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Cambridge Fellows #12.7
Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code
St Bride's College is buzzing with excitement at the prospect of reviving the traditional celebration of the saint's day. When events get marred by murder it's natural that Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith will get called in to help the police with their inside knowledge. But why has somebody been crawling about on the chapel roof and who's obsessed with searching in the library out of hours?
119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2018
15 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Cochrane
86 books372 followersBecause Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes. Her mystery novels include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, series, and the contemporary Best Corpse for the Job. Multi-published, she has titles with Carina, Samhain, Riptide and Bold Strokes, among others.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 5, 2021
3.5 old pages stars
Es 1911 y en St Bride festejan el día de su patrono, las preparaciones apuntan hacia antiguas tradiciones, como el himno a pesar de las objeciones de algunos como Jonty. Mientras tanto ocurren algunos percances como incursiones nocturnas en los tejados que la mayoría piensa que se trata de cuestiones de bromas de los estudiantes cumpliendo otra tradición universitaria , sin embargo algo más ocurre complicando el asunto y llevando a la pareja de detectives aficionados a unir fuerzas una vez más con la policía.
Es un misterio en una forma tradicional, siguiendo pistas y con algunos desvíos. Aunque sospeché de nuevo del probable culpable, este libro me gustó más que el anterior probablemente por el ambiente, los porteros, las menciones del coro y las bromas. Aunque la conclusión de que el culpable tenia problemas mentales es algo que se sale de pauta
El señor Stewart parece que es quien más disfruta con esto de andar investigando :)
Es 1911 y en St Bride festejan el día de su patrono, las preparaciones apuntan hacia antiguas tradiciones, como el himno a pesar de las objeciones de algunos como Jonty. Mientras tanto ocurren algunos percances como incursiones nocturnas en los tejados que la mayoría piensa que se trata de cuestiones de bromas de los estudiantes cumpliendo otra tradición universitaria , sin embargo algo más ocurre complicando el asunto y llevando a la pareja de detectives aficionados a unir fuerzas una vez más con la policía.
Es un misterio en una forma tradicional, siguiendo pistas y con algunos desvíos. Aunque sospeché de nuevo del probable culpable, este libro me gustó más que el anterior probablemente por el ambiente, los porteros, las menciones del coro y las bromas. Aunque la conclusión de que el culpable tenia problemas mentales es algo que se sale de pauta
El señor Stewart parece que es quien más disfruta con esto de andar investigando :)
January 25, 2019
A new entry in a favorite series of cozy mysteries set in the Edwardian era was just the thing. I was particularly tickled that this one stepped back in time to offer up a story that was chronologically much earlier in the series time line to before the older generation are off the scene.
Jonty and Orlando get the excitement of a murder case and an old-style clue and treasure hunt right on the grounds of St. Bride's. Chief Inspector Wilson, his sergeant, Ariadne, and Dr. Panesar are on hand to assist the detecting pair.
Though this was a novella, it was right up there with the other entries of the series for attention to historical background, characters, relationships, and the mystery plot. I love each new installment in the series and can't wait for the next.
Jonty and Orlando get the excitement of a murder case and an old-style clue and treasure hunt right on the grounds of St. Bride's. Chief Inspector Wilson, his sergeant, Ariadne, and Dr. Panesar are on hand to assist the detecting pair.
Though this was a novella, it was right up there with the other entries of the series for attention to historical background, characters, relationships, and the mystery plot. I love each new installment in the series and can't wait for the next.
December 20, 2018
I adore reading about Orlando and Jonty. This novella--book 12.7 in the series, which is not in chronological order-- takes us back in time to 1911, when everyone is a bit younger. We finally get to hear the story of the time Jonty brought a goat into the porter's lodge! It's mentioned in passing in most (all?) of the previous books and I've been waiting to hear that one for years. I enjoyed getting to spend a little time with Jonty's excellent parents, whom I sometimes miss in the postwar books. Another lovely installment to a favourite series.
January 21, 2019
As the revival of the St. Bride's Day traditional celebrations nears, signs of break-ins and crawling about the chapel roof have given Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith a new case. Is a dastardly crime afoot or is it just dunderhead pranks?
OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD! A new Cambridge Fellows Mysteries is here and I finally got a chance to read it(holiday reading stopped me from getting to it sooner so I just told myself it wasn't out yet😉😉) What better way to start off the new year than with Jonty and Orlando on the case? I have been a huge fan of these boys since I first discovered Lessons in Love back in the summer of 2014 and I've said it before but I'll say it again: whether Charlie Cochrane has only a one paragraph holiday coda or 100 full length novels left in her for this pair, I'll be first in line to gobble them up. I don't know just what it is about this series that hooks me in but whatever it is, I'm all for it.
As for Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code, well the mystery is fun and yes I know there is a bit of death and destruction involved but "fun" is the best way to describe it. An added plus with Deadly Code, as it is set back in 1911, the elder Stewarts are back and ready to help when needed. We see more of Mr. Stewart aiding the boys but we get still have the ever feisty Mrs. Stewart showing her favoritism to Orlando too😉😉. I think that's about all I'm going to say to the mystery part of the tale as it is a novella, the tiny details are even more telling than with a full length mystery but I will reiterate that it is just plain fun and had me guessing right up to the reveal. As for Jonty and Orlando, well they are equally as fun, flirty, and more in love than ever.
Yep, Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code is a win win from the getgo! It has a little bit of everything, okay so there is no sci-fi or fantasy, but otherwise pretty much everything is here. Mystery, romance, friendship, flirting, death, humor -- oh yeah, Miss Cochrane has done her readers proud with this addition to the Cambridge Fellows. Speaking of the author, one of my favorite things about a Charlie Cochrane story is her attention to detail, to the little points that may or may not actually effect the mystery, and in the case of Cambridge her respect for the past just oozes off the page and yet the entertainment factor is never in jeopardy of being overshadowed by "getting it right". Definitely a win win from cover to cover.
One last thing, for those who have never read Cambridge Fellows Mysteries before and are wondering if it is a series that has to be read in order? Well not really. If you go to the author's website and look at the list, you'll notice that the series order isn't necessarily the chronological order. Personally, I would highly recommend reading the first three or four in order because it helps to cement friendships with secondary characters but each entry is its own mystery so technically each one is a standalone. However you choose to read it, if you are a mystery fan than don't let this series pass you by.
OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD! A new Cambridge Fellows Mysteries is here and I finally got a chance to read it(holiday reading stopped me from getting to it sooner so I just told myself it wasn't out yet😉😉) What better way to start off the new year than with Jonty and Orlando on the case? I have been a huge fan of these boys since I first discovered Lessons in Love back in the summer of 2014 and I've said it before but I'll say it again: whether Charlie Cochrane has only a one paragraph holiday coda or 100 full length novels left in her for this pair, I'll be first in line to gobble them up. I don't know just what it is about this series that hooks me in but whatever it is, I'm all for it.
As for Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code, well the mystery is fun and yes I know there is a bit of death and destruction involved but "fun" is the best way to describe it. An added plus with Deadly Code, as it is set back in 1911, the elder Stewarts are back and ready to help when needed. We see more of Mr. Stewart aiding the boys but we get still have the ever feisty Mrs. Stewart showing her favoritism to Orlando too😉😉. I think that's about all I'm going to say to the mystery part of the tale as it is a novella, the tiny details are even more telling than with a full length mystery but I will reiterate that it is just plain fun and had me guessing right up to the reveal. As for Jonty and Orlando, well they are equally as fun, flirty, and more in love than ever.
Yep, Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code is a win win from the getgo! It has a little bit of everything, okay so there is no sci-fi or fantasy, but otherwise pretty much everything is here. Mystery, romance, friendship, flirting, death, humor -- oh yeah, Miss Cochrane has done her readers proud with this addition to the Cambridge Fellows. Speaking of the author, one of my favorite things about a Charlie Cochrane story is her attention to detail, to the little points that may or may not actually effect the mystery, and in the case of Cambridge her respect for the past just oozes off the page and yet the entertainment factor is never in jeopardy of being overshadowed by "getting it right". Definitely a win win from cover to cover.
One last thing, for those who have never read Cambridge Fellows Mysteries before and are wondering if it is a series that has to be read in order? Well not really. If you go to the author's website and look at the list, you'll notice that the series order isn't necessarily the chronological order. Personally, I would highly recommend reading the first three or four in order because it helps to cement friendships with secondary characters but each entry is its own mystery so technically each one is a standalone. However you choose to read it, if you are a mystery fan than don't let this series pass you by.
November 4, 2019
Great mystery, and with such a lovely solution. I adored the analysis of the song drivel -- yes, the lines are just as bad as everyone expects, and I have no doubt that I would've had just as difficult time singing them without laughing or making funny faces. ("And guard them with thy mighty might" is certainly ranking with "frail flesh" for ridiculous winning endings to a verse!)
January 18, 2019
This is another installment in what has proven to be very funny and interesting mystery series. I’m rather fond of it and was overjoyed to find there is another addition to it.
It’s freezing cold outside and Jonty and Orlando are hoping to amuse themselves with nice little problem. But what starts as set of unusual and confusing circumstances gets more serious when murder happens on the campus.
As always the story is happily dancing along with numerous small jokes and sarcastic remarks despite dark subject matter. The murder fades in the background as the focus is more on our intrepid pair of heroes tying to solve the puzzle and ups and downs of college life. It has tongue in cheek resolution and I liked how the villain almost got away because of one simple lie everyone took as a truth at beginning.
It’s cute little story bursting with charm, perfect to snuggle with.
Sincerely hope to see more of it!
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
It’s freezing cold outside and Jonty and Orlando are hoping to amuse themselves with nice little problem. But what starts as set of unusual and confusing circumstances gets more serious when murder happens on the campus.
As always the story is happily dancing along with numerous small jokes and sarcastic remarks despite dark subject matter. The murder fades in the background as the focus is more on our intrepid pair of heroes tying to solve the puzzle and ups and downs of college life. It has tongue in cheek resolution and I liked how the villain almost got away because of one simple lie everyone took as a truth at beginning.
It’s cute little story bursting with charm, perfect to snuggle with.
Sincerely hope to see more of it!
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
December 2, 2018
Cochrane goes back to 1911, pre-Great War, for her latest Cambridge Fellows novella. While I enjoy seeing Orlando and Jonty still young and hale, there's a certain sadness in knowing what lies ahead for them. The mystery is a good one, and our two sleuths find themselves in a bit of danger as they forge ahead.
There was one aspect that bothered me: the lack of concern displayed about the fact that a student has been murdered. Sure, they want to solve the crime and find the culprit, but there seems to be little sadness about the student himself, and the later theft of certain objects feels like it is given equal weight to a brutal murder. I get that this is a "cozy mystery" so the angst is by definition minimized, but it seemed just a tiny bit callous.
Otherwise an enjoyable entry into the long-running series. If Cochrane keeps jumping back and forth in time there is no limit to the number of mysteries she can provide for our intrepid fellows.
There was one aspect that bothered me: the lack of concern displayed about the fact that a student has been murdered. Sure, they want to solve the crime and find the culprit, but there seems to be little sadness about the student himself, and the later theft of certain objects feels like it is given equal weight to a brutal murder. I get that this is a "cozy mystery" so the angst is by definition minimized, but it seemed just a tiny bit callous.
Otherwise an enjoyable entry into the long-running series. If Cochrane keeps jumping back and forth in time there is no limit to the number of mysteries she can provide for our intrepid fellows.
December 14, 2018
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-fxf
From that review: "Yes! The mystery is afoot to borrow another sleuth's phrase in the latest Cambridge Fellows mystery by Charlie Cochrane. The author is not following along a specific timeline for her stories, happily for us who follow this series, so here some of our favorite characters like Jonty's parents can still be seen taking part in solving this quite puzzling affair. What a joy as I love them so..."
for all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-fxf
From that review: "Yes! The mystery is afoot to borrow another sleuth's phrase in the latest Cambridge Fellows mystery by Charlie Cochrane. The author is not following along a specific timeline for her stories, happily for us who follow this series, so here some of our favorite characters like Jonty's parents can still be seen taking part in solving this quite puzzling affair. What a joy as I love them so..."
for all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
May 4, 2023
Short but twisted story
Orlando is bored with nothing going on during a cold spell in Cambridge. Careful what you wish for. The boys get a mystery when the college tries to recreate a ceremony hundred of years old with stolen keys and people snooping where they don't belong. And of course a murder to solve. Jonty and Orlando save the day with the help of college staff and the local police. Very good story.
Orlando is bored with nothing going on during a cold spell in Cambridge. Careful what you wish for. The boys get a mystery when the college tries to recreate a ceremony hundred of years old with stolen keys and people snooping where they don't belong. And of course a murder to solve. Jonty and Orlando save the day with the help of college staff and the local police. Very good story.
January 5, 2019
Well it’s Jonty and Orlando so what more needs saying!
Snow, ancient traditions and a treasure hunt.
The times were different in 1911 and you do get a feel for the times - the shock of Ariadne wearing tailored trousers!
Puzzles to solve, a murderer to find, a number of red herrings and culprits a plenty.
Good fun
Snow, ancient traditions and a treasure hunt.
The times were different in 1911 and you do get a feel for the times - the shock of Ariadne wearing tailored trousers!
Puzzles to solve, a murderer to find, a number of red herrings and culprits a plenty.
Good fun
August 16, 2019
3 1/2 - this one irritated me a bit. I know it's a long running series, but using the same not-massively-common name for a key character in two books without anyone remarking on it seemed slightly sloppy. And the chaplain seems to have changed his name without reference to someone new being in the post.
November 12, 2022
Another excellent story and mystery in the Jonty and Orlando series. I thoroughly enjoyed that this one was set within the confines and traditions of their (fictional) Cambridge college, complete with odd rituals and bizarre hymns. Great to see the usual cast sleuthing with our two leads. Thoroughly enjoyable!
October 20, 2022
Set in 1911 after the boys have been together for a bit and are living in their cottage together. There's a mystery at St Bride's and the boys are tasked with solving it. Maybe not quite a solid 4, but good none the less.
December 24, 2018
3.75 stars
July 21, 2020
A well researched historical romantic mystery. Set in the early 20th century this series is well written with likable characters.
October 2, 2024
January 1911. Is there a puzzle within the words of an old Catholic hymm pointing towards a hidden treasure. Stewart and Coppersmith investigate.
An enjoyable historical mystery
An enjoyable historical mystery
May 4, 2025
Some editing needed in this one, but I still enjoyed the plot.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews