis in a heated exchange the night before, Lady Phoebe takes a personal interest in solving the mystery. As the local constable suspects a footman at Foxwood Hall, Phoebe and Eva follow the clues to a different conclusion.

©2016 Lisa Manuel (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

What listeners say about Murder Most Malicious

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An enjoyable English cozy crime story

It has been some time since I have listened to this particular story, so my comments are really about the series of 5 books, to date.

This series is well within the post-WWI English cozy crime genre, and like the vast majority of these involve wealthy people and their servants. I guess the stories are typical of this genre, which might be off-putting for many, but the stories are well thought out and the denouements come as a surprise to this listener. The characters are likeable, and the situations well described. The series is also a chronicle of the wealthy family's fortunes through the early 1920s. I'll be on the lookout for book 6 if and when it becomes available.

The only issue I have with the books is the Americanisms that creep into the stories. There are far too many "gottens" and similar, for me, as also the occasional American pronunciation. The odd anachronism also creeps in, but why let these spoil a good yarn.

Well recommended.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Better than expected

I got this as a last resort, but it turned out to be a good story. Well read, good plot. It’s about as English as you get. A very nice bit of escapism

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Predictable Plot

As cosy crimes go this was ‘ok’. However, IMO the culprit was obvious from the get-go (although that probably tells you more about the fact that I’ve read too many murder mysteries!) The characters in the main were also really unlikeable - particularly the ‘below stairs’ ones. I found myself hoping they’d all be next on the murderer’s list - especially Connie! Having said that, the narration was great and Mandy Weston did a brilliant job of bringing a frustratingly predictable plot to life.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Post WW1 mystery

Well narrated this story has the rather ponderous language of the age which you have to have patience with

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Escapist Pleasant Murder Mystery

All round relaxing listen with compelling story lines and character development. Performance of characters brought to life nicely. Have downloaded rest of series and would be quite happy to pay going price for these. We'll worth the money.

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

Very enjoyable

Well narrated and easy to listen to while relaxing. Looking forward to listening to the rest of the series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Odd Americanisms

It was quite well read but the numerous Americanisms jarred. Sidewalk, Fall, “looked out the window”, oftentimes etc etc. Presumably written for the US market (or is the author American?). But the plot rolled along pleasantly and implausibly (as with many murder mysteries, Agatha Christie included).

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

So very lame

I tried so hard to enjoy this but found the story weak at best, boring, hideous and ever so patronising and so so dated . Not sure when it was written but I could not finish it, had to delete it - sorry - I did try ……….

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

Murder most Malicious

Both the story and the reading of it have kept me interested until the very end.

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

Downtonesque murder mystery

Good story fantastically read and very entertaining. Nice details and descriptions. Interested to see what the next book holds

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