Hawksmoor

By: Peter Ackroyd

Narrated by: Sir Derek Jacobi

Peter Ackroyd's Hawksmoor was first published in 1985. Alternating between the eighteenth century, when Nicholas Dyer, assistant to Christopher Wren, builds seven London churches that house a terrible secret, and the 1980s, when London detective Nicholas Hawksmoor is investigating a series of gruesome murders on the sight of certain old churches, Hawksmoor is a brilliant tale of darkness and shadow.

©2014 Audible, Inc.; 2002 Peter Ackroyd

Fantastic!

Loved it, everything about this was fantastic, including and especially the narrator, will listen again and would have loved to have it in print.

Masterful storytelling

Ackroyd demonstrates great skill in crafting and weaving together the several narratives present in this story. One of the most creative interpretations of historical accounts in a recent novel.
Good effort in the performance by Sir Derek Jacobi, turning the characters into lively and dimensional figures that move the story along.

unusual structure and style

Hawksmoor combines a number of styles and time shifts to paint an unusual tale of the edge of sanity and the darkness that can be found or generated when one leans too far over to stare into the abyss. The detail of the narrative is intense and can transport anyone at all familiar with London to its very soul. That being said, the story feels almost like an avant garde experiment in prose that some may find difficult to follow in spots and the historical alterations may be hard to understand. Everything knits together in the end but the reader must be prepared to elaborate the reality, or lack thereof, for themselves

haunting

I enjoyed listening to the Peter Ackroyd book "Hawksmoor" on audiobook, which Sir Derek Jacobi narrated. The combination of Jacobi's alluring voice and Ackroyd's hauntingly beautiful words makes for a wonderful listening experience.

I was riveted from beginning to end by the story's captivating fusion of historical fiction, mystery, and paranormal aspects. I was immediately taken to another time and place by Ackroyd's brilliant depictions of 18th-century London and its architecture, particularly the works of the mysterious architect Nicholas Dyer.

But Jacobi's narration was what really made the story come to life. Every character he played had depth and complexity because to his rich, resonant voice, and his grasp of accents and dialects was exceptional.

It was like attending a private performance by one of the best actors in the world to hear him read "Hawksmoor" out loud.

What's even more amazing is that I once had the opportunity to randomly run across Sir Derek Jacobi in the line for a London musical show. I couldn't resist but tell him how much I loved his narrator for "Hawksmoor" because he was so endearing and courteous. We had a fantastic talk about the book and the craft of narration after hearing it, and he was obviously delighted.

For those who enjoy excellent literature and skillful storytelling, "Hawksmoor" is a must-listen. And with Sir Derek Jacobi in charge, it's a memorable event that you won't soon forget.

An intricate story of suspense, masterly read...

Got this as part of the David Bowie book club. The material is quite dense, but as the mystery unfolds, there's a good deal of suspense in the middle. The writing is full of many post-modern concepts (some of which become grating in audio form)... and the ending may disappoint some listeners looking for a more conventional denouement. On the performance, it was superb! He was able to move back and forth in a distinct way between the different styles and characters, but wasn't so over-the-top as to take you out of the story.