Death on the Downs: Library Edition [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Simon Brett (Author), Geoffrey Howard (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002

It wasn't the rain that upset Carole Seddon during her walk on the West Sussex Downs. It wasn't the dilapidated barn in which she was forced to seek shelter. No, what upset her most was the human skeleton she discovered there...So begins the second investigation for strait-laced Carole and her more laid-back neighbour Jude. This time their enquiries take them away from Fethering to the small download hamlet of Weldsham, where gossips quickly identify the corpse as Tamsin Lutteridge, a young woman who disappeared from the village months before...'Simon Brett has got into his stride with his second book in the "Fethering Mysteries" series...His light touch produces an enjoyable mystery.' - Susanna Yager, "Sunday Telegraph". 'Welcome return for Brett's lady sleuths...As crime gets a harder edge, it's refreshing to have an amiable light-hearted tale, which makes the most of wit and atmosphere. A gentle stroll down mystery lane.' - "Yorkshire Post". 'One of the exceptional detective-story writers around.' - "Daily Telegraph"

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Simon Brett has got into his stride with his second book in the Fethering Mysteries series... His light touch produces an enjoyable mystery' Sunday Telegraph --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Simon Brett worked as a radio and TV producer taking up writing full time. As well as the Charles Paris and Mrs Pargeter detective series, he is also the author of the TV series 'After Henry', the radio series 'No Commitments' and 'Smelling of Roses', and the best-selling 'How to be a Little Sod'. His novel 'A Shock to the System' was filmed starring Michael Caine. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks; Unabridged edition (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786121742
• ISBN-13: 978-0786121748
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,140,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Character Development from The Body on the Beach, February 19, 2007

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 110,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Death on the Downs (Paperback)

It would be a mistake to read this book without first reading The Body on the Beach in which amateur detectives and neighbors Carole Seddon and Jude (no last name) meet one another. If opposites attract, these two fiftyish women make that point. Carole is a retired Home Office bureaucrat who likes things tidy and prefers her distance from people. Jude is friendly, messy, and plunges right in. That contrast was well established in The Body on the Beach. In Death on The Downs, the two characters begin to develop other facets. But if you haven't read the first book, you'll miss the relevance of much of that character development.

Carole Seddon once again stumbles on evidence of foul play when she uncovers a human skeleton while seeking shelter from the rain in an old barn. The local police are very sympathetic and even offer her counseling. Carole learns that there's been a young woman missing for four months. Could that be the victim? When Carole shares her experiences and theory with Jude, Jude is floored. She knows the missing woman!

Carole begins to exploit her developing social skills to find out more about what's going on in Weldisham, where she found the bones. Jude uses her alternative therapy contacts (and a little blackmail) to check out other lines of inquiry.

Carole knows she's on the right track when she begins to receive threats. Before the story is over, she'll pay a high price for her curiosity.

Readers who enjoyed The Body on the Beach will find Death on the Downs to be an easier book to read, with more interesting action.

This series is well worth reading and I hope you enjoy it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brett at his best, July 1, 2003

By 

C. Gonzalez-Prado "C. G. Prado" (Kingston, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death on the Downs (Paperback)

I first read Brett's Charles Paris mysteries and enjoyed them, but in the Fethering series (four so far), he has outdone himself. I've bought and lent these books for and to several friends. Good stuff.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars somewhat glib, May 24, 2005

By 

Linda Pagliuco "katknit" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Death on the Downs (Paperback)

I think "glib" is the word I would use to describe this book. Not that it's poorly written, it just seems rather formulaic. Simon Brett writes for TV and I think that shows in Death/Downs. The characters are well-delineated, and he manages to sustain a sense of mystery, but somehow the plot failed to come to life. Actually, the villain isn't very scary. If you like "cozy mysteries", you might like this more than I did. Not a bad book, but not a great one either.