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Cambridge Fellows
Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem
Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith get asked by Lord Henry Byrd to locate a treasure trove that mysteriously disappeared many years ago. But is that the case Lord Henry actually wants them to solve?
(set spring 1912)
(set spring 1912)
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2020
8 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Cochrane
86 books372 followersBecause Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes. Her mystery novels include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, series, and the contemporary Best Corpse for the Job. Multi-published, she has titles with Carina, Samhain, Riptide and Bold Strokes, among others.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 17, 2021
Jonty and Orlando hit an archeological dig and dig up three new mysteries to solve. This was a cold case situation and the detecting team aren't even sure what they are even being asked to solve. Old family secrets, a Saxon Treasure, and death kept me completely intrigued in their latest mystery.
Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem takes place around 1911 and is the latest release though chronologically it takes place around mid-series. This standalone novella can be read anytime after the first half of the series.
Our two Cambridge dons are invited to a Roman excavation site and meet the landowner, Lord Henry, who invites them to solve the case of his family's missing treasure. They also learn of a younger brother's death off a bridge and subsequent sightings of his ghost. Then there is Lord Henry's father dying in a riding accident during a storm. Both mysteries are suspicious and draw the pair's interest even more than a possible lost Saxon treasure.
I loved this one. There was so much going on and they had to investigate in secret much of the time. At first, I had no idea what was just bad luck for the family or if it was more sinister. There were some good surprises and twists. Most of all, it was exciting to be with Jonty and Orlando on the investigation trail. Historical cozy mystery fans should definitely try this series.
Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem takes place around 1911 and is the latest release though chronologically it takes place around mid-series. This standalone novella can be read anytime after the first half of the series.
Our two Cambridge dons are invited to a Roman excavation site and meet the landowner, Lord Henry, who invites them to solve the case of his family's missing treasure. They also learn of a younger brother's death off a bridge and subsequent sightings of his ghost. Then there is Lord Henry's father dying in a riding accident during a storm. Both mysteries are suspicious and draw the pair's interest even more than a possible lost Saxon treasure.
I loved this one. There was so much going on and they had to investigate in secret much of the time. At first, I had no idea what was just bad luck for the family or if it was more sinister. There were some good surprises and twists. Most of all, it was exciting to be with Jonty and Orlando on the investigation trail. Historical cozy mystery fans should definitely try this series.
January 2, 2023
Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem
By Charlie Cochrane
Published by the author, 2020
Five stars
So, set in 1912, this adventure of our two Cambridge dons is a “before” story…before the War, before the Spanish Flu. Invited to view an archaeological site near Cambridge, Jonty and Orlando are fascinated by the idea of a full-blown Roman villa in their world (as was I). Then the duo is taken up by Lord Byrd, the landowner and, as it happens, a fellow enthusiast for digging up old things. Not only does Lord Byrd know Jonty’s family, but he has an old mystery he’d like their advice on.
Turns out, there are really THREE mysteries, all of them made more mysterious by the passage of time and the death of several of the participants. Jonty and Orlando step up to the task, and begin to delve – gently and discreetly – into the life of the Byrd family over the last thirty years.
There’s a possible ghost story; a possible theft of buried treasures; and a possible murder in the offing, and as Jonty and Orlando carefully pick apart the tale, it turns out that all of the possibilities are possibly interconnected.
The charm of these books is the main characters themselves. These two men, bound together by love and career, face the world with a broad empathy and a deep understanding of what causes people sadness and shame. With confidence bolstered by the support of Jonty’s own remarkable family, the duo are fearless and diplomatic in their probing of others’ most sensitive secrets, teasing the truth out of people who are reluctant to expose themselves to any more pain.
Here, as is often true in these books, there are no earth-shaking solutions. There is no revenge exacted, nor even any justice attained. Truth is, sometimes, enough. In this particular book, the reader ends up being the only one who knows as much as Jonty and Orlando do; and we’re happy to be in on their secret.
By Charlie Cochrane
Published by the author, 2020
Five stars
So, set in 1912, this adventure of our two Cambridge dons is a “before” story…before the War, before the Spanish Flu. Invited to view an archaeological site near Cambridge, Jonty and Orlando are fascinated by the idea of a full-blown Roman villa in their world (as was I). Then the duo is taken up by Lord Byrd, the landowner and, as it happens, a fellow enthusiast for digging up old things. Not only does Lord Byrd know Jonty’s family, but he has an old mystery he’d like their advice on.
Turns out, there are really THREE mysteries, all of them made more mysterious by the passage of time and the death of several of the participants. Jonty and Orlando step up to the task, and begin to delve – gently and discreetly – into the life of the Byrd family over the last thirty years.
There’s a possible ghost story; a possible theft of buried treasures; and a possible murder in the offing, and as Jonty and Orlando carefully pick apart the tale, it turns out that all of the possibilities are possibly interconnected.
The charm of these books is the main characters themselves. These two men, bound together by love and career, face the world with a broad empathy and a deep understanding of what causes people sadness and shame. With confidence bolstered by the support of Jonty’s own remarkable family, the duo are fearless and diplomatic in their probing of others’ most sensitive secrets, teasing the truth out of people who are reluctant to expose themselves to any more pain.
Here, as is often true in these books, there are no earth-shaking solutions. There is no revenge exacted, nor even any justice attained. Truth is, sometimes, enough. In this particular book, the reader ends up being the only one who knows as much as Jonty and Orlando do; and we’re happy to be in on their secret.
March 29, 2022
I enjoyed this book as we went back in time to a place where mama and papa Stewert were still with us and I like their interactions with Orlando and Jonty.
March 24, 2021
First off, Cambridge Fellows Mysteries just keeps getting better and better. Normally after 20 or so stories, between full-length novels, novellas, shorts, & free codas on the author's website, ideas would be getting weaker, perhaps even cliche or "copied" but not Jonty and Orlando. These two fellas from St. Bride's is like a fine wine(better actually because I'm not a wine drinker) they strengthen and become enriched with age.
Truth be told, the author's talent sharpen with each new entry as well. Charlie Cochrane's knack for storytelling, for making the reader feel like a participant in the investigations, for having a healthy balance of staying true to the era and not making it a history lesson standout in these later released novellas. I say that not because the original novels aren't as good or lack the above mentioned elements but because the novellas, well I don't want to say they "jump around" in the timeline but they are set throughout and in doing so the author has to re-visit the characters' strengths and weaknesses that they may have overcome in later timeline(such as how they were post-war compared to new lovers). Sometimes when an author "goes backward in time" they forget and write them as they were later and when that happens certain things are lost and seem out of place. Not Charlie Cochrane and her Cambridge investigative duo, she recreates, revisits, and furthers their journey all the while giving them new and intriguing cases to solve.
Now as for particulars in Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem, I think you know my answer: read it for yourself to find out because with a mystery too many seemingly insignificant elements can actually change the whole course of the investigation. And I won't spoil that journey. I will say, as per their norm, sometimes the non-answers to one query can lead to solutions in another. What's not to like? You got lost treasure(or possibly lost), possible ghost sightings, possible murder, possible accidents, just so many possibles that it's no wonder the title is Solving the Wrong Problem. As usual Jonty and Orlando are up to the task. Sometimes I think the men are living their very own "Choose Your Own Adventure" adventure in this novella.
I should mention that even though we don't see as many of the mens' typical sidekicks in this one, they aren't completely on their own either. It's still glorious to see Mr. & Mrs. Stewart lending their knowledge into the clue seeking business again. I think it's one of the things I've always found so brilliant with Cambridge Fellows, not only is the main couple a Holmes & Watson(shhh! don't tell them I said that, especially Orlando😉) but Jonty's parents love it almost as much. So often parents, especially mothers and especially mothers of that era would be trying to tamp down the not-always-but-sometime dangerous side of the couple's "hobby" but not Mrs. Stewart, she loves the snooping just as much as her son and "son-in-law".
Okay, that's it, if I talk(or type) too much longer I'll start giving away secrets and that's not allowed here. I've said it before and I'll say it again, no matter how many full-length novels or one page codas, Miss Cochrane chooses to write, or more accurately that the boys decide to fill her in on, I'll be here reading them. This series, this couple will never get old.
One more thing: if you are new to the series than be sure to check out the author's website to get a chronological order of Cambridge Fellows but once you've read the first 4 or 5, I think you can really read them in any order. The first ones show the couple's romance explored more and so in order is more important IMO but the mysteries are always new to that entry. Sometimes there are details mentioned of previous cases but nothing that gives any case away or that leaves you wondering "WTH is going on?" However you choose to read it, don't let the number of entries scare you off because every single one is worth reading and experiencing.
Truth be told, the author's talent sharpen with each new entry as well. Charlie Cochrane's knack for storytelling, for making the reader feel like a participant in the investigations, for having a healthy balance of staying true to the era and not making it a history lesson standout in these later released novellas. I say that not because the original novels aren't as good or lack the above mentioned elements but because the novellas, well I don't want to say they "jump around" in the timeline but they are set throughout and in doing so the author has to re-visit the characters' strengths and weaknesses that they may have overcome in later timeline(such as how they were post-war compared to new lovers). Sometimes when an author "goes backward in time" they forget and write them as they were later and when that happens certain things are lost and seem out of place. Not Charlie Cochrane and her Cambridge investigative duo, she recreates, revisits, and furthers their journey all the while giving them new and intriguing cases to solve.
Now as for particulars in Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem, I think you know my answer: read it for yourself to find out because with a mystery too many seemingly insignificant elements can actually change the whole course of the investigation. And I won't spoil that journey. I will say, as per their norm, sometimes the non-answers to one query can lead to solutions in another. What's not to like? You got lost treasure(or possibly lost), possible ghost sightings, possible murder, possible accidents, just so many possibles that it's no wonder the title is Solving the Wrong Problem. As usual Jonty and Orlando are up to the task. Sometimes I think the men are living their very own "Choose Your Own Adventure" adventure in this novella.
I should mention that even though we don't see as many of the mens' typical sidekicks in this one, they aren't completely on their own either. It's still glorious to see Mr. & Mrs. Stewart lending their knowledge into the clue seeking business again. I think it's one of the things I've always found so brilliant with Cambridge Fellows, not only is the main couple a Holmes & Watson(shhh! don't tell them I said that, especially Orlando😉) but Jonty's parents love it almost as much. So often parents, especially mothers and especially mothers of that era would be trying to tamp down the not-always-but-sometime dangerous side of the couple's "hobby" but not Mrs. Stewart, she loves the snooping just as much as her son and "son-in-law".
Okay, that's it, if I talk(or type) too much longer I'll start giving away secrets and that's not allowed here. I've said it before and I'll say it again, no matter how many full-length novels or one page codas, Miss Cochrane chooses to write, or more accurately that the boys decide to fill her in on, I'll be here reading them. This series, this couple will never get old.
One more thing: if you are new to the series than be sure to check out the author's website to get a chronological order of Cambridge Fellows but once you've read the first 4 or 5, I think you can really read them in any order. The first ones show the couple's romance explored more and so in order is more important IMO but the mysteries are always new to that entry. Sometimes there are details mentioned of previous cases but nothing that gives any case away or that leaves you wondering "WTH is going on?" However you choose to read it, don't let the number of entries scare you off because every single one is worth reading and experiencing.
February 26, 2021
Cold case hi jinks as Orlando and Jonty take on a ghostly child, missing Roman (or Saxon) treasure and a potential murder.
Everything takes time when letters and phone calls are the only way to find info - usually from those founts of all knowledge, the Stewarts.
Enjoyable story, well paced and plotted. Always a delight to read more J&O
Everything takes time when letters and phone calls are the only way to find info - usually from those founts of all knowledge, the Stewarts.
Enjoyable story, well paced and plotted. Always a delight to read more J&O
January 24, 2021
3.5 stars
October 27, 2022
Another excellent Jonty and Orlando novella. Set pre war. A lord asks for their assistance in finding "hidden treasure" thought lost years ago, but actually wants them to solve more than that.
December 17, 2022
Another brain-wracking and enjoyable case for our dynamic duo Jonty and Orlando. Thoroughly entertaining!
October 15, 2024
February 1912. Stewart and Coppersmith are asked by Lord Henry Byrd to try and locate a missing treasure trove. But is that what he really wants them to investigate, or the death of his father Michael or his young brother Edward.
An entertaining historical mystery
An entertaining historical mystery
July 5, 2021
A well researched historical romantic mystery. Set in the early 20th century this series is well written with likable characters.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews