Parting Breath

By: Catherine Aird

Narrated by: Robin Bailey

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Detective Inspector C. D. Sloan knew there would be trouble when he was called in to the student sit-in at Calleshire University. The dons were nervous, the students excited - a clash of some kind seemed inevitable. But what did happen was totally unexpected.

First was a most peculiar theft from a dormitory room and then the discovery of a man found clutching at one of the columns of the Tarsus cloister - bleeding slowly to death and able with his parting breath only to utter one enigmatic phrase? To solve the mystery of the cloister murder, Sloan’s only clues are the dying man’s words. But what significance can ‘Twenty-six minutes’ really have?

©1977 Catherine Aird (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Slow starter, hard to follow

Would you try another book from Catherine Aird and/or Robin Bailey?

Yes

What was most disappointing about Catherine Aird’s story?

This story unfortunately is a long winding path to nowhere. There are too many characters with indistinguishable personalities. Skip this book in the series

Terrible, Just could not listen to it

We could not get interested in this book. The readers voice and the story droned on terribly.

Slow and very British

The book starts very slowly. The main event doesn't happen until 1 hour and 20 minutes into a 6 hour book. Also, the language and setting are highly targeted towards a reader/listener familiar with British academia. I found it very difficult to get involved and rather boring. It is probably much more interesting for someone familiar with the setting. I'd get my money back if I thought I could.

Narrator not right for Aird

I love Catherine Airds's cozy mysteries and bone dry wit from when I read them years ago. This narrator is all wrong: no humor, a low Eeyore voice that gets inaudible without raised volume and slow pacing with little change in pitch. Dull not fun and the story's good!'

narrator

Robin Bailey is or was a master narrator. He will be missed. Rest in peace.

Not her best

This is the first of these mysteries that bored me. I could have started half way through and caught up fast. still, I am eager for the next

Disappointing Performance

Unfortunately the first bad review I’ve had to write! Found it very difficult to distinguish the characters from each other, due to the narrators voice. Have been told that this is a good book, but got lost sometimes as wasn’t sure who was speaking.

👍

Glad I ignored the bad review. As with other Catherine Aird stories, a gentle and clever period murder mystery told with humour. A great narrator too.

filled some spare time

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was ok as background music. I would not look for sequals

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Is that it?

What three words best describe Robin Bailey’s voice?

Smooth poetical posh

Was Parting Breath worth the listening time?

not much

Any additional comments?

Disappointing