Our Lady of Pain

By: Marion Chesney

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Lady Rose Summer, the wayward Edwardian debutante who keeps getting mixed up in disreputable adventures, would swear she is not a jealous woman. After all, she knows her engagement to private detective Captain Harry Cathcart is only a ploy to keep her parents from shipping her off to India. But then Harry's latest client, Dolores Duval--a vision of curves with a seductive French accent--starts appearing everywhere at his side. In a fit of rage, Rose threatens Dolores, only to be found the very next day, standing over her dead body. The newspapers rush to convict her, but can Harry and Detective Superintendent Kerridge clear her name?

©2006 Marion Chesney (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Love the Detective...

Where does Our Lady of Pain rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is in the middle just because it is short and sort of a sappy theme. Davina Porter makes it one of my top listens. I love Davina Porter narrations.

What other book might you compare Our Lady of Pain to and why?

I compare them to the Midsomer Mysteries. Also the 'Poor Relations' stories. They take place in old England and just seem to go together to me.

What does Davina Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Davina Porter is just simply the best narrator. Her voice and accent make the characters breathe in a way reading a print version just can't match. I would buy a book just to hear Ms. Porter narrate it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Good entertainment. I would buy another book in this series.

love this author

Chesney really knows how to weave a tale. I love Divina Porter performance. She really makes it come to life.

Whig there were more!

I’ve enjoyed this 4 book series & would have continued reading if there had been more.

Interesting views of Edwardian society

We enjoyed the disscriptions of the clothing and the workings of society including the different social stations. I'm sure I wouldn't like having to change clothes 6 times a day or having to wear corsets and stiff collers. On the other hand I probably would not enjoy living as any of the lower classes or servants. a very interesting book.

Usually love- liked

Story got a bit ridiculous and redundant. Back and forth went the stupid love interests. I think I done with these.

Historical details of the period fascinating

I loved learning about the Edwardian period as it affected women and the class distinctions. Davina Porter’s narration was a marvel.

Excellent!

These Marion Chesney books are all well worth a listen. The plots meander the slightest bit, but always in an interesting, and sometimes fascinating, way. The heroine Rose is a great girl, as is her side kick, Daisy. Along the way are some good quotations and some interesting snippets of Victoriana, like who started Fortum and Masons.

Good stuff for the Anglophile and period mystery lover!

didn't like the ending

I listened to all four books in the series. I liked the overall stories but got tired of the main character getting into the same situation over and over again. Then the series just abruptly ends like the author got tired and just wanted to story to finish. The Narrator was very good and the twist and turns made the series worthwhile.

Loved these

I’m sorry she couldn’t write more of the Edwardian mysteries She was a very great author

4 stars if you're a fan of the series

This is another tongue-in-cheek, campy Edwardian-set cozy like the four previous in the series-- but near the end, I wondered if author Chesney/Beaton got tired of her characters and whipped up a quick ending for the novel and maybe the series. That made the read less enjoyable. I suspect there will be no more adventures for Daisy, Beckett, Lady Rose, and the Captain - and I think they could have lived on in more situations, given the cleverness of Chesney/Beaton for creating other longer series for her protagonists.

So - another light read, but with good natured, PG 13 humour and some good social history thrown in. That makes it worth 4 stars for me.