Abigail

This is definitely my favorite in the series so far. It is absolutely packed with action, and less cliche. This series is often hit and miss but this title contains the characters at their most likable placed in incredibly interesting situations. Christian Rodska, the narrator, continues to be excellent and add great charm and color to these mysteries.

Wow! Venice has the most amazing, influential and seedy history, I had no idea. This professor is very good at explaining a fascinating subject. One of my favorites under the Modern Scholar Michael Drout lectures. I wish there was more.

I definitely think this is worth a listen but I did space out from time to time in the narrative. I wish I could have edited parts and used the space to find out more at the end of the book.

I havent read the whole series, nor have I read them in order, but this one definitely kept my attention better than the others I have heard.
Commissario Guido is called to a crime scene where the body of what appears to be a transvestite prostitute. However, something doesn't seem quite right to the Commissario and he refuses to just write the crime off because of the type of victim. Besides, the corpse has a body much like Guido's own and he doubts this is a figure people would pay for.
From the undercover world of the gay and transvestite scene in Venice to the seedy and even more covert world of Italian finance Guido must ferret out the truth while staying alive and thwarting very powerful men.
Honestly, the ways in which the characters have to confront ideas of italian masculinity in this maybe what amused me the most. However, it does have a good amount of action as well.

Dont get me wrong, I could see how this could be a good narrator in other situations but these books take place in italy. This narrator does voices that sound more like Steve Buscemi. I feel like im listening to an american gangster film. He also reads very quickly (like hes rushing to be done not just that he reads fast) and puts no pause between different characters speaking, and it makes them blend together.

I should have listened to the sample more. Its my fault but it really gets irritating. Ill be more careful next time. I recommend the Donna Leon mysteries for someone wanting a listen with a more Italian feel, that narrator isn't perfect (who is) but you can at least get lost in the story and he gives a real warmth to the characters. You get very attached to the characters as he reads them and dont miss a word because he reads clearly.

This Andrea Camilleri series is lovely and I only wish I could stand listening to them.

What a fantastic story! I was sucked in from the first moment and loved following Ludlow's dynamic and likable characters. It is an incredably interesting time in rome's history as the republic breaks down, the nobility struggle with the demands of the poor and the provinces for rights and the growing threat of unified hostile tribes. The characters are on all sides and often their loyalties are divided. The scenes of battle are as compelling as the political plots. I'm not sure why there is the bad review. The narration is wonderful and I looked for other books by Boulton because I liked it so much. However, since taste differs I would urge people to always listen to the sample of an unfamiliar narrator. I thought this was a book that could reach outside the genre to those who may not be fascinated by history or ancient Rome. The author does take time to develope his characters and plot in a thoughtful way but I do not feel this slows the action, or makes the book too cerebral. It is a more intelligent page turner however, and if you are looking for a book as light as a sitcom you may be disappointed. I would highly recommend this book.

Ok these aren't highbrow literature or anything but the story and the history are highly enjoyable. It's a great slice of Rome at the beginning of it's most famous historical events. Great road trip listening and about a pg13 rating (no excessive bad language or graphic rape scenes, etc.). I tend to mention this because after listening to pillars of the earth I learned how much more noticeable this stuff is in audio format (my BF kept walking in at highly graphic points which was highly embarrassing as well) The history in this is much better than many series that take place in ancient rome, without sounding in any way educational. It likely is educational but you dont notice. Simon Vance is one of my favorite narrators and I think just perfect for this book. I love him as the main character. I'm mostly through the 2nd book now and crave more!

I have absolutely no idea how one reviewer thought this was preachy. I hate preachy and there are some reviews I've been meaning to write complaining about preachy mysteries. The accounts of opium addiction are accurate for the time, feel and perspective of Victorian London. (a favorite time period of mine as so many authors i love wrote then plus the history is fascinating. Not that this stives to historical exactitude but rather a good tale with neat historical tid bits left in) You can't write anything good about opium dens, they were really seedy & depressing. The subject isn't Harped on at all but is important to the plot, though not so much for its use.

Anyway, this book is a fantastic mystery/thriller. I did not find the narrator to use a thick accent but listen to the sample just in case. Really great narrator, he added so much to the feel of the book & characters.

The story is a little dark, so I would not say for all ages. Adults will certainly enjoy this as much as adolescents but might not be the perfect fit for more suggestive children who have nightmares. I have a teenage niece who this would be too dark for. There's a lot of death and some drugs, maybe a little corse language but it's not bad. Honestly, the book is what the best of adolescent or young adult fiction is, able to stand on it's own as simply good fiction.

It really is a audio page turner and filled with great characters so do take a listen. After hearing this I might even retry the golden compas series's even though I hated it When it came out (I was maybe 13?). I'm certainly finishing the series.

I've noticed the series has really become Hester based, and Monk doesnt have as large a role. No problem there. The problem with this book is you figure everything out hours and hours before it ends and just sit through tedium til it finally comes to the conclusion. do yourself a favor and once you've figured it all out fast forward to the last half hour if you bother listening to this one. Oh and the plot is ridiculous for the time period, not that such didnt happen, just that events would have happened differently. However, thats never the problem with these books, though the characters do have a thoroughly modern outlook. FYI you do find out the past lady in Monk's life and what happened with that in this book.

(Oh and mini rant Napoleon wasn't considered short in his age (he was on the tall side of average for a man or solidly average depending on the part of europe the stats are from) and is taller than a great deal of world leaders today. Some measurement conversion problems (french to english) at the time could have lead english people to think him short but no one who saw him (like described in the book) would have thought him a short man.)

People always compare mysteries to Agatha Cristie but this book really did remind me of her style of mysteries. Gentle, thoughtful, interesting mysteries but set in Victorian London which contains plenty of seedy dirt to keep you interested. Imagine Hercule Poirot has amnesia and in discovering who he is he finds not only the talent and love of justice but also realizes he's been a complete ass and doesn't like it. (I bet Cristie would have wished she'd thought of this as she grew to find Poirot an intolerable ass) Thats Monk, the main character who must unravel his past as well as a high class mystery. In addition you get the charming, graceful and intelligent young Evan, Monk's idealistic assistant and the no nonsense, piercing wit of Hester, the frustraitting woman in Monk's life. Perry packs these novels with intensely likable characters who are intuitive and empathetic. I think because this book is establishing these characters, it has just a few parts where it runs long but I found it an entirely satisfying listen. This is a character driven, thoughtful mystery so if you want tons of explosions and sex, this is not the series for you. I love the addition of history to such lovely mysteries. (I just started #2 and it seems even better and a bit faster paced) Oh and this is the perfect medium for Davina Porter, who is an excellent narrator and I don't tend to like female narrators.