Murder in Thrall: An Acton and Doyle Scotland Yard Mystery (New Scotland Yard Mysteries)
Murder in Thrall: An Acton and Doyle Scotland Yard Mystery (New Scotland Yard Mysteries) book cover

Murder in Thrall: An Acton and Doyle Scotland Yard Mystery (New Scotland Yard Mysteries)

Audio CD – Unabridged, July 30, 2013

Price
$19.46
Publisher
Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1482913330
Dimensions
5.2 x 1.1 x 5.7 inches
Weight
8.8 ounces

Description

An unexpected villain and an atypical protagonist lull the reader into the startling and eerie conclusion of this fascinating first in a series. The early expression of love between the innocent Doyle and the experienced Acton is rather unusual but sets the stage for meaningful progression in the story. -- "RT Book Reviews (4 stars)" An unlikely pair of detectives bond over a case as complex as it is dangerous. -- "Kirkus Reviews" Chief Inspector Acton of Scotland Yard, a British lord, and his protégée, first-year Detective Constable Kathleen Doyle, an Irish redhead of humble origins, definitely rate readers' attention. -- "Booklist" Cleeland has a smooth way of dialogue, and many of her characters' conversations play like subtle games of reason and wit. -- "Daily Pilot (Los Angeles)" It's been a long time since I encountered two characters this charming and engaging. I look forward to more of their adventures. -- "David Morrell, author of Murder as a Fine Art" The test of a good book is always how much one thinks about the characters when the book is done, and I am still wondering what would happen next. -- "Suspense Magazine" Thrilling...will keep you guessing until the very last page! -- "Victoria Thompson, national bestselling author of Murder in Chelsea" ANNE CLEELAND holds a degree in English from UCLA as well as a law degree from Pepperdine and is a member of the California State Bar. She writes historical fiction set in the Regency period and contemporary romantic suspense. A member of the Historical Novel Society, she lives on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California, and has four children.

Features & Highlights

  • From Anne Cleeland comes a captivating new mystery series following the perilous exploits of two Scotland Yard detectives as they track down London's most elusive killers. First-year Detective Kathleen Doyle is a plucky Irish redhead. Chief Inspector Michael Acton is a British lord turned cop. He's tall, handsome and enigmatic...to a fault. Acton selects Doyle out of the newbie squad to partner with him on a series of investigations because she always knows when someone is lying - a trait that comes in handy when interviewing suspects and witnesses. Acton and Doyle are sent to investigate the murder of a trainer at a racetrack. Soon, new killings related to the first start unfolding, dragging the two into ever more perilous situations. But the real danger is the unlikely attachment that develops between the ultra- reserved aristocratic Chief Inspector and his plucky working class sidekick...a relationship that will raise plenty of eyebrows-and hackles-among their colleagues at the Yard.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(839)
★★★★
25%
(699)
★★★
15%
(419)
★★
7%
(196)
23%
(643)

Most Helpful Reviews

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It will be interesting to see where the second book goes.

So, I was all over the place with this book and just wasn't sure where I'd land. I had the audiobook version and the narrator do an excellent job, so points for that. I just felt that some of the things about this book were just really weird -- however, I did, overall, enjoy the book. So, I'll try a second one in the series to see if it is as weird or if this one was just weird because it was setting things up for future books.

The hero, Chief Inspector Michael Acton, is sort of Sherlock Holmes-ish in that he is very flawed -- basically he stalks the heroine - First-year detective Kathleen Doyle. It is also strongly hinted that he is involved in gun running and maybe some other underworldish things. I guess Holmes wouldn't have been Holmes without his vices of drugs, etc., so -- I'll cut Acton some slack an see what happens with a second book. BTW -- Acton is also a rich Peer -- maybe a Baron -- I forget.

Kathleen is supposed to be a sweet, shy, under educated, religious, squeaky clean Irish girl -- but -- she doesn't blink an eye when Acton admits that he's been stalking her or when she starts to suspect that he's involved in gun running and perhaps other nefarious things. Oh -- and BTW -- she is a bit fey and can always tell whether someone (other than Acton of course) is lying and even sense their emotions.

Another thing that bugged me -- isn't an epilogue supposed to contain events that happen in some future time -- and a prologue something that has happened in a previous time? Well -- this book has an epilogue that tells how Acton first noticed Doyle and started stalking her.

So, as I stated earlier, I'll try another book just to see if things develop. For instance -- Acton COULD be posing as this gun runner, etc. as part of an ongoing investigation. Or -- Maybe he isn't involved in any of that and her suspicions are wrong. Who knows -- but I will try another book just to see where it heads.
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