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Jack of Diamonds  By  cover art

Jack of Diamonds

By: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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Publisher's summary

Born and raised in a poor, working-class family in Toronto, Jack Spayd is the son of an unhappy marriage. After being taken under the wing of "Miss Frostbite", the owner of a local jazz club, Jack becomes a gifted musician, playing piano and harmonica. Fame and the allure of gambling takes him to Vegas, and prospects of fortune take him to the Belgian Congo, where he's heard it's possible to earn big money working in the most dangerous parts of the local copper mines.

Jack of Diamonds is the story of a young, talented man, fighting to achieve his ambitions, and having to use his considerable talents to find his way in a perilous world.

©2012 Bryce Courtenay; 2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about Jack of Diamonds

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

another win for Bryce

What did you love best about Jack of Diamonds?

compelling characters

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jack of Diamonds?

the epilog finished the story off well

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

well done - soothing voice

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

Jack's acceptance of life's bumps in the road and his steadfast outlook that they can be navigated with truth and grace

Any additional comments?

Love Bryce Courtny Books- only discovered them as his life was ending, wish it wasn't so as whe I get to the end I will be inconsolable.

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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

'LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME'.. HE LOVED US BUT LEFT US!

Another wonderful layered story from Bryce Courtenay full of relationships, love, drama, glimpses of other decades and an undercurrent of racial tension. An absorbing novel that underscores the loss of a wonderful author who when faced with his own mortality thought of his readers and gave us the epilogue. Humphrey Bower did his usual fabulous narration.

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16 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

Great book remarkable ending

What did you love best about Jack of Diamonds?

Great story could not stop my phone narrator just the best congratulations

What did you like best about this story?

The Story

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The characters he became

If you could rename Jack of Diamonds, what would you call it?

Leave it alone

Any additional comments?

My first Audiobook loved it

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

Great read

Would you listen to Jack of Diamonds again? Why?

Loved it and yes it's a hell of a fantasy and that fantasy world Courtney wove for me to fall into is just what I needed. Loved It.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jack, loved his resolve and focus.

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time and he did good

If you could take any character from Jack of Diamonds out to dinner, who would it be and why?

His girl freind in Las Vegas

Any additional comments?

Looking ford to more Bryce Courtney.

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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

What a great story of good verses evil. I would have loved to read the sequel to this story. Bryce Courtney was a Master Storyteller!!!!

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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

A Canadian story!

I don't often run across a book that is about a Canadian. I think most writers think Canada is boring. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about places Jack went to in this book. Moose Jaw is a very interesting city. Home to Al Capone when he was hiding out. Jack's story is intriguing and kept me listening into the wee hours of the morning. Give this book a listen you won't be disappointed.

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

Piano and card shark

This is a very unusual story of a guy who should have never had a chance at life, but got a great start and the adventures are endless.

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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

Exciting! Riviting!

Another Bryce Courtenay brilliant book and as always narrated by Humphrer Bower .. what an exciting book. A great read.

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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

Storytelling at its best

Any additional comments?

It was the best of times and the worst of times. This tale is a bit Dickensian - a coming of age tale with a very cheerful and fulfilling ending. Jack of Diamonds is Courtenay at his best - an excellent blend of social history, character development and pure adventure. I'm now keen to learn poker.

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

An astonishing farewell from Bryce Courtenay

Any additional comments?

This is another excellent story form Bryce Courtenay. Fans of his books will recognize familiar themes from previous books. The characters are engaging and the narration by Humphrey Bower is excellent (although many of the female voice characterizations sound similar). The real impact comes in the epilog where the author, "facing his own use-by date", outlines the plot for the remainder of the never-to-be-completed trilogy. Few people leave this earth with as much grace and completeness as Bryce Courtenay.

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