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Seven Dead

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Seven Dead

By: J. Jefferson Farjeon
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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About this listen

Amateur thief Ted Lyte has chosen an isolated house by the coast for his first robbery. But Haven House is no ordinary country home. While hunting for silverware to steal, Ted stumbles upon a locked room containing seven dead bodies. Detective Inspector Kendall takes on the case with the help of passing yachtsman Thomas Hazeldean. The search for the house's absent owners takes Hazeldean across the Channel to Boulogne, where he finds more than one motive to stay and investigate.

©1939 Estate of J. Jefferson Farjeon (P)2020 Soundings Crime Fiction Mystery Crime Fiction
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I can see why this was hyped as an unconventional story and it certainly was for it’s time. It’s an interesting end and the backstory is kind of modern.
Still, the development of the plot is slow. The conclusions can be spotted by a mile. J.Jefferson Farjeon’s plots aren’t very complicated im general, but other stories of his like “Mystery in White” and “ The Z Murders” are constructed better and are richer in their description. This one is a bit flat compared to them.
The narration is ok. Hard to say, whether the story doesn’t enhance the reader or whether the reader does not enhance the story.
All in all, it’s an ok mystery, if you don’t expect too much.

Unusual plot for the time

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I had lots of interruptions while listening to this book, so maybe I didn’t fully understand or appreciate it. May have to listen again another day.

A book you need time to listen to.

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An enjoyable start - well, if discovering seven bodies can be enjoyable - and an intriguing puzzle. Kendall (sorry, only heard the names, my spelling may be off) is an engaging guide, Hazeldean less so as he is sometimes as slow as he is incisive at others, and his time in Boulogne is slow and turgid, not helped by peculiar narration where each sentence peculiarly stands alone, with no response to what has gone before. We as readers are obviously so thick we require clarity before drama and sympathetic interpretation of the situation. I must say, though, I am enjoying the series and the introductions of Mr Edwards, and even the almost duds retain some period charm and interest.

Intriguing premise, slow in places

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Kendal. Witty. Ironic. Smart. insightful and thoughtful. A strong, well described character with NO issues! Thank goodness.

How naive and useless the "hero" was.

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