• Christine Falls

  • Quirke, Book 1
  • By: Benjamin Black
  • Narrated by: Timothy Dalton
  • Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (26 ratings)

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Christine Falls  By  cover art

Christine Falls

By: Benjamin Black
Narrated by: Timothy Dalton
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Publisher's summary

Introducing Quirke: a pathologist uncovering darkness in 1950s Dublin. Christine Falls is the first in the enthralling literary crime series from John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. Now major TV series: Quirke, starring Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon.

Read by Timothy Dalton (James Bond, Penny Dreadful).

Quirke’s pathology department, set deep beneath the city, is his own gloomy realm: always quiet, always night, and always under his control. Until, late one evening, he stumbles across a body that should not be there – and his brother-in-law falsifying the corpse’s cause of death.

This is the first time Quirke has encountered Christine Falls, but the investigation he opens into her life and death uncovers a dark secret at the heart of Dublin’s high Catholic network. A secret with the power to shake his own family and everything he holds dear.

Continue the spellbinding crime series with The Silver Swan.

©2008 Benjamin Black (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

‘A superb stylist . . . His control and pacing cannot be faulted, and the final outcome is almost unbearably moving . . . You’re in for a treat’ – Michael Dibdin, Guardian

‘Succeeds sensationally . . . An absorbing plot, beguiling characters and evocative settings . . . His pacing is impeccable’ – Marcel Berlins, The Times

‘A gripping, beautifully crafted thriller . . . A one sitting-read, an all-night enticement’ – Scotsman

What listeners say about Christine Falls

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fabulously engrossing tale.

A TERRIFIC STORY BY LITERARY GIANT B.B...READ WITH GREAT PANACHE, BY A GIANT OF STAGE AND SCREEN.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good introduction to audible books

Where does Christine Falls rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

First audible book ever downloaded so difficult to compare.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Enough suspense to keep listening in one breath

What about Timothy Dalton’s performance did you like?

Mr. Dalton's voice was the main reason for choosing the book. I think the narrator has a great voice and I was not deceived. And much better listening to Dalton's reading a good book than watching him perform well in some crappy B films scrips. What I particularly like is the depth and range of tone, compared to some of the samples of other narrators I am listening to now which are by comparison so flat.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The changing relation between father and daughter

Any additional comments?

I only wish there were more good books narrated by Mr. Dalton

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Timothy Dalton's great performace

I was looking for an audibook narrated by Timothy Dalton and I didn't care what is it about. English isn't my native language, but I enjoyed it very much. I looking forward to next part. Timothy Dalton performed it really great.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

it falls

What disappointed you about Christine Falls?

the narrator should keep to movies his mono log voice is boring 2 chapters was enough

What was most disappointing about Benjamin Black’s story?

timothy dalton although the story is slow

How could the performance have been better?

a better reader that could bring characters to life

What character would you cut from Christine Falls?

didn,t get that far

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A very unique hero

It is much more than a mystery story. There is great depth to the characters and the hero or should I say anti-hero is a fascinating , complex and intelligent drunk, in the best tradition of modern detectives.






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