Exit Unicorns

By: Cindy Brandner

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

In this sweeping and powerful epic the journey begins in the "terrible beauty" of Northern Ireland during a time when conflict reigns and no one is spared from tragedy and sorrow, the time known as The Troubles.

It is the spring of 1968 in Belfast and James Kirkpatrick has just lost his father under suspicious circumstances, Casey Riordan is released from prison after five years and Pamela O'Flaherty has crossed an ocean and a lifetime of memories to find the man she fell in love with as a little girl. All three lives are on a collision course with each other against the backdrop of the burgeoning civil rights movement and a nation on the brink of revolution.

They come from disparate backgrounds - Jamie a wealthy aristocrat whose life is like an imperfect but multi-faceted jewel-brilliant, flawed and with a glitter that is designed to distract the observer. Casey, a card-carrying member of the Irish Republican Army, who must face the fact that five years away has left him a stranger, a misfit in his own neighborhood where not everyone is sympathetic to a convicted rebel. Pamela, who has come to Ireland in search of a memory and a man who may not have existed in the first place.

Through it all runs the ribbon of a love story: love of country, the beginning love of two people unable to resist the pull of each other regardless of the cost to themselves and those around them, and the selfless love of one man who no longer believes himself capable of such emotion.

It is an electrifying tale of a people divided by religion and politics, a tale of love and danger, of triumph and tragedy. Ultimately it is the story of that "terrible beauty" herself - Ireland - and how nation is bound to one's identity, woven into the weft of all we become.

©2001, 2012 Cindy Brandner (P)2017 Cindy Brandner

2nd time round I I still love it!

i read this 5 years ago. I just finished listening to it. Amazing either way!

Wow, just wow!!

This is my first Audible book. I have read this story and loved it so much I decided I needed to hear it too. The narration is first rate. Gary Furlong has an amazing ability to change the voices of each character, along with a narration voice that is perfect. I loved having an audio so I could listen in the car, while working, while cleaning, everywhere!
Cindy Brandner is an amazing writer. The characters in her story, and the other books in the series, become part of your family. I laughed and I cried, I was happy and I was sad. The historical events in the book are well researched. Her writing is so descriptive you will feel that you are right there in Northern Ireland with Pamela, Casey, Pat & Jamie. I gave the book 5 stars, for both the story and the narration, but I really wanted to give it more stars. Let's say it's a 5+ for sure. I loved this Audible book and I think you will too.

Not what I expected

Trolling the Audible site and searching “romantic comedy”, I came upon this curious title. The result pulled this up and since it was “free” included without spending a credit, I clicked. Well to my surprise, it was the opposite of a comedy. This story was dark and brooding like its characters.

Finding that I am like that at times, I stuck with it. Though a fictional story, I was thrust into the world of Ireland. Catholics v Protestants ...strife, prejudice, injustice and violence of its history, not unlike what we are going through now in the U.S. with BLM.
But the voice of the narrator’s lovely lilt egged me on to keep listening. I was hooked but the underlying violence turned me off at times. However there were many glimpses of tenderness and often quoted Irish poets of long ago.
I did keep on nonetheless but it was not the “cozy, happy story” I was searching for, this story was quite on the heavy side. Oh, well. It was a good listen at any rate.

LOVED This Book

This is a great book and I cannot wait until the others come out on AUDIBLE!!! The narrator is perfection. I was looking for a series that could keep me hooked after reading Outlander, and this book did it.

Loved every minute of it!

I'm not always a fan of audio books. The voices don't always work for me. This one works! The book itself is amazing. The voice by Gary is some of the best I've heard. His inflections and characters were very well done. His ability to change accents so quickly is admirable! I truly enjoyed the story and voice. Well done Cindy and Gary!