Murder in the Manor (A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery—Book 1)

Fiona Grace

Nov 2019 · A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery Book 1 · Fiona Grace

About this audiobook

MURDER IN THE MANOR (A LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 1) is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace. <p><p>Lacey Doyle, 39 years old and freshly divorced, needs a drastic change. She needs to quit her job, leave her horrendous boss and New York City, and walk away from the fast life. Making good on her childhood promise to herself, she decides to walk away from it all, and to relive a beloved childhood vacation in the quaint English seaside town of Wilfordshire.<p><p>Wilfordshire is exactly as Lacey remembers it, with its ageless architecture, cobblestone streets, and with nature at its doorstep. Lacey doesn’t want to go back home—and spontaneously, she decides to stay, and to give her childhood dream a try: she will open her own antique shop.<p><p>Lacey finally feels that her life is taking a step in the right direction—until her new star customer turns up dead.<p><p>As the newcomer in town, all eyes are on Lacey, and it’s up to her to clear her own name.<p><p>With a business to run, a next-door neighbor turned nemesis, a flirty baker across the street, and a crime to solve – is this new life all that Lacey thought it would be?<p><p>Book #2 in the series—DEATH AND A DOG—is also available for preorder!

Ratings and reviews

This was my first audio book and it was a pleasant distraction from the trying times we find ourselves in now. The writing is quite nice and cozy, indeed, and the narration by Mary Sarah made it all very enjoyable. It all reminded me of a Hallmark mystery movie. There was a loose end or two but the characters were people I would like to revisit so I will download the second in the series.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I don't normally like audio books but I wanted something to listen to as I do my daily stroll as part of exercise during this Covid19 lockdown. Initially found the narrator's voice a little bit strange but then her lilting tone inflections and pauses I found very attractive and helped make it a great listening experience. The scenes were well described and I felt empathy for the heroine Lacy. I was rooting for her to do well in her new job and life and soon developed quite a distaste for her former husband! Having enjoyed the first volume so much I have purchased a second even though after listening to a preview I found the narrator in the second volume doesn't have quite the same attractive voice. it's quite a gruff voice compared with the narrator in the first book. I would have preferred the same narrator for the second book. Hopefully the story will be as good if not better than the first and will keep me listening and enthralled until the end.

I cannot review the story because I could not listen to the narration. In an effort to make it bearable I altered the narration speeds but it didn't help. The nauseating rise and fall of the intonation and the drawn out endings of words made it an impossible listen. Shame. It may well be a good book. :(

About the author

Debut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.