A Lesson in Dying by Ann Cleeves Book Review

About the Book:

Before Shetland and Vera, Ann Cleeves wrote the Inspector Ramsay series featuring a talented, brilliant detective—now in print for the first time in the US.

Who hung the headmaster in the playground on the night of the school Halloween Party?

Almost everyone in Heppleburn either hated or feared the viper-tongued Harold Medburn. Inspector Ramsay is convinced it was the headmaster’s enigmatic wife but Jack Robson, school governor and caretaker, is determined to prove her innocence.

With the help of his restless daughter Patty, Jack digs into the secrets of Heppleburn, and uncovers a cesspit of lies, adultery, blackmail and madness . . .

My Review:

While Cleeves has been writing for decades, I think this is the first book I've read by her. This mystery was published in 1990 and is the first in the Inspector Ramsay series. Always available in England, it has now been published in the U.S. I like the British flavor of extensive development of characters and the setting descriptions, like the fog.

I was a bit surprised that Inspector Ramsay has a somewhat minor role in the book. He is convinced he has the murderer right away and does not pursue any other suspects. It is not until Jack gets involved that we see how many possible suspects there are. I would not have thought this novel would lead to a series featuring Ramsay. He seemed rather inept to me.

I do like Cleeves' writing style. Having grown up on Agatha Christie, I felt right at home reading this mystery.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

ANN CLEEVES is the multi-million copy bestselling author behind three hit television series—Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall, Vera, starring Academy Award Nominee Brenda Blethyn, and The Long Call, starring Ben Aldridge—all of which are watched and loved in the United States. All three are available on BritBox.

The first Shetland novel, Raven Black, won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel, and Ann was awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger in 2017. She was awarded the OBE in 2022 for services to reading and libraries. Ann lives in the United Kingdom. Photo credit: David Hirst

Minotaur Books, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)