Untimely Death
A Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery, Book 1
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Untimely Death
Buy Now for £13.44
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Narrated by:
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Sarah Nichols
About this listen
This witty and wise work is the first in Elizabeth J. Duncan's charming new mystery series.
A Catskills resort's production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet takes a wickedly ironic turn when the leading lady, Lauren Richmond, is first poisoned and then stabbed. Who would extinguish the life of such a beautiful young thespian? It seems like just about everyone had a motive to pull the ropes on her final curtain call.
At the center of this Shakespearean tragedy is Charlotte Fairfax, formerly the costume mistress of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Upstate New York is a long way from the royal stage, but Charlotte is always the queen of her domain. As this small production's costume designer, she has stitched her way into everyone's lives, learning more than anyone could possibly imagine about the rise and fall of Lauren Richmond.
©2015 Elizabeth J. Duncan (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Continue the series
But the narration is putting me off. I come from the place in the UK where this character is from and the accent is appalling. The accent is notoriously difficult to do but this attempt really is irritating. Generally, I am finding the narrator’s tone quite boring and does nothing to bring the characters to life. She does a good American accent and a Downton Abbey style British accent which then slips.
The writing is also flagging for me. There are some sections describing a person or a place which halts the pace of the story dead. The structure of the language used at times is repetitive and too much telling you rather than showing through the eyes of others, giving details in what is said and interactions between the characters. The latest character’s appearance was described in almost a list.
And finally, without a single attempt of humour so far, it all feels rather flat. I have worked in theatre and there is always someone who copes with the stresses of it using humour. But this company just seems rather dull at the moment which is surely the last thing you would expect from a theatre company. Maybe my expectations are too high for a cosy mystery but I have read many which are pacey, witty, have strong characters & draw me in which this sadly hasn’t yet.
Liked the premise but didn’t grab me
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