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Puddledown Mysteries #1
The Dead Past
Runner Up: Rainbow Awards 2014 Best Gay Historical Romance
Puddledown, England
The year is 1948, the war is over and the evacuees have gone home, although rationing continues. For Hugo Wainwright, who escaped conscription and never had to fight for his country, very little has changed. He lives a quiet life away from the big cities, knowing his desires for other men will lead to disaster if he ever acts on them.
Tommy Granger spent his service on the battlefields of France. He experienced it all: the bloody horrors of war, and the chaos of Dunkirk. Finding employment as groundskeeper in the woods on the outskirts of Puddledown, he lives in solitude, trying to forget all the terrible things he’s seen.
When Hugo stumbles over a body not far from Tommy’s cabin, both men’s lives change forever. There’s a killer in the woods, and the townsfolk are sure Tommy is the culprit. Can Hugo unmask the murderer and prove the innocence of the man he’s falling for, or are the deadly consequences of Tommy’s past about to catch up to him and separate the two men forever?
Puddledown, England
The year is 1948, the war is over and the evacuees have gone home, although rationing continues. For Hugo Wainwright, who escaped conscription and never had to fight for his country, very little has changed. He lives a quiet life away from the big cities, knowing his desires for other men will lead to disaster if he ever acts on them.
Tommy Granger spent his service on the battlefields of France. He experienced it all: the bloody horrors of war, and the chaos of Dunkirk. Finding employment as groundskeeper in the woods on the outskirts of Puddledown, he lives in solitude, trying to forget all the terrible things he’s seen.
When Hugo stumbles over a body not far from Tommy’s cabin, both men’s lives change forever. There’s a killer in the woods, and the townsfolk are sure Tommy is the culprit. Can Hugo unmask the murderer and prove the innocence of the man he’s falling for, or are the deadly consequences of Tommy’s past about to catch up to him and separate the two men forever?
161 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2014
4 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Kate Aaron
40 books339 followersBorn in Liverpool, Kate Aaron is a bestselling author of the #1 LGBT romances What He Wants, Ace, The Slave, and other works.
Kate swapped the North West for the Midwest in October 2015 and married award-winning author AJ Rose. Together they plan to take over the world.
Kate swapped the North West for the Midwest in October 2015 and married award-winning author AJ Rose. Together they plan to take over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 6, 2014
***Reading copy received from the author***
Agatha Christie writes m/m ;) Cuppa tea anyone?
Agatha Christie writes m/m ;) Cuppa tea anyone?
August 27, 2014
Understated entertainment.
A wee slice of life in the English countryside just after WWII. All the silly and irrelevant gossip that acts as the sole diversion of Puddledown is driven into a frenzy when a most singular event occurs--MURDER.
Nice cast of characters that would easily support future jaunts through the woods and down the main street of Puddledown. Hugo is a man burdened by never having served and questioning himself on more than one point. Tommy is the new groundskeeper of the neighboring estate and second witness to the gruesome finding.
What unravels is a cozy mystery with just enough gore to shock one's sensibilities. A madman on the loose and Hugo is determined to find out whom is responsible. Secrets are revealed and lives changed. A fun whodunit to laze away part of an afternoon reading. Off to Book 2.
Favorite quote:
3.5 Stars
A wee slice of life in the English countryside just after WWII. All the silly and irrelevant gossip that acts as the sole diversion of Puddledown is driven into a frenzy when a most singular event occurs--MURDER.
Nice cast of characters that would easily support future jaunts through the woods and down the main street of Puddledown. Hugo is a man burdened by never having served and questioning himself on more than one point. Tommy is the new groundskeeper of the neighboring estate and second witness to the gruesome finding.
What unravels is a cozy mystery with just enough gore to shock one's sensibilities. A madman on the loose and Hugo is determined to find out whom is responsible. Secrets are revealed and lives changed. A fun whodunit to laze away part of an afternoon reading. Off to Book 2.
Favorite quote:
Such men— such strong, virile men— had neither time nor patience for pallid, bookish types, who pinned all their hopes on two lines of Greek, illicitly translated when they had been forbidden from doing so.
3.5 Stars
November 6, 2015
3.5 stars
This book felt very true to the time period and the setting - small town in post-WWII England. While I liked the setting and the characters, there was a bit of a sombre feeling to this that took away some of my enjoyment.
This book felt very true to the time period and the setting - small town in post-WWII England. While I liked the setting and the characters, there was a bit of a sombre feeling to this that took away some of my enjoyment.
February 10, 2015
Exactly what I expected, and I loved it!
I'm very fond of the old school mysteries that take place in a classic English village. Well, this particular one did not disappoint. The story is told in a way that keeps your interest. I really like the author's particular writing style and she's quite adept at creating the perfect atmosphere. Great characters (Love Tommy and Hugo!). Interesting crime/mystery with just the right amount of romance.
A delight to read. Going to read book 2!!!
April 1, 2018
A very sedate paced book where the 2 MCs meet over a dead body and form a friendship but don't go further than kissing.
Its the late 1940's in England where homosexuality is still illegal and both Hugo and Tommy need to be careful.
Tommy is home from the war and working as a gamekeeper and Hugo is the Arts and Literature Correspondent for the local newspaper. One day whilst out walking, Hugo discovers a dead body and Tommy is arrested for the killing.
The mystery was good, I didn't figure out the murderer.
I am undecided if I will carry on with this series or not.
Its the late 1940's in England where homosexuality is still illegal and both Hugo and Tommy need to be careful.
Tommy is home from the war and working as a gamekeeper and Hugo is the Arts and Literature Correspondent for the local newspaper. One day whilst out walking, Hugo discovers a dead body and Tommy is arrested for the killing.
The mystery was good, I didn't figure out the murderer.
I am undecided if I will carry on with this series or not.
July 21, 2015
I really loved this author's writing style. I always love historical fiction anyway, and this was just really well done. The tone is very period without being difficult to follow, and she has tons of detail (like when the houses were fitted with piped water). The characters are believable and human. This isn't a mystery of the "whodunit" variety, but more of a suspense fiction.
The two flaws that stand out to me are 1) the abovementioned genre confusion, and 2) she made the MC Hugo just a little too pathetic. She calls this book a mystery, and the protagonists talk about finding the culprit, but in the end the culprit has to find them. Not a major flaw, unless you are a mystery lover and are disappointed by lack of clues.
I was disappointed, though, by how thoroughly she emasculated Hugo. One of the reasons I prefer m/m romance is that the clueless girl needing rescue drives me absolutely bananas. It turns out I hate it even more when it isn't presupposed by the genre. I mean, nobody is expecting a helpless ingénue, so why not make both characters at least moderately capable?
Still, I think that this is an enjoyable book. Fans of Tamara Allen will like the precise and evocative rendering of the time period, and the author has a very attractive style. There are a few typos, but they tend to be of the missed edit type rather than the needs grammar help type.
Note: there are no sex scenes in this book. I wouldn't call it g rated, as there are references, but it is not a steamy book.
The two flaws that stand out to me are 1) the abovementioned genre confusion, and 2) she made the MC Hugo just a little too pathetic. She calls this book a mystery, and the protagonists talk about finding the culprit, but in the end the culprit has to find them. Not a major flaw, unless you are a mystery lover and are disappointed by lack of clues.
I was disappointed, though, by how thoroughly she emasculated Hugo. One of the reasons I prefer m/m romance is that the clueless girl needing rescue drives me absolutely bananas. It turns out I hate it even more when it isn't presupposed by the genre. I mean, nobody is expecting a helpless ingénue, so why not make both characters at least moderately capable?
Still, I think that this is an enjoyable book. Fans of Tamara Allen will like the precise and evocative rendering of the time period, and the author has a very attractive style. There are a few typos, but they tend to be of the missed edit type rather than the needs grammar help type.
Note: there are no sex scenes in this book. I wouldn't call it g rated, as there are references, but it is not a steamy book.
June 13, 2015
Loved this book!!!
I was told to pick it up by an coworker since I loved reading mysteries. I was hesitate after reading the description and having never really been one for romance stories before. I feared what I was going to find within, but I am glad to took the chance. The mystery was interesting and the story telling was good. I was able to get drawn into the little town of Puddledown. The way the main character is portrayed really touched as true and sincere and really pulled me deeper into the story. While I've empathized with situations within the plot of stories before (no, I mean sympathized), I've never felt so close to a character before. Hugo wasn't just a character in the story. He became a person that I knew and liked. I felt for him and with him and this kept me turning each page after page until the end when I turned and to my horror found a blank page awaiting me. Now I am off to the next book to do it all again. I've never finished a book so fast before in my life!
I was told to pick it up by an coworker since I loved reading mysteries. I was hesitate after reading the description and having never really been one for romance stories before. I feared what I was going to find within, but I am glad to took the chance. The mystery was interesting and the story telling was good. I was able to get drawn into the little town of Puddledown. The way the main character is portrayed really touched as true and sincere and really pulled me deeper into the story. While I've empathized with situations within the plot of stories before (no, I mean sympathized), I've never felt so close to a character before. Hugo wasn't just a character in the story. He became a person that I knew and liked. I felt for him and with him and this kept me turning each page after page until the end when I turned and to my horror found a blank page awaiting me. Now I am off to the next book to do it all again. I've never finished a book so fast before in my life!
January 25, 2016
Typical British Angst Modified
Even though this is a post WWII novel (and a very good one at that) some of the cultural issues which are confronted when it comes to homosexuality are just the same as they are in many MM novels set in the Regency era. The main one is the character of Hugo Wainwright, a bookish resident of a small town who keeps to himself and refuses to act on his inclinations, until he stumbles upon both a dead body and a good natured and handsome army veteran by the name of Tommy Granger, who is much more open about his orientation than Hugo, but only to Hugo.
This happenstance leads to a very subliminal romance and an intriguing murder mystery which brings Hugo and Tommy close, exposing them to feelings neither has ever had, but more than that dangers that are real and very hand to avoid.
Like many novels of this type, the heat takes a while to build, and because this is the first of a series, there is a lot of get-to-know the town, the townspeople, the police, and eventually the murderer. I liked everything about it and will give the sequel a try.
Even though this is a post WWII novel (and a very good one at that) some of the cultural issues which are confronted when it comes to homosexuality are just the same as they are in many MM novels set in the Regency era. The main one is the character of Hugo Wainwright, a bookish resident of a small town who keeps to himself and refuses to act on his inclinations, until he stumbles upon both a dead body and a good natured and handsome army veteran by the name of Tommy Granger, who is much more open about his orientation than Hugo, but only to Hugo.
This happenstance leads to a very subliminal romance and an intriguing murder mystery which brings Hugo and Tommy close, exposing them to feelings neither has ever had, but more than that dangers that are real and very hand to avoid.
Like many novels of this type, the heat takes a while to build, and because this is the first of a series, there is a lot of get-to-know the town, the townspeople, the police, and eventually the murderer. I liked everything about it and will give the sequel a try.
June 14, 2014
It took me a little while to get used to the writing style of this author but once I was in I was hooked. In fact, instead of getting up this morning I stayed in bed just so I can finish the book.
It's book 1 of a series and I'll definitely be reading the next one. The mystery was good and I really liked watching the developing friendship and romance between Hugo and Tommy. There is nothing explicit in this book, just gentle suggestions.
I thought when I bought it that, with a name like Puddletown in the title, that this could be a parody but this is not the case. It's just a very English name and, to me, the writing style which I mentioned earlier, could also be described as English. I really like this.
Looking forward to seeing what happens next in this series.
Recommended.
It's book 1 of a series and I'll definitely be reading the next one. The mystery was good and I really liked watching the developing friendship and romance between Hugo and Tommy. There is nothing explicit in this book, just gentle suggestions.
I thought when I bought it that, with a name like Puddletown in the title, that this could be a parody but this is not the case. It's just a very English name and, to me, the writing style which I mentioned earlier, could also be described as English. I really like this.
Looking forward to seeing what happens next in this series.
Recommended.
June 9, 2015
Considering the author lives in England there's much that seems off about the setting. Wild flowers? In the frost? In October? In the south of England? However, it doesn't seem entirely fair to give less than three stars either.
August 12, 2020
Alors alors… alors j’aime beaucoup la plume de Kate Aaron que j’ai d’ailleurs découverte chez Reines Beaux avec sa série Les Hommes Libres . Je n’ai pas trop compris pourquoi, étant donné que les deux premiers tomes sont sortis le même jour, le troisième ne suivait pas mais ça ne m’a pas empêché de savourer cette série.
L’histoire se passe en Angleterre en 1948 ou 1949 et je dois dire que c’est une période que je connais assez mal mais j’ai été contente d’en découvrir plus sur la vie après la guerre. La plume de l’auteure est vraiment entraînante et la traduction excellente. On passe un très bon moment de lecture et on se laisse entraîner d’une page à l’autre, d’un tome à l’autre , avec plaisir.
Les personnages sont très intéressants. J’ai beaucoup aimé Hugo, le personnage principal qui va, doucement mais surement s’ouvrir aux autres et notamment à Tommy. J’ai aimé que leurs expériences soient différentes et que chacun apporte à l’autre quelque chose de nouveaux.
C’est plutôt interested de voir que meme à cette époque pourtant proche, la noblesse anglaise avait encore beaucoup de poids dans l’économie et la vie en général de petits villages . J’ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont l’auteure nous dépeint cet aspect.
Le personnage de Tommy apporte un coté plus concret et franc de part son experience et j’ai beaucoup aimé l’effet qu’il va avoir sur Hugo.
Le mystère est bien présent dans ces deux tomes et on retrouve plusieurs aspects des cosy mystery même s’il y a un peu plus de scene « de sexe ». Mais de part le manque d’expérience et la retenue d’Hugo, il ne se passe pas grand chose dans ces tomes.
Les personnages, le mystère sont vraiment au centre de l’histoire et la relation qui se met en place entre Hugo et Tommy est à la fois au second plan et au centre de l’histoire. Mais c’est plus son impact sur Hugo, la façon dont il va décider de vivre ses désirs qui est important.
En résumé, deux romans vraiment sympathiques qui se lisent très rapidement mais vous ferons passer un excellent moment de lecture. Une série à découvir.
L’histoire se passe en Angleterre en 1948 ou 1949 et je dois dire que c’est une période que je connais assez mal mais j’ai été contente d’en découvrir plus sur la vie après la guerre. La plume de l’auteure est vraiment entraînante et la traduction excellente. On passe un très bon moment de lecture et on se laisse entraîner d’une page à l’autre, d’un tome à l’autre , avec plaisir.
Les personnages sont très intéressants. J’ai beaucoup aimé Hugo, le personnage principal qui va, doucement mais surement s’ouvrir aux autres et notamment à Tommy. J’ai aimé que leurs expériences soient différentes et que chacun apporte à l’autre quelque chose de nouveaux.
C’est plutôt interested de voir que meme à cette époque pourtant proche, la noblesse anglaise avait encore beaucoup de poids dans l’économie et la vie en général de petits villages . J’ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont l’auteure nous dépeint cet aspect.
Le personnage de Tommy apporte un coté plus concret et franc de part son experience et j’ai beaucoup aimé l’effet qu’il va avoir sur Hugo.
Le mystère est bien présent dans ces deux tomes et on retrouve plusieurs aspects des cosy mystery même s’il y a un peu plus de scene « de sexe ». Mais de part le manque d’expérience et la retenue d’Hugo, il ne se passe pas grand chose dans ces tomes.
Les personnages, le mystère sont vraiment au centre de l’histoire et la relation qui se met en place entre Hugo et Tommy est à la fois au second plan et au centre de l’histoire. Mais c’est plus son impact sur Hugo, la façon dont il va décider de vivre ses désirs qui est important.
En résumé, deux romans vraiment sympathiques qui se lisent très rapidement mais vous ferons passer un excellent moment de lecture. Une série à découvir.
November 2, 2022
Someone's Watching
This story takes place in a small English town in 1948. MCs Tommy and Hugh are cautiously attracted to each other but the law is against them. They'll face jail and public humiliation and reprisals if anyone suspects and speaks against them, no verifiable evidence needed! When they stumble across the body of a murdered woman, of course the new and different person in town, Tommy, becomes the fall guy. Tommy and Hugh must figure out on their own who the real killer is. There are the usual small town, small minded idiots on the police force. The overall atmosphere of the story is kind of sad, or maybe it just made me feel that way, because of the societal oppression. Nevertheless, it's a good beginning to a three book series. Tommy and Hugh are interesting enough to make me want to follow their story to a happy ending. This introduction to their romance is without heat.
This story takes place in a small English town in 1948. MCs Tommy and Hugh are cautiously attracted to each other but the law is against them. They'll face jail and public humiliation and reprisals if anyone suspects and speaks against them, no verifiable evidence needed! When they stumble across the body of a murdered woman, of course the new and different person in town, Tommy, becomes the fall guy. Tommy and Hugh must figure out on their own who the real killer is. There are the usual small town, small minded idiots on the police force. The overall atmosphere of the story is kind of sad, or maybe it just made me feel that way, because of the societal oppression. Nevertheless, it's a good beginning to a three book series. Tommy and Hugh are interesting enough to make me want to follow their story to a happy ending. This introduction to their romance is without heat.
September 2, 2019
One problem with this book: it is too short!! I fell in love with the bookish Hugo and the worldly Tommy. I needed way more together time. Luckily there are more books in this series and I ordered them the second I got done with this book. Simply a great mystery and lovely romantic story.Neither story line is subdued by the other. The romantic story line is simple, beautiful and tragic. A bygone era when people had to hide who they were and use a secret language all their own. Plus the mystery was a believable one, although I do wish that it was somewhat more fleshed out. It all seemed to come together at the end wrapped in a bow. Highly recommend for people who love a good mysetrey and an even better romance
December 6, 2020
This was cute, low-key, very gentle romance with a mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie or similar cosy mysteries. Understated in both the mystery and the action. Hugo and Tommy were lovely, even if Hugo was a bit frustrating at times and lacked anything resembling a spine at the best of times. The mystery disappointed me because . Overall, it's better if you disregard the mystery plot and focus on the relationship development and the atmosphere which Kate Aaron very skilfully creates. It was a great book to read on a rainy weekend.
May 31, 2020
The Dead Past was a decent read. I found Hugo very sympathetic and I liked how he grappled with and acknowledged his wants and desires in a way that felt true to his character. I also found the setting and atmosphere quite compelling, if bleak at times. The mystery itself wasn't what I was expecting, but it did suit the characters and the world the author created. I will probably visit Puddletown again.
September 10, 2021
3.5 really!
Good mystery, I was all WHO COULD HAVE DONE IT (I actually thought at the beginning there was something supernatural because of the descriptions of the first victim - I was all, this is historical, right? Not AU historical, lol.)?!
I see there are two more books, I hope I can continue the series so that I can see how Hugo and Tommy fare! :)
Good mystery, I was all WHO COULD HAVE DONE IT (I actually thought at the beginning there was something supernatural because of the descriptions of the first victim - I was all, this is historical, right? Not AU historical, lol.)?!
I see there are two more books, I hope I can continue the series so that I can see how Hugo and Tommy fare! :)
September 5, 2020
Lovely little historical mystery. Loved the description of post-war village life.
was rooting for Mr. Wainwright and Mr Granger. Both men are deep, caring and broken men.
Looking forward to reading more about these good chaps. And reading more from Kate Aaron.
was rooting for Mr. Wainwright and Mr Granger. Both men are deep, caring and broken men.
Looking forward to reading more about these good chaps. And reading more from Kate Aaron.
February 17, 2015
I got this copy as a prize on Elisa Rolle's blog, but I certainly will be buying book 2 and any more that come out!
Being British, I do like the way British authors write, it is familiar. I did enjoy this tale of men in the immediate post WW2 period adjusting to peacetime and their sexuality.
Tommy has been in the war, seen things he doesn't want to remember, and because of his sexuality, had things happen he didn't want. So a job as a gamekeeper is ideal, isolated in the country. I didn't get as much a feel for him as I did for Hugo.
Hugo stayed at home in a preserved job, teaching. So he carries some guilt for not fighting and a lot of guilt for his secret sexual cravings and has resigned himself to lonely bachelorhood. I did feel for Hugo, we had more time in his head, so his feeling s were more apparent.
The murder mystery was tricky and certainly Tommy was always in the wrong place. And those village gossips!
Enjoyed it, quick paced writing, nice clean style, I also liked it gave a vibe of the more formal times in the writing style.
Being British, I do like the way British authors write, it is familiar. I did enjoy this tale of men in the immediate post WW2 period adjusting to peacetime and their sexuality.
Tommy has been in the war, seen things he doesn't want to remember, and because of his sexuality, had things happen he didn't want. So a job as a gamekeeper is ideal, isolated in the country. I didn't get as much a feel for him as I did for Hugo.
Hugo stayed at home in a preserved job, teaching. So he carries some guilt for not fighting and a lot of guilt for his secret sexual cravings and has resigned himself to lonely bachelorhood. I did feel for Hugo, we had more time in his head, so his feeling s were more apparent.
The murder mystery was tricky and certainly Tommy was always in the wrong place. And those village gossips!
Enjoyed it, quick paced writing, nice clean style, I also liked it gave a vibe of the more formal times in the writing style.
February 28, 2015
This has been on my Kindle for the past year or more and I'm afraid to say, forgotten. Then, I won a ebook of my choosing by Kate Aaron through Diverse Reader blog and I chose #2 of the Puddletown Mysteries. So I finished what I was reading and jumped in! Hugo had my heart from the very beginning. He is so self tortured over his desires and understandably so considering it's 1948. When we meet Tommy, he too found his way into my heart and it was pretty obvious where the pair was headed but it was most definitely not an easy road. Throw in the murders and the cops with their determination to find Tommy guilty and this book had me riveted.
April 6, 2015
A mystery like Agatha Christie's (Ms Christie is for a very long time one of my favorite authors), so I really like this Dead Past in Puddledown.
We have the whole package: a small and quiet countrytown, the late vicar's wife as the victim, the old and acute lady who helps Hugo, the narrow-minded inquisitor, the innocent suspect, the tea, the jam, and some more mysteries...
A really pleasant story and perfect for newbies in the genre Romance MM (very soft: just some kisses and "shameful desir" as Hugo thinks).
We have the whole package: a small and quiet countrytown, the late vicar's wife as the victim, the old and acute lady who helps Hugo, the narrow-minded inquisitor, the innocent suspect, the tea, the jam, and some more mysteries...
A really pleasant story and perfect for newbies in the genre Romance MM (very soft: just some kisses and "shameful desir" as Hugo thinks).
April 18, 2015
It was okay. Not really a solvable mystery. I was surprised that no one seemed to resent the MC for having avoided enlisting in the war.
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Want to read
May 28, 2016Fantastic
Loved the background of this story. The MCs were well developed and I loved the disparity of their life experience. Highly recommend.
Loved the background of this story. The MCs were well developed and I loved the disparity of their life experience. Highly recommend.
January 26, 2017
KU
I enjoyed this - started a little slow but got better along the way and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
I enjoyed this - started a little slow but got better along the way and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews