• Masked Ball at Broxley Manor

  • A Royal Spyness Novella
  • By: Rhys Bowen
  • Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
  • Length: 1 hr and 44 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (2,136 ratings)

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Masked Ball at Broxley Manor  By  cover art

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor

By: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
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Publisher's summary

A delectable prequel to the national best-selling Royal Spyness mysteries featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch - 34th in line to the throne, and England’s poorest heiress. At the end of her first unsuccessful season out in society, Lady Georgiana has all but given up on attracting a suitable man - until she receives an invitation to a masked Halloween ball at Broxley Manor. Georgie is uncertain why she was invited, until she learns that the royal family intends to marry her off to a foreign prince, one reputed to be mad. When the prince, dressed as the devil, rescues her from an embarrassing situation at the ball, Georgie is surprised to find her unwanted suitor to be a dashing, charming man - especially when he pulls her aside and gives her the kiss of a lifetime. But as the time comes for the unmasking, Georgie’s rescuer vanishes and the party is thrown into chaos, making it clear that everything at Broxley Manor is not as it appears…

©2012 Janet Quin-Harkin (P)2014 Audible Inc.

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What listeners say about Masked Ball at Broxley Manor

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,182
  • 4 Stars
    573
  • 3 Stars
    249
  • 2 Stars
    89
  • 1 Stars
    43
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    320
  • 3 Stars
    118
  • 2 Stars
    44
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    38
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,021
  • 4 Stars
    479
  • 3 Stars
    244
  • 2 Stars
    69
  • 1 Stars
    44

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

Fun, light prequel

This is a quick novella set before the events in Her Royal Spyness. You meet a 19 year old Georgie nearing the end of her season. It introduces several (but not all) of the characters in the series during the titular social event.

I quite enjoyed the audiobook. I'm a fan of Katherine Kellgren's performances in the series, and this is just as solid as any. Unfortunately, the plot is vague and there's not really a mystery here, the way there is in the other novels in the series. There is one small plot twist that is very predictable if you're familiar with the series. Since I have read the other novels, for me it was about learning more about the characters and enjoying the setting than about the plot itself. In those areas, it does deliver a lovely (if brief) little narrative. The story is paced well and held my interest throughout the entire narration. It answers a few questions about some characters' backstories, too, which is key to any prequel.

As an additional point, if someone hasn't read the series yet, I'd probably not recommend starting here. I don't think it would confuse a new listener, but there's not enough of a plot or mystery for a newcomer to actually decide if they'd like the rest of the series, and it slightly spoils the ending to a later novel.

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58 people found this helpful

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

As always a pleasure

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It is too short and therefore not worth a full credit.

Would you recommend Masked Ball at Broxley Manor to your friends? Why or why not?

If you have read the series you will want this but it is a pity the story is so short. It just does not seem like value for money.

Which scene was your favorite?

The dance scene

Do you think Masked Ball at Broxley Manor needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

This is a short story and should be added to one of the other books.

Any additional comments?

It is not worth the value of a full credit.

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28 people found this helpful

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

I really think there should be more short stories!

A lot of my complaints about the series has been repetition and the fact I would like it stripped down. I think Rhys Bowen should do more short stories for Georgie!
Performance from Katherine Kellgren is outstanding as always - I mean could we really have expected any less.

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25 people found this helpful

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

Too short!

Too short!
Love these novels... But this short story was not worth burning a credit for or even paying the 5 dollars

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21 people found this helpful

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

She SHOUTS!!!

Cute story, and the narrator is fine when she isn't shouting. BUT most of her delivery was SHOUTED!!! Gracious. It was exhausting. Interesting story and great potential but it was hard to keep listening to being shouted at.

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11 people found this helpful

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

Fun Little Ditty

Cute little storyline. It is Interesting to see how Mrs. Simpson came into the picture. Narrator is one of the best.

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9 people found this helpful

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

too short and little more than an introduction

Not worth the money. The narration was fine. Wallace Simpson and the other American voices were so loud and annoying as to be exaggerations of northern accents. If this had been my introduction to the series, I wouldn't have bothered with more. Thankfully, I know better and plan to enjoy them all. $5.00 for this? Getting my money back. Too bad really. I was looking forward to this.

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7 people found this helpful

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

Too short

I expected an inferior story as I do not enjoy novellas. Much to my pleasure I was wrong. Great fun knowing the beginning of the service.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • AE
  • 11-13-16

Fun story, but too expensive

Would you try another book from Rhys Bowen and/or Katherine Kellgren?

I have read many other books from this series, and liked them very much.

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

The narrator is excellent and brings all the characters to life.

Any additional comments?

However this is a short story, and not worth the price

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5 people found this helpful

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

Felt like I was being yelled at!

How could the performance have been better?

The story is ok, but certainly not worth the purchase. I felt like I was being YELLED at by the reader which was very distracting.

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4 people found this helpful