The Queen of Poisons Audiobook By Robert Thorogood cover art

The Queen of Poisons

Marlow Murder Club, Book 3

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The Queen of Poisons

By: Robert Thorogood
Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie
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About this listen

The top 10 Sunday Times bestseller
NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES

Who killed the Mayor? It’s up to the Marlow Murder Club to find out …

Geoffrey Lushington, Mayor of Marlow, dies suddenly during a Town Council meeting. When traces of aconite—also known as the queen of poisons—are found in his coffee cup, the police realize he was murdered. But who did it? And why?

The police bring Judith, Suzie and Becks in to investigate as Civilian Advisors right from the start, so they have free rein to interview suspects and follow the evidence to their heart’s content, which is perfect because Judith has no time for rules and standard procedure.

But this case has the Marlow Murder Club stumped. Who would want to kill the affable Mayor? How did they even get the poison into his coffee? And is anyone else in danger? The Marlow Murder Club are about to face their most difficult case yet …

©2024 Robert Thorogood (P)2024 HarperCollins UK
Amateur Sleuths Cozy Crime Fiction Mystery Women Sleuths Heartfelt Witty

What listeners say about The Queen of Poisons

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

Enjoyable but…

This one was not as good as the first two. I wish the characters would be a little less 2 d this time.

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

Endearing characters

Thoroughly enjoyed this 3rd book in the Marlowe Murder series. Robert Thorogood spins a convoluted plot that keeps you guessing.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good narration but fluffy story

Thorogood has pretty good plot ideas and I like the 3 main characters that have been in the series, female characters that could be interestingly developed. But I think he may have exhausted this idea-- the characters have little personality in this book especially, and the book ends with the assurance that these characters will never grow or change. The story itself did not leave me hungering for more.

This is a familiar kind of cozy mystery with civilian "detective", e.g. Poirot stories. Civilian Judith works out the case in her own way independent of the proper police procedure-- here with interesting sidekicks Becks and Susie. Then in the denouement, she meets with the murderer and explains to them everything that happened and how every detail of the crime came to pass. But somehow it doesn't work as well as say, Christies' Poirot stories. Maybe the Marlow books are just too long. The last couple had characters and crimes that are so didn't grab me. You don't really see Judith discovering relevant truths, and there are always so many suspects. I disliked the multiple long chapters at the end with Judith in monologue triumphantly explaining so much heretofore unknown background , murderer's thought, intent, and motivation, and every minuscule action --explaining to the totally passive murderer! These details of were so involved and complex (or unlikely), it was hard to keep listening. As with author's other stories, some of the crucial details that Judith endlessly explains have been obvious throughout the entire book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great plot twist!!

Liked that I didn’t know who or why until the unbelievable very last moment!! Great listen!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun sequel, interesting mystery

Really liked the mystery in this one. Will need more time to see if I’ll like it more than book 2s. I found the side characters - the suspects and the victims in this one quite interesting, and sort of wished we got even more of that. Overall this instalment felt a bit shorter compared to the previous 2 and I think one of our main 3 characters didn’t really get their own plot line.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great narrator

This was a fun story and was lighthearted - which was what I needed when listening.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fabulous

I love these stories, the series is wonderful and the narration is fantastic! Absolutely fabulous!

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Wonderful in many ways

This book was an intricate, thought-provoking who-done-it. But the extraordinary charm coming from our sleuths was due to their individual definitions and discoveries of personal happiness was the real star of the book for me.

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Brilliant!

Really love this series and this one was the best so far,can’t wait till the next one is available.
The characters are really quirky and funny and the narrator does a great job of bringing them to life.

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

Amusing romp

Again the trio figures it out! It is totally improbable that any such folks could run around confronting possible murderers with various accusations, provoking them, and otherwise putting themselves at risk of life and limb. But they do. It is tedious somewhat and very repetitious, most obviously when Judith explains things in infinite detail, but if you last until the end, you’ll have the most delightful surprise twist. Worth the wait. A skimpy plot but performed with lovely enthusiasm and gusto. Enough to take your mind off your troubles. So worth it.

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