The Cornish Coast Murder

By: John Bude

Narrated by: Ben Allen

The reverend Dodd, vicar of the quiet Cornish village of Boscawen, spends his evenings reading detective stories by the fireside - but heaven forbid that the shadow of any real crime should ever fall across his seaside parish. But the vicar's peace is shattered one stormy night when Julius Tregarthan, an ill-tempered magistrate, is found at his house in Boscawen with a bullet through his head.

The local police inspector is baffled by the lack of clues. Suspicion seems to fall on Tregarthan's niece, Ruth - but surely that young woman lacks the motive to shoot her uncle dead in cold blood. Luckily for Inspector Bigswell, the reverend Dodd is on hand.

©2014 Martin Edwards (P)2016 Soundings

Disappointing

it is not fair to the reader when the murderer is an underdeveloped character. With a backstory introduced in the last 3 chapters, the reader has no chance of solving the mystery.

Awesome

this was a really great story enjoyed it from start to finish plot was great

First Bude I’ve listened to....

I read this book earlier and liked many of the characters. I felt the full range of emotions as the story progressed..
Encountering a policeman who had brains and yet was not so egotistical he wouldn’t listen to anyone else was refreshing.
I look forward to more books by Bude.

Fine (not great) British "Cosy"

This is a fine--not great--British cosy. Post WWII, small town, nosy vicar. I guess most of the clues you need to solve the mystery are here but not all of them and definitely not enough to know a motive before it is revealed. As such, it misses the head slapping "why didn't I see it?!" of the best of the golden age of British detective fiction.

Also to note, this book is listed by Audible as the #1 in the Superintendent William Meredith series. No such character makes an appearance here. I think he may not debut until the next book.

Well-Wrought, Well-Read.

Misled by his short story, “Pattern of Revenge”, I’d docketed John Bude as one of those regrettable incidents, without which no genre of literature is complete; in this case a mystery writer whose mysteries (miracle of miracles) I could unravel. Yet his Cornish Coast Mystery remained on my wish list, being the first British Crime Classic I’d put there (probably because I liked the cover). Now I find the rest of the book is just as attractive.

I guess it qualifies as a “police procedural”; suspects are interviewed, notes are taken, theories are discussed and dismissed. But the story is far more engaging than that label usually implies. The “how’d-they-do-it?” is just as perplexing as the “who-dunnit?” The case develops—and the solution emerges—in natural stages that never seem contrived or rushed. In fact, the book (and Ben Allen’s performance) proceed at a pace that allowed me to follow the details and deductions with a minimum of rewinding.

I hesitate to use the word “charming” because the label “cozy” makes me cringe, but there are aspects of this story—such as the friendship between the vicar and the doctor—that do charm. And this vicar, unlike many I’ve met in British Lit, actually believes. It’s a nice change of pace. Lively ancillary characters and entertaining dialogue round out this well-wrought, well written, delightful murder mystery, to which Ben Allen does more than full justice.

Pleasant Golden Age Mystery

I can't agree with some who criticize the mystery as being unfair. The author does wait until late in the story to disclose some facts, but critical clues are set forth early enough for the observant reader to sus things out long before these final disclosures. If you want my "tip," keep reading; if not, stop here.

CONTINUE FOR TIP

SPACE HOLDER

SPACE HOLDER


If you would like to guess the ending before it is disclosed, focus on *how* the murder was done. This will illuminate who, which in turn will illuminate why, as those clues emerge. In any event, this worked for me. It also helps to read with a writer-ly eye: when you get a detail, why was it included? Good Luck!

A Good Old Fashioned Who Done It

A well written linear story. The narrator was first rate . I will look for other books narrated by Ben Allen.

Gentle and enjoyable

Nicely plotted and written 1930s police procedural\whodunnit. Likable characters minimal gore a bit of deus ex machina denouement but this doesn’t spoil the pleasure.

Quite dull

I found the first half of this book to be one of the dullest books I have ever listened to. There is SO much repetition of the evidence as characters discuss it and think about it. I love this sort of book, but this one was probably the worst ever!

Couldn't get past chapter 3

Bad writing, bad narration, just plain bad. Oops, I need more words. Will this do?