This story reminded me of classic mysteries like Miss Marple, where an amateur uncovers the truth simply by understanding the people involved. It’s a subtle study of human nature without feeling too on-the-nose, which I really appreciated.

I enjoyed the storytelling style—it had a nice, cozy feel to it. That said, I wasn’t totally sold on the inspector’s character. He didn’t leave much of an impression for me. Still, the overall vibe of the book was enjoyable enough that I’m open to checking out the next in the series.

I normally love everything written by the author. The plots are always clever and interesting and the characters quirky and endearing in their own ways. For the first time, I have to admit, I did not connect with any of the characters. Yes, there was the quirkiness and angst that the protagonist must sort through but none of them resonated with me. It is a pity because the storyline was strong. A headmaster who is both a bully and a blackmailer meets an unpleasant end. Naturally, the people who are associated with the school figure as suspects but it is the wife whom Ramsey has in his focus and he is determined to find the evidence to back up his belief.

He too is not a beloved character in his own department and there are those waiting in the wings for him to fail and fall. One can understand why he will win no popularity contests so surely, as this is the first book in a series, he must have grown into his character in subsequent books because he did not make me want to see where he went in the future.

Three purrs and two paws up.

As a die hard Ann Cleeves fan, having read other books with Vera , I really thought this would be a great book to sink my teeth in and just sit back and enjoy. So surprise when I realize the character line up is a bit different. Still, the sense of suspense and mystery, that piece was there and gave me that feeling of being back in the seat of an Ann Cleeves story. However, Ramsey was a bit different ,because Vera was always known as being a bit tough on the outside, but on the inside, at the end of the day, wanted to have that connection with the victims family, or.... ensuring she gave them a sense of peace after this tragedy hit their lives. With that said, jumping into this text caused me to have to build a relationship with this ... Ramsey character and learn as I read about him and determine if I was going to feel like I would like to read another story... because of the character or the author... AT the end... I felt I could like this detective too.

When I got a pre-publish copy from NetGalley I realized quickly that I had read it before. Looking back, I noticed I bought the book 3 years ago, so this happens to be a republished version. After 3 years I didn’t remember all the facts, so decided to re-read the story.
Inspector Ramsay series came prior to the Shetland and Vera series which I love so it shows her earlier writing. If you hoping to find this book similar to her later writings, you might be disappointed. I liked the book because of the character development of local villagers.

Before Shetland and Vera, Ann Cleeves introduced readers to Inspector Stephen Ramsay—and A Lesson in Dying is a classic small-town murder mystery that shows her talent was clear from the start.

When the much-hated headmaster is found hanged in the school playground after the Halloween party, there’s no shortage of suspects in the tight-knit village of Heppleburn. Inspector Ramsay quietly works the case while school governor Jack Robson and his spirited daughter Patty launch their own search for answers.

This book is full of simmering tension, tangled relationships, and dark village secrets. It’s a slower-paced, character-driven mystery that builds layer by layer as the truth unravels. If you love British crime fiction with strong atmosphere and a quiet, thoughtful detective at the center, this is a solid place to start.

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

Ann Cleeves is the author of the popular 'Vera Stanhope' and 'Shetland' mystery books. This is the first book in Cleeves' 'Detective Inspector Ramsay' series, written in 1990 and recently re-issued. Cleeves calls the Ramsay novels 'contemporary novels with a 'Golden-Age feel'.

*****

Harold Medburn is headmaster of Heppleburn Primary School in the Northumberland village of Heppleburn. Medburn is disliked by almost everyone associated with the school because he's a spiteful man who insults parents; is cruel to a new teacher; insists on inconvenient times for PTA meetings; thwarts plans for children's activities; and is generally a little dictator. So it's not a big surprise that - after a PTA-sponsored Halloween Party - Medburn is found hanging from a noose in the school playground.

Detective Inspector Stephen Ramsay is called in to investigate.and learns that Medburn was having an affair with a pretty single parent called Angela Brayshaw. Ramsay then jumps to the conclusion that Medburn's wife Kitty murdered her adulterous husband and promptly arrests her.

Kitty's arrest galvanizes widower Jack Robson, who's the caretaker at Heppleburn Primary School and a town councilman. Robson was in love with Kitty decades ago when they were young adults, and still has warm feelings for her. Now Jack is determined to prove Kitty is innocent, and even hopes the two of them might revive their old romance.

Once Jack starts his inquiries, he enlists the help of his daughter Patty. Patty is a little bored with her life as a wife and mother, craves excitement, and is happy to play detective. In addition to everything else, this gives Patty the chance to hobnob with DI Ramsay, who makes her heart flutter a bit. Jack and Patty get to work interviewing the residents of Heppleworth, and they soon uncover secrets and clues. This is an old-fashioned cozy mystery where the amateur sleuths are more capable than the real detective. Thus Jack and Patty are instrumental in solving the case.....but not before more deaths occur.

Cleeves has a deft hand with characterization, and other interesting people in the book include:

Paul Wilcox - a stay-at-home dad who takes care of the children while his wife Hannah works as a computer consultant. Headmaster Medburn liked to needle Wilcox about not being able to support his family.

Irene Hunt - who's been teaching at Heppleworth Primary School for four decades, and is ready to retire. Medburn intimidated Irene for years until she finally learned to stand up to him.

Matthew Carpenter - a newly minted teacher whom Medburn disliked, harassed, and threatened to fire.

Mrs. Mount - who runs an old people's home.

Detective Sergeant Gordon Hunter - who'd like to be promoted to DI Ramsay's job, and kind of hopes his boss doesn't solve the Medburn case; and more.

This cozy(ish) mystery doesn't have the polish of Cleeves' later books, but it's engaging and I enjoyed trying to suss out the killer.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ann Cleeves, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book.

This novel begins the Inspector Ramsay series, first published in 1990. Perhaps this wouldn’t be a good example of her later writing style as it fails to dig deeply into developing main (or multiple) characters.

The atmosphere is rather dreary and the storyline fairly simple, doesn’t lapse into a complex plot. Inspector Ramsay just didn’t have the punch, and really, I didn’t particularly like him.

Of course, there is a quick and easy perp arrested for the crime (among all the others who hated him equally). Inspector Ramsay isn’t exactly a fireball. He appears to let others do his job. The plot is rather dull, predictable, and in the end (for me) a snoozer.

Disappointing. Yes, I recommend Ann Cleeves; no, I don’t recommend the first of this series. 2.5 stars rounded up

A Lesson in Dying by Ann Cleeves

This book was originally published in 1990 and is the first of six in the Inspector Ramsay series. Like her other series, it takes place in a village where everyone knows each other; a cozy mystery and I enjoyed this book as her writing style, which I enjoy, shines through. However, I was less impressed with Ramsay as an inspector compared with the main characters in her other series. In addition, we don’t see the camaraderie between the inspectors and their co-workers that we see in her other series (I’ve read several of each).

Shortly after the story begins, Jack Robson, the school’s caretaker, finds the headmaster, Harold Medburn’s body. The police are called in, led by Inspector Ramsay. He focuses on a single suspect, with seemingly little attempt to further investigate other options or evidence to support his decision. Jack, along with the help of his daughter Patty, begin their own investigations and find that not many people liked Medburn, and some seemed afraid of him. A lot of secrets. Reading Patty’s investigations made this a fun read - she is a brilliant interviewer – that is, her ability to be candid – direct questioning and honesty get people to open up to her. I hope to see more of Patty and Jack in the next installments of this series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ann Cleeves, and Minotaur books for an advanced copy of this book.

This book made me think of Big Little Lies when it first started as the death happened at a school event for parents but that was where the similarities ended. The story deals with amateur sleuths that are trying to solve the case on their own to clear the name of a friend. The book also introduces the character of Inspector Ramsay who is supposed to make an appearance in future books. I would be interested in reading the next book in this series to see how this character develops.

Most of Ann Cleeves books feature a strong protagonist around which the story converges. In “A Lesson in Dying” Inspector Ramsay sits in the rear seat. The community become the the driving force in solving its hidden mysteries and the ultimate murder. The weakness in the story is actually Inspector Ramsay and his handwringing and fears of not being the best, not doing the job, not finding the culprit. Ah well, the townsfolk are on it and as they bob and weave and stumble and fall and shake their fists at the sky - all in all it is a good mystery if a bit convoluted.

I have read Ann Cleeves for years and have always taken away something from each of her books. While this was not my favorite - her not my favorite is miles ahead of so many other authors’ best effort. Thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for a copy.

As a fan of the Vera and Shetland TV adaptations, I found Ann Cleeves’s A Lesson in Dying—the first Inspector Ramsay mystery—a perfectly moody October whodunit. When the headmaster turns up dead in the school gym, Inspector Ramsay uncovers the village’s buried secrets.

Read This If You Like:
• Small-town murder mysteries with slow-burn pacing
• Autumnal reads with moody October vibes, perfect for Halloween season
• Atmospheric village and school scenes, plenty of slow-burn buried secrets but more classic whodunit than campus thriller
• Satisfying twists that keep you guessing
• Themes of justice vs. revenge and the burden of hidden secrets
• Clear, vivid writing and crisp dialogue
• British mysteries in the style of Midsomer Murders

My Rating: 3.75 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the eARC. A Lesson in Dying releases on March 25, 2025.

Despite being a fan of Anne Cleeves’ mysteries like the Stanhope, Shetland, and Venn series, A Lesson in Dying fell short. While Cleeves excels at weaving intricate plots and bringing complex characters to life in her other works, this entry feels underwhelming by comparison. The narrative lacked depth and magnetism, coming across as more of a cozy mystery rather than a police procedural.

I only made it 30 percent, and possibly it could get better, but I didn’t have the attention span to see if that happened.

This was a short read! Quick but not very good.
I was not the intended audience for this book. Might be for someone else

While Cleeves has been writing for decades, I think this is the first book I've read by her. This mystery was published in 1990 and is the first in the Inspector Ramsay series. Always available in England, it has now been published in the U.S. I like the British flavor of extensive development of characters and the setting descriptions, like the fog.

I was a bit surprised that Inspector Ramsay has a somewhat minor role in the book. He is convinced he has the murderer right away and does not pursue any other suspects. It is not until Jack gets involved that we see how many possible suspects there are. I would not have thought this novel would lead to a series featuring Ramsay. He seemed rather inept to me.

I do like Cleeves' writing style. Having grown up on Agatha Christie, I felt right at home reading this mystery.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Another fantastic series from Ann Cleeves. As the writer draws one in her other three series she has done the same here. Inspector Ramsey follows along brilliantly of Vera, Shetland, and Matthew Venn. Ann Cleeves style of writing brings you to a place where you feel like one of the characters in the story. Highly recommend the book and all of her other series.

I love Ann Cleeves's style of writing. And usually I love her protagonists. However, with The Lesson In Dying, I didn't click with the switching POVs and the groundskeeper's reasoning for searching for the killer. Still, it was an enjoyable mystery, but it didn't have that strong character voice that kept the story grounded. I give this book 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read and review A Lesson in Dying by Ann Cleeves.

A Lesson in Dying is the first book of the Inspector Ramsey series. It is being rereleased after being originally published in the 1990’s. I’m a fan of Cleeves’s others series, so I was excited to read this, and was not disappointed.
The story follows the investigation of the murder of a school headmaster, taking place in Northumberland. The cast of characters is lengthy, and full of character, and it took a bit for me to keep everyone straight, but it worked out!
Besides Inspector Ramsey, the village’s own self-appointed detectives, father and daughter Jack Robson and Patty lead the way to find out what happened to the headmaster. Quite a few twists and turns makes this another great Cleeves mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is an honest review.

A very good mystery. When a much-hated headmaster is murdered, Ramsay is sure that it is the man's wife. The school caretaker is sure she didn't. So, the caretaker and his daughter take it upon themselves to investigate. Ramsay is sure that they will be of no help in the investigation. Then another man is found dead. They live in a small village and there are only so many suspects. Is it an outsider? Ramsay is getting a lot grief over his methods when the first victim's wife commits suicide while in custody. Now he is pulling out all the stops and decides to work with the caretake and his daughter to find the killer. At least the villagers will talk to them. It seems as if the village is full of people who are unsatisfied with their lives and there are so many secrets. Can they find the killer before anyone else is murdered?

I enjoyed starting this series at the beginning with this first book and getting to know a new detective, Inspector Ramsey, who is refreshingly flawed but still likeable and needs to improve his sleuthing skills. Believing Ramsey has arrested the wrong person, the secondary cast is active in helping to unravel the mystery. Some stories portray detectives as almost immortal in their abilities to always be right, and I'm glad this one didn't do that.