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  • Service of All the Dead

  • Inspector Morse Mysteries, Book 4
  • By: Colin Dexter
  • Narrated by: Samuel West
  • Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (188 ratings)
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Service of All the Dead

By: Colin Dexter
Narrated by: Samuel West
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Summary

Service of All the Dead is the fourth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.

The sweet countenance of Reason greeted Morse serenely when he woke, and told him that it would be no bad idea to have a quiet look at the problem itself before galloping off to a solution.

Chief Inspector Morse was alone among the congregation in suspecting continued unrest in the quiet parish of St Frideswide's.

Most people could still remember the churchwarden's murder. A few could still recall the murderer's suicide. Now even the police had closed the case.

Until a chance meeting among the tombstones reveals startling new evidence of a conspiracy to deceive . . .

Service of All the Dead is followed by the fifth Inspector Morse book, The Dead of Jericho.

©2017 Colin Dexter (P)2017 Macmillan Digital Audio

What listeners say about Service of All the Dead

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A particularly good Morse story, expertly read.

Sam West’s exceptionally good narrations have renewed my interest in Colon Dexter’s original Morse books.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Always a pleasure...

Morse is always beautifully written and a joy to read - or listen to - and "Service of all the Dead" doesn't disappoint in any way. In fact I think I'd go so far as to say it's one of the best I've read... The plot is complex and convoluted enough to confound one's expectations right to the end, while remaining within the bounds of possibility - just about ! And as always the relationship between Morse and put upon Sergeant Lewis is a gift that just keeps on giving. A real delight...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great

Good plot , good character, great narration. Colin Dexter must be one of the best crime writers ever. He and Agatha are my favourites.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

Great story - complicated twists and turns to the very last chapter. Amazing narrator- Samuel West is the best of any Ive listened to so far. Highly recommended

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Why is it never straight forwards?

Sometimes it is. Morse, as usual, looks for the complex solution first. Is it right?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A classic Morse tale

An excellent audiobook production of a classic Morse story. Beautifully read by Mr. West. Very enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

“Beware of Anglo-Catholics”

Well read by Samuel West, without silly voices. Just a good performance.
In “Brideshead Revisited” Charles Ryder’s priggish cousin Jasper gives him advice on how to behave as a student at Oxford (which Charles ignores, mostly, to the benefit of Waugh’s readers!)
“Beware the Anglo-Catholics, they’re all sodomites with unpleasant accents”.
The Anglo-Catholics in Dexter’s book are well worth avoiding, for many reasons - a tendency to murder, even during services would count rather higher than a middleclass or regional accent in my estimation!

All that incense, elaborate vestments, sung Eucharists and old-fashioned Confessionals - more Catholic than the Pope! - provide the background for a series of murders of sinners and innocent alike.

Morse is supposed to be on annual leave, but gets drawn into the unholy mystery by chance, first unofficially. He is often perplexed, but obsessional that he is, comes at last to a solution, albeit partial.

Poor old Lewis - it’s a trial to have a boss who hasn’t a happy domestic life!

It’s well written, has local colour, intrigue and suspense.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Addicted to Morse

I love the Morse books, it's good to listen to the whole and then dip in again to understand fully

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1 person found this helpful