A Most Extraordinary Pursuit

By: Juliana Gray

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Known for her original plots, deft characterization, and lyrical voice, Juliana Gray presents an extraordinary novel of an uncommon pursuit....

February, 1906. As the personal secretary of the recently departed duke of Olympia - and a woman of scrupulous character - Miss Emmeline Rose Truelove never expected her duties to involve steaming through the Mediterranean on a private yacht, under the prodigal eye of one Lord Silverton, the most charmingly corrupt bachelor in London. But here they are, improperly bound on a quest to find the duke's enigmatic heir, current whereabouts unknown. 

An expert on anachronisms, Maximilian Haywood was last seen at an archaeological dig on the island of Crete. And from the moment Truelove and Silverton disembark, they are met with incidents of a suspicious nature: a ransacked flat, a murdered government employee, an assassination attempt. As they travel from port to port on Max's trail, piecing together the strange events of the days before his disappearance, Truelove will discover the folly of her misconceptions - about the whims of the heart, the motives of men, and the nature of time itself....

©2016 Juliana Gray (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“A rollicking good adventure.” (Lauren Willig, New York Times best-selling author)

“An utter delight.” (M.J. Rose, New York Times best-selling author)

"A brilliantly conceived novel.” (Booklist, starred review)  

This Book Would Have Been A Hot Mess...

...in the hands of a less skilled author. Instead, it was enchanting! And the narrator, Nicola Barber, made the experience extremely enjoyable. Terrific author, fantastical premise and utterly delightful performance---who could ask for more?!?

Overview

The narrator was very good. The book was confusing in switching times back and forth and, in the end, I was thoroughly confused by Truelove's response. It felt like I left the table but was still hungry and unsatisfied. Still, it's entertaining.

Ehhh?

This is just a crazy mish-mash of incidents that don't seem to be satisfactorily tied up at the end. I didn't especially like Emmaline, and the reader's interpretation of her voice as wimpy and breathless, almost whispery was just annoying. Lords Silverton and Olympia were annoying and not charming or loveable - and Emmaline should have knocked Silverton flat when he showed his true colors. And ghosts? Where did the ghosts come from? (Although Queen Victoria was my favorite character in the book - a dead woman was more lively and believable than the living characters!) And, what were the Americans doing? I've listened twice, and I've read it once, and I just don't get it. I didn't feel like there was any resolution - the author just decided to stop writing.

Confusing at first, enjoyable overall

A bit confusing at first but once I started understanding all the parts, it was very enjoyable. I can't wait to see how they characters continue to develop in the next book.

NOT READ IT ALL YET, BUT...

Chapter 1 is a tediously lengthy detailed description of a physical search for a book along a shelf etc, lots of irritating sort of contemporary dialogue 'hey bro...'. Rather forced. Bored already. But will try again. It has cost me a credit. Wish I could return it. .