A mysterious beginning that beguiled and tantalized the listener to thirst for answers made this new to me serial, author, and narrator a welcome combination. I love historical mysteries and saw The Mute of Pendywick Place ties in with a few literary greats like Sherlock Holmes so of course I had to give it a try.

The Mute of Pendywick Place is a serial historical mystery story and this was the beginning introducing a mysterious woman who lacks the power of speech and struggles with other language and memory-related issues. She knows that she desperately needs to get to Basil Collingwood and somehow convey a desperate message. Basil is something of a shock as he is a speech teacher, but he is a quirky man with a few mysteries of his own. They get on like matches and gas, but I liked how their struggles to work together along with her struggles to communicate add a nice tension to the story. Revelations near the end of this first part came as fabulous twists.

I loved meeting the household at Pendy Place, Basil’s work with his patients and this mysterious woman. It was fun tripping over mentions of 221B Baker Street and Basil going to school with Mycroft, and I think I missed a few others though I did have the sense that I was in the Pygmalion/My Fair Lady story, too. I also liked how her speech and memory issues felt authentic as did Basil’s work with several speech and language issues.

Serials are usually problematic for me, but I have to say that The Mute of Pendywick Place was ended in a good spot. Finishing up one series of tied together scenes and stopping before another big series of scenes begins. It was fully developed even while having the work of introducing characters, setting, and the beginning of the plot.

Bill Schafer’s narration work was delightful. He voiced the accents, class differences, and genders well, but he also tackled several of Basil’s speech patient’s issues right, too. He caught the tone and pacing of the story so well. I would definitely listen to more of his work. The production quality was exceptional.

All in all, this was a great start to the historical mystery serial and I’m excited to see where it goes from here. I can recommend it to historical mystery fans.

In the first installment of the serial, Victoria finds her way to Pendywick Place and Basil. He is an expert on speech and might be the only person who can help the silent, struggling woman deliver her message about one intent on harming Britain. Basil discovers the horrible truth about the mystery surrounding Victoria and promises to help her.

Continuing with this serial story, Basil and Victoria have settled into their plan to confront the professor at the Christmas ball. Victoria is startled by his unconventional ideas of preparation along with his refusal to acknowledge let alone celebrate Christmas. It is her turn to uncover the dark, brooding mystery hanging over Basil in time for Christmas.

I was riveted from the moment I began listening to the series and this next segment did not diminish my engagement with the story or the characters. I enjoy the Victorian London Christmas setting and more quirky life happenings at Pendywick Place. Victoria may be mute, but she is by no means uncommunicative especially now that Sign Language is being introduced by Basil. It was fun to spot the mentions of Scrooge & Marley as well as 221B Baker Street and the Diogenes Club. The tentative relationship between Basil and Victoria is still that in this one, but there are moments of connection and particularly when Basil’s history is revealed. There was a suspenseful moment that had me unable to set aside the story no matter what and then a lovely festive time of friendship and family as suited to the Christmas season.

Bill Schafer continues to narrate so that the characters and story come alive in my imagination. He does so well and especially since Victoria is the point of view for this story. I look forward to listening to more of his work. The production was high quality as well.

All in all, a strong second installment that has me excited to listen in and discover what comes next for Victoria and Basil as they work to stop Professor Wentworth. An engaging historical mystery serial that I can recommend to those who love the genre and especially on the light side.

After the shocking and dangerous encounter at the Christmas ball, things have been rather tame for the denizens of Pendywick Place until a hot lead stirs the pot to the boiling point. Engaging setting, plot, characters, and narrator pull me back in each and every time for more of this serialized historical mystery set in Victorian times and including appearances from the great detective at 221B himself.

Victoria has learned sign language and is settling into her situation at Pendywick Place with Basil, his dog, and the warm housekeeper. She has pushed thoughts of the wicked professor far away, but knows it is only a matter of time until they are back on the chase. The professor swore he would go after Basil if she didn’t do what she could to call off the chase for the missing manuscript and to scotching the professor’s attempts to sell her language code to the highest bidder among the enemies of her country.

But, added to the chase, Victoria discovers that she has a rival for Basil in the gorgeous, intelligent, and sparkling Lady Maria Brody. At first, she is sickened that Basil has a love interest and someone far out of her league, but then she straightens her spine and gets angry at being ignored and even shunted away by Maria’s machinations.

I have been wanting to see a few things happen in this series and one was some edgier conflict and advancement in Victoria and Basil’s partnership and their mission, but I also really wanted them to finally have a scene with Sherlock Holmes whose involvement has been hinted at up until now. I got it all and I couldn’t be more pleased. But, shazam, the heart in my throat climax has left me reeling and I want the next installment pronto.

Bill Schafer continues to delight as the series narrator and I love the way he voices Basil and Victoria, but a whole slew of other characters including Holmes and Watson. Sensational storytelling and good production on the audiobook edition.

All in all, the series has built the tension to the snapping point and I am hooked on this fabulous Victorian Mystery series. Definitely recommend!