Author: Charlie Cochrane
Narrator: Phil Mayes
Publisher: Self-published
Run Time: 5 hours and 39 minutes
Category: Mystery/Suspense, Historical Romance
At a Glance: Well, this is a delightful start to this historical series—with the perfect narrator who truly brings the story to life.
Reviewed By: Sadonna
Blurb: St. Bride’s College, Cambridge, England, 1905. When Jonty Stewart takes up a teaching post at the college where he studied, the handsome and outgoing young man acts as a catalyst for change within the archaic institution. He also has a catalytic effect on Orlando Coppersmith. Orlando is a brilliant, introverted mathematician with very little experience of life outside the college walls. He strikes up an alliance with the outgoing Jonty, and soon finds himself having feelings he’s never experienced before. Before long their friendship blossoms into more than either man had hoped and they enter into a clandestine relationship. Their romance is complicated when a series of murders is discovered within St. Brides. All of the victims have one thing in common, a penchant for men. While acting as the eyes and ears for the police, a mixture of logic and luck leads them to a confrontation with the murderer can they survive it?
Review: So, true confession time: I’ve had this book on my TBR pile for literally years! I have continued to buy the series even though I hadn’t started the first book. In fact, I got book 12 yesterday on Amazon. :) When the audiobook became available for review, I grabbed it because I figured I’d find the time to listen to it, and I’m really glad I did.
This story starts out at a Cambridge college in the early part of the last century (oh my, now that really sounds like a long time ago). Orlando Coppersmith is a mathematics professor. He’s rather contained and not terribly social. Then Jonathan Stewart, or Jonty to his friends, sits in his chair and of course, it’s his duty to correct Orland. What follows that introduction is a rather unexpected friendship—something that Orlando has not experienced before.
The language of this story is very much of the period. Jonty and Orlando get to know each other and become close. It’s apparent that Orlando has never really had a close friend—ever. He’s kept to himself, mourned the loss of his family, and been intimidated by any sort of intimacy with another person. Jonty sets out to change all of that. And change he does.
While this friendship between Jonty and Orlando is blossoming into hopefully something more, a series of strange murders occurs at St. Brides, of three of the students. As Jonty and Orlando get pulled into the investigation, since they are the professors of these young men, there are parallels that make them extremely nervous. It seems that each of the victims were attracted to men. While trying to keep the true nature of their relationship a secret, they become even more entangled in the plot and machinations of the true killer.
I so enjoyed listening to this book! I thought Phil Mayes was note-perfect in his narration. I liked all of his nuanced vocal characterizations and was completely drawn into the story. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.
You can buy Lessons in Love here:
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The Novel Approach Reviews 
Phil will be thrilled with this. Thank you.
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