A Christmas Odyssey

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Terrence Hardiman

Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Henry Rathbone is called by an old friend whose son has gone missing 10 days before the Christmas holiday. Now in his early 20s, Lucien has known trouble for some time and has often fallen victim to the vices of drugs, alcohol, and women. His father now fears the worst. Their old friend and reformed brothel-owner, Squeaky Robinson, volunteers to help. Henry agrees and, joined by Crow, a young doctor at the clinic, the pair trawls the pubs, brothels, and opium dens of the West End in search of clues. And so they set forth on their odyssey into London’s dark streets, on a mission whose outcome they cannot begin to guess.

©2010 Anne Perry. All rights reserved. (P)2010 AudioGo

NOT a Christmas Novel - even a little.

I love Anne Perry. Every year I look forward to reading one or more of her Christmas novels. This book has nothing to do with Christmas, short of coincidence with a calendar date. It is as dark a book as I've read in a very long time, and I've read at least one Stephen King recently. I stuck it through, waiting for some kind of redemption to the horrible story about human trafficking, and levels of sexual depravity I hadn't previously imagined (and I'm not a prude), and... there was no redemption. The ending was a brief outline lasting a few minutes, in an offhand tone. Up until that point - endless darkness and depravity. The title feels like a manipulation, as does the picture of the cover.

I gave it three stars because it was a decent character study, fairly well written, and wonderfully narrated.

Not a favorite

I totally agree with L. Holloway's review. I haven't listened to all of Ms. Perry's Chirstmas series yet, but this one is quite depressing. Has nothing to do with Christmas. Granted, her books are murder mysteries, which is depressing in itself, but the setting for this one is in the tunnels under the city where the dregs of society reside. Quite depressing. I don't know why I listened to the end.....probably because I wanted to see how it turns out. A few expletives here, but no F-bombs.

wonderful story for Christmas!

before my I started this Christmas story I was worried after reading some body the reviews...I am so glad I disregarded and continue my read. it's a perfect story of true friendship, deep dispire and redemption. harsh for the faint heartened. perfect holiday story.
England in the 1800's was glorious for the privileged but for the the lost soul much could be found to lead you down a dark path. I felt truly wrapped with the true spirit of Christmas!

Prodigal's Descent into Darkness

This story by Anne Perry is one of deep sadness and debauchery, to a level seldom described in her books, a darkness so forlorn that at times I was loathe to continue, but it is also a tale of friendship and hope. When Henry Rathbone agrees to try to find the long lost son of a friend, a twenty something man named Lucien, he fears the worst. Little did he know where his search would take him or the danger that he would encounter. Helping him in his search are reformed brother owner, Squeaky Robinson and a young doctor named Crow, who helps Hester Latterly in the clinic she operates for the down and out. Lucien's father wants his son home for Christmas. Henry Rathbone fears that won't be possible, as every place he searches comes up empty, but with increasingly slimmer chances of finding the young man alive. Into a world of drugs, prostitution, and filth, the three go, finding blood and death, until they are faced with losing their own lives. Excellent story and heart racing conclusion.

Gritty, intense wild ride

If you are looking for a sweet Christmas story that will give you happy feels this is not the book for you! This one is gritty, intense sometimes a bit disturbing, but a wild, full flavored ride. The performances were spot on, these are rich characters who will draw you in and make you care about them. This is the second in the series I’ve listened to and I was pondering what made them Christmas stories other than the fact that they happen at Christmas time. As I thought about it I decided that it is the powerful way in which some of the characters are transformed. They are put in positions where they must sacrifice some part of themselves for the good of another, In order to accomplish their goal they must give up selfishness, or fear, or their unwillingness to go the extra mile for someone else, while they have no hope of success, and in some cases are placing their life/ lives on the line and yet they dig deep and push on. Like the Holy family on that first Christmas they must suffer for the saving of another. I enjoy this series and plan to listen to many more this season.

The prodigal son comes home for Christmas

For many Christmas is a depressingly dark and lonely time. Anne Perry accurately depicts how easy it is to be sucked into a place where you think there is no redemption, no forgiveness. Her retelling of the prodigal son as a Christmas story is chilling and reminds all of us in our snug little houses that it can be a different world for others. It is not an easy story to listen to, with all the cruelty and degradation, but its ultimate message of hope and unconditional love is powerful and will stay with me. I find it most appropriate during the season of Advent. Well done!

Dark

Get ready for a dark story, not really a Christmas tale at all, the underbelly of London gruesomely exposed. I wish I had never started listening to it.

Great Christmas suspense story

Another great story by Anne Perry. This one takes you into the underworld of London with its brothels and opium dens in search of a lost soul. It’s the love and friendship that develops within the unlikely band of strangers who are searching for him that holds the story together. Mr Harriman is excellent as the narrator.

It Didn't Make Me Care

I usually love Anne Perry, but I almost DNF this one. The first half is almost entirely focused on overblown Victorian sensibilities toward honor, and the horrors of the sinful pleasures. When a real mystery finally comes into play in the second half, there are some interesting twists, but we are trying to figure out who killed a whore and a drug dealer who we never knew within the story, and don't really care about.

Just a little scarier than I like, but well done!

Great writing and performance, but just a little scarier than I like. Up for another one, though!