• Birds of Prey

  • By: Wilbur Smith
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 26 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (325 ratings)

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Birds of Prey  By  cover art

Birds of Prey

By: Wilbur Smith
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Publisher's summary

A simple mission. A battle for their lives.  

It is 1667, and the war between the Dutch and the English continues apace. Sir Francis Courtney, his son Hal and their crew are carried around the southern tip of the African colonies by the good ship Lady Edwina, licensed to attack and seize the treasure-laden ships of the Dutch East India company. When they capture a Dutch trader and hold the passengers to ransom, Sir Francis hopes only for a good price and a small sense of satisfaction.  

But this is unlawful territory they sail in. An unexpected betrayal will mean the men on board will face greater peril than they have ever faced before - and many good men may never see home again.... 

A Courtney Series adventure - book 1 in the Birds of Prey trilogy.

©2018 Wilbur Smith (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about Birds of Prey

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

swashbuckling adventure!

Loved it. Historical novel set in Africa which is always a wonderful, exotic landscape for Smith's books. Both the heroes and the villains are superbly drawn and the detail is intricate. Great narration.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Narritation is wonderful

I didn’t really realize how wonderful a job Sean Barrett did on these books until things changed and I got a new narrator with the next book/audiobook. His pace and styling was exceptional, especially as it carried through the series.

Audiobook itself was a thrilling tale. The writing is entertaining, historically plausible (yeah, it IS fiction), well researched and honestly, a good story. Heck, I’ve been listening to about 15 audiobooks in this series... you think Gone With the Wind is a long book? NAH! If, like me, you want an epic series, this one certainly delivers. Wilbur Smith, I personally want to thank you for many, many, many enjoyable hours of your stories and insights into South Africa. I have a completely new view of that region based on these books.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

These adventure stories never cease to inspire. This is my 7th and looking forward to more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

This was my first Wilbur Smith read based on a recommendation from a friend. It will not be my last!

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

Tripe riddled with tropes

One of the very few books I've ever not finished. Just so, so bad. The reading was fine, maybe even good, but the story and writing was absolute garbage littered with every trope a "romance" novel has covered with something of a "manly" veneer.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Courtney family is back

Amazing book. Wilbur Smith back to his roots.

Narrated do an excellent job to take the audience to life the live of Hall Courtney

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great

Wilbur Smith as ever. I enjoy as always. Review for my notes only. Read on.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Excellent sailing adventure and a look at early South African history. I could do without some of the gory details.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

all ways a pleasure

Fantastic adventure, superbly narrated. Utterly enjoyable listening. Can't wait for the next book in the sequel!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic read!

Read my first Wilbur Smith book 45 years ago and listening to this one transported me back to being a teenager reading by torchlight under the covers until the sun came up. Adventure on the high seas,, Love and the promise of another great follow up as you're drawn into the author's telling of the Courtney family saga.Starting the next one right away!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Paul Whitworth
  • 11-23-19

Good story and narration but......

Typical Wilbur Smith, nice long story about goodies and baddies with a few worthwhile twists. BUT, I find Audible’s own titles frustrating because of the way they are produced. Chapters are so long they become un-navigable. Skip points have no numbering so you have to judge where you were when your listening was interrupted. I won't be buying any more of their productions as their competitors offer an easier read. I have tried to take this up with them but cannot get the point across.

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43 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Street
  • 06-16-20

Excellent

This is Wilbur Smith at his best, the only thing I would say is check out the timeline of this series before starting them, Excellent performance by Sean Barrett

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Alanb
  • 06-09-20

Birds of Prey by Wilber Smith

Excellent version of a pirate adventure with a different interpretation.
Very well presented by the narrator.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 12-07-19

Properly the best ever way to fall asleep. Boring and droll.

The narration lacks any energy. I have little knowledge of the story as within a few minutes of listening I fall asleep.

Properly the worst narration ever. Lacks energy. Sounds like the reader is close to falling asleep or is bored.

The best story if can’t get to sleep, you soon will be snoozing.


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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 07-14-20

Good

Difficult to follow at times. Enjoyed it anyway. l'm looking forward to the next one.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Ghost Warnie
  • 02-09-20

Great Epic story

Loved the story so detailed, really took me on a roller coaster on the open seas. So many twists and turns. I thought the narrator did a great job.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • AmTimothy Evans
  • 12-09-19

A good yarn

I enjoyed this story. Good characters good storyline.I would recommend this book, I enjoyed it.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Trafalgar
  • 09-22-21

hugely enjoyable adventure - one of the best.

love this story- it has everything. upstanding heroes, evil villains, stirring battles and breathtaking escapes. Definitely one of Wilbur Smith's best and brilliantly read.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Ken.
  • 07-27-23

Bird's of Prey

A good story as always from Wilber Smith.
.
Well researched,
a gripping. good yarn.
K.Jones
,

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Kindle Customer
  • 05-27-23

A gripping read

My return to Wilbur Smith after a long break - impressed yet again with the graphic descriptions of locations which very effectively pull you into the story and keep you engaged.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 11-23-20

brillliant wilbur smith

A great story. A rollicking adventure as expected. Shame it had to end,what's the next one?

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Spring27
  • 11-01-20

Great book, well read.

Suspenseful as Wilbur Smiths books always are, I decided to listen to these books in chronological order as I have previously read in the order written.
Very good :) As always, left wanting more!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-06-20

One of my favourite books, well read!

I love the Courtneys of Africa series, and being able to enjoy them as I work has been a marvel. Mr. Barrett gives real personality to the characters and took me there in a way that reading the books never had. fantastic.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 08-12-20

Strongly Recommended

Another totally enthralling book by Wilbur Smith & read by the great Sean Barrett, who in my opinion is the best narrator in existence .

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1 person found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 12-21-19

dull

struggle to get thru in fact i didn't i removed very predictable and dull not what i expected unfortunately

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  • Sharon F
  • 03-17-23

As good as ever

Another epic in the Courtney series. A little slow in the very beginning but that could just have been me. The rest more than made up for it!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Evon Hoogeveen
  • 01-01-23

Epic adventure

I Traveled back in time to when Africa was at crossroads with the west.
Joined a crew of English privateers as the battle the Muslim horde and treachery from alies.
This series of book is what got me into reading as a teenager and has been a kept me entertained for the last 30 years.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 12-27-22

Great story and well performed

I love the imagery, the storytelling and the imagination. Paints the picture of what is happening with excellent detail but keeps the story flowing.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 03-26-22

Gripping storyline

Loved it and can't wait to continue the Courtney saga. Great reader defines characters well.

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  • JBO
  • 06-02-21

Excellent. Action on the high seas.

I read this book years ago and loved it. Listening to it again was just as good.
I just read a book on Captain Cook and some stories on the Caribbean pirates. Im going through a bit of a nautical fad and kept thinking back to this book. Had to give it another go and glad I did. Can't wait for Monsoon.

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