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  • A Lesson in Dying

  • Inspector Ramsay, Book 1
  • Written by: Ann Cleeves
  • Narrated by: Simon Mattacks
  • Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

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A Lesson in Dying

Written by: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Simon Mattacks
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Publisher's Summary

Ann Cleeves Classic Crime - engaging mysteries to savour, beloved characters to meet again

A Lesson in Dying is the first mystery novel in the Inspector Ramsay series by Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope crime series.

Who hung the headmaster in the playground on the night of the school Halloween Party?

Almost everyone in Heppleburn either hated or feared the viper-tongued Harold Medburn. Inspector Ramsay is convinced it was the headmaster’s enigmatic wife but Jack Robson, school governor and caretaker, is determined to prove her innocence.

With the help of his restless daughter Patty, Jack digs into the secrets of Heppleburn, and uncovers a cesspit of lies, adultery, blackmail and madness . . .

Continue the detective series with Murder in My Backyard.

©1990 Ann Cleeves (P)2017 Isis Publishing Ltd

What listeners say about A Lesson in Dying

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Loved it

Inspector Ramsay is a realistically realized character. The plot was interesting and our villain quite believable.
Simon Mattacks’ interpretation added to the story in a very controlled way.

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

Might take a second book to really like

I’ve loved Vera and Shetland so thought I’d give this a try. I find the voices sound very much the same and I’m not really enamoured of Inspector Ramsey but then Vera’s first book she was not very appealing and now I love her. So I will give book two a chance

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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excellent

Anne Cleeves what a story teller.
now a great new series. I can't wait to hear of inspector Ramses next case.
The narrator Simon Mattacks did a grand job of reading this story.

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  • Franki
  • 2022-08-05

Ann Cleeves LoversBeware

Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite writers and I was so happy to see her old books come up on Audible. Big mistake! This book is so far below the quality of her more recent works that it’s hard to believe she wrote it.

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15 people found this helpful

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  • Standing Stones
  • 2023-04-08

Don’t want to be mean, but…

…this was one of the worst audible books I’ve ever listened to. I don’t think I’ve ever gone to the trouble to post a negative review prior to this. I am a huge fan of Vera and Shetland, but I can not even believe this was written by the same author.

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Pam W
  • 2022-10-16

An earlier work

Just ok, Cleeves certainly gets better. A short listen and don’t expect to grow any attachments to these characters, seems to be a straightforward narrative, with dull personas.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2023-04-08

Her writing certainly got better since this book.

It’s hard to believe that this book was written by Ann Cleeves. If you’ve read all of the Shetland, Vera and other great books that she wrote and decide to try some of her earlier works, don’t. Characters are either completely underdeveloped or run the gamut of all the usual stereotypes.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Cackie
  • 2023-04-04

Disappointed read

I was happy to hear that this was one of Ann Cleaves’ first books…she definitely got better as I love her books and just assumed I would love this as well… but not so much.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-02-28

Disappointed

The plot was convoluted and badly planned. There are no credible detective procedures. Suspects, initially closed and aggressive, then sprout out private details to complete strangers.

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  • Rebecca S Hoffmann
  • 2023-02-10

Underwhelmed

Not as good as I’d hoped. I’m a fan of Ann Cleeves, but not this time.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Glenda
  • 2023-01-15

Fantastic read

It has been awhile since I have read an Ann Cleeves, one of the best crime novelists of our time.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Nancy
  • 2023-09-20

Disappointed !

Does not even resemble Ann Cleeves writing skills. The plot dragged on with unnecessary details. The characters were not likable. The narrator gave a choppy reading which necessitated changing the narration speed throughout the entire book. I kept reading to the end because I kept thinking that “ this is an Ann Cleeves book, something has to improve.” But, it did not ! ☹️

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  • Overall
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  • gingerlady87
  • 2023-06-15

Not up to Ann Cleves’s usual standard

Perhaps the fumbling detective is the disappointment. I found none of the characters appealing. Still, worth an afternoon’s reading.

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