Penny
- 41
- reviews
- 56
- helpful votes
- 219
- ratings
-
The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle
- DI Jan Talantire, Book 1
- By: Nick Louth
- Narrated by: Mandy Weston
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 100
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 96
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 96
DI Jan Talantire is called to a cottage in Ilfracombe, where the female occupant is found dead, impaled with a crucifix. The woman, who had been renting the house for a few months, is well known locally, but the documents at the house indicate her real name is Ruth Lyle. The name means nothing to the young PC who found her, DI Talantire knows this cannot be the body of Ruth Lyle.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Less would be better
- By Klyn on 03-05-24
- The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle
- DI Jan Talantire, Book 1
- By: Nick Louth
- Narrated by: Mandy Weston
In two minds
Reviewed: 07-05-24
I listened to it.
I found the plot weak, the depiction of the local police as misogynistic and racist annoying and the lead detective rather ineffective.
Obviously living in Devon that might have had something to do with it, like most stories there seems to always be an element that fights between the depiction of a lot of green fields and tourists and a dark sinister side that underlines this county.
This didn't quite achieve it
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
See No Evil
- DCI Harry Grimm Crime Thrillers, Book 17
- By: David J. Gatward
- Narrated by: Aubrey Parsons
- Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 116
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 102
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 102
DCI Harry Grimm hates getting sick. Fighting a terrible cold, the under-the-weather detective is already pushing his limits by going house hunting with his girlfriend. So, when he’s called out to investigate a body gruesomely displayed in a field as a scarecrow, he can’t see how his day can get any worse. That is, until another body turns up.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not sure anymore
- By keith bartlett on 02-04-24
- See No Evil
- DCI Harry Grimm Crime Thrillers, Book 17
- By: David J. Gatward
- Narrated by: Aubrey Parsons
Disappointing
Reviewed: 19-04-24
In all honesty I found the story weak and the characters are no longer quirky.
Grimm has run his course, Grace and he should live happily ever after.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Engleby
- By: Sebastian Faulks
- Narrated by: Michael Maloney
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,438
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,140
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,132
Mike Engleby says things that others dare not even think. When the novel opens in the 1970s, he is a university student, having survived a "traditional" school. A man devoid of scruple or self-pity, Engleby provides a disarmingly frank account of English education. Yet beneath the disturbing surface of his observations lies an unfolding mystery of gripping power.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Terrible - In the very best way!
- By Robert on 08-02-08
- Engleby
- By: Sebastian Faulks
- Narrated by: Michael Maloney
Skilled and well crafted psychopath
Reviewed: 05-02-24
I loved the fluidity of his prose. The descriptions of Cambridge and student life with Mike's recall of events shows how the authors well crafted plan expanded into a clever analysis of a psychopathic mind.
Following Mike's career into journalism and the construction of his successful life and the links back to the negative experience in the hideous public school he went to, proved to feed into the chain of events that followed.
I enjoyed the novel very much.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
The Secret Hours
- By: Mick Herron
- Narrated by: Sean Barrett
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,212
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,145
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,145
Monochrome is a busted flush - an inquiry into the misdeeds of the intelligence services, established by a vindictive prime minister but rendered toothless by a wily chief spook. For years it has ground away uselessly, interviewing witnesses with nothing to offer, producing a report with nothing to say, while the civil servants at its helm see their careers disappearing into a black hole. And then the OTIS file falls into their hands. What secrets does this hold that see a long-redundant spy being chased through Devon's green lanes in the dark?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Ignore the early reviews.. they were caught off guard.
- By williamschef on 16-09-23
- The Secret Hours
- By: Mick Herron
- Narrated by: Sean Barrett
Loved the book
Reviewed: 06-10-23
Mick Herron is the master of the spy novel. This is another exquisitely crafted novel, absorbing in its relationships within his previous books yet stands alone from them all as well.
I recommend this superb thriller wholeheartedly.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Next Victim
- DCI Rachel King, Book 1
- By: Helen H. Durrant
- Narrated by: Luci Fish
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 209
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 189
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 189
The body of a blonde young man found in the canal is discovered to be that of a journalist who had been claiming he was onto the story of a lifetime. The area where he was murdered turns out to be subject to a land dispute. A young woman is adamant she remembers a childhood twin brother, but her father swears she’s an only child. And now a second young blonde is missing. Rachel King and her East Manchester CID team must determine what links this all together - or are they being led to draw connections which aren’t there? And if so, who is pulling their strings?
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Narrator ruined it
- By Julie-Anne on 24-06-19
- Next Victim
- DCI Rachel King, Book 1
- By: Helen H. Durrant
- Narrated by: Luci Fish
voice
Reviewed: 22-05-23
I looked into the narrator after I started listening to the story. She seems to have a successful career in voice narration in games and other media sadly it doesn't translate into audio books.
I found lack of definition between characters difficult to follow.
I have read the book so I know the author to be credible and worthy of applaud, however only managed to get to Chapter 7.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
The Body in the Stairwell
- DCI Craig Gillard, Book 10
- By: Nick Louth
- Narrated by: Marston York
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 370
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 347
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 346
Jonathan Hale is terrified. The wealthy property lawyer and money launderer is back home in Surrey after a nightmare experience in a U.S. jail. The police have him under secret surveillance. But Hales's fears lie elsewhere. His plea bargain has earned him the enmity of The Reptile, a notoriously cold-hearted gangster, now confined for life in a maximum-security jail in Arizona thanks to Hale. He's taken precautions, moved house, hidden his identity and installed security for his wife and family. But still… what if The Reptile escapes?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brilliantly gripping
- By 17jasper on 08-01-23
- The Body in the Stairwell
- DCI Craig Gillard, Book 10
- By: Nick Louth
- Narrated by: Marston York
Addictive listen
Reviewed: 12-05-23
The best authors create stories that absorb and disrupt my plans for the day...I had to listen to the very end, the plot hooked me in, the narration excellent, Totally recommended on the proviso that once into the book you will only operate on neutral drive till the end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Corrupted
- Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers, Book 4
- By: Simon Michael
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 207
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 197
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 197
Charles Holborne has cemented his reputation as a respected murder trial lawyer, who is near unbeatable in the courtroom. But he is still on the radar of the notorious Kray Twins and before long he finds himself drawn into one of their darker scandals.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
At last something I enjoy and relate to
- By Tony Horner on 16-06-23
- Corrupted
- Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers, Book 4
- By: Simon Michael
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
Very gritty
Reviewed: 01-04-23
Simon Michael never disappoints, As the author stated in the historical note these events occurred and ultimately they are shocking and debauched but we read about similar nightmares in the press today and these should not be shied away from.
Charles shows himself to be a bit of an arrogant nob in his behaviour towards Sally, I think I understand why he had to move on but my rather old fashioned opinion of him made me want to slap him and tell him to grow up.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Dangerous Cargo
- By: Pauline Rowson
- Narrated by: Peter Noble
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 10
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 10
For his second mission, Art Marvik is detailed to attend the funeral of Bradley Pulford, whose body was washed up on an Isle of Wight beach in January - only he'd officially been declared dead 55 years earlier. So who is the impostor, and why did he assume the name of a dead man? When an innocent woman is killed during the course of the investigation, Marvik realises that the stakes are much higher than he'd previously thought.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
very involved plot
- By Penny on 16-03-23
- Dangerous Cargo
- By: Pauline Rowson
- Narrated by: Peter Noble
very involved plot
Reviewed: 16-03-23
Sadly I switched off several times and had to revisit to make sense of this overly complicated plot.
I found the politics of the story also confused me. Got the concept regarding the corrupt Tory government being responsible for a lot of the characters ills, though found it boring as the Government and Margaret Thatcher are blamed for all things at the moment.. Then it became too embroiled in other issues. After which I let the narrator do his thing which he did well., and waited for it to end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
The Dead of Winter
- By: Stuart MacBride
- Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron, Greg McHugh
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 169
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 156
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 156
From the outside, Glenfarach looks like a quaint, sleepy village, nestled in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, but things aren't what they seem. The place is thick with security cameras, and there's a strict nine o'clock curfew, because Glenfarach is the last safe haven for people who've served their sentences but can't be safely released into the general population. For Detective Constable Edward Reekie, this was supposed to be a simple delivery job—drive his new boss up to HMP Grampian and collect Marky Bishop, take him to Glenfarach, then head back home again.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Unfortunately, did not live up to expectation.
- By Anson Fraser on 19-02-23
- The Dead of Winter
- By: Stuart MacBride
- Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron, Greg McHugh
Unhappy.
Reviewed: 28-02-23
Sorry Mr MacBride, your previous novels I loved. This was not enjoyable to listen to, comparisons with the characters in your Logan stories were similar, all they had was a change of name.
I tried but after a while the narrator's attempt at female character voices and continuity of narration proved to annoying and I gave up
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Never to Return
- The Wild Fens Murder Mystery Series, Book 6
- By: Jack Cartwright
- Narrated by: Graham Mack
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 82
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 76
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 75
When the body of a teenage boy is found in the River Witham, it falls to DI Freya Bloom and her team to raise the truth from the depths. The boy, nicknamed Simple Simon, was a troubled soul. But when Bloom digs deeper into Simon’s life, she discovers that not only was he the victim of a viscous cyber bullying attack, but also suffered sexual abuse. Was his death a shocking teenage suicide, or does somebody have a terrible secret to hide? With four potential suspects in the firing line, and guilt in every one of their eyes, Bloom must make some difficult choices.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Twists and turns that keep enthralled
- By Carol on 16-01-24
- Never to Return
- The Wild Fens Murder Mystery Series, Book 6
- By: Jack Cartwright
- Narrated by: Graham Mack
bullying theme
Reviewed: 10-02-23
Sadly I am halfway through this story and as an irony the theme of bullying is reiterated through the bullying behaviour of the detectives to DC Cruz.
Yet this is seemingly acceptable which if today this would be unacceptable in today's world.
Control of the antics of her crew should fall on Freya Bloom but she seems to be diverted from her sexual fantasies of her DS.
It seems unprofessional. There is banter and 'craic' however I feel it goes too far.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful