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    The Wintringham Mystery: Cicely Disappears
    The Wintringham Mystery: Cicely Disappears
    The Wintringham Mystery: Cicely Disappears
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Wintringham Mystery: Cicely Disappears

    Written by Anthony Berkeley and Tony Medawar

    Narrated by Mike Grady

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Republished for the first time in nearly 95 years, a classic winter country house mystery by the founder of the Detection Club, with a twist that even Agatha Christie couldn’t solve!

    Stephen Munro, a demobbed army officer, reconciles himself to taking a job as a footman to make ends meet. Employed at Wintringham Hall, the delightful but decaying Sussex country residence of the elderly Lady Susan Carey, his first task entails welcoming her eccentric guests to a weekend house-party, at which her bombastic nephew – who recognises Stephen from his former life – decides that an after-dinner séance would be more entertaining than bridge. Then Cicely disappears!

    With Lady Susan reluctant to call the police about what is presumably a childish prank, Stephen and the plucky Pauline Mainwaring take it upon themselves to investigate. But then a suspicious death turns the game into an altogether more serious affair…

    This classic winter mystery incorporates all the trappings of the Golden Age – a rambling country house, a séance, a murder, a room locked on the inside, with servants, suspects and alibis, a romance – and an ingenious puzzle.

    First published as a 30-part newspaper serial in 1926 – the year The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was published, The Wintringham Mystery was written by Anthony Berkeley, founder of the famous Detection Club. Also known as Cicely Disappears, the Daily Mirror ran the story as a competition with a prize of £500 (equivalent to £30,000 today) for anyone who guessed the solution correctly. Nobody did – even Agatha Christie entered and couldn’t solve it. Can you?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateSep 30, 2021
    ISBN9780008470128
    Author

    Anthony Berkeley

    Anthony Berkeley was an English crime writer. He also wrote under the pen names Francis Iles and A. Monmouth Platts.

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    Reviews for The Wintringham Mystery

    4.5/5

    103 ratings9 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a classic country house murder mystery with brilliant narration and a great story line. The book has good red herrings and an interesting story, although it may not be as good as the ratings suggest. It is a fun and cozy mystery with an enjoyable cast of characters. The mystery is well-written with clever twists that keep readers engaged. Overall, this title is a refreshing change from modern doom and gloom writers, despite the murder involved.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Classic country house murder mystery, brilliant narration, great story line

      3 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      If you like Christie when she is upbeat, you Will love this.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      A great story, in the good old style, extremely well narrated. Such a brilliant change from modern doom and gloom writers, despite a murder!

      2 people found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Good red herrings, final solution arbitrary and comes abruptly from nowhere. The high point of this mystery is the solution to the disappearance of Cecily. Another highlight is the Wodehouse-like beginning where Steven Monroe is forced to become a footman - it's very witty and entertaining. This is a romantic mystery, but the romance will appear a bit dated to modern readers. The action sags a bit in the middle and the final solution is unsatisfying - the criminal could have been any of the other suspects.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A fun, cozy mystery. Enjoyable cast of characters and a mystery that I failed to resolve.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Excellent story. Wonderful characterisation and an excellent plot. Easy listening
    • 5/5
      best one ever heard - ingenious story, great characters, funny writing - Berkeley set the bar for whodunnit mysteries - absolutely a must!
    • 4/5
      All the elements of a classic Golden Age mystery with some fun & clever twists. I could not figure it out.
    • 3/5
      Interesting story but not as good as the ratings would suggest.