Landingham Hill
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "Landingham Hill"Anothe Eleanor Mystery/Crime
17 total reviews
Comment from Jim Wile
I thought I would get in on the ground floor of one of yours too, Carol. Is this part of a series?
Very enjoyable so far. Charlie seems like a police inspector (is that the same as a detective in the US?) you can really get behind. A tough, no-nonsense character who's smart and who doesn't suffer fools gladly. But she's suddenly given a key by a distraught young man and wonders what that's all about. And so the mystery of Arthur Bell begins.
reply by the author on 22-Apr-2025
  |
I thought I would get in on the ground floor of one of yours too, Carol. Is this part of a series?
Very enjoyable so far. Charlie seems like a police inspector (is that the same as a detective in the US?) you can really get behind. A tough, no-nonsense character who's smart and who doesn't suffer fools gladly. But she's suddenly given a key by a distraught young man and wonders what that's all about. And so the mystery of Arthur Bell begins.
Comment Written 22-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 22-Apr-2025
-
This is the fifth book in the Eleanor series except this one is suppose to be a rest and recuperate vacation for the characters. They are going to be staying at the castle *which has a past) and a crime has already been developing before they get there. Yes, the Inspector is with the Metropolitan Police and Jack Lexington was there because he was helping Garth (FBI) catch a criminal...but Zhang took a cyinide pill as he stepped off the plane. That's the background. Thanks for jumping in....I've not been up to par lately so the story might go a lot slower.....too many irons in the fire.
Smiles, Carol
Comment from LJbutterfly
I love this. You are off to a riveting start. Even though this is another novel in a series with familiar characters, the setting is completely different, with focus on a character who adds humor (Jack). It will be interesting to find out what brings the American FBI to England, and what part they will play. The basic plot is compelling and should hold your readers captive..
|
I love this. You are off to a riveting start. Even though this is another novel in a series with familiar characters, the setting is completely different, with focus on a character who adds humor (Jack). It will be interesting to find out what brings the American FBI to England, and what part they will play. The basic plot is compelling and should hold your readers captive..
Comment Written 11-Apr-2025
Comment from Cecilia A Heiskary
Carol,
This is a great story. A continuation of the saga of Eleanor and the crew. Is this the start of a new book or just a mini series from the characters out of the last book?
Well done my friend
Cecilia
|
Carol,
This is a great story. A continuation of the saga of Eleanor and the crew. Is this the start of a new book or just a mini series from the characters out of the last book?
Well done my friend
Cecilia
Comment Written 09-Apr-2025
Comment from Iza Deleanu
Yey, a continuation of the story with Elie moving into a new setting and looks like a sequence:) "Charlie's lips parted. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me. He had a one-night stand with one of the guests?"
"Well. Arthur described it more like a spiritual happening." Jack glanced around and then lowered his voice, "He said she was a ghost."
"A ghost? Were the two of you blitzed out of your minds? There are no such things as ghosts - here or in Landingham Hill." Thank you for sharing and good luck with the next chapter.
|
Yey, a continuation of the story with Elie moving into a new setting and looks like a sequence:) "Charlie's lips parted. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me. He had a one-night stand with one of the guests?"
"Well. Arthur described it more like a spiritual happening." Jack glanced around and then lowered his voice, "He said she was a ghost."
"A ghost? Were the two of you blitzed out of your minds? There are no such things as ghosts - here or in Landingham Hill." Thank you for sharing and good luck with the next chapter.
Comment Written 08-Apr-2025
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
Very good, attention-grabbing start to your new mystery. There is nothing better than hinting at ghosts and people disappearing at the beginning of a mystery. Now I have to know if my heroine, Eleanor, is one of the ghosts.
|
Very good, attention-grabbing start to your new mystery. There is nothing better than hinting at ghosts and people disappearing at the beginning of a mystery. Now I have to know if my heroine, Eleanor, is one of the ghosts.
Comment Written 08-Apr-2025
Comment from Yolanda King
It's a very smooth, engaging read. I've always been a sucker for a good ghost/mystery story (-: I like your lively dialogs and the imagery you create when you describe the skeleton.
I did find a couple of things:
Charlie glared at him and inhaled sharply. "It had nothing to do with getting you alone. = Personally, I'm not sure I'd have her defend herself. She's tough, there's no need for her to join his spiel.
"Well. Arthur described it more like a spiritual happening?" = did you place a ? here on purpose? However, I like Jack's word game here (when you add the 2nd part of his sentence)
"A ghost? We're the two of you blitzed out of your minds? = Were the two...
Sharing too much with Jack meant letting him in on details she wasn't ready to discuss. = if she isn't ready to discuss any details, why does she share her info 2 lines further down?
Your story has a nice flow to it and I'm looking forward to reading more.
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2025
|
It's a very smooth, engaging read. I've always been a sucker for a good ghost/mystery story (-: I like your lively dialogs and the imagery you create when you describe the skeleton.
I did find a couple of things:
Charlie glared at him and inhaled sharply. "It had nothing to do with getting you alone. = Personally, I'm not sure I'd have her defend herself. She's tough, there's no need for her to join his spiel.
"Well. Arthur described it more like a spiritual happening?" = did you place a ? here on purpose? However, I like Jack's word game here (when you add the 2nd part of his sentence)
"A ghost? We're the two of you blitzed out of your minds? = Were the two...
Sharing too much with Jack meant letting him in on details she wasn't ready to discuss. = if she isn't ready to discuss any details, why does she share her info 2 lines further down?
Your story has a nice flow to it and I'm looking forward to reading more.
Comment Written 08-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2025
-
Thank you so much for your eagle eye and your thoughts. Goes to show what happens when the writer puts too much on her plate. LOL
As for Charlie, she's thrown off her game by Jack and his strange humor - he's a retired gangster from the UD and she's English... She understands he's knee deep into several investigations but she also loves being the one in charge in England. I did fix the other errors and thank you.
I'm thrilled that you are enjoying the story. It is the fifth in a series of novels with Eleanor and the gang. I've published one and the others ae in the works.
I hope you continue to enjoy the story. Thnks again.
Smiles, Carol
Comment from Wendy G
An excellent start to a new story. It sounds creepy, and as though there will be a lot of history and historical crime exposed - and ghosts to both hinder and help.
Wendy
Edit:"Well. Arthur described it more like a spiritual happening?" (Full stop rather than a question mark)
We're (Were) the two of you blitzed out of your minds?
|
An excellent start to a new story. It sounds creepy, and as though there will be a lot of history and historical crime exposed - and ghosts to both hinder and help.
Wendy
Edit:"Well. Arthur described it more like a spiritual happening?" (Full stop rather than a question mark)
We're (Were) the two of you blitzed out of your minds?
Comment Written 07-Apr-2025
Comment from Carol Clark2
This is a good opening to another book. How fun! I'm looking forward to reading it. A very small fix: 'Arthur described it... spiritual happening (.) I see the same characters are involved here. Your list always helps me. Blessings. Carol
|
This is a good opening to another book. How fun! I'm looking forward to reading it. A very small fix: 'Arthur described it... spiritual happening (.) I see the same characters are involved here. Your list always helps me. Blessings. Carol
Comment Written 07-Apr-2025
Comment from Ric Myworld
Looks like I got back to reading more just in time for another exciting ride, or walk, lead by a hog-ringed nose rope. LOL. Point me in the right direction, and I'll follow you anywhere. Thanks for sharing.
 |
Looks like I got back to reading more just in time for another exciting ride, or walk, lead by a hog-ringed nose rope. LOL. Point me in the right direction, and I'll follow you anywhere. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2025
Comment from Tim Margetts
This opening chapter strikes an impressive balance between familiarity and fresh suspense, Carol.
Charlie returns with her trademark scepticism and grit, and Jack Lexington's banter is as sharp as ever-deliciously annoying, with just enough sincerity flickering underneath to keep him unpredictable. Their dynamic remains a highlight: tension, history, and dry wit wrapped around a slow-burning mystery.
You build the eerie tone beautifully, from the newspaper's ominous headline to the cold weight of the key in Charlie's hand.
Dialogue feels lived-in and layered, especially in moments like Jack's offhand "Well. I guess you can't do that now, can you?"-throwaway on the surface, but full of quiet implication. And Mary's whispered tale of the ghostly bride adds a classic Gothic chill that threads into the mystery without derailing the procedural core.
It never rushes, but it never drags. You ground us in setting and mood immediately, while keeping the central mystery turning with each reveal: the body, the notebook, the suggestion that Arthur may not be dead-or worse, may have uncovered something ancient and malignant.
The series' continuity is honoured, but the chapter is also approachable for new readers.
That's not easy to pull off, and you've done it with your usual style.
Tim x
|
This opening chapter strikes an impressive balance between familiarity and fresh suspense, Carol.
Charlie returns with her trademark scepticism and grit, and Jack Lexington's banter is as sharp as ever-deliciously annoying, with just enough sincerity flickering underneath to keep him unpredictable. Their dynamic remains a highlight: tension, history, and dry wit wrapped around a slow-burning mystery.
You build the eerie tone beautifully, from the newspaper's ominous headline to the cold weight of the key in Charlie's hand.
Dialogue feels lived-in and layered, especially in moments like Jack's offhand "Well. I guess you can't do that now, can you?"-throwaway on the surface, but full of quiet implication. And Mary's whispered tale of the ghostly bride adds a classic Gothic chill that threads into the mystery without derailing the procedural core.
It never rushes, but it never drags. You ground us in setting and mood immediately, while keeping the central mystery turning with each reveal: the body, the notebook, the suggestion that Arthur may not be dead-or worse, may have uncovered something ancient and malignant.
The series' continuity is honoured, but the chapter is also approachable for new readers.
That's not easy to pull off, and you've done it with your usual style.
Tim x
Comment Written 07-Apr-2025
