Dreaming of the Bones

By: Deborah Crombie

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Often compared to both Ruth Rendell and P.D. James, Deborah Crombie is internationally acclaimed for her deftly written mysteries that combine suspense, with lyrical prose. Sharply etched characters further enrich this story of tangled relationships and dark secrets. Twelve years after their divorce, Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid receives a phone call from his ex-wife Victoria asking for his help. While working on a biography of the late poet Lydia Brooke, she has uncovered information that has her convinced Lydia's suicide five years ago was really murder. As Duncan begins his investigation, another murder occurs closer to home. Now he finds himself frantically searching for clues in Lydia's complicated past to find the killer before he strikes again. Award-winning author Deborah Crombie has crafted a beautifully written, multilayered mystery that leaves you gasping with surprise. Jenny Sterlin's narration deftly creates an air of suspense while capturing every nuance of the language.

©1997 Deborah Crombie (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLC

Interesting story. Irritating Narration.

The story barely held against an abrupt, unpleasant voice and flat emotions in Kincaid’s portrayal and several other characters.

Series keeps getting better

Hard to say if I have a favorite book in this series. Each time I finish one, I think that one is it! Jenny Sterlin does a capable job in all voices except Duncan's, but even his is passable. Crombie's writing reminds me of Ruth Rendell who is hard to beat as a mystery writer in my estimation.

Powerful

D. Crombie is a true master of her craft. I highly recommend this gem of a literary masterpiece. I'm excited to have discovered this wonderful author and her works for myself and would shout to the rooftops to tell others.

A laid back detective novel

I enjoyed this book in spite of the narrator, who used the same nasal, annoying drawl for almost every male character. Since I listened to Laurie King's Sherlock Holmes series (which Ms. Sterlin also narrated) before this book, I also had to keep reminding myself that Sherlock was NOT in this story. Most British accents are much easier to listen to, but this exaggeration is totally disappointing.

Read at 1.25 speed

The story was difficult to follow with the drawn-out syllables of this narrator's style. It was much more enjoyable at 1.25.

Good book, but...

This narrator is awful. Accents terrible, and impossible to tell the differences between characters. Same with all crombie books she narrates.

mismatched narration

the story itself is a fine addition to the series, but I found the slowness of the narrator's pace to be maddening.
Her voice and pace would be lovely for something that is meant to be poetic, or for bedtime stories, but it lent a sleepy drawl to the story that was out of place for a crime drama. I loved her voice, but NOT FOR THIS STORY, and not for this genre. Even Miss Marple would have needed more pace than this.

Fantastic narration

A very literary mystery with poetry by Rupert Brook prefacing each chapter. The verse was beautifully read by the narrator. The story was also excellent and held surprises.

Not as good as the first two

I listened to the first two in this series and enjoyed them. Especially since they were included in the Plus Catalogue. However, I used a credit on this one and felt let down. Why was the narrator changed? It ruined this book for me. She reads it like an old Victorian Romance novel. UGH. Speeding it up helped end the misery sooner.

I also had some issues with the story. It really drags early on, is implausible in parts. And I kept getting the characters mixed up (narration, again).

I don't know if I'll continue this series. certainly not if they stay with this narrator.

A poetic mystery

Erudite emotionally satisfying and absorbing. Highly recommend. One of her better books and she manages to hide the solution brilliantly.