Dan Corrigan wants to disappear.
Burnt out by the pressures of corporate life, he escapes to the countryside. But when he least expects it, a chance discovery draws him into a compelling mystery.An ancient legend, a coded message on a stone slab, and a secret concealed in a country manor house: these are the clues that take Dan on a journey into the past, delving deeper into a hidden history.But … deeper into a hidden history.
But reputations are on the line, and there are those who want the mystery to remain unsolved.
Uncovering the truth might give Dan the confidence to rebuild his life, but if he fails, there’s no going back.
Can you solve this very British mystery?
Find out when you join Dan as he chases down the clues in A Study in Stone.
The Devonshire Mysteries are traditional British mysteries in a modern-day setting.
These are cosy mysteries (or ‘cozy mysteries’ for Dan Corrigan’s trans-Atlantic fans). There’s a touch of dry humour and the stories pay homage to the legacies of Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle. You’ll always find a mixed bag of suspects, plenty of clues and a few red herrings, so that you could have solved the mystery if only you’d put two and two together.
Amateur Sleuth Dan Corrigan is quick-witted, driven and far too clever for his own good. Fortunately, his friend and neighbour, Alan Hargreaves, is the perfect foil for Dan’s intellect. Loyal, dependable and with a knack for detailed research, Alan keeps Dan on track, and together, they make an effective team.
Recommended Reading Order
A Study in Stone
Valley of Lies
Mystery at The Hall
Murder Between the Tides
Mystery in May.
Praise for A Study in Stone (All from Amazon reviewers):
A tightly written, fascinating mystery. The protagonists are mysterious in their own ways. Their interactions are interesting and realistic. It held my interest and I look forward to more in this series.
How refreshing to find! What’s not to love? The pace is faster; the male sleuths are quick-witted, modern, and multidimensional. The setting is English. More please.
It’s the characters that really made it work. Dan and Alan are an unlikely pair, having very different personalities, but a shared inability to leave a puzzle unsolved sparks a friendship. I liked their refusal to give up until the mystery was solved.
This was just fun to read from start to finish! I had no idea where it was going, didn’t guess the end either.
A quick and light story just right for my mood. I hope for more!
The interaction between Dan and Alan reminded me of the Odd Couple. Their relationship may seem to grate on each other, but they learn that they do indeed make a good detective team! For this alone, I loved the book!
This was a very different story, and well worth reading.more
Dan and Alan meet by chance. It was evening, becoming dark, and Dan was trying to unlock the door of his sister’s house in Devon and not having any luck. Alan was a neighbor and he had seen enough guests trying to unlock the door to direct his latest acquaintance around to the back. Dan’s already jangled nerves did not give Alan a good greeting. Here are two people as unlike as Holmes and Watson, but subsequent actions prove them as competent as they work through a problem. Dan never seems to pull any punches. It’s as if he has no filter or any way of softening his opinions or findings. Alan seems to be really determined to be friendly to this most unfriendly man. I found their quest quietly exciting and I loved that they found all the answers they needed. I think you will love this book too.
Nice! It’s refreshing to find a mystery that doesn’t involve a serial killer or police procedure. I like historical puzzles and found the whole story interesting, but it’s the characters that really made it work. Dan and Alan are an unlikely pair, having very different personalities, but a shared inability to leave a puzzle unsolved sparks a friendship. I loved that Alan quietly refused to go away when Dan was being obnoxious. By the end of the book, it’s hard to say which of the two is actually the main character. They aren’t Sherlock and Watson, but I liked their refusal to give up until the mystery was solved and the best coffee shop was found. Also, I learned a bit of history and enjoyed the scattered bits of dry humor. This book is fun.
Well, this is a first. Normally whether I enjoy a book depends on how much I like the central character. I disliked Dan who was a walking cliche and unpleasant, but I found the book a fun, light read.
The mystery revolves around an inscription on a misplaced stone and the airbrushing of a young man from his family history. It’s not deep or complicated. A quick, easy read with an interesting mystery to solve.
Recommend to readers of cozy mysteries.
I have long been enamored of Tey’s A Daughter of Time. The action is mostly mental and research.
This story is rather like that.
The “drama” is mostly back in history, but the legacy still impacts the family.
I found it intriguing to have two rather mismatched men harrying off to solve the mystery of the missing family member.
All quite believable and interesting.
I will have to check out the other books in this series.
Unlike most mysteries there are no current murders or thrills a minute. This is a traditional British mystery which looks for clues a step at a time!
A stone slab has caught the attention of two unlikely friends while visiting a restaurant because that particular place had the best coffee! It does not make any sense-nor does the story the proprietor tells them. They have to get to the bottom of this.
How they manage this takes a bit of driving around, reading up on the internet and a bit of luck as well.
They do uncover the truth but you will have to read this to find out what it is!