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    Murder at the Brightwell
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    Murder at the Brightwell
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    Murder at the Brightwell
    Audiobook11 hours

    Murder at the Brightwell

    Written by Ashley Weaver

    Narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Amory Ames is a wealthy young woman who questions her marriage to her notoriously charming playboy husband, Milo. Looking for a change, she accepts a request for help from her former fiance, Gil Trent. Amory accompanies Gil to the luxurious Brightwell Hotel in an attempt to circumvent the marriage of his sister, Emmeline, to Rupert Howe, a disreputable ladies’ man. Amory sees in the situation a grim reflection of her own floundering marriage. There is more than her happiness at stake, however, when Rupert is murdered and Gil is arrested for the crime. Amory is determined to prove his innocence and find the real killer. As the stakes grow higher and the line between friend and foe becomes less clear, Amory must decide where her heart lies and catch the killer before she, too, becomes a victim.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamscape Media Audio
    Release dateNov 25, 2014
    ISBN9781633794030
    Unavailable
    Murder at the Brightwell
    Author

    Ashley Weaver

    ASHLEY WEAVER is the Technical Services Coordinator at the Allen Parish Libraries in Oberlin, Louisiana. Weaver has worked in libraries since she was 14; she was a page and then a clerk before obtaining her MLIS from Louisiana State University. She is the author of Murder at the Brightwell, Death Wears a Mask, and A Most Novel Revenge. Weaver lives in Oakdale, Louisiana.

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    Reviews for Murder at the Brightwell

    3.5/5

    30 ratings28 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      A murder mystery in the classic style of Agatha Christie and a country-house murder. Really, really liked this. Will be back for more.
    • 3/5
      1932: Amory broke her engagement to Gil in order to marry the well known playboy, Milo. Milo has just returned from Monte Carlo, when Gil visits & asks Amory to accompany him to the seaside resort of Brightwell in order to convince his sister Emmaline not to marry her Playboy fiancee Rupert....Gil is overheard arguing w/ Rupert and the next day Amory finds Rupert dead, pushed over the terrace.In the mean time Milo shows up, complicating matters; Gil is arrested for Ruperts murder; a wife is drugged & her husband is drown in his bath while Amory & Milo are hiding in his closet; Amory's aspirins are switched w/ sleeping tablets; a gauche femme fatale makes for Milo; and a young woman attempts suicide....Fast paced, interesting w/ romantic tension and fashion description....
    • 3/5
      nice little book to enjoy on a rainy day with a cup of tea! strong, lead heroine, a little romance, and murders to solve by the sea!!
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed it. Sort of Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie. Set in the 1930's, it's a murder mystery at a beachside resort that a group of upper class acquaintances have gathered for a holiday. I like the main sleuth, Amory Ames, and the interactions with her husband Milo. They have a lot of chemistry. I think this series will only improve as the author becomes more comfortable with her characters and the reader gets to know them better. Already reading the next book in the series.
    • 4/5
      Entertaining murder but the relationships need work. Amory Ames is unhappily married to Milo and Gil Trant her former finance asks her to accompany him to try to dissuade his sister from making a mistake with the man she intends to marry. Then the unsuitable suitor is dead and Gil is the prime suspect. Amory is drawn into the investigation and finds herself caught between her husband and her ex-fiance.The relationships weren't great and need work into the future but the story worked well as a murder mystery.
    • 3/5
      The mystery was pretty good but I was not so thrilled with the protagonist and her mixed up relationship with her husband. I also think that the author's portrayal of 1932 England did not come across as very believable -- perhaps I have read too many mysteries that were actually written in the 1930s to enjoy the faux experience!
    • 4/5
      Murder Mystery set in 1930's England. Smart and snappy, you would never believe written by a Louisiana Librarian! The dialogue felt very authentic for the time period. Wonderful, fast paced and definitely a good read!
    • 3/5
      Amory Ames is asked by her former fiancé, Gil Trent, to accompany him to the Brightwell Hotel and talk to his sister, Emmeline, concerning the man she is marrying. Gil is convinced that there is something wrong with him and his attentions to his sister. But it is not long before a body is found, is it an accident or murder. Amory investigates.
      An enjoyable easily read mystery.
    • 3/5
      Gee, this is a swell mystery. Set in the 30's amongst the well to do set in England. Charmingly done with engaging main characters.
    • 4/5
      "Murder at the Brightwell" reminds me of novels from the Golden Age of mystery. The characters are interesting and described in a way that makes them come alive to the reader. The main premise is a classic one: a group of people are on holiday at a seaside resort. One of them is murdered. The question is "Who is the murderer?" I enjoyed the interweaving of the different plot lines and how the personalities of the potential murderers are revealed. I also appreciated the subtle interplay between Amory, the main character and amateur sleuth, and her estranged husband Milo. The seaside setting adds drama to the plot. I received this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
    • 3/5
      Amory Ames is a wealthy young woman who regrets her marriage to her notoriously charming playboy husband, Milo. Looking for a change, she accepts a request for help from her former fiancé, Gil Trent, not knowing that she’ll soon become embroiled in a murder investigation that will test not only her friendship with Gil, but will upset the status quo with her husband.

      Amory accompanies Gil to the Brightwell Hotel in an attempt to circumvent the marriage of his sister, Emmeline, to Rupert Howe, a disreputable ladies’ man. Amory sees in the situation a grim reflection of her own floundering marriage. There is more than her happiness at stake, however, when Rupert is murdered and Gil is arrested for the crime. Amory is determined to prove his innocence and find the real killer, despite attempted dissuasion from the disapproving police inspector on the case. Matters are further complicated by Milo’s unexpected arrival, and the two form an uneasy alliance as Amory enlists his reluctant aid in clearing Gil’s name. As the stakes grow higher and the line between friend and foe becomes less clear, Amory must decide where her heart lies and catch the killer before she, too, becomes a victim.

      Murder at the Brightwell is a delicious mystery in which murder invades polite society and romance springs in unexpected places. Weaver has penned a debut in the tradition of Jacqueline Winspear.

      This was pitched to me as Agatha Christie-esque, but it really wasn't. I found myself disappointed mostly because I was expecting something much different. The story itself was okay and the plot was well-developed, but there were some subplots that were just completely unnecessary.

      *Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
    • 4/5
      This first book in the Amory Ames cozy series, which is set in 1930's England at a seaside hotel, has the feel of a "golden age" mystery, though it was published in 2014.Interesting plot and a lead character, sleuth Amory Ames, is a person I would love to read more about. I'm not sure how many of the other characters, if any, will appear in future books, but they were well done.If you enjoy reading a historical mystery about murder among the upper crust, and I do, this one's for you. In fact, I'm tracking down the other books in this enjoyable series in an effort to get caught up.A fun read that I'd recommend to my cozy-loving friends!!(I received a copy of this book, from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
    • 3/5
      nice little book to enjoy on a rainy day with a cup of tea! strong, lead heroine, a little romance, and murders to solve by the sea!!
    • 4/5
      A delightful nouveau-Golden-Age mystery. Kent, 1932: Our heroine, Amory Ames, is just pondering how "it is an impossibly great trial to be married to a man one loves and hates in equal proportions" when said husband, Milo, breezes in unannounced from a stint in Monaco. Moments later, the man Amory jilted to marry Milo five years earlier shows up asking her to accompany him on holiday to the seaside Brightwell Hotel, in hope that Amory can talk his sister out of marrying her playboy fiancee, Rupert. Amory takes a page from Milo's book and swans off to the coast without explaining the situation to Milo--but when Rupert is killed, Milo appears on the scene and Amory reluctantly agrees to do some detective work with him.This is a light, well-written and plotted mystery, with a touch of romance, a la the best Golden Age writers, like Patricia Wentworth. While it adheres to the formula of that genre, author Ashley Weaver provides enough red herrings and complications to keep the reader guessing. Not sure if this is the first in a series or a standalone. It has a satisfying resolution of its own, which I really appreciate, having read far too many books recently that end weakly because they're trying to set up the next book in the series. If this is going to be a series, though, I'm looking forward to following Amory and Milo's continued adventures.NOTE: I received this book as an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      This was a pretty laid back murder mystery, I only say that because the seaside vacation was one I would love to be on, even if there is a murder involved. Very good Ashley Weaver!
    • 2/5
      This is a better than average murder mystery / cozy that takes place at a seaside hotel. The "detective" Amory is called on to help her childhood friend, Gil, persuade his sister not to marry the scoundrel that is murdered early in the book. The most unusual part is that Amory is married to another scoundrel, Milo and tossed over Gil five years previously. Lifestyles and time period reminded me of the Nick and Nora books.
    • 3/5
      As I approached the end of "Murder at the Brightwell" (MAB) I began to think about how I would write this review, specifically how I would describe the book. It seemed pretty clear to me that it is a cozy, a descendant if you will of the genteel who-dunits of 70-80 years ago. But then the killer is identified with still several chapters to go, and the book seemed to morph into a romance/mystery. As I view the mystery market, it seems to me that this niche evolved from the 200 page romance novels found on drugstore racks along with along with other books apparently featuring half-naked muscular cowboys. But this is a better book than many of those. I suppose MAB might bring back some memories of those "Thin Man" movies, only the lead character in a movie of MAB would be Myrna Loy, not William Powell. Why is this so important? There is a lot of crime fiction out there these days with a number of niches like the two I mentioned above, and many writers have strong preferences for their favorite types. I don't care for either cosies or romance/mysteries and I read MAB because of some favorable reviews from blogs I follow and as a break from my own favorite stuff. This is Weaver's first book, and I thought it was OK.; I note this will be a series, no surprise, and book 2 is due in October, 2015.MAB takes place in 1932 and we know this because it says so in the Chapter heading on page 1. I don't recall many additional time references that would have enhanced the story with links to what the world was like in 1932. Anyway, thirteen (by my count) friends, acquaintances, spouses gather at a beach hotel in Brighton for a week's relaxation. Our starlet, Amory Ames, is there without her husband, Milo, who is a rogue by the way, but she is with Gil, a guy she dumped five years ago to marry Milo (how could I have missed all the signs that this was going to be a mystery plus romance). Before too long there is dead body, a local cop, and a lot of who was in the sitting room with whom when the killer struck. Of course, Amory decides she is going to get to the bottom this and she beings her own investigation. Suddenly, Milo is on the scene. Soon there are a number of knee-buckling kisses followed by second thoughts or by fading scenes. But no graphic sex, remember it is 1932. And that's it. For some readers, this would be a very nice summer beach book.
    • 5/5
      A skillfully done throwback of a mystery from days gone by. A classic British whodunit that takes place at an ocean side resort. There are series of deaths and not only are the police looking for the culprit but also one of the lady guests takes it upon herself to do her own investigation. Then you can throw in some sexual tension between her wayward husband and a former beau who is staying at the resort. It was very refreshing to read an old school mystery that takes place in the 1930's. I hope Ms. Weaver continues to bless us with these well conceived yarns.
    • 3/5
      Good ending. Dragged a bit and I figured out the killer quite early. Overall good.
    • 3/5
      If a snippet of a book review reads, "It's all very Downton Abbey," one could lay a bet that I will show an interest. True to anticipation, life for the posh and wealthy of post-WWII England at the seaside resort of Brightwell is just all that − that is, murder under the best of manners in the most luscious of wardrobes all on display through the politest biting sarcasm.
    • 4/5
      Very classy English Cozy-type of mystery. I lobed Amory and Milo. Read this via the audio book version (which was a superb recording). Highly recced for fans of the genre.
    • 5/5
      So good!
    • 4/5
      I found this book a quick and interesting read. The wealthy 1930s couples on holiday and then boom a murder happens. These characters and this book reminded me of the Great Gatsby and the Fitzgerald’s. The wealthy behaving badly on holiday.This is another book that was unpredictable. The ending was not what I was expecting. It was easy to read and easy to follow. Not exactly packed with edge of your seat action, but it keeps you reading. Amory plays the role of private investigator with her husband Milo sneaking around and meddling to try to clear her friend Gil of murder accusations. I think that we will be hearing more from Ashley Weaver that this will maybe be a series. I plan to keep a look out for her in the future. I think she is on the right track!! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
    • 4/5
      Amory goes to stay at the Brightwell Hotel with Gil, whom she jilted to marry Milo five years ago. Her marriage is in trouble and Gil wants her to advise his sister Emmeline not to make a similar mistake in marrying her fiancé Rupert. this does not strike me as a particularly convincing plot setup, but anyway... Amory (who makes a point of describing every outfit she wears - and she wears a lot of them - her luggage must have been extensive) is followed to the hotel by Milo and people get murdered. The murders are solved and Amory has to choose between Milo and Gil.I wanted to like this book more than I did. It reads like a cross between Agatha Christie and Mary Stewart. Amory and Milo are fairly well drawn, but most of the other characters (including Gil) are flat. The narrative is superficial and some of the plot elements are unoriginal - the murderer turns out to be mad, one of the characters turns out to be German, the detective is competent, but Amory still feels the need to investigate and keep searching people's rooms. I did enjoy the scene with Milo and Amory in the wardrobe though.There were a few grammatical errors in my Kindle version.
    • 5/5
      Set at a luxury resort by the sea in 1930’s Britain, Murder at Brightwell has all the ingredients of a perfect diversion--well burnished prose, a captivating plot, witty dialog, elegant fashions, charming cads, upper class shenanigans, love gone wrong, secrets galore, an appealing main character, and murder. What could be more fun than that? I dashed through the story.Five years ago Amory Ames married Milo, her far too charismatic playboy husband, and then regretted that choice almost immediately. Milo jaunts off to places like Monte Carlo to engage in gossip column worthy amusements far too often, leaving Amory all alone with the servants, so when her former fiancé knocks on the door one day Amory can’t help wondering what might have been. Amory has known Gil Trent since they were children and he’s everything Milo is not--steady, dependable, and trustworthy. After years of no contact he’s come to ask a favor that involves Amory accompanying him on a holiday by the sea, and Amory decides, why not? It’s a request and opportunity she can’t resist, but then someone is murdered and Gil is accused and Milo of all people shows up making everything all the more confusing. Amory investigates, of course, and a wonderful cast of characters make up the possible suspects. The romance and murder aspects of the story are finely balanced so that both threads kept me in suspense for most of the book. Murder at Brightwell is author Ashley Weaver’s debut novel, and I will be eagerly awaiting her second.
    • 3/5
      “Murder at the Brightwell” focuses on well-to-do Amory Ames who, after five years seems to find herself in a less-than-satisfactory marriage with ne’er-do-well Milo. She agrees to accompany her former fiancé, Gil Trent, to a seaside resort in an effort to dissuade Gil’s sister Emmeline from marrying the disreputable Rupert Howe. As might be expected, shortly after their arrival at the resort Rupert meets an untimely end and, in short order, Gil is suspected of having done the deed. This, of course, prompts Amory to do a little sleuthing of her own. When Milo unexpectedly appears at the Brightwell, he and Amory form an uneasy alliance to clear Gil’s name. A second murder complicates matters, leaving Amory to ferret out the real murderer, keep herself from becoming the next victim, and, at the same time, decide if she and Milo will be able to repair their faltering marriage or if her heart truly belongs to another.The disparate cast of likely [and unlikely] suspects is an intriguing mix --- think Clue set in a luxurious hotel circa 1932. Add the genre’s requisite secrets, a hint or two of romance, and a perfect atmospheric setting; the result is a delightful cozy read.
    • 4/5
      Murder at the Brightwell is a mixture of the The Thin Man’s, Nick and Nora Charles and Noel Coward’s Private Lives play. Amory leaves her playboy husband, Milo, at home in London to accompany a former fiancé, Gil, to the seaside to talk his younger sister, Emmeline, out of marrying a man like Milo. The day after arriving at Brightwell, Emmeline’s fiancé is murdered. The guests at the hotel know one another, and Milo arrives to check on Amory and Gil. Amory and Milo insert themselves into the very calm and efficient Inspector Jones' investigation.
    • 4/5
      It’s 1932 England. Our heroine, Amory Ames, is five years into her marriage to Milo, for whom she dumped her then-fiancé Gil Trent. After not seeing each other for ages, Gil visits Amory to ask a favor. His sister Emmeline is engaged to Rupert Howe (a playboy who reminds Amory of Milo, whom ladies love and gossip columnists love to write about) and Gil wants Amory’s help to talk his sister out of the marriage. Amory wants to help Emmeline avoid the heartache she’s gone through with Milo. All the “players” in our little story will be at the Brightwell Hotel and Amory makes plans to meet Gil there to talk to Emmeline. But before Amory is settled into her room, Rupert is dead, the victim of a murder made to look like an accident. Rupert and Gil had been heard arguing before the murder and so Gil is at the top of the suspect list. Amory decides to do a little snooping to save Gil from being arrested and tried for murder. Then Milo shows up. Amory is in a muddle about her marriage. Does she really want to stay married to the philandering Milo even though he still makes her heart go pitty-pat. Murder at Brightwell is standard cozy fare … with a strong but insecure heroine, a love interest (two, actually) and a marvelous setting. Not Agatha Christie but good enough.