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  • Dark Crimes

  • DCI Sophie Allen, Book 1
  • By: Michael Hambling
  • Narrated by: Cat Gould
  • Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (176 ratings)

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Dark Crimes

By: Michael Hambling
Narrated by: Cat Gould
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Publisher's summary

A young woman's body is discovered on a deserted footpath.

It seems like a simple crime for DCI Sophie Allen and her team to solve. But not when the victim's mother is found strangled the next morning. The case grows more complex as DCI Sophie Allen discovers that the victims had secret histories involving violence and intimidation. There's an obvious suspect, but Detective Allen isn't convinced. Could someone else be lurking in the shadows, someone savagely violent, looking for warped revenge?

Dark Crimes is the first in a series of detective thrillers featuring DCI Sophie Allen, head of the newly formed Violent Crime Unit in Dorset. She is pushed to the limit in her first major case as the team's head.

©2016 Michael Hambling (P)2016 Tantor

What listeners say about Dark Crimes

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    70
  • 4 Stars
    52
  • 3 Stars
    34
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    54
  • 4 Stars
    37
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    20
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    67
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love the strong female lead. And the excellent na

Normally I listen to my audiobooks while driving. This one captivated me enough that I even had it on at home.I already have book two downloaded & ready to go.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story but strange narration

This is well written and moves fast. The police office and its cast of characters engage the listener. The crimes are horrible. There is a real twist at the end. I just don't know what is wrong with the narrator. I've listened to other books she performed and enjoyed them - not the greatest, but solid. This time, though, her timing and tone drag and drone.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I should have read the reviews for the second book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The story was good and the plot kept me interested but the narration was awful. I should have read the reviews for the second book since the narrator was judged to do a poor job

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sophie

Would you be willing to try another one of Cat Gould’s performances?

I tried another book that she narrated and I couldn't listen to it. I guess I thought it would get better but I found that my ability to put up with the narration but after ten minutes I gave up and returned the book..

Do you think Dark Crimes needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Probably with a different narrator

Any additional comments?

No

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Decent Story

I had a problem with the narrator. This is me, a personal preference. Maybe others like it.
The author went to great lengths to inform the reader what a psychopath is; later, the characters discussed whether or not a psychopath is responsible for their actions.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

May have been better as a print book

This was a very good story. I did not care for the audiobook's narration at all and it detracted from the book's enjoyment. I also couldn't tell if the poorly written dialogue also contributed to the bad narration. Very possibly.

Like I said, the story itself was interesting. I feel bad when a poor narrator ruins an author's work.

I don't know if I'll read more of this series.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Very predictable

The first chapter gave the game away. It was made clear to the reader whodunnit. The rest of the book saw the detective - smart, tough, beautiful, sexy, happily married, lovely children, admired by colleagues and intimidating to her superiors - painstakingly looking for clues. If only she read the spoiler info in the first chapter. However I’m still giving this three stars because if your expectations are not too high, it would do to pass a rainy afternoon.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator Spoiled Story

The book should have been edited more stringently. The story is okay,but I don’t think the characters are really believable. The narrator is terrible;regardless of the author, I will stay away from anything she narrates!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Story line was good

Didn’t care for the narrator
Almost didn’t finish but the story was good
Probably won’t listen to another by that author unless a different narrator
Shame

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Terrible naration

This is hard to listen to, I only got through the first few chapters. This narrator is awful.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Worst narrator

I'm not sure the story didn't deserve more stars, although the writer's research into psychopathy was a little too much lesson and too little like believable speech from the characters. Nonetheless, the story could have been compelling with a better reader. Normally you get used to bad narrators, but this one made every word grate on my nerves.

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6 people found this helpful