$6.25
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 6 hrs 52 mins
In Stock
$$6.25 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$6.25
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Lia London
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Fargenstropple Case Paperback – December 10, 2012

by Lia London (Author)
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 296 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$6.25","priceAmount":6.25,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"25","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"6cqitjO6p48Xzz2UioKT3GjzXl3zdQYN%2FJrtmwP8H0DJ%2BxyRWbHsZj4VlS%2BXifP4xmfKTkrMtqQytAGpJ4RaZuOQvcGnil1WAkm0ZNdrn0DexckLtetAjxtTB7MnZUnTjSyBasaKxR7y6gHNoJchDA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

What Monty Python's Flying Circus might have done with Dame Agatha Christie's lost manuscript...


Invisible burglars who take nothing, but frighten the cat at meal times? This is hardly a case worthy of newly-promoted Chief Inspector Morgan. But when valuable jewels go missing and an attempt is made on Blandthorpe Fargenstropple's life, Morgan jumps into action with keen interest. Of course, it helps that Blandthorpe's niece looks nothing like a gargoyle.


With a quirky cast of characters, witty banter, a little romance, more than a fair sampling of animal life, and plenty of ridiculous mishaps, this cozy mystery will challenge your ability to read in any sort of dignified manner--so grab a tray of tea and crumpets and plan to laugh out loud.


"Farce is hard. Farce that is energetic without being exhausting is harder. Farce that is coupled with clever dialogue and disarmingly perceptive observational humor may be the hardest of all. You get all of that here, and isn't that a wonderful treat?" ~ TOP 500 Amazon Reviewer

"A wickedly funny mystery. It is a relatively quick and light read that will have you laughing from beginning to end." ~ VINE VOICE Amazon Reviewer

Previous page
  1. Print length
    112 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 10, 2012
  4. Dimensions
    5 x 0.26 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1497419069
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1497419063
  7. See all details
Next page
Books with Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1st edition (December 10, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1497419069
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1497419063
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.26 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 296 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Lia London

Lia London

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Lia London was born in Oregon, then traveled the U.S. and Europe as an army brat. She earned two degrees from Western Oregon University. Upon graduation, she served for 18 months as a missionary in Guatemala, teaching cholera prevention, literacy, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She worked as a high school teacher and ESL instructor for college students for a few years before becoming a home schooling mom of two and launching her writing career.

London currently teaches martial arts to children in the studio where she earned her 3nd degree black belt. She also is the founder and chief administrator of a network called Clean Indie Reads, an organization of over 3800 authors, illustrators, and marketing specialists who work in the independent publishing industry. She lives happily ever after with her husband of 27 years, her new baby son(!), a dog, a cat, and a growing pile of laundry that refuses to fold itself.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
296 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

dragoneye
5.0 out of 5 stars Deliciously Different
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book immensely during a recent road trip. (Don't worry, I wasn't driving.) It's a light read--short, sweet, and loaded with droll humor. Perfect for eating up the miles and blocking out the sound of squabbling children. But don't take this mystery too seriously. This isn't Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It more resembles the lip-twitching quirkiness of Tom Angleberger.

Here's a great example of London's dry wit: "Louisa Fargenstropple, Blandthorpe's maiden aunt, lived in the cottage on the back quarter of the estate. Though greatly advanced in years, she still drove herself about town, much to the annoyance of its citizens. She was not fond of the accelerator, and used it as sparingly as possible." The character names also add a fun dimension. Crumfellow, Moulderswitch, and Fargenstropple are just the sort of roll-off-your-tongue words my kids like to fling at each across the backseat while other people are trying to read. (Interspersed, of course, with "Are we there yet?" and "I have to go to the bathroom.")

As I was reading, I was trying to decide what made this book so much fun. Yes, the humor and quirkiness are entertaining, and the mystery is engaging, but it's so much more than that. This book has LIFE. The characters have real people idiosyncrasies. They're far-fetched and spot on at the same time. The Fargenstropples could be the crazy extended relatives you run into at your large family gatherings. (You know, the ones you go on road trips to avoid.) And London never misses with her timing. Put it all together and you have the kind of book that will make you grin from beginning to end.

Highly recommended for those with ticklish funny bones or those looking for something off the beaten path.
11 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Pop Bop
4.0 out of 5 stars Sly, Unpredictable, Tongue-in-Cheek Humor
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
I really like a wide range of bizarro fiction. But, the trick to me seems to be maintaining the right balance between the bizarro and the well-written funny. Many efforts go gonzo without offering any characters or plots or dialogue or narrative that is actually engaging or amusing. This book is not one of those misfires. In fact, the bizarro element is actually mild and just around the edges and serves mostly to add an antic and slightly skewed flavor to the otherwise very funny and very nicely constructed story.

The main appeal here, at least to me, was the snappy dialogue, the subtle and deadpan throwaway lines, and the remarkably cheerful and spirited good humor of the narrative. The humor could sometimes be sharp and some of the casual asides were cutting, but the overall tone of this mystery/romance/police procedural/fantasy was one of antic merriment.

Farce is hard. Farce that is energetic without being exhausting is harder. Farce that is coupled with clever dialogue and disarmingly perceptive observational humor may be the hardest of all. You get all of that here, and isn't that a wonderful treat?

Please note that I found this book while browsing kindleunlimited freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
11 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Beckett Shiona
3.0 out of 5 stars Zany, and perhaps more like 3 1/2 stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
Humorous, but silly. At first I wasn't certain I'd continue with the book, but I did enjoy it. Very British humor; in an odd sort of way, it reminded me a bit of the 1930s classic "Cold Comfort Farm". If I had to pick a single word to describe this book, I'd say "zany". In any case, a sort of pleasant departure from the usual cozy mysteries I read.
Helpful
 Report
Annie Douglass Lima
5.0 out of 5 stars Cleverly Worded and Hilarious!
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014
Verified Purchase
I loved this book! It grabbed me from the very first sentence: "There was a name for this sort of gap in protocol, but right now Terrence could not remember it owing to the even larger gap in the wall where his office door had been only a moment before." I mean, who could put down a book that starts like that?! I love clever phrasing and creative wording, and The Fargenstropple Case has lots. It's a pretty quick read, with vivid characters, surprising twists, and just plain fun usage of the English language. Click on the picture to read the first few pages for free, and I bet you'll end up downloading the whole thing! Now I'm eager to read more in the series!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Drebbles
4.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully Funny
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2013
Verified Purchase
Chief Inspector Terrence Morgan is used to being called to the Fargenstropple Estate on a wild goose chase. Now that he's been promoted he doesn't think he'll see the eccentric family again but to his surprise he is soon investigating another case there. At first it seems like this will be another waste of time but two things are different this time: there has been a theft and Terrence meets the Fargenstropple's lovely niece Jessica.

"The Fargenstropple Case" is a wickedly funny mystery. It is a relatively quick and light read that will have you laughing from beginning to end. There is so much to like about this book starting with the delightful names of some of the characters, for example the Fargenstropples and their servants Crumfellow and Mrs. Moulderswich. Add in some trained rats and ferrets, an eccentric aunt with a taste for lavender tea, lost rugby fans, a jealous suitor, an office door that is always breaking, and a misbehaving cat you have a delightful romp. The book is laugh out loud funny, the humor over-the-top and a bit absurd but in a good way. The mystery is a bit weak and could have been developed more but I was too busy laughing to care. I really enjoyed the book and hope we get to visit chief Inspector Morgan and the Fargenstropples again in the near future.

"The Fargenstropple Case" was a delightfully funny read.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Rohini Mishra
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, well written and simply delightful...must read
Reviewed in India on March 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
Congratulations and my compliments Ms. London on a book written so well, loved the humour. Portions of the book made me giggle and laugh out loud. I surely enjoyed it and will strongly recommend to others. Superb, funny relatable characters..enjoyed the plot too. Well edited, delightfully perfect, waiting to read few more of Fargenstropple cases, do continue to write, you're certainly doing a brilliant job of it.
Report
SSReadsALot
4.0 out of 5 stars Clever light-hearted mystery
Reviewed in Australia on October 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
Clever light-hearted mystery that was a quick read and a fast paced page turner.
Report
C. M. Donaldson
4.0 out of 5 stars Farcical but in a good way...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
The title gave an indication that this would be a bit of fun, and it was. Not to be taken too seriously, we're taken on a mystery ride with Inspector Terrence Morgan, a bit of a bumbling Chief Inspector in my humble opinion but extremely likeable, probably because he's human and not your usual macho maverick egotistic type of character. He is sent for firstly to find out what on earth is up with Lady Chatterley (don't want to give too much away at this point) and then to find some missing jewels. And that's when the adventure begins. There is humour; I wouldn't call it laugh-out-loud but you do find yourself chuckling quite often as you visualise the events as they unfold. It is well written with quirky but believeable characters with the most sumptuously unusual names. I wasn't disappointed.
Report
mr
4.0 out of 5 stars Quick, fun, with a nice twist!
Reviewed in India on August 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
What a crazy read this turned out to be, but a good bit of fun. The book opens with newly promoted Chief Inspector Terrence Morgan in his office when Millicent Fargenstropple literally bursts in (and the door with her) with a problem—a rather odd one for Lady Chatterley the cat, usually quite placid, has been disturbed and seen running across the room when they had a dinner guest. Morgan is clearly unimpressed, but promises to visit Bloome manor and investigate. Mrs Fargenstropple suspects burglars but the trouble is they’ve taken nothing, and no one has seen them. The Chief-Inspector’s initial visits prove (not surprisingly) futile, but he is asked to return and speak to the Fargenstropples’ niece Jessica. He agrees and appears at the appointed time to find not a gargoyle as the others in the family presumably are, but a gorgeous young woman, and one who seems to have her head on her shoulders, unlike Blandthorpe and Millicent Fargenstropple, each eccentric in their own way as is Blandthorpe’s aunt Louisa who lives in a small cottage on the estate as she does quite get on with Millicent. With Louisa live her collection of ferrets who are rather well trained (one even wears a bow), and can do all sorts of things. Also there is the Blandthorpe and Millicent’s young son, Irving, who is a budding scientist at 12 with a bunch of interesting experiments of his own. Things proceed on these lines, Morgan now keen to ‘investigate’ for he will at least spend some time with the pretty Jessica. But suddenly, it seems a burglar does strike and the family jewels go missing. There is an obvious suspect but how should Morgan go about proving it, or catching the person red-handed?

This is a very short read, just a little over a hundred pages, and one where the ‘action’ starts right on page one, and carries on right through. This is essentially a farce, and a pretty fun one with plenty of exaggeration and rather odd situations, and yet one which actually has an actual mystery element with a surprise at the end that I certainly didn’t see coming—nothing out of the world but yet a fairly nice twist, if one can call it that.

As the description promises, there are indeed plenty of animals, from ferocious dogs who the Fargenstropples keep loose in the compound to guard the house, but who surprisingly ignore loud football fans, to horses, trained mice, and trained ferrets, besides of course the one with whom the story starts, Lady Chatterley, the grey Persian. Inspector Morgan is not overfond of animals, and gets into a few scrapes with them but at the end manages to come out alright.

The characters too, again, as promised are certainly quirky, from the obvious ‘villain’ of the piece to the household staff, everyone is to a degree eccentric or at least somewhat odd, but that’s what makes the whole adventure more fun. Jessica is perhaps the most normal, and for the most part, Morgan too, can perhaps be classed as that (although after a rather mad bit just before the end, I wondered about that too). But the characters also have some more than one side to them, and more than one ends up surprising the reader.

For a very quick, fun, and certainly pretty crazy read, this can make a nice pick!
Report
Jenny Twist
5.0 out of 5 stars A jolly good British farce
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
Millicent Fargenstropple is not a woman to be trifled with, and when she visits Chief Inspector Morgan's office (incidentally breaking the door as she does so) he makes haste to investigate the trouble at the Manor.
This is just the beginning of a hilarious romp through one of the more eccentric English country houses. In this story the reader meets radio-controlled ferrets, homicidal dogs that can only be approached on horseback, and a fine array of possible suspects.

This is the first book I have read by Lia London and I must say I'm impressed. Farce is a notoriously difficult genre and not many people succeed in pulling it off. But this one works splendidly. Reminiscent of `Blott on the Landscape' and `Fawlty Towers', both fine examples of jolly good British farce, this is a book for the connoisseur. Don't read it in public. You may make a fool of yourself and start laughing out loud.
Report