A very good mystery. When a much-hated headmaster is murdered, Ramsay is sure that it is the man's wife. The school caretaker is sure she didn't. So, the caretaker and his daughter take it upon themselves to investigate. Ramsay is sure that they will be of no help in the investigation. Then another man is found dead. They live in a small village and there are only so many suspects. Is it an outsider? Ramsay is getting a lot grief over his methods when the first victim's wife commits suicide while in custody. Now he is pulling out all the stops and decides to work with the caretake and his daughter to find the killer. At least the villagers will talk to them. It seems as if the village is full of people who are unsatisfied with their lives and there are so many secrets. Can they find the killer before anyone else is murdered?

I enjoyed starting this series at the beginning with this first book and getting to know a new detective, Inspector Ramsey, who is refreshingly flawed but still likeable and needs to improve his sleuthing skills. Believing Ramsey has arrested the wrong person, the secondary cast is active in helping to unravel the mystery. Some stories portray detectives as almost immortal in their abilities to always be right, and I'm glad this one didn't do that.

A Lesson in Dying by Ann Cleeves is an Inspector Ramsey mystery, the first of the series. It is the night of the school’s Halloween Gala, planned primarily for adults. Everyone was surprised that Headmaster Medburn agreed. The small village of Heppleburn in Northumberland had grown since Patty was a child. The school had grown as well but Medburn kept it and everyone involved with it under his thumb. He was not a pleasant man. His wife was a nurse and while not full of personality, no one could figure out why she had married him. Irene Hunt taught there and had for years. She watched as he broke the spirit of anyone to whom he had taken a dislike. Right now that was young Matthew Carpenter. He had real potential but was about to drop out of both the school and the profession under Medburn’s abuse. He ruled the Parents’ Association with an iron fist as well. Patty had been shocked when he approved her idea for the gala. Irene had showed up to help decorate, mostly with things made by the children and Patty was appreciative. Her father was the maintenance man at the school and he loved being around the children. There were other interesting people in the village, including Angela Brayshaw who apparently had been having an affair with Medburn. So, when he ended up hanged in the courtyard, there were no shortage of suspects.

Ramsey had recently gotten divorced and he had still not adjusted. He was off his game and he knew it. There were people at the station waiting for him to fail so they could step in. That didn’t make the investigating any easier. He enlisted Patty’s help as the villagers would talk to her more readily that to him. The investigation put him in contact with most of the village. As he drew nearer to discovering the murderer, the real murderer, as arresting the wife had been a mistake; things started happening fast. More people had reason to murder Medburn than he had realized.
Ramsey was a good character, quiet at first, but showing more depth as the story wore on. I expect great things from him in the future. The plot was good, and concise. There were plenty of hints as well as some red herrings along the way. The setting was good and will only get better as the series progresses. The pacing was good and the solution stood right before out eyes half way through the book.

I was invited to read A Lesson in Dying by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #AnnCleeves #ALessonInDying

I received this book through NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover new authors and share my thoughts.

A Lesson in Dying is a captivating mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Ann Cleeves has a talent for creating richly developed characters and intricate plots that draw readers in. The pacing was perfect, and the tension throughout the story made it a page-turner. The twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing until the very end, making for a truly satisfying read.

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to exploring more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of Anne Cleeves' 'A Lesson in Dying'.

A note to readers, this novel was originally published in 1990. I wish I had know this prior to reading as, having read her Shetland series, I was very disappointed with this novel. The characters lack substance, the inspector isn't personable, and the mystery is underwhelming. Too many characters are introduced right at the start and it is hard to initially keep track of who everyone is.

I'd highly recommend readers skip this novel and try the Shetland series instead.

I am a huge Ann Cleeves fan and was excited to discover this new title! A Lesson in Dying definitely meets the high bar set by Cleeves' previous novels. In the first mystery of this series, Inspector Ramsay must discover who in the village of Heppleburn killed the unpleasant headmaster. Of course, practically everyone has a motive. Thanks to the sometimes unwanted help of Jack Robson, the school caretaker, and Jack's daughter Patty, the murderer is finally revealed. Even more satisfying than the solution of this mystery was the development of the many characters. I hope that many of them return in the next installment of this fabulous series!

A Lesson in Dying is the first Inspector Ramsay Novel by Ann Cleeves.
I’m such a big fan of Cleeves and her amazing writing.
To say I’m so excited for a new series is an understatement.

The story kept me riveted and I devoured the book. I was kept up all night to figure out whodunit.
The plot is intricately layered, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.
An engaging, slow burning mystery with good ongoing character development and I’ll be interested to see how the series keeps developing.

I absolutely adore British mysteries. There’s just something about them that is so quaint and engaging all at the same time. The author does a fabulous job in this first book in the series by introducing you to the characters before launching into the murder mystery. It is well written and engaging and I cannot wait for the next entry in the series. I have found a new series to add to must read list.

The first suspect in a murder is always the spouse

That certainly appears to be the case in the murder of a universally disliked headmaster named Harold Medburn in the small Northumberland village of Heppleburn, at least in the opinion of Inspector Stephen Ramsay who has been assigned the investigation. Medburn's widow Kitty is not easy for Ramsay to decipher, but there is circumstantial evidence that points to her as the killer,and he is satisfied that the investigation is concluded. Jack Robson, the school caretaker, disagrees....he has known (and had feelings for) Kitty since they were young and he doesn't believe she would do such a thing. Since the police won't dig any deeper Jack takes it upon himself, with some help from his daughter Patty, to poke around the village to look for a different explanation. And what English village is complete without secrets, lies, and indiscretions that beget blackmail? When there is another death, Ramsay has no choice but to set aside his earlier theory of the crime and (unbeknownst to him )ends up following along Jack's line of inquiry. Who really killed the odious Medburn?
First off, readers of author Ann Cleeves' well-known Shetland and Vera Stanhope mystery series should know that this book was originally published back in 1990 or thereabouts, so is not exactly a new series (just new to most of us on this side of the pond). It is more of a cozy mystery that focuses upon a specific community and its dynamics. That said, while it may not have the same measure of complexity that Cleeves' more recent series do, it is still quite an enjoyable mystery, well put together and with more than a few surprises. The characters of Jack and Patty are really the focus of this outing (Inspector Ramsay would be fleshed out in later installments in the series), and the village in all its charm and insularity is well drawn. I would rate it 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4. Fans of the author might enjoy a look at her earlier writing, as long as they know not to expect the same elements of mood and gritty reality of the more recent works. Readers of classic British mysteries by authors like M. C. Beaton, G. K. Chesterton and (of course) Agatha Christie will also likely appreciated this story. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to A Lesson In Dying in exchange for my honest review....

A Lesson in Dying is book one in the Inspector Ramsay series. While called the Inspector Ramsay series, the actual Ramsay makes more of a cameo appearance in this novel. The real star of the show is the caretaker of the school Jack. Jack is a hopeless romantic that wants to free the lady he loves and the wife of the murdered school headmaster. Pure tenacity, finds Jack digging in his heels to solve the murder even when things don’t go his way. I really liked Jack and the community feel to the investigation. After reading the whole story, I still feel like Inspector Ramsay is a complete stranger and feel no attachment to him as the main character. If Jack were to continue as the detective I would definitely read that but I may or may not read book two in this series. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

*3.5 stars*

Engaging murder mystery…

A British whodunit? An Inspector at the helm that has stood the test of many plots to become a reader favourite? Yes, please. Reading some of the (copious) number of reviews of this author and this series, I was preparing to be underwhelmed on this, the first go round for Inspector Ramsey, instead I have become fully invested…

The number of characters are almost dizzying at first, as the author slowly builds their backgrounds and brings them to life. A small village, people to like, to not care for, to perplex over – sounds like real life to me. When the murder actually happens, the events are happening to people I now know. Some I like, some perhaps not (yet) and others, meh. Of course, I needed to know who actually did it (and the events that followed). Keeping me guessing, this was an intriguing, if slow build intrigue…

I feel like this is the springboard book, as most series first are, and had the trademark depth of information overload. I understand many of the characters continue in the series, and that the writing becomes sharper as well. I look forward to both as I eagerly look forward to more by this author.

A Lesson in Dying is the first book in the Inspector Stephen Ramsey series by Ann Cleeves. It was originally published in 1990 but is now being rereleased. Set in a small village in Northumberland, when the headmaster of the local school is found murdered, the fact that he was hated by just about everyone including teachers and parents, creates a real problem for the local police.

In a note at the beginning of the book, Cleeves states that, although the series is based on Ramsey, he stays on the periphery of the tale and that is certainly the case. Rather than on the police, the story focuses mainly on the village, the school, and its staff. The main protagonists are Jack, the school custodian and his daughter, Patty, a very likeable pair, who do most of the investigative work.

I have read many of Cleeves’ later books and will admit it was hard not to compare this early book but, in fairness, if it doesn't quite match them for overall quality of storyline, it is still a very well-written and entertaining tale with complex and flawed characters, and a compelling mystery that kept me guessing. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series in the not too distant future.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

A serious mystery develops when a rural small-town school's headmaster is found hanging from a noose in the playground during a Haloween party. The general consensus is that the wife did it, but did she? Jack Robson is the school's caretaker and long time friend of the headmaster's wife, and is convinced she's wrongly accused. He convinces his daughter to help him prove his case.

Inspector Ramsay joins the case and is also convinced the wife did it, until another body is found. Typical small town where everyone is in each other's business, and knows the history and gossip. Not many are sad to see the headmaster dead, but who had reason to kill?

As we follow the story, there are lies, adulatory and blackmail. I liked most of the characters well enough, but the pace of the book was quite slow for me. The boxes for a good mystery were ticked, but it didn't feel like it came together in a compelling way.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Ann Cleeves for the eARC.
Pub Date Mar 25 2025

This is the first in the Inspector Stephen Ramsay series, written before the Vera, Shetland, and Two Rivers series for which Cleeves is best known. This book was originally published in 1990 but is being re-released.

The events are set in Heppleburn, a pit village in Northumberland. Harold Medburn, the much-disliked headmaster of the local school, is murdered on Hallowe’en night. Many people disliked him so there are several suspects with possible motives but Medburn’s wife Kitty is soon arrested. However, Jack Robson, a retired miner and the school caretaker, is determined to prove her innocence. He enlists the help of his daughter Patty; the two uncover several instances of adultery and blackmail and eventually the identity of the murderer, though not before other deaths occur.

In a note to the reader at the beginning of the book, the author states that Ramsay “is on the periphery” and this is certainly the case. At the end, he still feels vague. There is some information about his personal life – his wife left him. Otherwise he is described as “the aloof, rather arrogant policeman” whose colleagues think “he’d lost his sense of proportion” because for him “there was little more to life than work.” He acknowledges that he is not sociable and “had never been particularly liked.”

The one trait expected of a detective is intelligence, but Ramsay doesn’t strike me as particularly intelligent. His investigative skills are not impressive; he carries out a less than comprehensive investigation and jumps to conclusions. Twice he is convinced he has identified the killer and twice proves to be wrong. It is Jack and Patty who really do the legwork and uncover the truth. As the investigation proceeds, Ramsay admits to “making up his own rules” and uses both Jack and Patty to estions for him. This appproah is not only unconventional but can also be viewed as unprofessional.

Patty’s reaction to Ramsay is interesting though perplexing: “From the beginning she had been attracted to him” and though she feels he is manipulating her, she agrees to do whatever he asks. She follows him around like a puppy dog and seeks opportunities to spend time with him, so much so that her husband is jealous. At one point Ramsay dismisses Jack as “an infatuated old fool” but I think Patty is as infatuated with the good-looking police detective. Cleeves mentions that Ramsay’s “character develops more in subsequent novels” so perhaps Patty’s positive feelings towards him will become more understandable.

In comparison to Cleeves’ other series, this one pales. Her storytelling has definitely improved with her later novels. For instance, there are unanswered questions. A woman married a man because she wanted privacy? A suicide occurs, but an explanation for the motive behind that choice is given as a fear of being released? Why?

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy a slow-paced novel. There are six books in the series so I may check out one more to see if Ramsay has a chance of becoming a detective like Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez or Matthew Venn, all of whose company I’ve come to enjoy.

A Murder Mystery In A Suspect Rich Setting

This novel starts in a manner I have not seen before. Most police procedurals I’ve read start with the crime or the police at the crime scene, but this novel begins with a long chapter of vignettes for each major character. Their spouses, children, and a few parents were also introduced. They are all associated with their small-town school in Northumberland. Most are on the Parents’ Association. One of the characters, Patty Atkins, has an idea and proposes to the next Parents’ Association meeting that they host a social evening for parents. Patty is not known for her organizational skills, so the school headmaster agrees only if Patty is in charge. The preparations for the event are the subject of the next chapter. The event was a success, but the headmaster did not attend. Everyone wanted him to show to see how successful the event was. Jack Robson, Patty’s father, decides to find him but finds his body. As the police are stationed in a neighboring town, the people here are suspicious and not as forthcoming. The lead detective, DI Stephen Ramsay, arrests the victim’s wife. Jack, with Patty’s help, decides to prove her innocence.

This novel consists of three main storyline threads. The first is the police investigation. As DI Ramsay is stationed in another town, the people here do not trust him. The second thread is a cozy-style investigation by Robson and Atkins. They are secondary protagonists. They are locals and make more progress. The third thread comprises numerous subthreads of interactions between the characters introduced in the first chapter. Many of them have pasts that they would rather keep hidden. Others use blackmail to exploit these lapses. This provides readers with valuable insight into these characters. Additionally, this creates a suspect-rich environment. All this captured my interest. When two more deaths occur, Ramsay’s Superintendent, after warning him, tells him that if the case is not closed this week, he will be reassigned. He changes his approach but still can’t solve the case himself.

Just as the start was different, DI Ramsay's background is minimal for the introductory novel of an eight-book series. I found only three facts about him while reading this novel. Even the author admits this in her “Dear Reader” section, which precedes the novel's start. The background is much more extensive for Jack Robson and his daughter, Patty Atkins. I felt that I knew these characters. The background aspect of this novel neither contributed to nor detracted from my enjoyment of the reading experience.

All readers should be able to read this novel. There are no intimate scenes. The usage of objectionable language can be counted using one hand. Violence is limited to one person being knocked out by a hit on the head. This is the first novel in the series, so there are no issues related to earlier novels.

My major issue is with the first chapter, which introduces twelve characters. This made the chapter choppy, and I didn't know where the novel was heading until the Parents' Association Meeting. Additionally, some characters are introduced without any context. This novel was published 35 years ago, making it an early work in Ann Cleeves’s writing career. All eight books of this series are being published in the United States on the same day. This novel was more enjoyable when read as a cozy-style mystery than a strict police procedural. By the end, all loose ends were tied up. There were many potential loose ends as most of the main characters had issues that needed to be cleared to remove them from the suspect pool. This novel’s flow is good. This novel was the quickest read for me of all her full-length novels. I already received a pre-publication version of her next novel.

I have read seven novels and three short stories from two different series from this author. She is one of my favorite authors. If the novel’s teaser interests you, do give it a try. I enjoyed reading this novel and recommend reading it. I have already received a pre-publication version of her next novel for my future reading. I rate this novel with four stars.

I received the free prepublication e-book version of this novel from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Nearly everyone in the village had reason to fear – or despise – the school headmaster. When he is found dead the night of the school’s Halloween party and the police zero in on a suspect almost immediately, caretaker Jack enlists his daughter’s help to prove them wrong.

Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite non-cozy authors, and I’ve been wanting to read some of her older series as well as the more recent ones I enjoy so much. This book was originally released nearly 25 years ago, and I have to wonder if anything was changed or updated for this year’s re-release. I suspect not, as many of the attitudes and opinions seem very dated, as well as the roles of many of the characters.

The murder victim was not a popular man, so there were plenty of suspects to think about. I didn’t really care for any of the characters in this book, not even the police or the sleuth, Jack. They were all hiding things, making it hard to figure out who might be the killer and why. I gave up trying to guess, but wasn’t surprised by the motive or the identity of the culprit.

As much as I like Ann Cleeves’ books, if future books in this series are re-released, I doubt that I will read them. I’d rather continue on with her newer series instead.

A Lesson in Dying by Ann Cleeves -need I say more? It's written by the esteemed and prolific author of the Shetland and Vera series, as well other outstanding novels. A Lesson in Dying is her first book, in the perhaps, not quite as recognized Inspector Stephen Ramsay series.. As with any Cleeves novel, the storyline and characters are well developed. While not an extremely long read, it is a finely crafted and taut suspense novel.. I look forward to reading the other releases in the Ramsay series. Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martin's Publishing Group and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of A Lesson in Dying. Simply said, it's a terrific book, don't miss it. 4 Stars.

Despite 1990 publication in the United Kingdom, the first book in the series, A Lesson in Dying, is only now available in the U.S. It’s a village mystery, with Ramsay only on the periphery of the story before he becomes the primary character in the five books that follow.

Heppleburn is a small village in Northumberland where everyone knows each other, and everyone fears Harold Medburn, the headmaster at the local school. Teachers, members of the Parents’ Association, anyone with secrets dislikes him. When he’s found hanging on the playground during the parents’ Halloween celebration, few people mourn him.

Jack Robson, a widower, school custodian, and councillor finds the body. But, when Inspector Stephen Ramsay points the finger at Medburn’s wife as the primary suspect, Robson disagrees. He recruits his bored daughter, Patty, and the two question their fellow residents, looking for someone else who could have killed Medburn. Robson feels triumphant when there’s another death, knowing Kitty Medburn couldn’t have killed the victim. His triumph is short-lived, and he’s willing to give up, but doesn’t want a killer to find success in the village.

A Lesson in Dying introduces Ramsay, recently divorced, unpopular and aloof at work. He’s a little too quick to jump to judgment in this book, but Cleeves’ introduction says he’s developed more as a character in the future books.

This one is her successful effort to write a “contemporary novel with a Golden-Age feel.” It’s a village mystery with secrets and mistakes. Filled with secrets and mistakes that lead to murder.

Let’s hope it won’t be long before the next Inspector Ramsay mystery is released in the U.S.

This is actually an older story from Ann Cleeves; however, it's finally having its US print release. Readers get to meet Inspector Ramsay, who is very different from Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez, or even Matthew Venn. This story is also significantly shorter than others from Ann Cleeves; it only comes in 227 pages in length.

I say all of this because if you have felt that Ann Cleeves had too slow of a pace based on other books, I'd highly recommend giving this story a chance. Inspector Ramsay is in the series, but the story doesn't focus so much on him (vs her other series), and things move fairly quickly. I read this in one sitting and found myself thinking it's likely one of my favorites from the author.

Our story starts with a parent group at a local school. The headmaster, Harold Medburn, is a terror. Everyone seems to be terrified of the man and how he'll manipulate people and situations to get his way. But when he's found hanging at a Halloween party, secrets start coming out of the woodwork. Inspector Ramsay has his work cut out for him, and it's partially helpful, and unhelpful, when Jack Robson and his daughter, Patty, keep meddling in the investigation. This story has the twists and turns that Cleeves is known for, but again, the pacing moves quickly.

I would highly recommend this book. It was exciting to meet a new character from the author, and the pacing made this an easy, and fast read. I could not put it down and was satisfied by the conclusion as well.

As a fan of Ann Cleeves work, I was excited to see the reprint of a previous series that I wasn’t aware of, seems it’s never been release in the US. While I only discovered Cleeves about a year or so ago, I am now a committed fan to her Two Rivers and Shetland Island series.

The book summary is pretty vague and just introduces the primary storyline of Jack, a school caretaker, and his daughter, Patty, start investigating the murder of Harold, who was pretty much despised by everyone. However, it’s Harold’s wife, Kitty, that Jack is more concerned with; Kitty is arrested and jailed for her husband’s murder. There is a secondary storyline of Jack’s motivation being derived from his infatuation for Kitty, whose feelings are not mutual.

There is a boatload of suspects that wanted Harold dead, which is typical for a character that is despised by everyone. The storyline meanders all over the place and with the story flipping back and forth mostly between Jack and Patty, with some excerpts from Harold’s mistress, Angela, and Det Ramsay. Fortunately, it’s a short story and the end comes to a satisfying finale, even if it wasn’t a shocker or even a twist.

In short stories like this, there isn’t much character development for the MC’s and most of the others were basically just talking heads. The pacing was kind of slow, but it did pick up towards the end. Once again, the storyline was …………… not sure what else to say about the storyline or about the writing. However, I do want to say that Cleeves talent in writing and storytelling has certainly grown quite a bit over the years, which isn’t really that unusual to see between an author’s early work and later work.

I’m looking at an overall rating of 2.7 that I will round up to a 3star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #ALessoninDying