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Mistress of the Just Land

A Jean Brash Mystery 1

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Mistress of the Just Land

By: David Ashton
Narrated by: Siobhan Redmond, David Ashton
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About this listen

The first book in a new series by the creator of Inspector McLevy.

New Year's Day - and through the misty streets of Victorian Edinburgh, an elegant female figure walks the cobblestones with a certain vengeful purpose. Jean Brash, the mistress of the Just Land, brings her cool intelligence to solving a murder, a murder that took place in her own bawdy house (the best in Edinburgh and her pride and joy). A prominent judge, strangled and left dangling, could bring her whole life to ruin, and she didn't haul herself off the streets, up through low, dirty houses of pleasure and violent vicious men, to let that come to pass.

The search for the killers will take Jean back into her own dark past as she uncovers a web of political and sexual corruption in the high reaches of the Edinburgh establishment. A young boy's death long ago is demanding justice, but as the body count increases, she has little time before a certain Inspector James McLevy comes sniffing round like a wolf on the prowl. Jean may be on the side of natural justice, but is she on the side of the law? Or will the law bring her down?

©2016 David Ashton (P)2016 John Murray Press Crime Thrillers Fiction Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Thriller Scotland

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All stars
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Really enjoyed this if not quite the standard of the BBC full cast dramatisation.

Excellent

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Ashton paints a captivating backdrop for these stories and the addition of strong and interesting characters always makes them enjoyable. This tale though is rather too predictable and pedestrian. Where I really struggled was with the narration. Siobhan Redmond is peerless in my view, her rendition beautifully paced and warmly delivered. David Ashton sadly doesn't match up and his failed attempts to sound creepy and sinister are so overdone that they become a constant irritation. The stories are good - let the text do the work and leave out the fairground narration. Brian Cox shows the way...

Solid story, great scenes, mixed narration

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David Ashton is a very skillful writer with an interesting, unique narrative style. Coupled with Siobhan Redmond's outstanding performance this a highly evocative and enjoyable listen. However, the author's own performance was entirely overdone - hopefully a bit less dramatic flair in the next one please Mr Ashton (as I will still be listening!)

Lots of strengths, one minor weakness

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Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would have it be a McLevy book with a large part played by Jean Brash - but not a Jean Brash book with only cameos by McLevy

Would you recommend Mistress of the Just Land to your friends? Why or why not?

Not really - i dont feel the character is developed enough and also there are not enough 'companions' to make the story varied enough. McLevy is a much more powerful persona.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Personally I found it a bit monotonously high pitched - but I understand this is the same person who reads for the Radio 4 series (which I have not listened to) so many people will enjpy that.

Do you think Mistress of the Just Land needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Personally I would prefer another McLevy centered book

I prefer McLevy as central character

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A great story line. The narrator read really well and the accent brought the story alive so it was easy to get lost in the story.

Excellent

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This book has nauseating descriptions of what is going on in the murderer’s head while committing his crimes. Not what I was expecting. Sending it back.

Nauseous

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I really enjoyed this book and the way which it fleshed out the characters from the McLevy radio I plays. I'm not sure what the nursery rhymes at the begging in of each chapter were about though. Siobhan Redmond is an excellent narrator and brings Jean Brash to life.

VERY ENJOYABLE

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Enjoyed James McLevy so much that I purchased this book. Expertly narrated by Siobhan Redmond and the author. I loved the little ‘snippets’ at the start of each chapter.

I was totally transported to the streets of Leith with all their smells and characters. The James and Jeanie relationship is dampened down in this book but a wee spark shines through.

Looking forward to the next book.

Just brilliant

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Loved the background to Jean Brash only hinted at in the Mclevey books.
Overall I thought the mystery/detective element not as strong as Mclevey, but more character background?

Enjoyable story. Great characters

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Another wonderful romp with the usual characters. Good to see Jean taking centre stage and she didn’t disappoint.

Jean, Hannah and McLevy are always irresistible.

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