Timothy G. Greenwood

I listened all the way through, but this was rather weak. The premise was not the problem, but the style is poor and the ending just prepostorous. We expect the good guys to win, but it is as though the author just completely gave up and ignored all the previous strenghths of the bad guys.

Forsyths 'The Day of the Jackal' is one of my all time favorites so I had high hopes for 'The Afghan', but was diappointed. In fact half way through it almost became my first ever abandoned Audible selevtion, but I perservered to the end. The first half is very heavy on passive voice back story. The second half picks up somewhat, but not enough. There is one big hole in the plot and the finale is a rather abrupt anti climax.

The narrators voice is very clear throughout, but rather boring.

I finished listening to this a couple of weeks ago but keep thinking of the main characters. The two initial stories merge in a most compeling manner.

Fairly entertaining and well narrated, but there is not a whole not here.

In the end the story kept me going and was entertaining, but a very slow start and excruciating writing at times. Constant use of childish terms like 'smucking' and ending a chapter mid sentence gets on your nerves.

I have enjoyed all of Anna Quinlens previous books, so downloaded this one without hesitation. It does have good prose, but no good story. Until the last hour nothing of particular interest happens. I had no interest in the events that befell the two main participants.

Thirty six hours is a long time, but this character driven story kept my attention for every minute. They are detailed and complex people who suck you into their world. It is a character based, rather than an action based stoty. If you just want a quick shoot em up, then look elsewhere, but if you want to sink into the plains of the western USA in the late 19th century then join Gus, the Captain, Lory and the rest here.

Two points made in these reviews are worth addressing. Gus's voice is a little loud. Those listening on earphones may have to find a good volume setting. I listened on the car radio and the additional volume was not a problem. The constant use of 'he said' or 'said Gus' etc. may have proved annoying if read, but I only noticed it having read the comment here. Instead it fealt like just lisetening to dialog between two different characters.

Invest the thirty six hours - you will not regret it.

Though I enjoy most of the audio books that I buy, I generally feel that they would be better read than listened to. Not this one. written in the first person from the Irish protagonist the very clear Irish accent really adds to the story. Though the details of the 'who dun it' may be more obvious to the listener than to our hero the story has a wonderful rhythm that make the actual murder mystery more of a sideline

With it's closed setting on the fictional island of Coombe and psychological insights into Dalgleish, Miskin and the suspects this is classic P.D. James territory. I enjoyed this even more than the previous 'Murder Room'. The narration is solid and clear.

I was a little hesitant to invest 36 hours but am certainly glad that I did. The book is just remarkable. In places (mainly from Sancho) it is laugh out loud funny. Published some 400 years ago it is the most modern of novels, both self referential and in the second part attacking a false sequel.
The narration is excellent with clear, differeing voices for the main characters.