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Painting the Darkness  By  cover art

Painting the Darkness

By: Robert Goddard
Narrated by: Michael Kitchen
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Publisher's summary

On a mild autumn afternoon in 1882, William Trenchard sits smoking his pipe in the garden of his comfortable family home. When the creak of the garden gate heralds the arrival of an unexpected stranger, he is puzzled but not alarmed. He cannot know the destruction this man will wreak on all he holds most dear.

©1989 Robert and Vaunda Goddard (P)2012 Audible Ltd

What listeners say about Painting the Darkness

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    137
  • 4 Stars
    90
  • 3 Stars
    50
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    168
  • 4 Stars
    56
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    124
  • 4 Stars
    73
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    14

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

Poor sound, can't even rate it fairly.

This looked like a great story, and I like the reader's voice. However, the sound comes across as mumbled even with a headset, and I'm going to return it if possible.

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1 person found this helpful

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

excellent story

What did you love best about Painting the Darkness?

Brilliantly written with lots of twists and reader did highly competent job

What did you like best about this story?

Great plot and characters well developed

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

Couldn't get into it

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Perhaps people who enjoy historical fiction

Has Painting the Darkness turned you off from other books in this genre?

Probably

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Kitchen?

Don't know that much about British narrators.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Couldn't get far enough along. Simply didn't hold my interest.

Any additional comments?

I found the plot uninteresting, predictable and too slow moving. Decided to try it because of all the good reviews but it really wasn't for me!

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3 people found this helpful

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

Couldn't finish this book. Returned it.

Boring and repetitive. Made myself listen for 2 hours. Hard time staying awake. Sorry Robert.

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

Who is who?

Hours into this and between the droning boring voice of the reader and the story I still have zero clue who is which character. I tried to get into this... alas... not happening. Just can’t do another 12 hours....

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

Tried five chapters and could not get through it

Would you try another book from Robert Goddard and/or Michael Kitchen?

No

What do you think your next listen will be?

Looking for a good mystery

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Narrator ok....book was too rambling.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Just wasn't for me.

Any additional comments?

Had to start over a couple of times....just started daydreaming and wishing book was over. Finally put it down.

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

Suspensful, but too lengthy!

Which character – as performed by Michael Kitchen – was your favorite?

Michael Kitchen is great! He is the only reason I was able to tolerate the complete 20+ hour book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Very disappointed! I wish I had stopped listening when I realized I didn't care what happened! I only wanted it to end!

Any additional comments?

The story took many twists and turns which, initially, held my interest. The story started with interest, but grew quite tiresome, quite quickly.My interest was quickly lost with unlikable characters that I didn't care about..While listening I realized, I didn't care what happened; I wasn't invested and my goal was to finish the book, only. In the future, before I spend 20+ hours of precious listening time on one book, I will be more cautious in my selections and quit listening when the story doesn't have characters of interest to me.

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