A Shot in the Dark

Mydworth Mysteries #1

by Neil Richards, Matthew Costello

From the authors of the best-selling series CHERRINGHAM

Sussex, England, 1929. Mydworth is a sleepy English market town just 50 miles from London. But things are about to liven up there, when young and handsome Sir Harry Mortimer returns home from his diplomatic posting in Cairo, with his beautiful and unconventional American wife, Kat. No sooner have the two arrived, when a jewel robbery occurs at Harry's aunt's home - Mydworth Manor. The police are baffled and overwhelmed with the case. But Harry and Kat have an edge in the hunt for the dangerous not only do they have certain useful "skills" they've both picked up in service of King, President and Country, they also have access to parts of English society that your average bobby can't reach ...

Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), have been writing together since the mid-90s, creating innovative content and working on major projects for the BBC, Disney Channel, Sony, ABC, Eidos, and Nintendo to name but a few. Their transatlantic collaboration has underpinned scores of TV drama scripts, computer games, radio shows, and the best-selling mystery series Cherringham. Their latest series project is called Mydworth Mysteries.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Historical, Crime

142 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2020

About the author

Neil Richards has worked as a producer and writer in TV and film, creating scripts for BBC, Disney, and Channel 4, and earning numerous Bafta nominations along the way.

He's also written script and story for over 20 video games including The Da Vinci Code and Starship Titanic, co-written with Douglas Adams, and consults around the world on digital storytelling.

His writing partnership with NYC-based Matt Costello goes back to the late 90's and the two have written many hours of TV together. Cherringham the series is their first crime fiction as co-writers.

An American and an Englishman writing crime stories with an American and an English hero - what took us so long?

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Harry Mortimer kehrt in seine englische Heimat zurück. Er bringt seine junge Ehefrau mit - Kat, eine Amerikanerin. Es sind die 1920er Jahre. Doch kaum sind Harry und Kat bei Harrys Tante Lavinia angekommen, werden sie in einen Juwelen-Raub verwickelt, bei dem einer der Diebe fliehen kann, der andere jedoch erschossen wird.
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Der erste Band einer momentan 14-teiligen Reihe. Es ist ein Kurzkrimi, sehr gemütlich, unterhaltsam und mit dem Charme der 1920er Jahre. Leichte Kost - genau richtig für einen verregneten Sonntag :)
Ich habe mich auf jeden Fall sehr gut unterhalten gefühlt und bin gespannt, was mich in den weiteren Bänden noch erwarten wird.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series: Mydworth Mysteries #1
Publication Date: 7/31/19

What a delightful introduction to a new series this book was! I love historical mysteries and this will be a new favorite series for me. I love that it features an American and a Brit and that the writers are also – one American and one Brit. That means that we get the correct lingo, etc. from both sides. Love it!

Kat Reilly and Sir Harry Mortimer are, on the surface, an unlikely match. He is an English aristocrat and she is the daughter of an American pub owner. Yet, each has served in the war and then served their countries in other capacities. Now, they have found each other and love.

Kat and Sir Harry are on their way to Mydworth Manor to begin their new life together. As their car and baggage are being unloaded from the steamer ship, a messenger shows up with an urgent summons for Harry to make an appearance at the Home Office. So, Kat heads to Mydworth on her own – driving Harry’s prized Alvis motorcar. She had a lovely adventure with learning the rules of the English road.

When she arrives at the dower house they plan to live in, it is dark and boarded up. Didn’t their housekeeper get the cable advising of their arrival? Kat heads off, on foot, across the field to the manor house where Harry’s aunt lives hoping for a place to spend the night and await Harry’s arrival. She arrives to find a man climbing out a window – only to be shot – and then more bullets are flying all around – several flying very close to Kat. What a welcome to her new home!

Since Mydworth is a very small community, Harry’s aunt asks him and Kat to investigate. When the dead man is identified, they worry that the murderer might be close to home. With the house full of guests and servants galore, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Time is of the essence since the guests are all planning to leave.

With suspects aplenty, Kit and Harry have to work quickly to identify the guilty party. Who murdered the man who just happened to be a jewel thief? The solution is hard-won, the villain unexpected and the punishment sad.

I loved the romance and the mystery was interesting – but I never did understand why the dower house was unprepared for their arrival. Just something that was left undone and unexplained, yet it was an integral part of the plot

I am really looking forward to the next books in the series.

[MaryJo Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella introduces the reader to Sir Harry Mortimer and his American born birde Kat Reilly.
One gets the impression the authors decided to do a fun take off that combines Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, Nick and Nora Charles, and maybe Mr. and Mrs. North.

I didn't mind another series taking place among the well-to- do in Britain during the mid-twentieth century, if it was interesting, well written, well done.
This isn't. There is every stereotype in the book, complete with past and murky time spent in the secret service during the war.
Kat is extra savvy, extra modern, extra smart - of course. Way ahead of her time, which is an update from those couples mentioned above, perhaps, but her character is still pretty type-cast.

The plot, the setting, the other characters, in my opinion also true to form.
The author lacked the creativity to write something really interesting.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 5 🌟.

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cosy mystery set in a fictional Sussex village in 1929.
Harry is the typical English "old chap" and Kat is his impulsive wife, whose upbringing in the Bronx couldn't be further from Harry's upbringing with his aunt, Lady Lavinia. They make a great duo, they are opposites but very much alike in all the ways that matter, and I loved them from page 1!
Master sleuth that I am, I guessed most of the plot, though I did need Kat and Harry to fill in the details, but who even cares when the way to the finale is so entertaining?!
If cosy mysteries are your bag, this one needs to find its way onto your shelves! Recommended!

[Deborah Whipp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like the outline for TV show more than a novel. The characters were one dimensional, and the writing was filled with too many sentence fragments, as well as an overuse of italics. As for the plot, a lot of holes, such as how a chauffeur who couldn't hold a job was hired in the first place. And the two main characters who supposedly worked in intelligence during the war took their time in realizing what was obvious to most mystery readers instantly - there was no second thief. It was thankfully short.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and quick read. These are new to me authors who have hit the mark.

Sir Harry Mortimer and his new American wife, Katherine (Kat) have returned to England from Cairo. Kat and Harry have been working for their respective governments. Each of them have been doing work which is not exactly a match to their job descriptions. They both seek facts in interesting ways.

They are going to live in the dower house on the grounds at Mydworth Manor. Things do not go as planned.

Before they even get to see Harry’s Aunt Lavinia, there is a murder, a body falls out of a second story window and many shots are fired.

Lavinia has been having a house party with only the best people as guests. The dead body is her former driver. His pockets are filled with jewels. That fact leads to many suspects.

The investigation by Kat and Harry is fast moving and very informative. Many of the people who are involved in the mystery, know Harry from the past. That gives Harry background knowledge. Kat has experience in asking questions, that gives her a helpful skill.

There is humor throughout the story. The mystery is well done.

This is the first in a series, so the reader gets a good amount of background information.

I liked this story and I look forward to seeing the next book in the series.

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love a cosy mystery! If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that I particularly like them set in England in the early part of the 20th Century. In fact one of my favourites is the Amory Ames series by Ashley Weaver, and this series is very similar!
I really enjoyed my first outing with Sir Harry and his American wife Kat. Harry is the perfect English gentleman, and Kat is very American, in that she have very modern way of thinking and interacting with strangers. None of that class nonsense with Kat, thank goodness!
I loved Kat’s driving adventure in the Alvis, even though Harry wasn’t keen on her going by herself. There were some very amusing moments, particularly went she was driving through a very narrow tunnel and then getting lost.
Although the crime wasn’t difficult to solve, it was fun to follow Harry and Kat as they unravelled the whole mystery, especially some of the final scenes involving Kat and the getaway car.
Nathaniel Parker’s narrator was superb, I loved his portrayal of Harry, Kat and Lady Lavinia. In fact his voices for the women were pretty amazing!
I enjoyed this one so much that I bought the other three in the audible sale for £1.10 each, a real bargain.
Definitely recommended if you enjoy cosy mysteries! Thanks to Kelly @ FromBelgiumWithBookLove for highlighting this series on Twitter the other day.☺

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining start to a new mystery series set in 1929 Sussex, England. I chose to listen to the audiobook simply because it was narrated by Nathaniel Parker who does a great job! While this may not be the most thrilling and complicated mystery, it certainly checks all the marks when I am looking for an enjoyable lightweight book.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a find! A Shot in the Dark is the debut to a mystery series featuring the debonair Sir Harry Mortimer and his modern American wife, Kat Reilly. The pair met in Cairo when both were diplomatic attachés, and they’re chic, sophisticated and clever. Think a more Bohemian and elegant Tommy and Tuppence Beresford with one soupçon of Nick and Nora Charles and another of Lord Peter Wimsey in harness with Harriet Vane. Readers will adore this audiobook, which is just the right length (short) for my frazzled attention span during the COVID pandemic.

The series is penned by the English Neil Richards and American Matthew Costello, who are better known for their modern series set in the village Cherringham in the Cotswold. I can’t remember which one of the Cherringham series audiobooks I picked, but it was unreadable — er, unlistenable. I’m happy to report the Mydworth series is much, much, much better.

[Shaelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had really high hopes for this one, but couldn't get over the constant praising between the newlyweds as well as the reminders that she came from a " rough, poor, American "background and that he's used to all that the ' elegant, rich and English' lifestyle entails- we certainly understand the concept, we're some of the same readers of the Cherringham series and I feel like they don't shove the differences in our faces in the manner that they did in this- but maybe they actually do and it's more annoying (to me at least) because it's newlyweds we're reading about And not a platonic older pair - it feels like too much -in this.The mystery and other characters were very mediocre. I will definitely check out more of the series to see if there will be an improvement- I really hope so because this was a big disappointment.

[Ａｎｔｈｏｐｈｉｌｅ 🪴 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too tensed but a lot and continuous mystery, whodunnit, impressive how the author able to convoluted the story and plot at a short book with quick pace. A recommended mystery book to read in your free time, nothting heavy with the plot whatsoever.

I enjoyed reading this 👍🏻 everything was soooo ✨English✨ the ambience was so well and perfectly written. I love the smart and lovely marriage couple too, just dont expect persistencies of their romance but the relationship is there ♥️ i could finish this in one day in one sitting barred from my work yesterday.

[Maureen O'Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

If one could give a rating below one star, this would be the book to get a negative rating. It reads like a first draft of a short story assignment in a year one writing course. The dialogue captures neither the British nor the American syntax and rhythm. I was shocked to learn there were two authors intending to cover both sides of the Atlantic.

The premise is weak; there is no continuity from one scene to another and any semblance of investigative technique is missing. Little is done to evoke the period or to describe the setting. This is a series to skip

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice light read

[Natalia Ravenschlag · Rating 3 out of 5]

Netter Cosy Krimi für zwischendurch.

[Cody E. Tower · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Slightly spoilery, but only in a negative sort of way*
Let me start by saying that I DID enjoy this novella. I think Kat and Harry are lovely, and I shall probably continue with the series, and maybe even give Cherringham a visit, but there is something that claws at my mind just a tad. Kat's observations of the death could not possibly be right with how the man was eventually proved to have died. I spent most of the story mentally running around trying to develop a far more complicated crime to account for information that seems to just be wrong. After all, if a man is shot in the head and consequently falls backwards out of an upper floor window is dead before he falls, so he should not be kicking and spiraling his arms. He would have to be shot after he fell... I don't think I ever came up with a satisfactory answer to how the seven muzzle flashes could be seen from the window when he must have been shot at the ground, but I must admit I was a little disappointed that it turned out there WAS no explanation.

[Lel Budge · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1 of the Mydworth Mysteries series

Lord Harry Mortimer and his new wife, Kat have just arrived in England, when Harry is called to Whitehall on urgent business. So Kat decides to drive herself to their new home, in his beloved Alvis….

Eventually, she arrives at Dower House, but it’s all locked up, so she walks to nearby Mydworth Manor, home to Harry aunt, Lady Lavinia. But, as she arrives she hears gunshots, a man falls from a window and more shots are fired in her direction…..What a welcome!

Harry arrives and they search the body and find jewellery in his pockets…..who is this man? And how did he know where to find these jewels?

Kat and Harry put their skills and knowledge to use to find out….

All set in 1920’s England amongst the upper classes, this is a marvellously fun crime thriller from a simpler time. It reminded me of the novels of Josephine Tey and is a must for readers of a classic style mystery. A quick read but packs a lot in. I loved it

[Michael ♤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um den vielversprechenden Auftakt einer Serie. Auf knapp 130 Seiten ermitteln Sir Harry Mortimer - ein Angehöriger des britischen Adels - und seine amerikanische Frau Kat in einem Fall in Mydworth.
Das Buch lässt sich leicht lesen, die Charaktere sind sympathisch und das Setting eines Landkrimis im England der 1920er Jahre ist gut getroffen, die Handlung bleibt spannend und für die nachfolgenden Bücher sind noch einige Fragen offen, die Interesse wecken und zum Weiterlesen motivieren. Alles in allem ist Mydworth - Bei Ankunft Mord ein angenehm zu lesender Vertreter seines Genres und eignet sich - aufgrund des leider nur geringen Umfangs - gut für einen Nachmittag voll Mystery.

[Myriam Correa]

I love historical mysteries, especially English. This was a nice little novella, with a cute just married couple and a light plot. I’ll probably continue with the series. I hope the style of writing will be more 1920’s. When I was reading the book, it looked like it was written by a 21st. century author telling a story about a 1929 crime. Which is what it is ! But I don’t think that’s what the authors wanted.

[Peggy Stults · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great

I like the Cherringham series and was excited at this new setting. A good read was spoiled by the plethora of "hmmm's" used ad museum. Eliminate those and the story will be a more enjoyable read and less irritating.

[ShanDizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy murder

This was a fun start to an exciting mystery series. The manor house, the characters, the cars all set in late 1920s! Fantastic! And then throw in an American, from the Bronx with THAT accent in the British aristocracy...this will definitely be a fun ride!

[Carol Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve listened to several of the Cherringham series by this Richards and Costello, so when I stumbled across A Shot in the Dark, the first in their Mydworth series, I went ahead and picked it up. I enjoy a light mystery novella, and this fit the bill.

Lord Harry Mortimer and his new wife, Kat have just arrived in England, when Harry is called to Whitehall on urgent business. So Kat decides to drive herself to their new home, but when she arrives, it’s all locked up. She walks across the fields to “nearby” Mydworth Manor where Harry’s aunt, Lady Lavinia, lives. As she arrives she hears gunshots, a man falls from a window and more shots are fired in her direction. Not quite what she was expecting.

Harry arrives and they search the body and find jewelry in his pockets. The man was Lady Lavinia’s driver, who was apparently shot while attempting to rob one of her guests. She asks Harry, and by extension Kat, to look into it, not trusting the local police.

Harry is definitely a member of the British upper class and Kat is from America, daughter of a bar owner, but has clearly done a lot of work for the State Department, some probably less than savory. They make a good couple, capable and clever.

The whodunnit was a bit easy to solve, but watching Kat and Harry put all the pieces together was enjoyable. It’s a fine start to the series.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

1929 rural Sussex. The year may be 1929 but it looks as feudal attitudes are going to take a very long time to die down. Sir Harry has returned after a diplomatic spell in Egypt along with his clever, modern American wife Kat. That alone is exciting and turbulent but as they get off their steamer, an urgent summons for Harry to come to the Foreign Office sees
Kat going to Mydworth on her own. She is a bold young woman, driving in a country she doesnt know, to meet relatives she has only heard about and aristocratic as they come, their welcome is as tepid as expected.

When a jewel robbery is what faces Kat as she arrives, followed by a random shooting of the robber as he tries to get away the couple have to use use their skills and contacts to try to solve this their first investigation in England.

Finding who the murdered man was, the motives for the robbery and then solving the mystery was entertaining.

I liked the setting, the era particularly, the relationship between not just Harry and Kat but the entire cast around them.

This was a free download from Amazon. I will be looking out for the rest in the series.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's nothing really wrong with this detective novella set in the 1920s. It's just a bit bland and not very exciting, with somewhat 2D characters. I see the authors have written for TV a lot, and I think perhaps this would work better as a TV drama, with actors giving the characters more personality.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull and predictable.
The protagonists are sickeningly doting.
Harry's personality trait is that he's English and loves Kat.
Kat's personality trait is she's American and loves Harry.
Obviously the culprit was one of the only other three characters mentioned.

[DG · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't liking it at all, but the ending and plot twist were ok and I didn't see it coming. The two main characters and their dialogues were insufferable. I almost dropped it several times, I only finished it because I'd bought it...

[Philina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters with lots of potential, but sadly a very foreseeable (boring) ending.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es war ganz nett. Aber wirklich stark in Erinnerung bleiben wird es wahrscheinlich nicht.

[Heli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice short crime story, but nothing truly unexpected happened.

I loved the setting, so I will give the series another chance.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short and not much to it. Tolerable, but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately the narrator does not do a good female American accent.