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  • The Development

  • Cora Baxter Mysteries, Book 3
  • By: Jackie Kabler
  • Narrated by: Zara Ramm
  • Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (43 ratings)

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The Development cover art

The Development

By: Jackie Kabler
Narrated by: Zara Ramm
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Summary

After a stressful week, TV reporter Cora Baxter is ready for a quiet weekend. What she isn't counting on is witnessing the shocking death of a young woman on her way home. 

Cora discovers that 17-year-old Leanne has been protesting against a new housing development, angering the powerful establishment. Leanne’s death is ruled a suicide, but when puzzling information comes to light, Cora decides to investigate further. She might not know what an unscrupulous businessman, a suspended police officer and hate-mail sending neighbours have to do with the case - but she does know there is a news story there. 

With her eccentric camera crew on hand to help, can Cora work out what happened in the days before Leanne’s death? And was it really suicide after all?

©2019 Jackie Kabler (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about The Development

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

Brilliant

Loved hearing more of Cora's adventures. A great story with lots of twists and turns. All loose ends covered and explained. Zara Ramm is a great narrator and brings these Cora Baxter stories to life in happy, sad and laugh out loud moments. It's a shame this is the final book in the series.

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

Another fab Cora Baxter novel !

What a fantastic Cora Baxter story, it’s really nice to see her character develop more & the craziness of her life lol

I feel this novel touched on some real world issues which have been tackled with care.

Well done Jackie !

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  • Overall
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Fab

Very entertaining, good twists, I liked the character development over the three stories. Well done Jackie :-)

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

Lovely Cosy Mystery

This is the third book in this series but it was my first book by this author. I had no problems listening to it as a stand-alone book which I thought was well written and well plotted. For me, it hit exactly the right note and was a lovely murder mystery with characters who are very well drawn and likable.

Cora works as a roving reporter, on her way home one evening she is a witness to the death a young girl, Leanne, when this death is considered a suicide by the authorities Cora disagrees, so she goes to speak to Leanne’s family and near neighbors. What she learns leads Cora to investigate further and reveals a mystery which has many twists and turns.

I was hooked from beginning to the end, my enjoyment of this story was greatly enhanced by the excellent narration by Zara Ramm, her voice is perfect and her accents are brilliant.

I was given this audiobook as a gift and am voluntarily writing my review.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A gripping read

I really enjoyed this book. Cora is a roving reporter who works with a great team. Whilst travelling home one evening she is witness to the death of a young girl, Leanne. The death is considered a suicide by the authorities but Cora is not entirely convinced, especially after speaking to Leanne’s family and neighbours and her subsequent investigation leads to a mystery with many twists and turns. There are many red herrings and a few chuckles along the way, the characters are very believable and the narrator is superb. My only disappointment was that this is the last book in the Cora Baxter series!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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better than expected

I only found this series because I love listening to Zara Ram, the narrator, but it is a very enjoyable listen. lot's of twists and unexpected turns! Highly recommended easy listening story.

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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

Mozzarella - listen and you'll understand!

Cora, a roving reporter for a breakfast TVshow, is driving home from work one evening when a young woman, Leanne, jumps off a bridge straight onto her car. The police believe it’s suicide, but Leanne’s brother is convinced that she would never have done that, so Cora decides to investigate, and becomes convinced that it has something to do with a new housing development at the end of Leanne’s street.

I really enjoyed this cosy mystery (there’s no blood and gore), and though it is the third book in the series it reads well as a standalone. It is well written and fast paced with lots of twists and turns, but I did eventually guess who the killer was, though not until quite close to the end. I enjoyed reading the bits about Cora’s job as a roving reporter and it is clear that Ms Kabler uses her experience in TV to good effect. Cora is a great character – professional, fun, stubborn, a good friend and just plain nosey! The crew were brilliant too, and some of the banter was hilarious.

This book made a nice change from the more gory serial killer thrillers I often read and I have now purchased the first book in the series.

The narration by Zara Ramm was spot on.

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

Brilliant narration - delightful cosy mystery

This was my first book by this author and even though it is the third in a series it was perfectly fine as a stand-alone. I found it to be an absolute delight, brilliantly narrated and well plotted, exactly what I want from a cosy mystery - completely made my week on the way back and from work and sweetened the household chores. Loved the writing, the characters, the story and the conclusion, and felt in safe hands with this satisfying and highly enjoyable tale!

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

Was it suicide?

I enjoyed this well-paced mystery, centred around a young girl who appears to have committed suicide. Cora Baxter is driving home when the teenager drops from a bridge onto her car. As a TV reporter, Cora is well positioned to investigate discrepancies and although this is ruled a suicide, Cora is not convinced.

Assisted by her TV crew, of sound-man, photographer and engineer, plus her two girlfriends, Cora gets very involved with some pretty shady characters and asks rather more questions than she maybe should. It also doesn't hurt that her boyfriend is with the police in London.
It seems that Leanne's suicide may be related to an appeal for planning permission, sought for a large housing development at the end of her street, which could result in her family's house being demolished.

The fact that the mystery was set in Bristol was a bonus for me, having lived there for several years. I enjoyed the narration by Zara Ramm and the characters were well drawn. There was some amusing conversation, especially the banter between the film crew. And finally, a pretty good ending.
4.5 stars on sites that allow half stars.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Cracking Listen

This is a story of murder mystery, of relationship and of charm..
The characters are really well written, and the main lead is warm, tenacious and really likeable. The story kept me hooked from beginning to the end and was a pleasure to listen to. I was sad when this tale ended. The narrator is superb, her voice is gentle and her accents brilliant. . in my book if you do not hear the voice, just the story then it's a job well done.
An all round intriguing tale brilliantly written and told.

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