The Peculiar

De: Stefan Bachmann

Narrado por: Peter Altschuler

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings - Peculiars - and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley - Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish...and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

Part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part steampunk adventure, The Peculiar is Stefan Bachmann's riveting, inventive, and unforgettable debut novel.

©2012 Stefan Bachmann (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

An Unexpected Adventure

What made the experience of listening to The Peculiar the most enjoyable?

I love the narrator for this story and how well he captures the voices of each one and makes them so unique and believable. His tempo as well added the perfect touch of drama where needed. The story alone is fascinating but this narrator nailed the characters and made it sooo much more worth wild.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Arthur Jelibee (sorry about the spelling). I get this guy; he doesn't want any trouble for anyone, mostly himself but, he is willing to push past that to do what is right. I love how he does not treat Barthy any differently. I hope for a sequel soon, this story left with a cliff hanger and I need more of these characters.

Have you listened to any of Peter Altschuler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never listened to this narrator before but I will especially be searching for him in the near future. He is amazing!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed, but no tears. I felt suspense when needed, it kept me on the edge of my seat at times. Absolutely worth diving into and not putting down!