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Cambridge Fellows #12.8
Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune
A Cambridge Fellows Mystery novella (set summer 1911)
Orlando Coppersmith is called in to solve not one but two problems: a suspected murder and a mysterious violin. So why is he reluctant to take the case - is it because it came from the warden of his old college? Once more, it's up to Jonty Stewart to get his partner through the challenge and employ their own, unique, way to finding a solution.
Orlando Coppersmith is called in to solve not one but two problems: a suspected murder and a mysterious violin. So why is he reluctant to take the case - is it because it came from the warden of his old college? Once more, it's up to Jonty Stewart to get his partner through the challenge and employ their own, unique, way to finding a solution.
107 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2019
23 people are currently reading
44 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 22, 2021
2.5 stars
Although it is a short novel, this is the book that has cost me the most to get into the plot.
Orlando's old alma mater asks for his help to unravel the mystery of the death of an old friend of the dean, a violinist, and which coincides with the appearance of a violin in the middle of the night. Orlando hesitates to go 'to the other university' as he does not bring back very happy memories, and because he too fears that he will not live up to the reputations of famous amateur detectives.
Between spy talks and things like that, and between a convoluted plot that comes and goes, I ended up guessing where the mystery was going.
I fell asleep several times reading it, and I think that says it all. Not even Jonty's humor, or notions of the violinist's life, entertained me enough. One of the weakest installments in the series.
Some quotes:
Somerset’s truculent snort showed what he thought of the notion. “As a theorem it has much to be said for it. However, this is 1911, for goodness sake. The voice of women is beginning to be heard in the land and quite rightly. What people still refer to as members of the gentler sex are showing their mettle. Does a woman need a champion to take her part or could she not deliver the horse-whipping herself if she felt like it?”
{
“What did you think of Somerset observing that Gabriel — the college, not the archangel — could only be prouder were you still there?” Jonty, sprawled seductively on a cushion, beamed up at Orlando. “What have you got to say to that?”
“It’s not just me, it’s both of us. The synergy of the pairing.” Orlando gave his lover a tender glance then concentrated on his punt pole. A man might be easily, and disastrously, distracted in such circumstances. “But I won’t deny I’m pleased. Assuming Somerset meant it.”
{
“In the Celtic church they call the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose,” Jonty said, in a still, small and unusually serious voice. “What better pursuit could there be for those of us in academia than to pursue the spirit of knowledge and truth?”
{
Although it is a short novel, this is the book that has cost me the most to get into the plot.
Orlando's old alma mater asks for his help to unravel the mystery of the death of an old friend of the dean, a violinist, and which coincides with the appearance of a violin in the middle of the night. Orlando hesitates to go 'to the other university' as he does not bring back very happy memories, and because he too fears that he will not live up to the reputations of famous amateur detectives.
Between spy talks and things like that, and between a convoluted plot that comes and goes, I ended up guessing where the mystery was going.
I fell asleep several times reading it, and I think that says it all. Not even Jonty's humor, or notions of the violinist's life, entertained me enough. One of the weakest installments in the series.
Some quotes:
Somerset’s truculent snort showed what he thought of the notion. “As a theorem it has much to be said for it. However, this is 1911, for goodness sake. The voice of women is beginning to be heard in the land and quite rightly. What people still refer to as members of the gentler sex are showing their mettle. Does a woman need a champion to take her part or could she not deliver the horse-whipping herself if she felt like it?”
{
“What did you think of Somerset observing that Gabriel — the college, not the archangel — could only be prouder were you still there?” Jonty, sprawled seductively on a cushion, beamed up at Orlando. “What have you got to say to that?”
“It’s not just me, it’s both of us. The synergy of the pairing.” Orlando gave his lover a tender glance then concentrated on his punt pole. A man might be easily, and disastrously, distracted in such circumstances. “But I won’t deny I’m pleased. Assuming Somerset meant it.”
{
“In the Celtic church they call the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose,” Jonty said, in a still, small and unusually serious voice. “What better pursuit could there be for those of us in academia than to pursue the spirit of knowledge and truth?”
{
January 11, 2021
A violin's mysterious appearance in an Oxford university quad and a sudden death at his alma mater leads to Orlando asked to come back for the first time to a place from his past. I was eager to slip back into the Cambridge Fellows world and go detecting with two of my favorite amateur detecting team.
Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune is a #12.8 in the series, but takes place in 1911 so falls chronologically pre-WWI. It's a standalone novella that can be read at any time after the first half of the series has been read.
This was a lighter interlude in the series with a mystery that involves a violin suddenly appearing in a closed off quad and a friend of the school master dying suddenly and raising questions about it being a natural death. Jonty and Orlando have just finished teaching their term and decide to take it on. Orlando is reluctant to go. He doesn't want to revisit the past when he was a cold, isolated undergrad with no idea how to live outside his complex mathematics and he is fearful that he'll fail in front of the people he wants to prove he's made good after all those years. Jonty is only aware that this is tough for him and is a big support, but he also wants to solve a mystery together during their school's summer break.
There first appear to be two separate issues though there is a possibility that they might be connected. There are some twists and turns that lead to a startling solution. Mostly, it felt like an opportunity to go back into the past after the darker events of war and post-war to an easier time and to revisit their deep love and companionship while together on the case. Mr. Stewart and the other fellows at St Bride's were part of their circle of help. The mystery itself particularly the violin issue was simple and I guessed it before they even got on the scene and the death I figured out as soon as I got most of the details. I was a little disappointed that it was not challenging, but I think this was also because I thought there would be more of a conflict for Orlando going back. I wanted to see him run into people he knew aback then and have that factor in, but that didn't play a factor. Instead, I had to be content with more time with Jonty and Orlando- which I was.
All in all, it was a moderately engaging installment in the series that fans will enjoy for more time with favorite characters.
Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune is a #12.8 in the series, but takes place in 1911 so falls chronologically pre-WWI. It's a standalone novella that can be read at any time after the first half of the series has been read.
This was a lighter interlude in the series with a mystery that involves a violin suddenly appearing in a closed off quad and a friend of the school master dying suddenly and raising questions about it being a natural death. Jonty and Orlando have just finished teaching their term and decide to take it on. Orlando is reluctant to go. He doesn't want to revisit the past when he was a cold, isolated undergrad with no idea how to live outside his complex mathematics and he is fearful that he'll fail in front of the people he wants to prove he's made good after all those years. Jonty is only aware that this is tough for him and is a big support, but he also wants to solve a mystery together during their school's summer break.
There first appear to be two separate issues though there is a possibility that they might be connected. There are some twists and turns that lead to a startling solution. Mostly, it felt like an opportunity to go back into the past after the darker events of war and post-war to an easier time and to revisit their deep love and companionship while together on the case. Mr. Stewart and the other fellows at St Bride's were part of their circle of help. The mystery itself particularly the violin issue was simple and I guessed it before they even got on the scene and the death I figured out as soon as I got most of the details. I was a little disappointed that it was not challenging, but I think this was also because I thought there would be more of a conflict for Orlando going back. I wanted to see him run into people he knew aback then and have that factor in, but that didn't play a factor. Instead, I had to be content with more time with Jonty and Orlando- which I was.
All in all, it was a moderately engaging installment in the series that fans will enjoy for more time with favorite characters.
March 10, 2020
Except for a few bits and pieces on the author's website, I think I'm finally done with this series. Overall, one worth reading, but I wish I'd read this in the proper chronological order instead of at the end. It really belongs after Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code, so I was rather confused with my head in 1922 instead of 1911 when I started reading.
November 20, 2022
Another splendid outing for Jonty and Orlando, this time investigating at the rival Oxford University, bringing back Orlando's undergraduate insecurities in full force. But with Jonty at his side, our two amateur detectives attempt to solve a fiendishly puzzling murder mystery. First class, as always!
October 11, 2024
Summer 1911 Dr Coppersmith has been asked by his old Oxford college to investigate the strange appearance of a violin in the Old Quad and the sudden death of violinist Peter Denison.
An entertaining historical mystery
An entertaining historical mystery
October 27, 2022
Loved the first 90 % of this Jonty and Orlando novella. So much so that it rates 4 stars. Absolutely hated the ending. The conclusion didn't feel concluded in the least. We have no idea if the bad guys get away with their awful deeds or not. I felt like I was left hanging.
The plot centers around Orlando's old Alma Mater asking for help with the college master's friend dies and one his his violins turns up out of the blue at the school.
The plot centers around Orlando's old Alma Mater asking for help with the college master's friend dies and one his his violins turns up out of the blue at the school.
July 21, 2020
A well researched historical romantic mystery. Set in the early 20th century this series is well written with likable characters.
September 16, 2019
Complete and total awesomeness! I love Jonty and Orlando so when I saw there was to be another new Cambridge Fellows Mysteries I was all kinds of "YAY-ING" and "WOW-ING". Seriously, I could read these guys forever. Some series can become repetitive and past their prime but not these boys, whether its a 2-page holiday coda or a 400-page novel they just keep getting better and long as they decide to fill the author in on their cases and adventures I'll be reading them.
As for Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune, the boys have two mysteries to solve at the same location, Orlando's old school. As usual there's more than a few twists and turns that I won't even begin to delve into so not to spoil this lovely novella but let me just say that my suspicions , though not completely accurate, I was guessing and second-guessing myself all the way to the reveal. For me a mystery is great even if you figure it out and yet leaves you constantly going "Could it be. . . ", "Maybe it's . . .", and "I think its . . . but then again . . ." because when there is a level of uncertainty no matter how obvious it may seem that's when you know an author has pulled you in so deep that there is no possible way you can put it down. Just another reason why Charlie Cochrane is on my very short list of "Authors-I-1-click-even-without-reading-the-blurb" list.
Let's take a minute to talk Jonty and Orlando. How great are these two boys? They are superb, the chemistry is off the charts and I know for some the mostly off-the-page heat would be a minus in their mind but for me the way the author tackles them "doing their duty"(Jonty and Orlando's phrasing) with little to no graphic detail makes the chemistry even stronger. Their banter and bickering is as humorous and lovely as ever, leaving no doubts whatsoever just how much they love each other.
Now for those who are new to the Cambridge Fellows Mysteries and are wondering about reading order, I recommend checking out the author's website for a chronological list which is not necessarily the same as the release order. Each entry is a story in itself with it's own mystery so there is no real "must read in order" but personally, I would highly recommend reading at least the first three original novels(Lessons in Love, Lessons in Desire, and Lessons in Discovery) to fully appreciate the chemistry and hard fought connection between Jonty and Orlando as well as their family and friends. Trust me once you read Lessons in Love you'll be sucked into the series and the world of Cambridge Fellows that you will want to read them all.
As for Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune, the boys have two mysteries to solve at the same location, Orlando's old school. As usual there's more than a few twists and turns that I won't even begin to delve into so not to spoil this lovely novella but let me just say that my suspicions , though not completely accurate, I was guessing and second-guessing myself all the way to the reveal. For me a mystery is great even if you figure it out and yet leaves you constantly going "Could it be. . . ", "Maybe it's . . .", and "I think its . . . but then again . . ." because when there is a level of uncertainty no matter how obvious it may seem that's when you know an author has pulled you in so deep that there is no possible way you can put it down. Just another reason why Charlie Cochrane is on my very short list of "Authors-I-1-click-even-without-reading-the-blurb" list.
Let's take a minute to talk Jonty and Orlando. How great are these two boys? They are superb, the chemistry is off the charts and I know for some the mostly off-the-page heat would be a minus in their mind but for me the way the author tackles them "doing their duty"(Jonty and Orlando's phrasing) with little to no graphic detail makes the chemistry even stronger. Their banter and bickering is as humorous and lovely as ever, leaving no doubts whatsoever just how much they love each other.
Now for those who are new to the Cambridge Fellows Mysteries and are wondering about reading order, I recommend checking out the author's website for a chronological list which is not necessarily the same as the release order. Each entry is a story in itself with it's own mystery so there is no real "must read in order" but personally, I would highly recommend reading at least the first three original novels(Lessons in Love, Lessons in Desire, and Lessons in Discovery) to fully appreciate the chemistry and hard fought connection between Jonty and Orlando as well as their family and friends. Trust me once you read Lessons in Love you'll be sucked into the series and the world of Cambridge Fellows that you will want to read them all.
October 5, 2019
Another Jonty and Orlando mystery that takes place in the years before WWI and All Lessons Learned. I was a little disappointed by this one. By sending the duo back to Oxford where Orlando was an undergraduate student (or whatever they call it in England), Cochrane had an opportunity to dig up long lost fellow students, professors, etc. Instead there is a little bit about Orlando being afraid he will fail and ruin his reputation, but that's quickly resolved and he never actually encounters anyone he knew back when he was shy and withdrawn.
The mystery itself has very low stakes and it is solved without much drama. The resolution is clever but doesn't have much emotional resonance. It's almost too cozy.
Always good to visit with the boys, but these novellas are nowhere as strong as the initial eight books in the series.
The mystery itself has very low stakes and it is solved without much drama. The resolution is clever but doesn't have much emotional resonance. It's almost too cozy.
Always good to visit with the boys, but these novellas are nowhere as strong as the initial eight books in the series.
September 23, 2019
It is always a pleasure to catch up with Jonty and Orlando. It is like catching up with old friends if those friends were Cambridge fellows from a different era and with a reputation for solving mysteries. There is something special about reading about an established couple. By definition, romance novels end with a HEA or HFN so being able to follow these two adorable chaps from novel to short story to novella is wonderful. This novella is another great addition to the series. Excellently plotted, the draw, for me, is the two MCs. Some theories failed to come to fruition but, in the end, after the big reveal, our two heroes are, of course, triumphant. I look forward to reading more about these two.
October 9, 2019
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5
for the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-i2Z
From that review:
Well a clink of the bubbly to Charlie Cochrane! The latest in the long running Cambridge Fellows series,Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune (Cambridge Fellows #12.8 ) is a absolute delight of a mystery. Even at 107 pages, its intriguing, all the clues scattered enough to tickle the brain and keep the reader truly puzzled, along with providing new astonishing bits of information about long established characters in this series, things I never would have guessed at! Nor am I giving away here.
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5
for the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-i2Z
From that review:
Well a clink of the bubbly to Charlie Cochrane! The latest in the long running Cambridge Fellows series,Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune (Cambridge Fellows #12.8 ) is a absolute delight of a mystery. Even at 107 pages, its intriguing, all the clues scattered enough to tickle the brain and keep the reader truly puzzled, along with providing new astonishing bits of information about long established characters in this series, things I never would have guessed at! Nor am I giving away here.
October 31, 2019
3.5*
Another snippet in the investigative lives of Jonty and Orlando, with red herrings and folks determined to gain from others misfortune.
Always good to spend time with these two, but shown here believing the wrong people.
Another snippet in the investigative lives of Jonty and Orlando, with red herrings and folks determined to gain from others misfortune.
Always good to spend time with these two, but shown here believing the wrong people.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews