The Sans Pareil Mystery cover art

The Sans Pareil Mystery

The Detective Lavender Mysteries, Book 2

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The Sans Pareil Mystery

By: Karen Charlton
Narrated by: Michael Page
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About this listen

On a cold February night in Regency London, a dark curtain falls on the Sans Pareil Theatre following the death of April Clare, a promising young actress, whose body is found in mysterious circumstances.

Detective Stephen Lavender and his dependable deputy, Constable Woods, quickly discover that nothing is quite as it seems. As successive mysteries unfold, they soon realise that it is not only the actors from the Sans Pareil who are playing a part.

With the Napoleonic War looming dangerously across the Channel, this is a time of suspicion and treachery. Following the clues from the seedy back streets of Covent Garden up through the echelons of society, Lavender and Woods begin to fear that the case is much bigger than they'd dared imagine - and worse, that they are at risk of becoming mere players in a master criminal's shadowy drama.

It will take all of Lavender's skill and wit, and help from the beautiful Magdalena, to bring the mystery of the Sans Pareil Theatre to a dramatic conclusion in the final act.

©2015 Karen Charlton (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, Inc. Detective Fiction Historical Mystery Traditional Detectives Celebrity Theatre
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I really enjoy The Detective Lavender Mysteries as the stories hold my interest right to the end. It's especially interesting to think the stories are based on a true life Inspector Lavender and his cases. My only negative point is that the harsh male voices the narrator uses are hard to listen to , otherwise it's very authentic.

As usual, a good plot.

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I enjoyed this second audiobook of the Detective Lavender and Constable Woods series. The two main characters are very likeable and it is a delight to listen to their interactions.

We meet Woods' redoubtable wife, Betsy in this story and after only hearing about her previously from the point of view of her hulking, but henpecked husband, one would not have expected quote such a delightful character. We also learn more of the beautiful but secretive Spanish widow whom Stephen Lavender has fallen in love with.

Michael Page's narration is, as ever, brilliant. I fell in love with his voice with his narration of the Max Tudor series.

The story holds one's interest, even if there was more than one instance of being able to quests a plot point.

Being a great reader of many a book set during Regency times, I was surprised that the author had women attending a burial. It is my firm understanding that this did not happen during the Regency and indeed, up to and including the Victorian Era.

But regardless, this was a very worthwhile audio experience. I give the overall, 4 1/2 stars.

Lesley, from Victoria.



Very entertaining.

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Written in the style of Sherlock Holmes, good storyline and great characters. Will definitely be reading next book in the series. Great narration by Michael Page

Thoroughly enjoyed this

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