This book was not for me, I listened to about 30% but ended up giving up. Whether it was the narrator or the storyline, I just couldn’t get hooked.

With a prickly protagonist who is difficult to warm to, this whole book felt like a particularly difficult jigsaw. It seemed to take ages until I felt like I was getting anywhere, until in a split second all the pieces were just falling into place. Worth sticking with as the payoff is excellent.

Narrator Claire Warrillow, brings an extra layer of authenticity to Agatha's distinct crochetyness.

I was very happy to listen to the delightfully narrated audio presentation of this convoluted mystery. I don’t think I would have made it through the written version, this is a weighty tomb. But in my case any heavy lifting was undertaken by a much lighter audio recording. You definitely get your money’s worth in entertaining listening time. Agatha Dorn has a high opinion of herself and her future. In others eyes she is pedantic, conceited, self-centred, and since childhood haunted by glimpses of the made up crooked man. Going for her maybe intelligent reflection, but then again at the same time blindly naive. Her life is about to become more than even she ever imagined, and that’s not a good thing. Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

*Many thanks to Tom Spencer, Bolinda Audio, and NetGalley for a free aduiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
A mystery which is a bow towards Agatha Christie and following which Christie's fans will find a lot of clues regarding her life and works. It is a rather cozy mystery since it avoids gory descriptions. The protagogist is a woman who experienced some trauma, both in her childhood and in her adult life but who is determined to track down the Crooked Man. There are twists and turns which leave you guessing, at least they worked for me, and the end was rather unexpected. A good weekend read, especially during summer.

Tom Spencer has written a really great debut novel featuring Agatha Dorn, a middle aged woman who works in an archive wishing for better things, she’s often over looked for promotion, has a senile mother who she dislikes and no love life, all she has is her work and her love of the 1930’s crime novelist Gladden Green a writer and creator of detective Flambeau (maybe a nod to G. K. Chesterton ) and who once disappeared in a similar way to Agatha Christie, and here our protagonist Agatha finds fame when she discovers a long lost manuscript written during the time Green supposedly disappeared. But with this fame the rest of her life begins to unravel, can Agatha play detective and find the truth?
The story flowed really well and I listened to it in one sitting as Claire Warrillow’s narration just immersed me in Agatha’s story and I couldn’t stop listening. I will definitely watch out for more from Tom.

Meet Agatha an eccentric woman who gets sucked into real whodunit — when she begins to suspect that her ex-girlfriend may have been murdered — with regard to manuscript that was fraudulent.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator really brings out distinguishable character voices as well as intonation of Agatha as prickly , yet witty. The story itself is full of twists and turns — with this unlikable main character who grows on you throughout the story. The writing style is like that of Golden age mysteries.

Thank you Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for this ALC. This is my honest review.

A lost manuscript comes to light and Agatha adorn authenticates it. But is it genuine? Agatha is a quirky character with her pedantic ways and her love of gin. Her ex lover dies and questions need answering which may put Agatha in danger.

Enjoyed this well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Quirky characters set in a world of literary fiction. Is money the motive or is there more mystery to uncover? Enjoy finding out.

And now for something a little different.

I’m supposed to despise Agatha Dorn, I know this, I know it as-well as I know that she’d read my review and rip me a new one for my grammar and spelling. Reader, I loved her. She’s bitter, acerbic, anal, pedantic, self absorbed and awful. She suffers no fools and seems to care for no one.

This is a smart and funny true crime novel. The story doesn’t detract much from the blurb, but that’s intended as a compliment. It didn’t need to, it carried along on a wave of cantankerous Agathaisms, gin procured headaches. Murder,suicide, lies, deception and betrayals. I laughed a lot more than I expected, and I just know the author had a great time writing this.

“People who wear as much tie die as her are supposed to be at one with the universe”

“Life is very different for the beautiful”

Excellent work, fantastic narration.

Many thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio arc.