The Pale Blue Eye

By: Louis Bayard

Narrated by: Charles Leggett

Soon to be a Netflix film starring Christian Bale, Harry Melling, and Gillian Anderson

“Shockingly clever and devoutly unsentimental . . . reads like a lost classic. Bayard reinvigorates historical fiction.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Seemlessly blends Poe into an engrossing whodunit worthy of its inspiration. ” (USA Today)

An ingenious tale of murder and revenge at West Point, featuring a retired detective and a young cadet named Edgar Allan Poe—from the author of Courting Mr. Lincoln.

When the body of a suicide victim disappears at West Point Military Academy in 1831, only to be discovered hours later missing its heart, the Academy calls on retired detective Gus Landor to investigate. Landor is something of a legend among his peers, noted for an uncanny, Holmesian ability to read people. When Edgar Allan Poe, a new cadet, comes forth with his own cryptic conclusion—that the man Landor is looking for is a poet—Landor is intrigued and enlists Poe as his assistant. Working together, Landor and Poe narrow down the suspects, all the while dealing with their own personal demons.

©2006 Louis Bayard (P)2014 AudioGO

the movie was really good; the book is better.

I didn't know Bayard's work before. but i do now. The movie's ending caught me off guard and when I saw there was a book, I got it the next day and plunged right in. I loved the depth of the book, but the movie couldn't go that far.
Charles Leggett was amazing. His voicing of "Gus" reminded me of the late actor Darren McGavin (who would love this, too thinking about one of great tv series, "Kolchak: the Night Stalker!)

WOW

Significantly better than the movie. Movie almost feels empty compared to the book for sure.

Good story

I liked the narration, the involvement of the detective with EA Poe, and most of the story. There are no heroes in this, and there is a sharp twist at the end. Might be a little too long!

Well done

The reading is well done and this story will keep you glued. Loved the style, a mixture of Landor’s narrative and Poe’s correspondence with him give you both of their voices and perspectives. The reading is wonderful as well, the draw that he gives Poe as well as the voices he gives others in dialogue are imaginative. Definitely recommend.

A remarkable and entertaining story

Louis Bayard’s fictional story of murder and intrigue at the USMA (West Point) is an engaging and clever monogram. The most stylistic element of Bayards story telling involves his use of prose that is highly reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe (a character in the fictional story) himself. I thoroughly enjoyed this listen and was almost sad that it came to a close. Looking forward to watching the film this evening with a whiskey a blanket, and a roaring fire in the hearth.