
The Cottage
A McLaren Mystery
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Callum Hale
-
By:
-
Jo A. Hiestand
About this listen
Former police detective Michael McLaren is at the home of his lady friend, Melanie. The house is sold, the removal van is booked. All that is left is to help her pack her belongings for her move to his village. But the laborious task is interrupted when one of Melanie’s neighbors asks McLaren to investigate the circumstances of her parents’ murders.
McLaren’s reluctance to take it on and abandon Melanie appears to be solved when his best mate, Jamie, steps in to help with the packing. It’s not the easy investigation McLaren was hoping for, however. Sightings of Mordred and a ghost, and a burglary at the local Tudor Hall complicate the murder inquiries.
What had seemed to McLaren a perfect remedy with Jamie close at hand now disintegrates into a horrendous mistake. And McLaren questions if the investigation is really worth it, especially when he puts the people he cares about most in danger.
©2023 Jo A. Hiestand (P)2024 Jo A. HiestandRelated to this topic
-
The Honeymoon
- By: Jane E. James
- Narrated by: Rose Robinson, Sean Burke, Leena Makoff, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Timothy and Jonah, wealthy entrepreneurs with a spoiled son, hide sins from their past—one involving a death on a cruise, the other a crime in Bali. Nathan and Samantha, the hot ex-nanny turned trophy wife, grapple with infertility and a shocking paternity secret. Bartosz and Angelika (he’s a chef, she’s a former sex worker) carry debts to the other couples they don’t even realize they owe. Over fourteen days, the couples bond—but their pasts are too deeply intertwined to stay hidden. The sly concierge, Putu, knows more than he lets on.
-
-
Great storytelling!
- By Ashley R on 03-31-25
By: Jane E. James
-
Once Upon a Crime
- By: Brynn Kelly
- Narrated by: Chase Brown, Rebekkah Ross
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lana Fleming’s sister has vanished from the set of TV’s hottest show, and no one seems to care. Desperate for answers, Lana sneaks in as an extra, only to get stranded with Griffin Hart, an A-list action star with a reputation for good abs and bad decisions. Though Griffin didn’t expect to be cast as a librarian’s sidekick in a real-life thriller, he’s weirdly into it—and into her. Even more unsettling—she sees right through his playboy persona. But their meet-cute soon turns deadly when they uncover a Hollywood scandal for the ages.
-
-
Never a dull moment
- By Christina Clark on 03-11-25
By: Brynn Kelly
-
Sugarland
- By: Tom Fontana
- Narrated by: Dean Winters, Mark Ryder, Fern Cozine, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometimes the darkest mysteries are homegrown. When Zephyr Nelson returns home to look after her ailing mother, she discovers that her younger brother, Cotter, has become obsessed with a malevolent influencer on a mysterious voice app. Just as a series of puzzling deaths begin plaguing their small town of Sugarland. With the help of her college best friend and occasional lover, Teddy, Zephyr unravels truths about Sugarland that are impossible for her to accept ...
-
-
Decent thriller, but too much weird sexual stuff
- By Aimee Safford on 04-03-25
By: Tom Fontana
-
Eleven Numbers
- A Short Story
- By: Lee Child
- Narrated by: James Anderson Foster
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nathan Tyler is an unassuming professor at a middling American university with a rather obscure specialty in mathematics—in short, a nobody from nowhere. So why is the White House calling? Summoned to Washington, DC, for a top-secret briefing, Nathan discovers that he’s the key to a massive foreign intelligence breakthrough. Reading between the lines of a cryptic series of equations, he could open a door straight into the heart of the Kremlin and change the global balance of power forever.
-
-
Wonderful
- By Or on 02-02-25
By: Lee Child
-
The Commuter
- By: James Patterson, Aaron Tracy
- Narrated by: Lizzy Caplan, Richard Schiff, Thomas Lennon, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amy Nicols (Lizzy Caplan) was an FBI agent with a dogged need to protect everyone—until that instinct caused her to mishandle a crisis, lose innocent lives, and lose her job. Now a civilian working in private security, that mistake still haunts her. One morning on the commuter train, she overhears a young couple plotting a murder. Ignoring warnings from her family and friends, Amy’s instinct to protect and serve compels her to investigate. But the further she goes, the more she finds her own life in danger.
-
-
Amazing full cast audio production and storyline
- By Jason Nichols on 03-02-25
By: James Patterson, and others
-
Verity
- By: Colleen Hoover
- Narrated by: Vanessa Johansson, Amy Landon
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of best-selling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.
-
-
intriguing but skip if triggered by child abuse
- By Amazon Customer on 05-16-19
By: Colleen Hoover
-
The Honeymoon
- By: Jane E. James
- Narrated by: Rose Robinson, Sean Burke, Leena Makoff, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Timothy and Jonah, wealthy entrepreneurs with a spoiled son, hide sins from their past—one involving a death on a cruise, the other a crime in Bali. Nathan and Samantha, the hot ex-nanny turned trophy wife, grapple with infertility and a shocking paternity secret. Bartosz and Angelika (he’s a chef, she’s a former sex worker) carry debts to the other couples they don’t even realize they owe. Over fourteen days, the couples bond—but their pasts are too deeply intertwined to stay hidden. The sly concierge, Putu, knows more than he lets on.
-
-
Great storytelling!
- By Ashley R on 03-31-25
By: Jane E. James
-
Once Upon a Crime
- By: Brynn Kelly
- Narrated by: Chase Brown, Rebekkah Ross
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lana Fleming’s sister has vanished from the set of TV’s hottest show, and no one seems to care. Desperate for answers, Lana sneaks in as an extra, only to get stranded with Griffin Hart, an A-list action star with a reputation for good abs and bad decisions. Though Griffin didn’t expect to be cast as a librarian’s sidekick in a real-life thriller, he’s weirdly into it—and into her. Even more unsettling—she sees right through his playboy persona. But their meet-cute soon turns deadly when they uncover a Hollywood scandal for the ages.
-
-
Never a dull moment
- By Christina Clark on 03-11-25
By: Brynn Kelly
-
Sugarland
- By: Tom Fontana
- Narrated by: Dean Winters, Mark Ryder, Fern Cozine, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometimes the darkest mysteries are homegrown. When Zephyr Nelson returns home to look after her ailing mother, she discovers that her younger brother, Cotter, has become obsessed with a malevolent influencer on a mysterious voice app. Just as a series of puzzling deaths begin plaguing their small town of Sugarland. With the help of her college best friend and occasional lover, Teddy, Zephyr unravels truths about Sugarland that are impossible for her to accept ...
-
-
Decent thriller, but too much weird sexual stuff
- By Aimee Safford on 04-03-25
By: Tom Fontana
-
Eleven Numbers
- A Short Story
- By: Lee Child
- Narrated by: James Anderson Foster
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nathan Tyler is an unassuming professor at a middling American university with a rather obscure specialty in mathematics—in short, a nobody from nowhere. So why is the White House calling? Summoned to Washington, DC, for a top-secret briefing, Nathan discovers that he’s the key to a massive foreign intelligence breakthrough. Reading between the lines of a cryptic series of equations, he could open a door straight into the heart of the Kremlin and change the global balance of power forever.
-
-
Wonderful
- By Or on 02-02-25
By: Lee Child
-
The Commuter
- By: James Patterson, Aaron Tracy
- Narrated by: Lizzy Caplan, Richard Schiff, Thomas Lennon, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amy Nicols (Lizzy Caplan) was an FBI agent with a dogged need to protect everyone—until that instinct caused her to mishandle a crisis, lose innocent lives, and lose her job. Now a civilian working in private security, that mistake still haunts her. One morning on the commuter train, she overhears a young couple plotting a murder. Ignoring warnings from her family and friends, Amy’s instinct to protect and serve compels her to investigate. But the further she goes, the more she finds her own life in danger.
-
-
Amazing full cast audio production and storyline
- By Jason Nichols on 03-02-25
By: James Patterson, and others
-
Verity
- By: Colleen Hoover
- Narrated by: Vanessa Johansson, Amy Landon
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of best-selling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.
-
-
intriguing but skip if triggered by child abuse
- By Amazon Customer on 05-16-19
By: Colleen Hoover
-
The Ex
- By: Freida McFadden
- Narrated by: Nicol Zanzarella
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cassie thinks she has met the perfect man. Joel is sweet, handsome, romantic, and best of all, he’s crazy about Cassie. She thinks she’s found the guy she’ll spend the rest of her life with. Have children with. Grow old with. Yes, she knows about his perfect ex-girlfriend, Francesca. The beautiful, brilliant chef, beloved by all his friends. But she thinks Francesca is out of the picture. She thinks Francesca is gone for good. Think again, Cassie.
-
-
Too bizarre for someone who loves bizarre
- By G. C. Webster on 07-01-22
By: Freida McFadden
-
Too Late
- Definitive Edition
- By: Colleen Hoover
- Narrated by: Ryan Gray, Maxine Mitchell, Joe Arden
- Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sloan will go through hell and back for those she loves. And she does so, every single day. Caught up with the alluring Asa Jackson, a notorious drug trafficker, Sloan has finally found a lifeline to cling to, even if it’s meant compromising her morals. She was in dire straits trying to pay for her brother’s care until she met Asa. But as Sloan became emotionally and economically reliant on him, he in turn developed a disturbing obsession with her—one that becomes increasingly dangerous every day.
-
-
Triggering and poor narration
- By Katherine Epperson on 07-11-23
By: Colleen Hoover
-
George Orwell’s 1984
- An Audible Original adaptation
- By: George Orwell, Joe White - adaptation
- Narrated by: Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s 1984, and life has changed beyond recognition. Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain, is a place where Big Brother is always watching, and nobody can hide. Except, perhaps, for Winston Smith. Whilst working at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history, he secretly dreams of freedom. And in a world where love and sex are forbidden, where it’s hard to distinguish between friend and foe, he meets Julia and O’Brien and vows to rebel.
-
-
A Revelation!
- By wotsallthisthen on 04-07-24
By: George Orwell, and others
-
Artemis
- By: Andy Weir
- Narrated by: Rosario Dawson
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jazz Bashara is a criminal. Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent. Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down.
-
-
A ferrari with no motor
- By will on 11-18-17
By: Andy Weir
-
Do You Remember?
- By: Freida McFadden
- Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tess Strebel can’t recognize her own face. She can’t recognize her home. Her bedroom is unfamiliar. And she can’t remember the handsome stranger lying next to her in bed. A stranger who claims he’s her husband. Tess reads a letter in her own handwriting, composed during a rare lucid day, explaining her life as it now exists: she was in a terrible car accident one year ago. Every morning, she wakes up unable to remember most of the last decade. Including her own wedding.
-
-
One of the better ones
- By cotswoldrose on 10-13-24
By: Freida McFadden
-
Brain Damage
- By: Freida McFadden
- Narrated by: Megan Tusing
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now, she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her...before he finishes the job he started.
-
-
Who Else Laughed, Cried, and Shuddered?
- By Jennifer Chichester on 09-16-22
By: Freida McFadden
What listeners say about The Cottage
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Holly
- 05-24-24
Good "Who Dun it!"
I enjoyed the book. The storyline was good, the mystery was intereating and the characters were likeable. The Narration was super and I definitely recommend this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- N. N. Light
- 06-19-24
5++ stars for this British mystery gem
Story Impressions –
McLaren is asked to investigate a pair of murders while helping his beloved Melanie pack up and move to his village. What starts as a favor soon becomes a nightmare as he thrusts Jamie and Melanie into grave danger. With every McLaren audiobook, Callum Hale gets better and better. Callum become McLaren and others while bringing the well-crafted mystery to life. Forget streaming, this is the only way to immerse yourself in a British mystery.
Narrator’s overall voice –
Callum Hale is a magnificent narrator, one of the best I’ve heard. His voice creates the imagery needed to follow the story. His soothing British accent works flawlessly for this story.
Does the narrator fit the characters?
Callum uses different dialects for each character which is beneficial while listening. There were many times I would close my eyes and could imagine what was going on. Callum also invokes emotion while hearing the mystery. I found myself getting carried away into the story.
Narrator’s reading style –
Callum’s reading style is the perfect rhythm, allowing the listener to be fully invested in the story.
Narrator’s impact on reading experience –
Callum makes this one of the best books I’ve listened to. Everything from his pacing to the inflection in his voice to the recreation of the characters to the emotional impact on the listener all combine to make this an outstanding performance.
Narrator’s pacing –
Callum’s pacing is lingering in parts, fast in others, on pace with the natural ebbs and flows of the story. It’s a delightful performance.
Audiobook flow –
The flow of the audiobook is right in line with the pace of the story. I submerged myself in the mystery and thoroughly adored it.
What makes this audiobook unique –
What a brilliant performance by Callum. He becomes McLaren, at least for my imagination.
Would I recommend this audiobook –
YES! It’s such an engrossing listen, especially for fans of British mysteries and mysteries.
My Rating: 5++ stars
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- B.McGrath
- 05-08-24
Fantastic
This is a most excellent mystery. The journey to the truth was twisted but Mike's tenacity and perseverance won the day. Barry is a wonderful character that adds greatly to the storyline. Jamie is a great friend to Mike and vice-versa. These two get in a d out of scrapes and are thick as thieves as good friends should be. I had a lot of possible suspects but only one lasted to the end. This was a great journey I enjoyed immensely. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest opinion. The narrator did an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life. I highly recommend this series.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Just My Opinion
- 05-13-24
Suspense At Its Best!
The Cottage is another nail biting suspense in the McLaren Mystery Series. Mike is helping his lady love, Melanie, pack up her possessions as she prepares to move into her new home in his village. However, as usual, he is drawn into looking into a murder mystery. This time one of Melanie’s neighbours asks him to look into the murder and of her parents. His friend, Jamie, ends up coming to help with the packing while Mike is working on the case and, needless to say, things eventually get complicated. There are always some good twists and turns to maneuver, as well as some chuckles, and this one has some heart tugging scenes that will have you reaching for some tissues. I found this book very difficult to put down. Callum Hale never ceases to amaze me with his amazing ability to make each character sound unique and memorable. The emotion he puts into the appropriate scenes is unsurpassed. Kudos to both the author and narrator on this one. I can highly recommend it!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chris B.
- 05-25-24
ANOTHER GREAT "NOT-TO-BE-MISSED" MCLAREN MYSTERY❣️
What a treat! I love how McLaren and Jamie work together and support each other as the great friends they are, to solve complicated mysteries. The romance remains in the background and behind closed doors, and while it adds color and texture to the story, Ms. Hiestand always maintains a balance and keeps the mystery firmly front and center.
The complexity of the cases are always fun to try to figure out right up to the end. None of the knowing whodunnit by chapter 4!
Callum Hale makes you feel like you're right there the whole time, or, at least, watching a movie peopled by a full cast! There is none better!
The best part of this series is that you can start with any book and be assured that the author will bring you up to date in a quick, no-nonsense way.
The author and the narrater are so good together, that it really is a case of 1+1=3.
Don't miss this wonderful audio!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chris S.
- 05-23-24
Wonderful!
Michael McLaren is determined to do nothing else but help his friend Melanie pack up her house in anticipation of her move to Derbyshire. But, a friend of Melanie convinces him to help find who murdered her parents. The investigation turns dangerous, but Michael persists. I’ve read several McLaren books out of order and each holds its own as a stand-alone. The writing is great and the book is full of twists and turns and a lot of suspense. The narration by Callum Hale is outstanding.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shari S.
- 05-28-24
A Smart Listen
I use the word “smart” because it is a stylish mystery and also it challenges the mind. I listen to many audiobooks and I often speed them up in order to get to the next listen, but The Cottage required my full attention because it is a classic ‘whodunit.’ That was a lovely surprise. It is my first McLaren mystery and though it is number 18 in the series, everything is explained well enough that I never felt lost. It was fun to hear the clues and try to figure it all out. (I grew up listening to recordings of old radio shows such as Sherlock Holmes that my grandpa had, and it instilled a life-long love of clever detective stories.) I realized 1 hour in that I want to go back and start the series at the beginning. McLaren is a rather old-school sleuth in a modern age (though the modern world does not intrude too much in the story). I highly recommend this book and the series promises to be a great one. Last but by no means least- THE NARRATOR. Callum Hale. What a find for me! His voice is fantastic! He is perfect for this series. He has not narrated many books outside this series, but I hope he does more in the future.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Karenique
- 06-21-24
I’m loving this newly discovered series
I was thrilled to find Jo A. Hiestand's McLaren Mystery series, and “The Cottage” (Book 18) did not disappoint. Narrated by Callum Hale, this engaging audiobook follows former police detective Michael McLaren as he investigates a murder in a quaint British town. Hale’s brilliant narration brings the characters to life, expertly conveying their unique inflections and personalities. Hiestand's skilful storytelling weaves an intricate thriller filled with unexpected twists, eccentric characters and surprising revelations. I was hooked from the start and appreciated the clever plot that kept me guessing until the very end. Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary code. I’m eager to continue the series with “Arrested Flight” and enjoy more of McLaren's intriguing adventures. Don’t miss out, get this now. Epic, indeed!
💥✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✍️💥
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cynthia
- 06-21-24
Great listen!
I received a free code to get this book and review. I have never read anything by Jo Hiestand before though so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was an excellent mystery. I enjoyed the twists and turns and the narrator was very good as well. He really made the different characters come alive. I will definitely be looking at more books in the McLaren mystery series in the future. I would recommend this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!