Nancy Drew & Encyclopedia Brown

British mystery, but I kept feeling reminded of the mystery stories I read in 5th grade. Our civilian detective Gemma solves mysteries by being in the right (or wrong) place at the right time, and picking up on a clue that everyone else misses.
Narration is excellent. Plot lines are a bit thin, as is character development. However, the stories move along and end well. Exactly what I needed - a light mystery with an adorable cat.

30 people found this helpful

A nice little mystery bundle

Where does The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Box Set Collection I rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

What a great collection, you get 3 stories in this bundle and all are fun and enjoyable.

All Butter ShortDead
This is the first and start of the oxford tea room mysteries so is a great book to start with as
it explains how Gemma ends up with the tea room, but she also has to solve her very first mystery where she is the number one suspect. It is shorter than the other stories but is a good start as to what the listener is in store with these mysteries, lots of laughs, suspects and red herrings

Book 1 A Scone to Die For
I enjoyed this, with all the cosy mysteries set in America it was a nice pace to listen to a story set in England. Even though it was set in Oxford you could picture it happening in any country village and imagine the local busybodies poking there noses in, in order to help solve the mystery resulting in some humour sprinkled tho the book.

Book 2 Tea with Milk and Murder
There were lots of suspects and even though I had guessed the killer about mid way through the book is was still fun listening to Gemma trying to work out who the culprit was and keep her friendship, love life and sanity in one piece.

I love the extra characters namely her mum (who loves Gemma and instead of telling her that, she shows it buying things....normally with things THAT nobody wants) and the old ladies (who know everybody and try to help Gemma by solving the crime first and getting in trouble) as they add a humours side to the stories.

It is the same narrator through out the books which is a plus as she is very good, having different voices and tones for the characters .

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review,

41 people found this helpful

Talk about stating the bleeding obvious!!

I like the narrator, but the author’s main character is pretty obtuse sometimes. She gets a little hard to take and her “boyfriend”, whose the policeman, just tells her about everything he finds out in his investigations, which is hard to believe. But she doesn’t always reciprocate.
The “Old Biddies”, though, are pretty funny and grow on you. And the little cat is cute and acts like many cats we’ve had through the years.
One more thing— I really don’t like the way the author disses Agatha Christie. There will never be another Agatha, so don’t even go there!!

46 people found this helpful

Good book, annoying animal sounds....

I enjoyed this book...this is cute series.

However the narrator strikes a very grating tone with her sound effects...very shrill, unpleasant and distracting. When she reads shouting and meowing it’s just awful. I appreciate her efforts and her narration is fine but please stop with the vehement shouting and meowing!

10 people found this helpful

Forced plot, flimsy motivations, not for me

I had listened to the first book in one of H.Y. Hanna's other series (Dark, Witch, and Creamy) which was a little better than this and made me curious to check out this other series as it received such high ratings. I was excited there was a bundle as well, but then quickly became disappointed in the series.

Frequently throughout the books I am left utterly confused by the actions of the main character as well as her often emphatic commitment to ludicrous hypothesis about who dun it, only to drop the whole theory moments later. I also never really understand her commitment to solving these cases, there is no large motivation that seems to make sense of why this woman routinely abandons her brand new small business that is supposedly her lifelong dream, throw herself in peril, and risk ruining multiple investigations. The author never really presents a compelling argument for the main character's actions.

With this I feel like the idea of the Tearoom, which the main character has apparently risked everything to try and make work, becomes an accessory. Something thrown in occasionally to add flavor but becomes muddled when I am trying to understand a timeline where I have no idea who or how this tea shop is running. For instance she will make a comment about stress hoping she can run the tearoom but then go in a panic about her cat possibly having eaten chocolate and take her to the vet allowing other people she doesn't totally trust and has never trained to manage the shop. I was confused it seems like it would be a much easier ask to see if one of these folks could take her cat while she runs the shop, or say Google about cats and chocolate. There is so little mention of the tearoom in the first two volumes of this bundle despite numerous professions of her desire for the shop that it was laughable in book 2 when the character talks about burning out from overwork at the shop. I'm not saying I want a story entirely focused on the workings of the shop but by the same token when it is sidelined so much I don't understand why she doesn't just close the shop in favor of starting a P.I. company.

But this leads me to another issue with the stories. Often the character takes actions that make no sense, that are contradictory to things the character has said, and it will be to force a plot point to occur. So in the case above while she is at the Vet's she sees someone in the waiting room and learns something about the case. It falls really flat for me because there is a sense of just forcing things to occur instead of the character being true to how she is written. Sometimes the character has to run immediately away from her work to go hunt down and investigate random people to figure out the mystery and the next moment the character says the important new evidence she discovered isn't that big of a deal and she can wait to share this information with the police the following day. Or more cringe worthy was when the main character has moments where she refuses to share information with her detective (a former boyfriend) because she is pouting that she saw him questioning another woman who was involved in the case. So she is impeding a murder investigation because she is jealous.

I know we are also supposed to have a certain degree of suspension of belief especially with cozies but at a certain point when all tension is hinging on something that does not make sense (the entire prequel there are issues for the main character accounting for her time in a hotel and I was so confused why this was wasn't easily resolved via the hotel cameras of the halls and elevators; in the second book there is tension when a customer begins sexually harassing her friend and co-worker actually grabbing her butt in front of the whole shop but there is a pretense as a new shop she couldn't simply tell a tourist customer to please leave the store) or tension is around the same device in multiple stories (in prequel and in book one a literally slanderous article in placed in a tabloid newspaper and the next day no one comes to the shop because of a gossip mag). After a while these moments add up to make it difficult for me to remain in the story.

The character herself I feel just doesn't come off as very likeable. I am not rooting for her, more often I find myself rolling my eyes at her. And the relationship with her mother is not better, they mirror this over reactive passive aggressive behavior back and forth. The main comedic factor comes through "The Old Biddies" who engage themselves in every case just like the main character. The love interest/detective falls similarly flat to the main character and just seems content to openly discuss and brainstorm on open cases where often the main character could be a suspect or knows the suspect.

The narration was good, Pearl Hewitt does the narration for all Hanna's books I believe. She makes a real effort to distinguish each of the voices which I appreciate. At times I found her reactions and inflection annoying but really it was more just my lack of interest in the dialogue and the character and Hewitt can't be blamed for the writing.

Overall, I would say of the three volumes in the bundle book two was the best but I don't think it is enough for me to want to push further into this series. Maybe the later books become more polished but I still don't really connect with the main character enough to want to try. I am interested in her other series Bewitched by Chocolate Mysteries but this one did not grab me. I understand each of us will have things that pull us out of the story that don't phase other listeners/readers but this one had things that pull me out in abundance. I also think this is an easy listen for anyone who is using it as background while doing something else (clearly despite my overall less than thrilled feeling on this I still finished all 17.5 hours of it). Thanks so much for reading my thoughts.

15 people found this helpful

More like a children’s book

Honestly the writing is l...just....terrible. The story is flat, and it reads like something a freshman in high school might write during thier first writing class.

5 people found this helpful

My Favorite Series! Earns 5+/5 Posts of Fun!

Murder Seems Better with an English Accent! Deliciously Fun!

H.Y. Hanna is my all-time favorite author of my all-time favorite series! I’ve enjoyed connecting with her down under and being part of her advanced reader team. It is very entertaining joining Gemma Rose and the ‘bloody’ delightful mysteries H.Y. Hanna has created. She delivers clever murder mysteries often with an entertaining British flair, fun and some quirky characters, and Gemma always seems to find some danger before the killer is brought to justice. Romance? Yes, it starts out as a big question to whom Gemma will give her heart, but I enjoy the romantic dance of ups and downs, wading in slowly or jumping into the deep end. This series satisfies my Anglophile appetite as I learned how to make traditional scones to serve with a perfect pot of tea. Cornish or Devon? I decided I’ll have my cream tea the Devonshire way…clothed cream, first, then jam! And in the back of the book there is a Glossary of British terms and an easy to follow recipe that has a connection to that book. Which English recipe will be your favorite?

Pearl Hewitt is the delightful voice of H.Y. Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom and earns my personal stamp as Narrator Extraordinaire. Her voice artistry enriched my enjoyment, and has stuck in my head enough that when I read one of H.Y. Hanna’s books, I hear Pearl’s voice. Her British accent is the perfect dialect for Gemma's educated manner, and the tone changes helped add to the emotions and personality of the other characters: proper English for the 'old biddies" and the Oxford Dons, street English for the pub owner and some questionable villagers, and she mastered a few Americans, too. She kept me totally engaged, eager to listen again, and giggling at the British tone I so enjoy...even murder sounds great with an English accent!
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“All-Butter ShortDead” earns 5+/5 Cups of Earl Gray with Lemon!
We join Gemma Rose on her long flight having made the decision to quit her high paying job in Sydney and move back to Meadowford-on-Smythe to open a traditional English tearoom. She engages a woman in conversation to pass the time, but when the woman leaves a beautiful scarf behind, she questions whether to get involved. She should have reconsidered. Returning the scarf she is met with the woman, who had indulged in too many double vodka martinis. Gemma assists the woman back to her hotel room safely, then…is unwittingly dragged into her first murder investigation when the woman ends up dead. She is having some obstacles finalizing the details for her tearoom, but this casual friend does deserve justice. This was an excellent prequel! Since most fans have read the other full-length novels, going back in time is an entertaining look into Gemma’s first arrival home and getting ready to embark on her new venture with the tearoom. For those just starting off on the Oxford Tearoom Mystery journey, the prequel is a great place to get introductions to Gemma, her BFF Cassie, her mother (OMG, her mother!), the ‘Old Biddies” (stewed prunes and all), and the engaging style of H.Y. Hanna. The only thing missing in this book is a recipe…how do I make traditional English shortbread biscuits—rich and crumbly?

"Scone to Die For” earns 5+/5 Traditional Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam!
It is not important to start with book one, but the story moves forward with Gemma Rose opening her Little Stables Tearoom offering traditional English fare. She becomes a popular destination for tourists who desire to experience a proper English Tea, but, a nasty American causes a ‘kerfuffle’ in the tearoom and later ends up dead with a scone stuffed down his throat. The supporting characters become more developed as Gemma relies heavily on her BFF Cassie, a very bossy mother, my favorite octogenarians dubbed the “Four Ol’ Biddies,’ handsome former college flame turned detective Devilin O’Conner, and Museli her cat. Gemma’s investigation techniques consist of tracking down clues at her Oxford University alma mater, local pubs, and even finds herself fibbing a bit to get the key piece of evidence. H.Y. Hanna kept me engaged with a truly delightful story with more than a few quirky characters, provided marvelous descriptions of the village that I almost felt like an ex-pat residing alongside the locals, and gave me a bit of a lesson in Oxford University etiquette. With a few unforeseen twists and a reference to my favorite detective dramas—Morse and Midsomer Murders—I was hooked! And the recipe for the Traditional English Scones was the perfect little extra.

“Tea With Milk and Murder” earns 5+/5 Slices of Velvety Cheesecake!
The journey continues, and I'm thrilled it does. However, Gemma Rose is not thrilled about the art exhibition she is attending. BFF Cassie Jenkins is having her first exhibition courtesy of gallery owner and new boyfriend, and although Gemma is not a fan, friends will do almost anything for a friend. Her opinion of him seems validated when she overhears him plotting in the shadows, and his self-proclaimed girlfriend shows up causing a scene, flails, and collapses on the ground…dead. Gemma once again meets up with CID Detective Devilin O’Conner (sparks fly, but not sure if that's good or bad), and the "Old Biddies” add their own insights with a few covert explorations finding hidden flats, lacy thongs, and more suspicions. This ranks right at the top of my favorite list with another tantalizing story to challenge my inner ‘Sherlock.’ Gemma Rose is a strong female character delightfully clever, and even though she has some confidence issues, I find her quite entertaining. There’s a bit of a romantic triangle, cat antics, interesting mother-daughter dynamic (No, I didn’t order that!), and four octogenarians who steal the scene. The recipe in this second book is for Gemma’s mother’s Velvety Cheesecake…delicious!
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Many know I've always been a fan of all things British, so I am in ‘seventh heaven' with all the references to Oxford University and the local haunts, Meadowford-on-Smythe, traditional fare for tea and treats, and an easy-to-follow recipe included for my own afternoon tea menu. It is 'jolly good’ fun!

23 people found this helpful

To each her own, I guess...

I’m not sure why this is getting such good reviews. Gemma is incredibly stupid, her mother is ridiculous and the whole thing is frustrating to listen to. I’m also a bit offended that a relationship between two women, real or not, is described as “lewd” instead of just incorrect. Also the inspector is so ridiculously lazy it’s a wonder any crimes are solved in Oxford at all.

I’m so disappointed - I thought I’d found another great English cozy series, but this one is a dud. I’m going to try to get my credit back.

27 people found this helpful

Nice cozies and a good value

This is a cute cozy series with engaging characters and decent plotting. It largely avoids the more annoying tropes of many modern cozies (really dumb main characters, stupid local cops, etc). I enjoyed them.

Be aware, though, the first book in this bundle is the weakest. Don't judge the series on it. They do get better.

13 people found this helpful

Charming, Entertaining, Scrumptious!

My favorite new book series, H. Y. Hanna is an excellent writer! Quirky interesting characters, gorgeous historical setting of Oxford and the Cotswolds, a mischievous and lovable cat, a strong and endearing Community of women! And of course a love interest! I absolutely love these books! Highly recommended!

And the narration is also superlative! One of the best audible narrators I've heard!

8 people found this helpful