I’m new to this series, but the fact that I’ve missed the earlier titles didn’t matter as this works well as a standalone. The initial draw was spotting that it’s narrated by Jonathon Keeble. I’ve been listening to him narrating some 25 hours of MR James stories and he’s outstanding. His delivery in Swanton Morley is superb. Well paced throughout and really added to the pleasure of listening.

As for the story, I’m not familiar with this area, but felt a strong sense of location from the descriptions. It’s a murder mystery that intrigues and it’s sufficiently complex to hold your interest from start to finish. Twists along the way and a very unexpected ending. Although it covers some serious issues, including sex offences, I found it quite relaxing. Definitely cosy crime rather than gory crime and there’s a decent balance of plotting to keep you listening. I’ll be looking at other titles in the series to catch up and I enjoyed this outing.

I have read several of the books in this series and was thrilled to receive a copy of the audiobook in return for an honest opinion. I loved this book and the narrator is excellent. I listened to this book very quickly because it is so well writen. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers.

It seemed like an open-and-shut case. A man, covered in mud and blood - and carrying a knife, comes into the police station shouting that he hasn't killed the man. A body at the bottom of a freshly dug grave at Swanton Morley church - he's been stabbed to death. DCI John Tanner is just back from his honeymoon, which coincided with the birth of his daughter Samantha. You would think he'd be grateful for an easy answer but the words 'perverse' and 'John Tanner' were made for each other. He's sleep-deprived to the point of falling asleep at work but he's determined to keep going - probably because he can't get any sleep at home.

When you're nearly a month away from last being on the north Norfolk coast and ][[Elly Griffiths' Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries in Chronological Order|Elly Griffiths] can't come to your rescue, you end up looking around for Norfolk crime. It was some five years since I'd read the first of the John Tanner books. I hadn't been overly impressed but I wasn't impressed by the first of Ian Rankin's John Rebus books either. As this was book eleven and I'd missed nine of them, I was hoping for a back catalogue to attack gleefully. So how did it stack up?

The plotting is good. I didn't see the ending coming at all. I hadn't with the first book in the series, either so I think we can say that Blake's plotting is strong. He also ticked a lot of boxes for me. I love the area and it's obvious that Blake does too: he brings it to life vividly. I'm pleased to read about the doings of wily politicians and Blake had this perfectly. He didn't overdo it and was completely believable. I was less convinced by the writing which errs on the side of description. I was tired of hearing about the 'depths of his [Tanner's] sailing jacket'. Yes - I know - I'm being picky.

I was lucky enough to be sent an audio download of the book, narrated by Jonathan Keeble. I enjoyed his narration of The Darkness Around Her by Neil White and The Establishment: And how they get away with it by Owen Jones. In the latter I thought that Keeble was a better choice than the author would have been - and it's not often I say that. Keeble didn't disappoint in Swanton Morley. He has an excellent range of voices, which he deployed with skill.

I read the first novel in this series and this audiobook made me go and get the rest of the series as it's a well plotted and gripping story that kept me guessing.
Well developed and interesting characters, a solid mystery
I liked the voice of the narrator and how they read the story
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I requested this arc without realising it was part of a series, I’d not usually be a fan of beginning so far in, however DCI Tanner is written so well that I felt easily acquainted with him and his team. The story was such that I definitely felt it worked as a standalone. I am intrigued to read the others though.

Swanton Morley was excellent. Full of intrigue as the team work towards catching a serial killer whose victims are all named as child sex offenders to the press. Lots of twists and turns and a blow your socks off ending that I did not see coming.

Excellent writing, and the narration was absolutely superb. I’d highly recommend it.

With special thanks to W.F Howes Ltd via NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.