A Lesson in Dying

A Lesson in Dying is the first book in the Inspector Stephen Ramsey series by Ann Cleeves. It was originally published in 1990 but is now being rereleased. Set in a small village in Northumberland, when the headmaster of the local school is found murdered, the fact that he was hated by just about everyone including teachers and parents, creates a real problem for the local police.

In a note at the beginning of the book, Cleeves states that, although the series is based on Ramsey, he stays on the periphery of the tale and that is certainly the case. Rather than on the police, the story focuses mainly on the village, the school, and its staff. The main protagonists are Jack, the school custodian and his daughter, Patty, a very likeable show more pair, who do most of the investigative work.

I have read many of Cleeves’ later books and will admit it was hard not to compare this early book but, in fairness, if it doesn't quite match them for overall quality of storyline, it is still a very well-written and entertaining tale with complex and flawed characters, and a compelling mystery that kept me guessing. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series in the not too distant future.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review show less

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 show more many other authors’ best effort. Thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for a copy. show less

This is just a good, solid, no-nonsense whodunit. There aren't a lot of bells and whistles, but the author gives us a village filled with flawed, complex, believable people, a victim no one is sorry to see dead, and lots of possible suspects. The odd thing is that the policeman the series is named for isn't really the protagonist in this first novel in the series -- I'd say Jack, the school caretaker, is the real focus. While Inspector Ramsay is all to quick to jump to conclusions, Jack is determined to find the real killer. It's a very short book which kept me turning pages so that I read it almost in one sitting. Very enjoyable.

Updated review from February 1, 2025
Trigger warning: Suicide

I received this book from NetGalley, which did not affect my rating or review. Just to make sure people know, I read this back in 2021. I went and re-read a ton of Cleeves back-list. I do feel disappointed I could not continue with her Palmer-Jones series. I really enjoyed it, but most of the books are not available unless they are in paperback somewhere.

The Inspector Ramsay series is in my opinion very good. In this first book in the series, you are not going to start off with a high opinion of him. Probably because most of the book is laying the groundwork for some other characters who appear in the series later on. Also, Cleeves takes a very long time to set the stage and show more things move very very slowly until you have Ramsay and two other characters, Patty and Jack, who are daughter and father, who get involved in investigating the murder.

The book starts off focusing on a small village in Northumbrian. Cleeves ticks through characters who are dreading getting together for the local PTA conference because the local headmaster, Harold Medburn is mean and seems hell-bent on keeping everything under his control. When the school gets ready for a Halloween party (their first) Harold is found hung. The police immediately suspect that his wife Kitty did it. But the school caretaker, Jack Robson, who still carries a bit of a torch from Kitty from their younger days is determined to prove she's innocent. His daughter, Patty, who seems unclear on what she can do or is good at, finds herself standing by to assist Inspector Ramsay in his investigation.

Most of the book is Patty, Jack, and Ramsay talking to people and doing what they can to prove that Kitty killed or did not kill Medburn. It takes some time for the book to find its footing. And then of course a second murder takes place. Things come together quite well in the end, but there is some lingering guilt from this book that is going to follow Ramsay through the rest of the series.

Cleeves doesn't change anything in this one outside of the new introduction that shows you where her head was at when she wrote this. I did appreciate that. There's also several pages devoted to the second book in the series. I imagine that means they are going to re-release all of them again which will be nice. I ended up buying some of these and having them sent to me from the UK, yes, I was that invested in this series and had to see how it ended.

August 2021 review:
I won't lie, the beginning of this book drags like heck, but by the time you get to the 40 percent mark things start to click together. I really liked the character of Inspector Ramsey and want to read the entire series starring him. This reminded me of a somewhat darker and in some aspects more gory Midsomer Murders. show less

This is the first in the Inspector Stephen Ramsay series, written before the Vera, Shetland, and Two Rivers series for which Cleeves is best known. This book was originally published in 1990 but is being re-released.

The events are set in Heppleburn, a pit village in Northumberland. Harold Medburn, the much-disliked headmaster of the local school, is murdered on Hallowe’en night. Many people disliked him so there are several suspects with possible motives but Medburn’s wife Kitty is soon arrested. However, Jack Robson, a retired miner and the school caretaker, is determined to prove her innocence. He enlists the help of his daughter Patty; the two uncover several instances of adultery and blackmail and eventually the identity of the show more murderer, though not before other deaths occur.

In a note to the reader at the beginning of the book, the author states that Ramsay “is on the periphery” and this is certainly the case. At the end, he still feels vague. There is some information about his personal life – his wife left him. Otherwise he is described as “the aloof, rather arrogant policeman” whose colleagues think “he’d lost his sense of proportion” because for him “there was little more to life than work.” He acknowledges that he is not sociable and “had never been particularly liked.”

The one trait expected of a detective is intelligence, but Ramsay doesn’t strike me as particularly intelligent. His investigative skills are not impressive; he carries out a less than comprehensive investigation and jumps to conclusions. Twice he is convinced he has identified the killer and twice proves to be wrong. It is Jack and Patty who really do the legwork and uncover the truth. As the investigation proceeds, Ramsay admits to “making up his own rules” and uses both Jack and Patty to estions for him. This appproah is not only unconventional but can also be viewed as unprofessional.

Patty’s reaction to Ramsay is interesting though perplexing: “From the beginning she had been attracted to him” and though she feels he is manipulating her, she agrees to do whatever he asks. She follows him around like a puppy dog and seeks opportunities to spend time with him, so much so that her husband is jealous. At one point Ramsay dismisses Jack as “an infatuated old fool” but I think Patty is as infatuated with the good-looking police detective. Cleeves mentions that Ramsay’s “character develops more in subsequent novels” so perhaps Patty’s positive feelings towards him will become more understandable.

In comparison to Cleeves’ other series, this one pales. Her storytelling has definitely improved with her later novels. For instance, there are unanswered questions. A woman married a man because she wanted privacy? A suicide occurs, but an explanation for the motive behind that choice is given as a fear of being released? Why?

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy a slow-paced novel. There are six books in the series so I may check out one more to see if Ramsay has a chance of becoming a detective like Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez or Matthew Venn, all of whose company I’ve come to enjoy.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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The first Inspector Ramsey novel, and an early book in Cleeves' writing career. Compared to the Vera or Shetland series it falls short, yet the writing is excellent. The detecting is very different.

Ramsey is called to the scene of a hanging. The headmaster of a school is found hanging with his gown on, at the school. The grisly murder happened on the night of a school Halloween party and was discovered by one of the teachers.

The headmaster was not well liked. Many would have liked him dead, but Ramsey starts off accusing his wife. It's an odd action, simplistic and amateur. He does not consider the method of killing, how difficult it would be to hang the body, or any reason for the dramatic presentation. He simply thinks it's got to be show more the wife. This is the kind of thinking one expects from the lazy old-timer, and Ramsey is not that.

Another event convinces him that he was wrong about this but it doesn't bring him any closer to the killer. It takes a series of efforts on the part of some members of the community to bring him to the truth. I found him to be a kind, sympathetic person, but not much of a detective. show less

That headmaster is a piece of work and his poor wife having to put up with him, yikes!

The story was interesting and the intersecting story lines kept me guessing what would happen next. I am glad I already have the rest of this series cued up and ready to read.

Simon Mattacks did a great job narrating this story and I am happy to see that Simon continues to narrate the rest of the series.