The Darwin Affair

A Novel

By: Tim Mason

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

London, June 1860: When an assassination attempt is made on Queen Victoria, and a petty thief is gruesomely murdered moments later - and only a block away - Chief Detective Inspector Charles Field quickly surmises that these crimes are connected to an even more sinister plot. Was Victoria really the assassin's target? Are those closest to the Crown hiding something? And who is this shadowy figure witnesses describe as having lifeless, coal-black eyes? Soon, Field's investigation exposes a shocking conspiracy in which the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species sets off a string of murders, arson, kidnapping, and the pursuit of a diabolical madman named the Chorister. As the investigation takes Field from the dangerous alleyways of London to the hallowed halls of Oxford, the list of possible conspirators grows as the body count escalates. And as he edges closer to the Chorister, he uncovers dark secrets that were meant to remain forever hidden.

With ingenuity, intelligence, and wit, debut novelist Tim Mason has created a powerfully entertaining thriller. For fans of Caleb Carr and Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Darwin Affair is a rousing tale that both Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would relish and envy.

©2019 Tim Mason (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Too Much Villain

I enjoyed this book, but the villain was over the top. For me, there was no mystery, and I prefer a mystery where I can't tell who did the deed until the end. It kept my interest because of the discussion of the political and sociological ramifications of Darwin's work.

Great Victorian style murder mystery

This is a slightly gruesome murder mystery that reads like a Dickens novel. The characters are wonderful. There is plenty of suspense and love the additional of the real people of the time. The narrator was superb.

Engaging and exciting

The Darwin Affair was written by a playwright, and his ability to set a scene together with the narrator's wonderful work (and accent) makes the book alive with a sense of place and time. A thrilling if a bit harrowing story with elements of the grotesque. Historical figures are cleverly woven into the story set in Victorian England. The subject matter - Darwin's Origin of Species, people willing (and plotting) to do violence to obstruct scientific progress - and setting made this a notch better for me than just a thriller with a properly formidable villain, but it is that.

I'd say fans of Oliver Twist, Luther, Sherlock Holmes and the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia will enjoy.

Well written but gruesome

Just a heads up for sensitive readers: this book is a little more horror than mystery. Fairly gruesome.

A bloody Brilliant book!!

loved the novel. Was a bit confused in the beginning with all the characters storied. But then, beautifully bleended the stories. Loved it to the end.

Wow! All kinds of amazing!

It was so full of stuff. It was hard to follow at first... I had to rewind the chapters and listen to them over again because i had a hard time believing my ears. Tim mason must be a genius to come up with such a story involving Charles Darwin, and Charles Dickens.

More fiction, less historical.

As soon as they input Typhoid Mary in England I was done. I'm more of a fan where you don't know who did it til the end. Loved the storyteller though- he was great with all the accents.

Good story

I did enjoy the story and it was riveting with the heroics of inspector Field( although he seems to lose or forget his gun at a couple critical moments) . But I admire his toughness and the author does give vivid picture of locations. Very good narration , I do tend to agree with another reviewer that there was a bit too much villain that could have been toned down slightly . But 4 stars is still good from my perspective 😊

Not for the faint-hearted!

... just when you think the story is done... like a forest fire, it flares up again and takes you off into another, almost separate, direction. So many bodies, so much blood, so many body parts, so many evil people. I stayed with it... had to know how it ended ... but this author’ s off my list!

A new Victorian thriller

A captivating mystery in which the principles of Charles Darwin and a Charles Dicken’s character are central to the story. The story follows many of the historical events, places, and evolutional theories discussed during the reign of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert’s, philosophies are a central part in the mystery and action of the story.

Chief Detective Inspector Charles Field and his officers are on the hunt for a serial killer. Their efforts are thwart by the shortsightedness of the police officials and the cunning of an intelligent and resourceful adversary.
Philosophy, church doctrine, and the theory of evolution are all entwined in this exciting story.

It becomes a little slow and the murders can be gruesome. I found the story very satisfying and it held my interest.