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Coffin on the Water

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Coffin on the Water

By: Gwendoline Butler
Narrated by: Nigel Carrington
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About this listen

British writer Butler has crafted a grim tale that unsuccessfully blends murder with social commentary. In 1946, newly promoted detective-constable John Coffin arrives in Greenwich to take up his post. Soon after, the body of a young woman floats down the Thames to South London. It quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary murder: the victim has been strangled, stabbed and mutilated. Attached to the body is a note reading "Present for my mother," a reference to former actress Rachel Esthart, whose son drowned under mysterious circumstances 17 years previously, and who has just received a postcard promising an imminent gift from the boy, whose death she has never acknowledged. Then two other bodies are found in the river, murdered in the same brutal way.

©1986 Gwendoline Butler (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Mystery Police Procedural Fiction Crime Murder Scary

Editor reviews

When newly-promoted detective John Coffin is called to investigate the body of a young woman floating down the Thames in 1946, he is drawn into a grim mystery surrounding a suspicious murder. The victim, who has suffered significant physical trauma, comes bearing a note: "Present for my mother", a sentiment directed at an actress whose son drowned 17 years earlier. A crisp, upright narration from voice actor Nigel Carrington brings a dignity and gravitas to prolific British writer Gwendoline Butler's atmospheric mystery, part of the John Coffin series of crime novels.
All stars
Most relevant  
Although apparently number 18 in the series, it is this book which introduces John Coffin to the reader, charting his first job as a young detective, still on probation. It is set in 1946 London, shortly after the ending of World War II when rationing was still rife, bombed buildings were still waiting to be cleared, food was in short supply and rationing of, it seemed, everything was getting even worse than it had been in wartime. And a body is found in the river.

Most enjoyable with a real feel for the time, written in a style of detective stories more familiar to the period. Nigel Carrington narrates, his performance just perfect for the style and characters depicted. This is the only John Coffin I have read so far - and it will not be my last.
As a bonus, too, it was a free download from the Audible Plus programme

"Humble searcher after truth."

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The narrator was great and it was the only thing that kept me going, such a pleasant voice and accent. The story itself is chaotic, doesn't flow well. I miss a sentence or two and have no idea what's the author talking about. There was a lot random, unnecessary information about characters and not enough about those that are important. I just had no interest to find out what was going on. Idea and concept were interesting, but execution was just lacking.

DNF

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Although the overall story was good, I found it hard work to finish this book, the characters just didn't seem to capture my attention. I think I'd have done better reading the book rather than listening to it.

A good plot, but........

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This is the first in Gwendoline Butler's acclaimed series of police procedural novels about the eponymous John Coffin and his rise through the ranks. She weaves a tapestry of various threads and themes, not least the social history of the time - the end of WW2 and the life of the river Thames. Ms Butler is a skilled writer and keeps you guessing as to the eventual denouement .Nigel Carrington does a brilliant job of bringing her wide and varied cast of characters to life. In short I loved it and will be buying Book 2 - Coffin in Fashion - as soon as possible!

Coffin alive and kicking!

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I love the laid back way that Gwendoline Butler writes & I'll certainly download the next book in this series. The characters in all her books are very, very interesting along with the story plots. Thank You. 👧👧

Great book 😊

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Engaging storyline, well read by Nigel Carrington, looking foreword to next instalment of this series

Engaging storyline.

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A good insight into the deprivations of post war Britain was interspersed with the meandering thought processes of Coffin. A stolid performance but sluggish in places

Somewhat Ponderous

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It gives an interesting insight into post war life an shows how people got by when everything was in very short supply. We don't realise how rich and comfortable we are today.

pretty good

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Forced myself to listen to the end to confirm the guilty party but the writing style, the ponderous Coffin made for laboured listening to what could have been a good story with an interesting post-war setting.

Stilted!

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It took me a while to get into the story. a lot of characters and detail but a good story nonetheless.

Lovely mood, I was there, a real feel of the era.

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