bruce wood
- 22
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- helpful votes
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Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry's Definitive Collection
- By: Stephen Fry, Washington Irving, M.R. James, and others
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, Halloween approaches. Come, brave listener, pull up a chair, and spend some time with master storyteller Stephen Fry as he tells us some of his favourite ghost stories of all time, in truly terrifying spatial audio. From the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow to the tortured spirits of M.R. James, from Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying tale of a doppelganger to Charlotte Riddell’s Open Door that should definitely stay shut, join Stephen as he tells you some truly terrifying tales.
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Kill the tedious sound effects
- By Diogenes on 12-10-23
Gothic, Chilling and Great Fun
Reviewed: 02-10-24
Stephen Fry reading a collection of his favourite Ghost Stories? What's not to like and enjoy. Absolutely terrific
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Violets Are Blue
- Alex Cross, Book 7
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Paul Birchard
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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The seventh novel in the Alex Cross series. The Mastermind is back - and he's hot on detective Alex Cross's trail. His cold, taunting threats leave Alex angry and deeply concerned for his family's safety. Two joggers have been found dead in San Francisco - bitten and hung by their feet to drain the blood. Further murders in California, and then on the East Coast as well, completely baffle Alex and the FBI. Is this the work of a cult, or role players, or even of modern-day vampires?
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Below the authors normal high standard!
- By Jake on 24-07-22
- Violets Are Blue
- Alex Cross, Book 7
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Paul Birchard
Vampires, Ghouls and Mastermind
Reviewed: 29-09-24
So Alex Cross's trials and tribulations continue. James Patterson's writing is as slick and exciting as ever, but I found the plot a little too full of contrivance. I also found Mastermind's presence throughout the story to be an unnecessary distraction. One murder, that is portrayed as particularly harrowing in Cross's life comes across as little more than just another brutal slaying with little impact.
The performance by Paul Birchard was great and I hope he continues with this series for a few titles more.
Overall, I didn't find this to be as engrossing as the Detective's previous adventures, but it was a thrilling story, as ever well told, and this time without a 'shocking epilogue'.
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Pop Goes the Weasel
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Keith David, Roger Rees
- Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins
- Abridged
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Detective Alex Cross is back- and he's in love. But his happiness is threatened by a series of chilling murders in Washington, D.C., murders with a pattern so twisted they leave investigators reeling. Cross's pursuit of the killer produces a suspect, a British diplomat named Geoffrey Shafer. But proving he's the murderer becomes a potentially deadly task.
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Fantastic performances all round
- By Kindle Customer on 24-01-25
- Pop Goes the Weasel
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Keith David, Roger Rees
Confused? You might be
Reviewed: 22-09-24
Another gruesome Alex Cross adventure that zips along at quite a pace. So much so, that I found myself wondering if I'd missed an entire book when I realised that the denouement from Cat and Mouse wasn't being mentioned. I shouldn't have worried as it jumps into the story about a third of the way through.
Keith David is a wonderful narrator and is ably assisted by Roger Rees and one other whose name I've yet to find. The different voices make for pleasant side-steps in the narrative. The musical accompaniment was unnecessary, I thought. The narrative and performances are more than enough to set mood and tone.
It's another solid thriller from James Patterson, in a series I'm really enjoying.
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Cat and Mouse
- Alex Cross, Book 4
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding, Raj Ghatak
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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The fourth heart-stopping novel in James Patterson's Alex Cross series. Just as Alex Cross is beginning to feel that life is good and he is finally coming out of the depression he's been in since the death of his wife, he is called to Union Station train terminal - a man is on the loose, firing at random into the swarming crowds of travellers. Psychopath Gary Soneji seems determined to go down in a blaze of glory, and he wants Alex Cross to be there. Will this be the final showdown?
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grrrr
- By Matt Warr on 23-03-20
- Cat and Mouse
- Alex Cross, Book 4
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding, Raj Ghatak
Cross's Complexities Continue
Reviewed: 20-09-24
I really enjoy James Patterson's writing and storytelling. He gets to the point and doesn't sink his tales with too much back story. He is a propulsive storyteller and has clearly decided to put his Alex Cross creation through the mill.
Cat and Mouse certainly has its share of shocks and the change of storyteller about half way through the story is a neat move. I did find the story suffered from a little too much coincidence and the epilogue's cliffhanger I saw coming from a long way off.
I find Jeff Harding's performance, as ever, solid but I wish that he wouldn't give every female character the same effet voice. I find it distracting, but that's probably just me. Personally I really miss Ako Mitchell's performance from the previous three novels. But that said he and Raj Ghatak provide an enjoyable journey through the narrative.
A solid 4*
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Jack and Jill
- Alex Cross, Book 3
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Ako Mitchell
- Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Washington DC is under siege and Detective Alex Cross has work to do. A controversial Senator is found murdered in his bed and a young girl is savagely killed. Alex Cross is under pressure from both sides and faced with an impossible choice. Alex must do the impossible but the people of Washington aren't safe, and the clock is ticking before the killer sets their sights on their ultimate target. Can he catch the killer behind these nefarious crimes in time?
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Excellent narrator
- By Mrs. S. L. Bridge on 15-03-20
- Jack and Jill
- Alex Cross, Book 3
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Ako Mitchell
Complex, convoluted and compulsive
Reviewed: 13-09-24
The third Alex Cross adventure is another gripping, dark thriller in a series I'm beginning to really enjoy. Shocking in places and perhaps guilty of one-twist-too-many at the end, this is a solid, and thoroughly enjoyable thriller. It keeps its secrets well and the reader guessing for much of the narrative.
The story rolls along at a fair pace, and, once again, Ako Mitchell's performance is top-class.
Can't wait to start the next book...
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Kiss the Girls
- Alex Cross, Book 2
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Ako Mitchell
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Detective Alex Cross is caught between two murderous masterminds, but he isn't the only one in danger this time. When his niece goes missing, Alex Cross follows the trail and discovers links to a string of abductions, murders and a horrifying complication. Two killers are competing to commit worse crimes than the other and their collaboration becomes a national threat. With his family at risk, Alex knows that the investigation puts him directly in the firing line.
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Breathtakingly exciting
- By Anonymous User on 20-05-21
- Kiss the Girls
- Alex Cross, Book 2
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Ako Mitchell
Simple, effective storytelling
Reviewed: 07-09-24
Second book in the Alex Cross series, is as gripping and thrilling a ride as its predecessor. James Patterson's prose is swift, thrilling and fat-free. This time around the story is much darker with some (perhaps a little too much) graphic detail, but the author doesn't have a tendency to dwell on this side of the narrative. It's a dark, gripping thriller and has me excited to experience the third book in this gripping series. Ako Mitchell's performance is once again a joy to listen to
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Along Came a Spider
- Alex Cross, Book 1
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Ako Mitchell
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Random House presents the audiobook edition of Along Came a Spider by James Patterson. The international best seller introducing Detective Alex Cross. Two children have been kidnapped from an elite private school in Washington, DC, and Alex Cross is charged with finding them. The kidnapper is their maths teacher, a man named Gary Soneji. As Cross gets pulled deeper into the strange world of the kidnapper, it becomes clear he is not what he seems....
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Easy-read, fast moving detective thriller.
- By K. J. Kelly on 16-10-18
- Along Came a Spider
- Alex Cross, Book 1
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Ako Mitchell
A Thrilling Web of Murder, Deception and Intrigue
Reviewed: 02-09-24
I've only recently discovered James Patterson, and what a discovery! Hollywood should be ashamed of the 'version' they made of this back in 2001. This is a terrific thriller. Patterson's writing is fluid and easily accessible. There are some really dark scenes and places the story goes, but the author's style never becomes lurid and I was genuinely gripped from beginning to end.
Ako Mitchell's performance is first rate.
To any fan of crime thrillers I would recommend this unreservedly... I can't wait to start the next Alex Cross story 👍
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The Stand
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 47 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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First came the days of the plague. Then came the dreams. Dark dreams that warned of the coming of the dark man. The apostate of death, his worn-down boot heels tramping the night roads. The warlord of the charnel house and Prince of Evil. His time is at hand. His empire grows in the west and the Apocalypse looms. For hundreds of thousands of fans who read The Stand in its original version and wanted more, this new edition is Stephen King's gift.
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King's greatest novel
- By CSR DoughnutPeach on 27-07-12
- The Stand
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Withstood The Stand
Reviewed: 29-08-24
This is Stephen King at his pinnacle of long-term storytelling. The Stand is a great story with some great characters. It has moments of truly uncomfortable horror and also thrilling adventure... But it's a helluva haul! I tried reading the book many years ago when it was first published, but just couldn't make it.
Grover Gardner's performance here is top-notch and, for this listener at least added just the dimension to this epic tale that got me through to the end.
Thoroughly worth it... just be prepared to dig-in for the long haul 😉
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A Vision of Fire
- By: Gillian Anderson, Jeff Rovin
- Narrated by: Gillian Anderson
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Renowned child psychologist Caitlin O'Hara is a single mom trying to juggle her job, her son, and a lackluster dating life. Her world is suddenly upturned when Maanik, the daughter of India's ambassador to the United Nations, starts speaking in tongues and having violent visions. Caitlin is sure that her fits have something to do with the recent assassination attempt on her father - a shooting that has escalated nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan to dangerous levels.
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An intriguing story, wonderfully told
- By bruce wood on 15-07-24
- A Vision of Fire
- By: Gillian Anderson, Jeff Rovin
- Narrated by: Gillian Anderson
An intriguing story, wonderfully told
Reviewed: 15-07-24
A globe spanning science fiction thriller, that never outstays its welcome. Gripping and exciting, and Gillian Anderson's performance is terrific. Highly recommended
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Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions
- My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood
- By: Ed Zwick
- Narrated by: Ed Zwick
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Though there are many factors behind such success, including luck and the contributions of his creative partner Marshall Herskovitz, he’s known to have a special talent for bringing out the best in the people he’s worked with, notably the actors. In those intense collaborations, he seeks to discover the small pieces of connective tissue, vulnerability, and fellowship that can help an actor realize their character in full.
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Amazing. Honest, witty, vulnerable.
- By N Morgan on 28-04-24
- Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions
- My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood
- By: Ed Zwick
- Narrated by: Ed Zwick
No Illusions here!
Reviewed: 01-07-24
I really wasn't sure what expect from this, other than hoping that it was even half as good as the reviews and comments I've noted over the last few months.
I needn't have had any reservations. Ed Zwick had a wonderful, easy going prose and his self-effacing journey is a joy!
I would heartily recommended this book to any one with even a passing interest in the making of movies. Superb *****
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