The Secrets of Mead

An English Village Mystery

By: Michaela James

Narrated by: Agnes McCreath

Mead’s new detective Craig Monroe discovers that idyllic cottages, stunning countryside, and quintessential garden parties are a facade for something dark and sinister. Solving a local doctor’s murder intensifies when Mead’s inhabitants prove to be complex, quirky, and cantankerous.

A veteran detective, Monroe is not surprised by motives of revenge, lust, and betrayal...but here’s something bigger. Something buried so deep that Craig may never uncover the truth.

One thing is certain: The village is harboring many secrets - some sad, some sordid, and some decades in the making.

What are the residents of Mead hiding, and how is it possible for one small village to have so many secrets?

Can detective Craig Monroe determine who killed Doctor Jude Ryland, and in doing so, will he discover the secrets of Mead?

©2017 LW Media Group Ltd (P)2019 LW Media Group Ltd

Loved discovering The Secrets Of Mead

This book reminds me of Midsomer Murders, where lots of characters have motive to murder, while also being quite reluctant to share information with a detective. Craig Monroe, the new Mead detective, has to deal with the residents while trying to piece together the facts behind the murder of a local doctor. Something was still missing. Then, up pops the surprising secret in Mead's past. This audiobook has great characters and a wonderful narration. It kept me eagerly listening and listening.

The Secrets of Mead

I enjoyed this book a lot! Agnes McCreath was a very fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

Didn't see it coming!

I loved this story! The people of Meade are truly bizarre with their actions...but I loved the character of Sydney.. she was lovely and just funny..what surprised me in the end...was what this was actually about! It's a subject that really isn't talked about much and CAN YOU IMAGINE!!
The narration in this audiobook is fantastic! I loved the voice and easy to tell the difference between characters. It was a kind and soothing voice...I highly recommend!

4

A very odd detective story. I forced myself to listen to the first part of this - even slowed down the reading speed. This.
helped.
"herding cats?" First half of book- cannot explain why I was still listening. Then we turned a corner, the murder was a murder.
The author brings it all home. We jumped to another dimension. It made sense. I'm already planning to listen to this again.
Will any of you like this? :-)

Great read!

Highly enjoyable mystery where the bad guy can’t be figured out until the end. Interesting characters and plot is intriguing. Narration ads a great dimension to the story and brings it to life.

English Village Hiding Dark Secrets- Riveting!

A village roiling with secrets bubbles over the body of the quiet doctor is discovered and the newest village resident, their detective inspector, Craig Monroe, isn't convinced that it was suicide. As a lover of the darker village murder mysteries, I was well primed to try out a new author and narrator and it wasn't long before I was so engaged that I didn't want to interrupted my listening pleasure.

Craig thought to leave big city crime behind and enjoy the bucolic countryside. He is curious about the villagers and particularly a certain sunny, cheeky midwife. Little does he know that the whole village is keeping secrets and they are layers deep.

I enjoyed encountering all the village characters and getting to know both Craig and Syd as the narrators. Craig has good policing and people skills and he needs it to deal with this case, but I loved how things sparkled when he and Sydney got to spend time together even though I was so curious what she was keeping from him.

I thought it was fascinating getting to know the murder victim entirely through the witness statements and memories of others. There are plenty of suspects and just as many motives it seems. Then the reveals start and it was interesting getting my early impressions turned on their ear and my opinions of some of the characters went through drastic changes. The author did great hiding the solution until the end. The motive and what lay behind so many secrets was something I hadn't encountered more than peripherally so I was fascinated and learned a great deal while appreciating a well-written murder mystery.

The narrator, Agnes McCreath, did a delightful job with the story and the characters. She enhanced what was already good. I got to know the characters more intimately and engaged with their backstories and the current situation so much more. I definitely want to listen to more of her work. The production was first class as well.

All in all, this was fabulous and I want to experience more of the author and the narrator's works. Mystery fans who love village settings should definitely give this one a go.

A Doctor's Death

In Michaela James tale, Detective Craig Monroe is not convinced that the death of Jude Ryland, a local doctor, was the result of suicide, as some seem to believe. Particularly as, the further he looks into the death, the clearer it becomes that a number of people in the English village of Mead might have had cause to kill the doctor. But beyond the secrets the people seem to be hiding, it appears that the village itself harbors darker secrets that no one wants revealed. I do like the premise of the story, of course, and the setting is enjoyable, although I weary of the arrogant posh side of life after a while. What I could not really enjoy was the character of the detective himself, who didn't strike me as sympathetic as I would have wished. A good read, just not a great one. What saved it for me was the fine quality of the narration. Well done, Agnes McCreath.