Clayre
- 9
- reviews
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- helpful votes
- 16
- ratings
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Death of a Traitor
- Hamish Macbeth, Book 35
- By: M.C. Beaton
- Narrated by: David Monteath
- Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
A missing person report is not usually something that Hamish Macbeth sees as cause for undue distress. Should a child or a vulnerable person vanish, it's an urgent matter that needs to be treated seriously, but in Macbeth's experience, most other people who go missing tend to turn up again before long. So when Kate Hibbert disappears after having last been seen struggling along the road with a heavy suitcase, he is convinced she has gone travelling and reluctantly goes through the motions of investigating.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great story but character's voices have changed!
- By No instructions and different to picture on 13-03-2023
- Death of a Traitor
- Hamish Macbeth, Book 35
- By: M.C. Beaton
- Narrated by: David Monteath
Enjoyable escapism
Reviewed: 04-07-2023
Felt I was in Hamish Macbeth’s world. Loved it and looking forward to the next book.
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1 person found this helpful
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The Twist of a Knife
- Hawthorne, Book 4
- By: Anthony Horowitz
- Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
- Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 207
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 191
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Story5 out of 5 stars 190
'I've written three books and our deal is over.' That's what reluctant author Anthony Horowitz tells ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne in an awkward meeting. The truth is that Anthony has got other things on his mind. His new play, a thriller called Mindgame, is about to open at the famous Vaudeville theatre in Shoreditch. Not surprisingly, Hawthorne declines a ticket to the opening night. The play is not enjoyed by the critics. In particular, Sunday Times critic Harriet Throsby gives it a savage review, focusing particularly on the writing.
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5 out of 5 stars
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More please
- By Robbie on 23-08-2022
- The Twist of a Knife
- Hawthorne, Book 4
- By: Anthony Horowitz
- Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
Less complicated story, great narration
Reviewed: 02-02-2023
Enjoyable series but this book felt a little drawn out and ending more predictable. Love the narration.
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The Palace Papers
- Inside the House of Windsor - the Truth and the Turmoil
- By: Tina Brown
- Narrated by: Tina Brown
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 463
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 393
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 390
'Never again', became Queen Elizabeth II's mantra shortly after Diana's death. More specifically, there could never be 'another Diana'—a member of the family whose global popularity upstaged, outshone and posed an existential threat to the British monarchy. Picking up where The Diana Chronicles left off, The Palace Papers reveals how the royal family reinvented itself after the traumatic years when Diana's blazing celebrity ripped through the House of Windsor like a comet.
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3 out of 5 stars
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nothing new
- By BeatrixBalazar on 03-05-2022
- The Palace Papers
- Inside the House of Windsor - the Truth and the Turmoil
- By: Tina Brown
- Narrated by: Tina Brown
Engaging telling of recent Royal history
Reviewed: 23-11-2022
I feel like I have a better understanding of the character of different members of the Royal family which was presented in a non-salacious way. The Royals seem relatable with their family dramas which will resonate with ordinary folks. I was engaged with most of the story except for the chapter on the paparazzi which I found boring. My husband commented on what he found to be annoying incorrect emphases of words by the narrator, especially as she is the author who should be very familiar with the content. We regularly do a 3 hour commute in the car when we would listen to this book. Overall, I thought the writing was very good and well done to the author for a well researched and fair account.
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Death of a Green-Eyed Monster
- Hamish Macbeth, Book 34
- By: M.C. Beaton
- Narrated by: David Monteath
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 26
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 21
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 21
PC Dorothy McIver quickly shows how determined she is to win over the locals, and she certainly seems to bring out the best in Macbeth. Then comes a brutal murder, and the pair find themselves plunged into a tangled web of conspiracy that acquires a sinister strand when the chilling shadow of Glasgow's underworld creeps to the Highlands and the peaceful village of Lochdubh.
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2 out of 5 stars
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NOT written by M C Beaton
- By Chantelle on 02-07-2024
- Death of a Green-Eyed Monster
- Hamish Macbeth, Book 34
- By: M.C. Beaton
- Narrated by: David Monteath
A welcome continuation
Reviewed: 26-07-2022
I enjoyed this story after having read or listened to all of the previous in this series. The writing was good and the narrator was excellent as usual.
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The Wench Is Dead
- Inspector Morse Mysteries, Book 8
- By: Colin Dexter
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 8
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6
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Story5 out of 5 stars 6
The body of Joanna Franks was found at Duke's Cut on the Oxford Canal at about 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 22nd June 1859. At around 10.15 a.m. on a Saturday morning in 1989 the body of Chief Inspector Morse - though very much alive - was removed to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Treatment for a perforated ulcer was later pronounced successful.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A satisfying historical mystery
- By Clayre on 30-10-2021
- The Wench Is Dead
- Inspector Morse Mysteries, Book 8
- By: Colin Dexter
- Narrated by: Samuel West
A satisfying historical mystery
Reviewed: 30-10-2021
I enjoyed the hospital setting which rang true to an old hospital trained nurse. The story unfolds at a good pace. The narrator has a beautiful voice and does a convincing job of presenting Morse and Lewis. Another good story.
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Agatha Raisin in Down the Hatch
- By: M. C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 29
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 29
Agatha Raisin becomes embroiled in a turmoil of jealousy and lies when the tranquillity of her local bowls club explodes into a storm of accusation and intrigue - and murder. Her private life is no less turbulent when a past suitor reappears just as her ex-husband seems intent on rekindling their romance, and her close friend, Bill Wong, is in danger of losing the woman he loves. Events take an even darker turn when Agatha realises that, in pursuing the bowling green killer, she is putting her own life in danger.
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5 out of 5 stars
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One of my favourite series
- By Michelle on 18-04-2024
- Agatha Raisin in Down the Hatch
- By: M. C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
Entertaining with multiple story lines
Reviewed: 19-10-2021
Penelope Keith narration wonderful as usual. Thankfully Agatha no longer gets jealous of Toni and is maturing. James is more likeable. Just needs to make mention of ‘capacious handbag’ for consistency.
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Surrounded by Psychopaths
- Or, How to Stop Being Exploited by Others
- By: Thomas Erikson
- Narrated by: David John
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 77
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 66
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 63
Some people are exceptionally manipulative. They can convince anyone about anything and lure them with their charm. They enjoy controlling others and will do anything to get what they want. Sound familiar? The bad news is that you can’t really escape them. But here comes the good news: you can beat them at their own game.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Not for me
- By Bernadette McLellan on 08-10-2021
- Surrounded by Psychopaths
- Or, How to Stop Being Exploited by Others
- By: Thomas Erikson
- Narrated by: David John
More like pop psychology
Reviewed: 15-09-2021
I found this book tedious with too much reliance on a coloured disc personality tool that mainly relates to working styles. This book relates these working styles somewhat to social settings. Psychopathic tendencies are woven in to the different personality styles as the victim or perpetrator. Each chapter begins with a random quote without explaining anything about the person who made the quote. I think that one quote was from a fantasy writer!
There is no mention of the DSM-5 which clinicians refer to for making a diagnosis which I find surprising (at least by the time I stopped listening). The DSM-5 came out in 2013 where Psychopathy is described as Anti-social personality disorder. This book makes mention of Borderline Personality Disorder but I heard nothing about Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I may be wrong, but I got the distinct impression that the writer is not a qualified psychologist. I much prefer reading examples of behaviours observed first hand by trained professionals . If you’re intent in understanding psychopathic behaviour, take a look at the DSM-5, and read books dedicated to the different personality disorders. For a more light hearted look at psychopaths, I found Jon Ronson’s book ‘The Psychopath Test’ very interesting and more informative.
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2 people found this helpful
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All the Little Liars
- Aurora Teagarden, Book 9
- By: Charlaine Harris
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 17
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 16
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Story5 out of 5 stars 16
Aurora Teagarden is basking in the news of her pregnancy when disaster strikes her small Georgia town: four kids vanish from the school soccer field. Aurora's 15-year-old brother, Phillip, is one of them. When a dead body is found, the local police and sheriff's department comb the county, and Aurora and her new husband, true-crime writer Robin Crusoe, begin their own investigation. With Christmas approaching, Aurora is determined to find her brother...if he's still alive.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Well written and seamless continuation of series
- By Clayre on 15-12-2020
- All the Little Liars
- Aurora Teagarden, Book 9
- By: Charlaine Harris
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
Well written and seamless continuation of series
Reviewed: 15-12-2020
I had read the first 8 books years ago so listened to all just prior to this one. Although I guessed the plot about half way through, I still enjoyed this book, even though not a lot appeared to be happening. You always get what feels like an authentic personal experience by the main character with Ms Harris. You can’t help but feel Aurora’s emotions. I think I’ve read all of Ms Harris’s works and she is one of my favourite authors. I love Therese Plummer’s narration. The quality of the writing has not diminished. Now on to the next. The Lily Bard series is not to be missed so I look forward to now listening to this as well.
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Agatha Raisin: Beating About the Bush
- By: M. C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 41
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 40
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
When private detective Agatha Raisin comes across a severed leg in a roadside hedge, it looks like she is about to become involved in a particularly gruesome murder. Looks, however, can be deceiving, as Agatha discovers when she is employed to investigate a case of industrial espionage at a factory where nothing is quite what it seems. The factory mystery soon turns to murder, and a bad-tempered donkey turns Agatha into a national celebrity, before bringing her ridicule and shame.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Love love Agatha
- By elizabeth b. on 31-12-2021
- Agatha Raisin: Beating About the Bush
- By: M. C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
Agatha Raisin in good form
Reviewed: 29-10-2019
I enjoyed this latest reading. Donkey’s name got a bit annoying. Thankfully, no crazy adolescent infatuations this time. Agatha appears to be maturing, less jealous of Tony’s youthful looks. I’m just looking forward to resolution re settled relationship and hope author can achieve this in her lifetime! Just love the sound of Penelope Keith’s voice. Good work as usual.
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