A Lesson in Dying cover art

A Lesson in Dying

The first classic mystery novel featuring detective Inspector Ramsay from The Sunday Times bestselling author of the Vera, Shetland and Venn series, Ann Cleeves

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A Lesson in Dying

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Simon Mattacks
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About this listen

A Lesson in Dying is the first mystery novel in the Inspector Ramsay series by Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope crime series.

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 . . .

Continue the classic whodunit series with Murder in My Backyard.

Ann Cleeves Classic Crime - engaging mysteries to savour, beloved characters to meet again.

Praise for Ann Cleeves:

'Ann Cleeves is a stone cold genius' – Marian Keyes, author of My Favorite Mistake

'Everything Ann Cleeves writes is incredible' – Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club

'Ann Cleeves’s elegance as a wordsmith, the ingenuity of her plots, and the depth of her characters can be matched by few writers' – David Baldacci, author of The 6:20 Man

 Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Police Procedurals Small Town & Rural

Critic Reviews

A fine writer
Cleeves is quietly carving out a reputation as the new Queen of Crime
Ann Cleeves is a skilful technician, keeping our interest alive and building slowly up to the denouement. Her easy use of language and clever story construction make her one of the best natural writers of detective fiction
Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves (Val McDermid)
Ann Cleeves has an enviable talent . . . I love these books
All stars
Most relevant
The story was very very simple and the police were seen to be fools and incompetent. I can't believe it was written by Ann Cleeves. I expect this must be her very early work as the characters had a 1960's feel and mobiles or computers were not invented. It was so boring I couldn't wait until it ended.

Unbelievably poor story, so childlike

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He is miserable. And so is the story. I won’t be getting to know him.

The detective

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