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Death and the Brewery Queen

Book 12 in the Kate Shackleton mysteries

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Death and the Brewery Queen

By: Frances Brody
Narrated by: Anne Dover
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About this listen

 'Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers' Daily Mail

'Brody's writing is like her central character Kate Shackleton: witty, acerbic and very, very perceptive' Ann Cleeves

A call for help

It's the spring of 1930 and Private Investigator Kate Shackleton responds to a call for help from the owner of Barleycorn Brewery in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The brewery's books don't add up, but when the one employee who may know what's really going on meets with a fatal accident, Kate's investigation intensifies.

A second body

On the day of the brewery garden party, amidst celebrations for the newly crowned Yorkshire Brewery Queen, Kate opens the wrong door and finds herself staring at another body - and in danger of asphyxiation.

A secret to die for

It's clear there are secrets somebody would kill to keep buried. And with the Brewery Queen's growing reputation bringing Barleycorn further into the spotlight, Kate's wit, skill and passion for the truth are tested to the limits.

Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering the Kate Shackleton mysteries for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner for fans of Agatha Christie, Ann Granger and Jacqueline Winspear.

What readers are saying about the Kate Shackleton mysteries:

'Kate Shackleton is a splendid heroine' Ann Granger

'Delightful' People's Friend

'Frances Brody matches a heroine of free and independent spirit with a vivid evocation of time and place . . . a novel to cherish' Barry Turner, Daily Mail

'Brody's excellent mystery splendidly captures the conflicts and attitudes of the time with well-developed characters' RT Book Reviews

'Kate Shackleton joins Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs in a subgroup of young, female amateur detectives who survived and were matured by their wartime experiences' Literary Review©2020 Frances McNeil Cosy Crime Detective Fiction Murder Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Suspense

Critic reviews

I really adore this series and Kate is such a strong, level-headed character
A novel that combines clever detection with a sympathetic understanding of human frailty
Praise for Frances Brody:
Brody's writing is like her central character Kate Shackleton: witty, acerbic and very, very perceptive
Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers
Kate Shackleton is a splendid heroine
Delightful
Frances Brody matches a heroine of free and independent spirit with a vivid evocation of time and place . . . a novel to cherish
Brody's excellent mystery splendidly captures the conflicts and attitudes of the time with well-developed characters
Kate Shackleton joins Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs in a subgroup of young, female amateur detectives who survived and were matured by their wartime experiences. As self-reliant women in a society that still regards them a second-class citizens, they make excellent heroines
Kate Shackleton is an engagingly forthright and indefatigable investigator
Frances Brody skilfully holds our attention, making us want to read on and then look forward to the next Kate Shackleton mystery
The series is right up there with Miss Marple
All stars
Most relevant
I’ve listened to every single one of this series. I’ve enjoyed all of them. Great story lines, excellent narrator. A relaxing but still engaging crime book.

More please! 😊

I loved it

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This is another brilliant Kate Shackleton book. As with the others it is compelling, sad, funny and uplifting. I love to be in the world of Kate, Sykes, Mrs Sugden and Harriet.
The narration is excellent and captures the nuanced characteristics of the various people. Having finished it in a few days, I now feel bereft! Can't wait for the next one.

Another Great Story

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The wonderful narration perfectly matches another cracking Kate Shackleton mystery. A very enjoyable audiobook in this series.

Excellent

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I really like these books and turn to them for a light and cheerful read. Some I’ve liked more than others but this I loved. I suppose the Kate Shackleton books are categorised as ‘cosy crime’ but they are the best written cosy crime of the few different series I’ve tried. Frances Brody draws such rounded characters (and characterisation is not always a strong point in cosy crime) and her knowledge of time and place are perfect. She is also a really good descriptive writer of environment and situation. If you love in Yorkshire you’ll find plenty to recognise both in the past and present. Anne Dover narrates them all and she is absolutely brilliant and spot on with the accents. I’ll be playing this one again.

Favourite Kate Shackleton book out of many I’ve read

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I believe this has been my favourite of the series. Rather than one large mystery there were several. When I thought it was coming to an end there were still hours left. Excellent narration, as always.

Different Approach

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