Murder in My Backyard cover art

Murder in My Backyard

A Classic Murder Mystery Novel from the Author of the Bestselling Vera, Shetland and Venn Series

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Murder in My Backyard

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Simon Mattacks
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About this listen

Murder in My Backyard is the second mystery novel in the Inspector Ramsay series by Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope crime series.

No one in Heppleburn has a bad word to say about Alice Parry . . . but here she is, murdered in her own backyard on a bitter St. David’s Eve.

When detective Stephen Ramsay starts asking questions in the village, a more ambiguous picture begins to emerge. Yes, old Mrs. Parry was loved by everyone, but sometimes her kindness had caused trouble. Yes, her two nephews were devoted to her, but they didn’t really want her interfering in their rather complicated personal lives. Even among her neighbours, Alice Parry’s helpfulness had sometimes misfired; and after her death, tension tight as a clenched fist grips the uneasy village.

Meanwhile, the suspects keep rolling in, and Heppleburn’s friendly neighbourhood killer continues his nasty piece of work . . .

Continue the classic whodunit series with A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy.

Ann Cleeves Classic Crime - engaging mysteries to savour, beloved characters to meet again.

Praise for Ann Cleeves:


'Ann Cleeves is a stone cold genius' – Marian Keyes, author of My Favorite Mistake

'Everything Ann Cleeves writes is incredible' – Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club

'Ann Cleeves’s elegance as a wordsmith, the ingenuity of her plots, and the depth of her characters can be matched by few writers' – David Baldacci, author of The 6:20 Man

Crime Crime Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Small Town & Rural Village

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Critic reviews

Perceptive, convincing, quietly compelling
A fine writer
Cleeves is quietly carving out a reputation as the new Queen of Crime
Ann Cleeves is a skilful technician, keeping our interest alive and building slowly up to the denouement. Her easy use of language and clever story construction make her one of the best natural writers of detective fiction
Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves (Val McDermid)
Ann Cleeves has an enviable talent . . . I love these books
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed the twists in the story and particularly the different characters in the story line,

Great story

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I am enjoying starting Ann Sleeves inspector Ramsey books the more I read them.

Great

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The twists and turns of the plot keep you totally enthralled to the end of it

Gripping story

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Great storytelling, leading us through the maze of mistrust & secrecy. Inspector Ramsay is an interesting character, mysterious & at times uncertain. Narrator did an excellent job. Looking forward to the next in series.

Enjoyed the character of Ramsay

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Great story. never guessed who the murderer was. well narrated. hopefully will be some more with same detective

very enjoyable

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