When Eight Bells Toll

De: Alistair MacLean

Narrado por: Jonathan Oliver

Duración: 10 h y 22 m

Resumen del Editor

From the acclaimed master of action and suspense. The all-time classic.

Millions of pounds in gold bullion are being pirated in the Irish Sea. Investigations by the British Secret Service, and a sixth sense, have bought Philip Calvert to a bleak, lonely bay in the Western Highlands. But the sleepy atmosphere of Torbay is deceptive. The place is the focal point of many mysterious disappearances. Even the unimaginative Highland Police Sergeant seems to be acting a part. But why?

This story is Alistair MacLean at his enthralling best. It has all the edge-of-the-seat suspense and dry humour that millions of fans have enjoyed for years.

©1966 Devoran Trustees Ltd (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Keeps up its high-wire tension all the way. Not to be missed." ( The Guardian)

"A cracker-jack opening. Insistently readable." ( Evening Standard)

"Breathless action...and a sterling plot." ( Financial Times)

Great read.

Loved it. McLean has an occasional wry sarcasm that only adds to his crisp clean writing style.

another witty read

simple and again, well done in the 1st person POV, Alistair MacLean is brilliant. another favorite for me.

Another brilliant Alistair Maclean novel

Wonderful read (listen?). A good suspenseful novel with lots of twists and turns, some you can see, and many you can't.

This is the second Audible I've listened to with Jonathan Oliver's narration and must take a moment to say what a wonderful job he does. His ability to do justice to all the voices is well appreciated.

My Favorite Thriller Writer

I thought I had read all Alistair's books more than 40 years to go but to my surprise I missed one. Alistair Maclean has always been my favorite thriller writer because he has great characters, his books move at a fast pace, his stories are well researched, and the action is realistic and non-stop. Glad to hear that his books are now on audible and it was better than reading it. Guess now I'll have to go down the list of all his books I read before to listen to them this time because they are still as great as when they were first written. Thanks Audible.

great story, just okay narration

Thought paused too long between many sentences which, to me, gave the narration a herky jerky flow.

Brings Back Memories

I really enjoyed hearing an Alastair Maclean novel again… i was an avid reader of his thrillers in my teens. The plot unfolds with the precision of a mechanical watch. The characters exist in their mechanical world and unfold the mystery in a artful manner. As light entertainment, this is very enjoyable, but don’t demand too much!

Fantastic narrator

I will seek out this narrator, because he meshes perfectly with these books. I love Alistair MacLean’s stories - obviously some more than others. But the characters are always well defined in subtle, telling ways. I truly enjoy listening to this audible rendering because I seem to always pick up new nuances to the characters and storyline even when it is familiar to me. Calvert, for instance... when you hear the line about how one person’s decision to drive drunk ended his marriage - it resonates and builds that characters backstory with A LINE. Well done.

One of my favs - just the narration…

The pauses between each sentence is so much longer than necessary- almost full 2 seconds in some cases. A full breath for each full stop. It makes it sound like each sentence is its own paragraph.

I am trying to get used to it. But it’s heavy going.

This is a favourite book from many years ago, so I will persevere.

Great story and performance

I loved the complex story and plot twists and the performance was great. Great mystery and action.

Terrible Narrator

Would you try another book from Alistair MacLean and/or Jonathan Oliver?
Alastair MacLean? Absolutely! Jonathan Oliver? Not even on a dare.

What other book might you compare When Eight Bells Toll to and why?
John LeCarre, or Ian Fleming, would be the closest comparisons, I think. MacLean was probably the best of the Cold War - spy - thriller authors, at least until Tom Clancy came along. All of MacLean’s novels are really great reads, and “Eight Bells” is one of his best.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jonathan Oliver’s performances?
Not only no, but h*ll no. Listening to him ruin two good books was three too many.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Extreme disappointment. A really great book, one of my favorites, ruined by terrible narration.

Any additional comments?
Did someone really think Jonathan Oliver was a good choice of narrator? Really? Please, please... for the love of good literature, and all that is decent and good, re-do the entire Alastair MacLean collection, with a narrator who doesn’t make every character sound like a tweaked-out cockney cab driver. Perhaps Simon Vance, Michael Pritchard, David Tennant (perfect choice!), or Frank Muller?