A High Mortality of Doves cover art

A High Mortality of Doves

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A High Mortality of Doves

By: Kate Ellis
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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About this listen

It's 1919. The Derbyshire village of Wenfield is still coming to terms with the loss of so many of its sons when the brutal murder of a young girl shatters its hard-won tranquility. Myrtle Bligh is found stabbed, her mouth slit to accommodate a dead dove. During the war Myrtle volunteered as a nurse, working at the nearby big house, Tarnhey Court. When two more women are found murdered, Inspector Albert Lincoln is sent up from London. Albert begins to investigate, and the Cartwright family of Tarnhey Court and their staff fall under suspicion. With rumours of a ghostly soldier, the village is thrown into a state of panic - and with the killer still on the loose, who will be next?

©2016 Kate Ellis (P)2017 Story Sound Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime Scary War Village

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All stars
Most relevant

What made the experience of listening to A High Mortality of Doves the most enjoyable?

The story is a slow-burn style that unfolds steadily and creepily! Kate Ellis is known for a couple of crime series that are well-loved yet this reveals her strengths in a new arena. The story is set after 'WW1 and we follow a small community where there are repeated murders of women.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A High Mortality of Doves?

The twist at the end I did not see coming!

Have you listened to any of Peter Noble’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes I was totally caught up in the characters and who would be killed next. I was sure I had guessed right who the killer was -- wrong!!

Any additional comments?

I feel that this book is a credit to Kate Ellis and if you enjoy her other series, try this. It reveals a deeper use of psychological depth to her characters. Her creating of an atmosphere and ability to slowly reveal a small community with all its murky underside was also a strength.More please Ms Ellis!

historical stand alone crime

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I enjoyed this prequel to the Boy who Live with the Dead which I had already listened to. The narration was good and kept me interested. I hopefully will listen to more by this author in the future.

I enjoyed this.

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Is a hero an antihero just because he’s unlikeable? The detective here is weak, adulterous, lying and, in the end, pretty rubbish at identifying the killer who was pretty obviously mad from the start.
Having said all that, I didn’t not enjoy the book but I can’t really decide why 🤷🏼‍♀️

Interesting take on a hero

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This is the first book I have read by Kate Ellis and I am delighted to have discovered her as an author. The pace of the book was excellent and how it subtly unfold, kept me wanting to return to the book to hear more. The characters were well developed and kept my interest, as did the plot. I loved the period detail which gave one a real insight into life immediately post World War I.

I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys crime thrillers that are well written in every aspect, historically, psychologically, with literary skill.

My slight disappointment was the twist at the end. Given how well the characters and plot with crafted and written, the exposure of the murderer seemed out character for that individual and slightly at odds with some of the information as to how that person had been portrayed That having been said, the ending of the book was true to itself and left one with a real sense of the story and the people that hung around for awhile, which is always a good sign of a good book well written. I’m looking forward to reading more of Kate Ellis’s books.

A well crafted and written crime thriller World War one

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Clever story with a surprising end. An excellent novel not just a murder story. Effective performance with excellent pace - really added to the experience.

Excellent

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