The Attenbury Emeralds

By: Jill Paton Walsh

Narrated by: Edward Petherbridge

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on the characters created by Dorothy L. Sayers.

The recovery of the magnificent gem in Lord Attenbury's dazzling heirloom launched a shell-shocked young aristocrat on his career as a detective in 1921. Thirty years later, a happily married Lord Peter has just shared the secrets of that mystery with his wife, the detective novelist Harriet Vane. Suddenly, the new Lord Attenbury—grandson of Lord Peter’s first client—seeks his help to prove who owns the emeralds. As Harriet and Peter contemplate the changes that the war has wrought on English society, Peter, who always cherished the liberties of a younger son, faces the unwanted prospect of ending up the Duke of Denver after all.

©2010 Jill Paton Walsh and the Trustees of Anthony Fleming, deceased. (P)2011 AudioGo

Good story!

Although I really liked this story, I found the narrator very difficult to understand. Between his accent and tendency to swallow the last part of every sentence, I had a difficult time getting through the book. In addition, the narrator modulated his voice in such a way that if I could hear the beginning of the sentence, I couldn't hear the end! His voice finishes most sentences softly.

The definitive Lord Wimsey

Where does The Attenbury Emeralds rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Edward Petherbridge is on video, as well as audio, the quintessential Lord Peter!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Attenbury Emeralds?

Description of the trial of Lady Diana--brilliant, simply brilliant.

Which character – as performed by Edward Petherbridge – was your favorite?

The Dowager Countess

Love Lord and Lady Peter

I love the characters and the narrator. I'm sure the concerns some have stated regarding Mr. Pethbridge's enunciation were very real concerns for them. I just didn't have the problem, and really so enjoyed his interpretation of all the characters. I loved this recording. I wish Mr. Petherbridge would read the entire DLS catalog, especially Whose Body, Strong Poison, Gaudy Night, Busman's Honeymoon, and Thrones, Dominations for which there is either no recording or for which I would like a recording by him as well as by Ian Carmichael or the other narrators currently on offer. For me, there is just something so satisfying about his reading and storytelling.

Downtown Abbey Mystery.

it is very good. it makes me this of you regular 1800 shows but with a mystery. very much enjoyed it.

A Favorite Vintage Mystery

Jill Paton Walsh does justice to the Sayers/Wimsey legacy. Petherbridge's narration creates the world of Peter and Harriet and I love stepping into that world.

more meditation than mystery

The narrator will make or break this listen for you, I think. I abandoned it twice; only the solid reviews of listeners I follow brought me back.

I???m a fan more of pastiches and satires of Golden Age detectives than the real thing; At first I was irritated by both narrator and plot, but after 1/4 of the listen I looked forward to daily doses of the almost zen tale: it???s a Dorothy Sayers' plot told at snails' pace -- If that sounds bleak, the listen is not ??? ???quietly charming??? is the phrase that seems to fit. This will relax rather than send you to seat's (or wit's) edge. You definitely need to be in the mood for offbeat quiet to enjoy this if you're not a Dorothy Sayers connoisseur to catch all the angles of the homage.

Don???t expect this to satirize the Brit social system: It's told consistently through the eyes of the characters, obliquely showing some changes in Brit society in first half of 20th century, with only very gentle humour, mostly playing off stock Golden Age images and the warm relationship between Lord and Lady Wimsey.

This doesn???t make me nostalgic for Sayers, but I would download another in this series by Walsh. And I really look forward to other Audible titles narrated by Petherbridge (Howard???s End!)

Enjoyable but somewhat scattered

Story jumped around between current everyday activities and the mystery. Good for longtime fans of Peter and Harriet but it dragged the tale out

just when you thought it over----- it wasnt !

For some reason I cant hit 4. STARS! But it is....More meaty in story than most English cozies! and 3 times, I thought the story over, it wasnt!
loved this.

Author Better Than Dorothy L Sayers

Ever word was perfectly crafted,.. better than Sayers in my opinion,.. and the choice of narrator.. superb

Excellent all around

I was nervous at first to read a Lord Peter story finished by someone other than DLS but it's really great! It has the same feel as the original stories so I was thrilled! The narration by Edward Petherbridge is relaxed and wonderful; he has an amazing voice!