![]() ![]() “A Very Commonplace Murder” is another dark and surprising piece. Jenny Agutter was the perfect choice to bring this story to life. I particularly liked the way the war changed the tone of the story, making the violence both more likely and more acceptable. The plot is grimly satisfying, nodding to tradition before tossing it aside for something that is more muscular and aggressive, in a very English way. The emotions are intensified by being muted in their expression. The young widow from whose point of view the story is told is perceptive and strong-minded. The prose is as sharp-edged and precise as a scalpel. It is something entirely darker and more realistic. ![]() This is not a cosy mystery with a smart detective solving clever puzzles about who committed a largely bloodless crime. The collection opens with the title story, “The Mistletoe Murder”, which tells the story of a murder at a country house at Christmas during World War Two. The second two stories, read by Daniel Weyman are light vignettes showing Adam Dalgliesh at work. The first two stories, both read by Jenny Agutter, are strong, memorable standalone pieces. Listening to this collection of four Christmas crime short stories is a splendid way to pass cold, wet December evenings. ![]()
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