The Attenbury Emeralds

By: Jill Paton Walsh

Narrated by: Edward Petherbridge

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on the characters created by Dorothy L. Sayers.

The recovery of the magnificent gem in Lord Attenbury's dazzling heirloom launched a shell-shocked young aristocrat on his career as a detective in 1921. Thirty years later, a happily married Lord Peter has just shared the secrets of that mystery with his wife, the detective novelist Harriet Vane. Suddenly, the new Lord Attenbury—grandson of Lord Peter’s first client—seeks his help to prove who owns the emeralds. As Harriet and Peter contemplate the changes that the war has wrought on English society, Peter, who always cherished the liberties of a younger son, faces the unwanted prospect of ending up the Duke of Denver after all.

©2010 Jill Paton Walsh and the Trustees of Anthony Fleming, deceased. (P)2011 AudioGo

A Return to the Golden Days of Mysteries

Would you listen to The Attenbury Emeralds again? Why?

Jill Paton Walsh has adapted to the style of Dorothy Sayers wonderfully.

What did you like best about this story?

The story draws you in and the many layers unfold gracefully, following the pattern of mystery stories from the 20s and 30s. I thoroughly enjoyed the characterization of an older Peter and Harriet, and the growth of Bunter is just as I would have imagined. There is room here for the development of further plots and I look forward to seeing what Walsh will come up with in the future.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes with Peter and Harriet discussing the events and deciding how to move forward in the investigation drew me into the plot and the discussion of the weight of the ducal duties was fascinating.

Any additional comments?

A thoroughly readable book that took me back to the days when I first read Sayers, Marsh, Christie, Allingham. A wonderful piece of work!

A charming and welcome addition to Dorothy Sayers wonderful Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries!

Well crafted and beautifully narrated "new" Wimsey mystery, with exceptionally fine characterization of Lady Harriet, always my favorite persona in these stories. Delightful!

Only for listening to in quiet places

Would you try another book from Jill Paton Walsh and/or Edward Petherbridge?

This is definitely my favorite of Ms. Walsh's Wimsey mysteries. She's developed the characters - both Peter and Harriet - in interesting ways while still keeping them true to the "feeling" of the Sayers originals.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lord Peter. This is why I read and listen to the Lord Peter stories!

What didn’t you like about Edward Petherbridge’s performance?

His voice often fades away to a whisper. I usually listen to stories in my car or while working in the yard. The fact that his voice often fades away meant that I didn't hear a lot of this story. It's being done for dramatic effect, but it's not a dramatic effect if you can't hear it. This probably wouldn't be a problem if I was listening while sitting still on noise-cancelling headphones, but that's not how I listen to stories.

Do you think The Attenbury Emeralds needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Ms. Walsh's Lord Peter stories have gotten stronger with each one. Keep up the good work, and let's see where the characters go from here!

Wrong narrator.

Wrong narrator. Infections too distracting. Hard to listen to. Kinda makes Peter sound creepy. Ick.

A Lord Peter Wimsey for True Connoisseurs

I truly loved this marvelous mystery starring the great team of Lord Peter Wimsey and his crime novelist wife, Harriet Vane.
It spans 30 years, from 1921 to 1951, and gives us unforgettable characters as well as history recreated in stunning detail.
Edward Petherbridge is a dream as Lord Peter and everybody else!
He's a gem of an actor.
Bravo!

Culmination of Wimsey & Vane

For Sayers Wimsey fans this goes deep into Peter & Bunter’s start and carries Peter through multiple strands if solution. And Edward Petherbridge’s dulcet tones are SUCH a treat!

more meditation than mystery

The narrator will make or break this listen for you, I think. I abandoned it twice; only the solid reviews of listeners I follow brought me back.

I???m a fan more of pastiches and satires of Golden Age detectives than the real thing; At first I was irritated by both narrator and plot, but after 1/4 of the listen I looked forward to daily doses of the almost zen tale: it???s a Dorothy Sayers' plot told at snails' pace -- If that sounds bleak, the listen is not ??? ???quietly charming??? is the phrase that seems to fit. This will relax rather than send you to seat's (or wit's) edge. You definitely need to be in the mood for offbeat quiet to enjoy this if you're not a Dorothy Sayers connoisseur to catch all the angles of the homage.

Don???t expect this to satirize the Brit social system: It's told consistently through the eyes of the characters, obliquely showing some changes in Brit society in first half of 20th century, with only very gentle humour, mostly playing off stock Golden Age images and the warm relationship between Lord and Lady Wimsey.

This doesn???t make me nostalgic for Sayers, but I would download another in this series by Walsh. And I really look forward to other Audible titles narrated by Petherbridge (Howard???s End!)

Enjoyable but somewhat scattered

Story jumped around between current everyday activities and the mystery. Good for longtime fans of Peter and Harriet but it dragged the tale out

just when you thought it over----- it wasnt !

For some reason I cant hit 4. STARS! But it is....More meaty in story than most English cozies! and 3 times, I thought the story over, it wasnt!
loved this.

Author Better Than Dorothy L Sayers

Ever word was perfectly crafted,.. better than Sayers in my opinion,.. and the choice of narrator.. superb