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ratings

REVIEWS

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HELPFUL VOTES

A Royal Pain: A Royal Spyness Mystery

UNABRIDGED
- by Rhys Bowen
- Narrated by Katherine Kellgren
A Royal Pain: A Royal Spyness Mystery

UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 57 mins)

By Rhys Bowen

Narrated By Katherine Kellgren

Overall
(1245)
Performance
(1031)
Story
(1017)

The Queen of England has concocted a plan in which penniless aristocrat Lady Georgie is to entertain a Bavarian princess and conveniently place her in the playboy prince's path, in the hopes that he might finally marry.
But queens never take money into account. Georgie has very little, which is why she moonlights as a maid-in-disguise.
Coffee Lover says: "More Royal Fun!"
"a good followup to the first book"

Overall
Performance
Story

This is the second book in the series, and it held itself up well to the expectations I had after reading the first. Funny, engaging, with a hint of mystery. It was a little over-the-top with some of the characterizations and accents, though, so it was a little less believable than the first. It won't keep me from listening to the rest of the series, though.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Good House: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by Ann Leary
- Narrated by Mary Beth Hurt
The Good House: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 12 mins)

By Ann Leary

Narrated By Mary Beth Hurt

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(620)
Performance
(549)
Story
(550)

The Good House tells the story of Hildy Good, who lives in a small town on Boston's North Shore. Hildy is a successful real-estate broker, good neighbor, mother, and grandmother. She's also a raging alcoholic. Hildy's family held an intervention for her about a year before this story takes place - "if they invite you over for dinner, and it’s not a major holiday," she advises "run for your life" - and now she feels lonely and unjustly persecuted. She has also fooled herself into thinking that moderation is the key.
Rhonda Morrison says: "What a great book, Hildy is a great character!"
"A dark comedy, a small town tale of secrets"

Overall
Performance
Story

"Rehab ruins your drinking forever, I swear. Even if you’re not an alcoholic, you’ll question your drinking habits for the rest of your life."

I don't often quote a book in a review, but that was about the perfect summation of the tone of this book......there's a lot of dark humour and irony in this book, but also some pathos and mystery as the narrator, Hildy Good, takes us through the lives and secrets of a small town in New England where she's lived all her life. Hildy is an alcoholic-in-denial, even though her daughters think she's an alcoholic-in-recovery, and so her narration is prone to the emotional fluctuations and factual variations that come with her occasional drinking binges......but that's a part of what makes this novel work, I think. Excellent narration by Mary Beth Hurt as well; all in all, a very good listening experience.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Three Blind Mice and Other Stories

UNABRIDGED
- by Agatha Christie
- Narrated by Joan Hickson , Hugh Fraser , David Suchet
Three Blind Mice and Other Stories

UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 13 mins)

By Agatha Christie

Narrated By Joan Hickson, Hugh Fraser, David Suchet

Overall
(40)
Performance
(37)
Story
(37)

A blinding snowstorm - and a homicidal maniac - traps a small party of friends in an isolated estate. Out of this deceptively simple setup, Agatha Christie fashioned one of her most ingenious puzzlers, which in turn would provide the basis for The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in history. From this classic title novella to the deliciously clever gems on its tail (solved to perfection by Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple), this rare collection of murder most foul showcases Christie at her inventive best.
Charlotte says: "All together now!"
"Liked Three Blind Mice; no so much the others"

Overall
Performance
Story

I purchased mostly for the Three Blind Mice story, which I enjoyed. I'm not a fan of Joan Hickson's narration (she seems to have a bit of a lisp!), but Hugh Fraser is very good. The other short stories were fine, but only fine. I stick to Agatha Christie's novels in the future and avoid some of these very short stories.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Death Without Company: A Walt Longmire Mystery

UNABRIDGED
- by Craig Johnson
- Narrated by George Guidall
Death Without Company: A Walt Longmire Mystery

UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 51 mins)

By Craig Johnson

Narrated By George Guidall

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(1214)
Performance
(724)
Story
(723)

When an elderly local woman is found poisoned, Sheriff Walt Longmire begins an investigation that soon has him ensnared in a deadly spider's web. From Craig Johnson, author of the acclaimed novel The Cold Dish, comes this enthralling Sheriff Longmire mystery. With a distinctive literary flair, Johnson leads us into the wide open space of Absaroka County, Wyoming.
Laura says: "What a wonderful find!"
"Love Longmire and this narrator"

Overall
Performance
Story

This is the second book in the series, and the second I've enjoyed, and it won't be my last. The more of Walt Longmire I get, the more I like him, especially as brought to life by George Guidall. There's actually a whole lot of good characters here, and I'm looking forward to more from them.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fear the Worst

UNABRIDGED
- by Linwood Barclay
- Narrated by Buck Schirner
Fear the Worst

UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 29 mins)

By Linwood Barclay

Narrated By Buck Schirner

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(68)
Performance
(28)
Story
(27)

That's what Tim Blake finds himself asking when his daughter Sydney vanishes into thin air. At the hotel where she was supposedly working, no one has ever heard of her. Even her closest friends can't tell him what Sydney was really doing in the weeks before her disappearance. Now as the days pass without a word, Tim is forced to face not only the fact that Sydney is missing but that the daughter he's loved and nurtured, the daughter he thought he knew as well as anyone, is a virtual stranger.
William says: "A Lot of Fun - Barclay Does It Again"
"loved everything until the last minute"

Overall
Performance
Story

Linwood Barclay has a good knack for creating characters, and his writing (and Buck Schirner's narration) do bring them to life. It's a good story, complicated enough to be interesting but straightforward enough to be understandable and I loved it all......until the final sentence in the last minute. Still, in spite of the ending, it was an enjoyable listen adn well worth the time and money. I'm sure it won't be my last book of his.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Royal Blood: A Royal Spyness Mystery

UNABRIDGED
- by Rhys Bowen
- Narrated by Katherine Kellgren
Royal Blood: A Royal Spyness Mystery

UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 25 mins)

By Rhys Bowen

Narrated By Katherine Kellgren

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(910)
Performance
(763)
Story
(749)

Penniless and 34th in line to the throne, Lady Georgiana Rannoch finds herself in a truly draining state of affairs. To escape her hateful brother, Georgie accepts an invitation from the Queen to represent the royals at a wedding in Transylvania. But at the macabre- looking castle, Georgie finds the bride with blood running down her chin, and a wedding guest is poisoned.
Bobbie says: "A little predictable"
"The fun is back! Terrific listen"

Overall
Performance
Story

I was worried because the last installment in the series didn't live up to the good fun I'd experienced with the first and (to a lesser extent) the second book, but this one redeemed the series and author in my mind. What really sets these books apart is the fun and sense of humour, and there's no shortage of that in this story of murder in an isolated castle in Transylvania. Yes, it's still a murder mystery, but with novice maids, aristocratic bed-hopping, and imaginings of vampires, it's so much more.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Second Deadly Sin

UNABRIDGED
- by Lawrence Sanders
- Narrated by Marc Vietor
The Second Deadly Sin

UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 32 mins)

By Lawrence Sanders

Narrated By Marc Vietor

Overall
(202)
Performance
(155)
Story
(152)

Lawrence Sanders's masterpiece, The First Deadly Sin, set a standard for today's novels of psychological suspense. Now, retired Captain Ed Delaney returns to a distinctly urban milieu of paranoia and impulsive violence to solve a brutal murder that shocks New York's unshockable art world. The victim is Victor Maitland. Long-considered one of the world's greatest artists, he excelled in capturing the beauty of life on canvas. In private, he destroyed whomever he pleased: his wife, his son, his mistress, his dearest friends and family.
Ed says: "Almost as good as the First"
"Dated language makes a good story less effective"

Overall
Performance
Story

This detective story is about 35 years old, and the dated language from the late 70s waters down a good mystery with good characters, making it almost seem like a cliche. Sadly, while it might have made it a better novel when it was published, it means that it doesn't stand up as well over time. The winning piece in the package is the performance, a narrator who brings a really believable voice to Chief Edward X. Delaney - but it's not enough to bring the audiobook above a 3 out of 5.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Cold Dish: A Walt Longmire Mystery

UNABRIDGED
- by Craig Johnson
- Narrated by George Guidall
The Cold Dish: A Walt Longmire Mystery

UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 18 mins)

By Craig Johnson

Narrated By George Guidall

Overall
(1890)
Performance
(1154)
Story
(1154)

Award-winning author Craig Johnson's critically acclaimed debut Western mystery takes listeners to the breathtaking mountains of Wyoming for a tale of cold-blooded vengeance. Four high-school boys were given suspended sentences for raping a Cheyenne girl. Now, two of the boys have been killed, and only Sheriff Walt Longmire can keep the other two safe.
Chris says: "Cold Dish"
"Loved this! My first but not last Longmire novel"

Overall
Performance
Story

Walt Longmire is a character I fell in love with almost immediately, brought alive by narrator George Guidall. I loved the characters, the environment, and the narration. The actual story (mystery) was good, and it certainly left me wanting more.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Royal Flush: A Royal Spyness Mystery

UNABRIDGED
- by Rhys Bowen
- Narrated by Katherine Kellgren
Royal Flush: A Royal Spyness Mystery

UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 31 mins)

By Rhys Bowen

Narrated By Katherine Kellgren

Overall
(1074)
Performance
(888)
Story
(870)

With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner and theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scandal, Georgie's shipped home to Castle Rannoch, where her summer plans include honoring a promise to Her Majesty to keep Castle Rannoch's divorcedhouseguest from seducing the Prince of Wales.
Charles says: "Best of the Early Spyness Novels"
"not as good as the first ones"

Overall
Performance
Story

I still love the character and the narration, but the aviation parts (and character) were reaching, I thought. I hope the next in the series is better, or I'll probably stop - which would be a shame.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Midwich Cuckoos

UNABRIDGED
- by John Wyndham
- Narrated by Nathaniel Parker
The Midwich Cuckoos

UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 36 mins)

By John Wyndham

Narrated By Nathaniel Parker

Overall
(14)
Performance
(9)
Story
(9)

Midwich is a quiet English village until, one night, a curious occurrence results in the village being cut-off from the outside world for a day. When all the women of child-bearing age become pregnant, it is clear that something strange is happening. This novel was the basis for the classic science-fiction film, Village of the Damned.
Ros says: "Excellent Narration"
"Classic sci-fi, great ending worth the trip"

Overall
Performance
Story

This is a classic science fiction story from a classic (but often overlooked) science fiction writer. It's got an intriguing ending and a great finish, though it can get a wee bit plodding in the middle. Still a great story, though.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Spider's Web

UNABRIDGED
- by Agatha Christie
- Narrated by Hugh Fraser
Spider's Web

UNABRIDGED (4 hrs and 19 mins)

By Agatha Christie

Narrated By Hugh Fraser

Overall
(29)
Performance
(27)
Story
(26)

A classic from the queen of mystery: Agatha Christie.
Calliope says: "lightweight Christie"
"lightweight Christie"

Overall
Performance
Story

This review was mistakenly posted elsewhere (for The Clocks), but it correctly applies to Spider's Web: "This is a particularly lightweight mystery, pleasant but not really interesting or compelling. Hugh Fraser narrated it well, however, and I won't hesitate to download another book with him as a reader."

2 of 2 people found this review helpful