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A Meditation on Murder

A Death in Paradise Novel

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A Meditation on Murder

By: Robert Thorogood
Narrated by: Phil Fox
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About this listen

An original story from the creator and writer of the hit BBC One TV series Death in Paradise, featuring onscreen favourite DI Richard Poole.

Enhance your enjoyment of the series as, for the first time, Robert Thorogood brings the characters to life in an all-new locked-room mystery.

Aslan Kennedy has an idyllic life as leader of a spiritual retreat for wealthy holidaymakers on one of the Caribbean's most unspoilt islands, Saint Marie. Until he's murdered, that is. The case seems open and shut: when Aslan was killed, he was inside a locked room with only five other people, one of who has already confessed to the murder.

Detective Inspector Richard Poole is hot, bothered, and fed up with talking to witnesses who'd rather discuss his aura than their whereabouts at the time of the murder. But he also knows that the facts of the case don't quite stack up. In fact he's convinced that the person who's just confessed to the murder is the one person who couldn't have done it.

Determined to track down the real killer, DI Poole is soon on the trail, and no stone will be left unturned. A must-listen for fans of the TV series and Agatha Christie crime classics featuring Marple and Poirot.

©2016 Robert Thorogood (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Cosy Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Genre Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Murder

Critic Reviews

Praise for Death in Paradise:
"Thorogood's classic crime novel is laced with tongue-in-cheek humour and outlandish plot twists. Readers will love this gentle, quirky crime thriller.' ( Lincolnshire Echo)
"Fans of the series will relish...plenty of red herrings and twists to keep readers guessing until the Agatha Christie style showdown." ( Daily Express)
"Fans of the Agatha Christie style BBC drama Death in Paradise will enjoy this book from the show's creator." ( Mail on Sunday)
"Sun, sea and suspense: If you like a classic whodunnit, and tropical settings, you won't want to miss Death in Paradise" ( Daily Mail)
" Death in Paradise feels like a little ray of sunshine." ( Mirror)
"Fans will enjoy returning to DI Richard Poole...just switch off and relax." ( Love Reading)
" Death in Paradise fans rejoice! Detective Inspector Richard Poole is making a comeback...just not on television." ( TV Wise)
"Fans of the show who are missing DI Richard Poole have another chance to spend some quality time with him thanks to A Meditation on Murder. It was an absolute delight from start to finish." ( Entertainment Outlook)
"A treat." ( Radio Times)
"This brilliant whodunnit is based on the BBC One drama Death in Paradise ( Woman)
All stars
Most relevant  
Was missing DI Richard Poole after watching the latest season of Death in Paradise so went looking to see if it was based off any books. What a delight to find the show's writer had also written a handful of novels! Downloaded this one with my fingers crossed, and happy to say it was everything I'd hoped! Great story, with the characters depicted just like they are on the show. I could picture it playing out in my head like an episode. The narrator does an excellent job of playing the characters and really nails DI Poole. I immediately went and bought the other two stories on Audible.

Just like the show!

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Great read for lovers of this genre and the characters brought to live on the tv show version. DI Poole at his best.

Just Brilliant!

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I really like the story line and the characters and description of what Richard was thinking. The narration was excellent too

Great listening

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The narrator enlivens the story making it very dynamic and hilarious. Detective Richard Poole is so unique I did not stop laughing.

Hilarious and suspenseful

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Loved every minute of it thought it was great
I’m going to buy the next one

Voice was most suitable

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I came to this series after the Marlow murder club, unable to find anything similar. Despite this book being older, Robert Thorogood did not disappoint. If you like cosy mysteries, without the violence, but still with all the twists and excitement, I would highly recommend.

So hooked

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Great story, kept me guessing until the reveal. It was lovely to spend some more time with my favourite detective of this series, DI Richard Poole. And who doesn't love to visit the island of Saint Marie.

A fun read

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if you like death in paradise, you will love this story. great plot and amusing as well.

great twists and turns.

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Great listen looking forward to more books by RT and the return of Marlow Murder Club stories in 2025

Entertaining

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I bought this one as a fan of Death in Paradise. While the characters were the familiar friends from the series it was overlaid with a veil of misogyny. The tv character of Richard Poole was far more nuanced and complex than as written here.

The story was repetitive and tedious. What works on the tv in recapping the clues was boring in the written form. This could have been about half the size and been a much tighter and more interesting read.

The story was fairly standard with red herrings and plot twists, but it was obvious half way through who ‘dunnit.

The worst part of this story was the narrator. The female voices were appalling. They came across as shrill and stupid. The male voices were fine.

Overall I would give this a miss and stick to rewatching old tv episodes.

Not worth the time

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.