• Murder of a Lady

  • By: Anthony Wynne
  • Narrated by: James Bryce
  • Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (224 ratings)

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Murder of a Lady  By  cover art

Murder of a Lady

By: Anthony Wynne
Narrated by: James Bryce
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Publisher's summary

Duchlan Castle is a gloomy place in the Scottish Highlands. Late one night the body of Mary Gregor, sister of the laird, is found in the castle. She has been stabbed to death in her locked bedroom. The only tiny clue to the culprit is a silver fish's scale, left on the floor next to Mary's body.

Inspector Dundas is dispatched to investigate. The Gregor family and their servants are quick to explain that Mary was a kind and charitable woman, but Dundas uncovers a more complex truth.

Soon further deaths occur. Superstitious locals believe that fish creatures from the nearby waters are responsible, but luckily for Inspector Dundas, gifted amateur sleuth Eustace Hailey is on the scene.

©2015 Estate of Anthony Wynne (P)2016 Soundings

What listeners say about Murder of a Lady

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Solid "Golden Age" Mystery

In some respects this book made me think of a P.D. James novel. Much of it is filled with gradual revealing of the personalities and interactions between the different characters. The mystery itself is not that fantastic and, for me, not as interesting as the stories of the people. Nonetheless the writing and the story were involving for me.

I found the narration to be well above solid and feel it added a great deal to the feel of the novel.

It is far from a more modern detective or slasher story and one that might appeal only to folks with an appetite for a period piece story. However, for those of us who seek out such novels it might be a real treasure.

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Taut suspense

A haunting story, very tight, clipped dialogue, completely compelling. This one grabbed hold of my mind and would not let go. I couldn't sleep until I finished it. The reader is perfect and impeccable.

Don't read this if you are prone to nightmares, but definitely do if you love a psychological terror.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The Silver Scale Mystery of 1931

I've been meaning to read this book for years. It was always described as "the" classic murder mystery by those who recommended it. I'm glad I waited to tackle it on audio because James Bryce's narration is truly superb.

When the lady in question is murdered, it appears for all the world to be a classic locked room mystery. But nothing is quite what it seems in this story, and there are layers of psychological suspense and characterization that are unusual in a mystery of its time.

That said, it drags in places. To modern ears not used to classic detective fiction, it might not be a good fit. But if you do love old school murder mysteries, give it a go, and if you love Scotland, that recommendation goes double.

Now make sure you have your Dundee cakes ready for Hogmanay, and have a jolly New Year.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Solid golden age detective story

Like able detective. Good mystery. I figured out the who about the same time as the detective but not the how.

A solid golden age detective story to be read by all fans of the genre.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Scottish Golden Age

This golden age mystery set in Scotland was an interesting listen. However, I did feel that it dragged more than I prefer. I have read and listened to many mysteries and novels set in England/Scotland between WWI and WWII and this one somehow had a more "dated" feel than many others. I am glad to have listened to it and added Anthony Wynne to my list of Golden Age mystery authors, but I am less apt to re-listen to this one than to most.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story. Great performance.

Such a satisfying tale. Can't wait to find this author and performer again. Francie Patton.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Mystery Till The End

This book caught my full attention and held it to the very end. Set in a beautiful Scottish Castle . There are so many characters . Enjoyed it very much.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Very slow, didn't stand the passing of time

This book is one of the British historical library's choice for republishing. Unfortunately, it didn't stand the passing of time. Although the narration was very good, the book is very slow to our contemporary taste, and full of lyricism in odd places - the detective in the middle of an elaboration to the reasoning of a recent murder, stops to contemplate the beauty of the beach. There's also a lot of people trying to kill themselves for the honor of family name, to protect a loved one, etc. Meanwhile, bodies are dropping like flies without anybody coming up with reasonable clues. People, instead, are afraid that murders are being realized by mythical creatures... And finally, the author used a gimmick to stop the police work (I'm not telling what in case you still want to listen to this book) twice! The first time it's ok, but the second time you think - oh come on!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

A waste of time

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

If you're looking for something to help you fall asleep then this is the book for you.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Cunningly Contrived Puzzle

A locked room. A non-existent weapon. According to Martin Edwards, Anthony Wynne made something of a specialty of the “cunningly contrived” whodunnit. Add eerie local superstitions, several more surprising deaths and a long-festering family tragedy and we have a deeply satisfying listen, delivering everything you expect from a well-paced, well-written Golden Age mystery—except humor. But when a mystery is this absorbingly mysterious, you tend to overlook the absence of wit that usually enlivens Golden Age dialogue and deductions.

I stand by that bit about an absorbing mystery, even though I’d picked out the murderer early on. After all, I rarely (ok, never) pick out the murderer, either early on or even in the second-to-last chapter; it was fun to wait and see if I was right. And, truth be told, I had no idea if I was right because I had no idea how the person could have done it until Dr. Haley, our gifted amateur detective, told me.

James Bryce delivers just as much satisfaction at the mic. He creates a cast of individual voices, while his narration remains true to the rhythms of the writing, never flagging or ceasing to entertain.

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1 person found this helpful