The Dead Season

By: Christobel Kent

Narrated by: Saul Reichlin

Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

This year, the heat wave in Florence is fiercer than usual. The city's inhabitants have fled to the cool of the hills of the surrounding countryside. So it is no surprise that a corpse lies unnoticed, bloating in the humid air. Sandro Cellini, former policeman turned private detective, has a case: a man who seems to have vanished into thin air - leaving his pregnant young fiancée alone in the city.

Meanwhile, bank teller Roxana Delfino is also stuck in the city for the season, with nothing to do but worry for her aging mother and puzzle over the disappearance of one her regular clients.

©2012 Christobel Kent (P)2012 W F Howes Ltd

Brilliant book

I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to stop listening. At times I really felt like I was in Rome and I couldn't wait to find out what happened.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A pleasant, gentle style of writing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It has a rather slow pace compared to the 'gritty' type of crime novels that I usually listen to. I was initially impatient with the time taken to reveal the plot and with all the everyday aspects of life that interrupt the solving of the crimes but give it time. The story and pace with which the plot unfolds is actually more realistic. The novel is set in Florence in August and you get a real sense of the heat and atmosphere of Florence in August.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Dead Season?

The interaction and the relationship between the main character, a private detective and his wife and with his friend and former police colleague. Not a 'one off' event but a gradual understanding of the main character and how likeable he is.

What about Saul Reichlin’s performance did you like?

A lovely melodic voice and with correct pronunciation of the Italian words that are in the novel.

Any additional comments?

A lovely easy listen that won't keep you awake at night but which has an interesting plot and characters.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable story

I enjoyed this book, Well narrated, and the second in this series that I have listened to.
It did tend to be a bit long and drawn out in parts, and I got a bit fed up with the constantly repeated comments on the unbearable hot weather. Overall though I enjoyed the story and didn't 'see' the bad guy until the end, I like the characters - so I cared how they coped and survived.
I wouldn't rush to buy another Christobel Kent too soon, but maybe after a break could read another.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Slow, dull, and tedious!

What would have made The Dead Season better?

Far too slow getting the story off the ground. Got up to chapter 23 and the story is only just really starting. Too much scene setting and constant to-ing and fro-ing between different characters, none of whom are in the least bit interesting. They're all dull people, stuck in a dull city, living dull lives. Sadly, that makes for a very dull book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Christobel Kent again?

Doubtful. In fact, I've got to the half way point of this book and decided not to waste any more time on it as it is tedious in the extreme.

Which character – as performed by Saul Reichlin – was your favourite?

I can't say that I was particularly enamoured by any of the characters. However, I do like Saul Reichlin as a narrator and have listen to, and thoroughly enjoyed, several other books he's narrated.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Dead Season?

About half of them. This book seems to have been bulked out with unnecessary narrative about trivialities. And how many times do they need to mention the oppressive heatwave? Ok, we get it, it's hot in the city!

Any additional comments?

Can I get a refund on this please?

1 of 2 people found this review helpful