Zazafraz
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Not for Glory
- A Historical Novel of Scotland (Black Douglas Trilogy, Book 3)
- By: J.R. Tomlin
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
- Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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James, Lord of Douglas, known to his foes as the Black Douglas, leads a flank of the Scottish army in crushing a vast invading English force at the waters of the Bannockburn. Fresh from battle, James revels in honors heaped on him by the Scots and in the hatred of the enemy. When King Robert the Bruce orders him to push their advantage and force the English to the peace table, they both know the only way James can do so is by fire and the sword - the only language King Edward of England understands.
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Written for entertainment.
- By Zazafraz on 10-01-25
- Not for Glory
- A Historical Novel of Scotland (Black Douglas Trilogy, Book 3)
- By: J.R. Tomlin
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
Written for entertainment.
Reviewed: 10-01-25
Before reading this book I had known only of Douglas by nickname, being a ‘hero of the wars’ for Scotland, his way of death, and his descendant who would fight and die fighting Edward the 3rd.
Putting personalities, arrogance, intelligence and fears onto many historical figures helped making the book entertaining. We get a feel for the characters beyond as just characters, and the whole series is a good read/listen.
I think the narrator did a good job with tempo and accents all considered.
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Countenance of War
- A Historical Novel of Scotland (The Black Douglas Trilogy, Book 2)
- By: J.R. Tomlin
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Fourteenth-century Scotland suffers under the heel of England's King Edward, and James Douglas refuses to submit to the conqueror. As he wages a scorched-earth guerrilla war to drive out the invader and reclaim his birthright, Edward brings a vast army to crush the Scots. In the midst of the brutal war, even the woman James loves is threatened by his implacable duty.
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Douglas evolves.
- By Zazafraz on 05-01-25
- Countenance of War
- A Historical Novel of Scotland (The Black Douglas Trilogy, Book 2)
- By: J.R. Tomlin
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
Douglas evolves.
Reviewed: 05-01-25
Many former and current characters take shape, and even James Douglas himself has some large character changes, realistic as they are. Scottish history, as all history, is intimate and fascinating. I am ready to begin the final book in the series.
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A Kingdom's Cost
- A Historical Novel of Scotland (The Black Douglas Trilogy, Book 1)
- By: J.R. Tomlin
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Eighteen-year-old James Douglas can only watch, helpless, as the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace is hanged, drawn, and quartered. Even under the heel of a brutal English conqueror, James' blood-drenched homeland may still have one hope for freedom, the rightful king of the Scots, Robert the Bruce. James swears fealty to the man he believes can lead the fight against English tyranny. The Bruce is soon a fugitive, king in name and nothing more. Scotland is occupied, the Scottish resistance crushed. Yet James believes their cause is not lost.
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New slant on a well told story
- By William on 09-04-24
- A Kingdom's Cost
- A Historical Novel of Scotland (The Black Douglas Trilogy, Book 1)
- By: J.R. Tomlin
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
The climatic and anti-climatic story of Scottish independence.
Reviewed: 03-01-25
Beforehand I knew of the Lord of Douglas by name, knowing he one of them was important next to Robert The Bruce. I knew of the way a Douglas would die (spoiler: in Spain), and I knew of one who would fight a young Edward 3rd. I knew one was called Black Douglas. Turned out Black Douglas was the very same Douglas from the first two things I knew about the family.
An exciting story, slapped into the center of Scottish independency. Some of the characters dont get that much time to feel close to, others a lot more attention. It’s interesting, exciting, at times brutal, and endearing. Surprised by the lovemaking scenes described in such details, but I guess it’s neither too detailed nor uncommon. Narrator did a good job, though at times the accents are difficult for a non-Scots ears.
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Comrade J
- Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America after the End of the Cold War
- By: Pete Earley
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Spymaster, defector, double agent....Here is the remarkable true story of the man who ran Russia's post-cold-war spy program in America. The revelations are stunning. Many spies have told their stories. None has the astonishing immediacy, relevance, and cautionary warnings of Comrade J.
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Very enjoyable worth buying
- By Anastasia Nahtepa on 01-01-09
- Comrade J
- Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America after the End of the Cold War
- By: Pete Earley
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
Fascinating.
Reviewed: 28-12-24
Several references to Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames, which I personally appreciated. Good insights into the life, decisions, stress and worries of the Russian spy craft. Their reactions and thoughts during great changes in Russia, and a deeply capable man in the center.
Good book, and the narrator was good if at times a bit monotone.
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Bloodguilt
- By: Dan Box, Kate Wild
- Narrated by: Dan Box, Kate Wild
- Original Recording
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Days after Richard Dorrough violently takes his own life at a public gun range in Perth, Western Australia, his fiancée receives a parcel from him in the post - a book filled with the former sailor’s handwriting. She starts to read and, horrified by the chilling confession inside it, quickly hands the book to police....
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Guilty
- By PGTips on 24-07-22
- Bloodguilt
- By: Dan Box, Kate Wild
- Narrated by: Dan Box, Kate Wild
Interesting.
Reviewed: 24-12-24
A dive into the many facets of a complicated man, and the world he lived in. Showed great respect to the many people surrounding the cases - victims, police officers, family members, even the man himself. At points a slight too deep bias, but thats natural in cases like this, and it was a very good podcast overall. Didnt rush through things.
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The Spartacus War
- By: Barry Strauss
- Narrated by: Ray Grover
- Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The Spartacus War is the extraordinary story of the most famous slave rebellion in the ancient world, the fascinating true story behind a legend that has been the inspiration for novelists, filmmakers, and revolutionaries for 2,000 years. Starting with only 74 men, a gladiator named Spartacus incited a rebellion that threatened Rome itself.
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Will the real Spartacus please stand...
- By Dave on 27-10-10
- The Spartacus War
- By: Barry Strauss
- Narrated by: Ray Grover
Truly a man of his own.
Reviewed: 21-12-24
Even the hardest lovers of the Roman Republic and Empire has to admit the harshness of their treatment of everyone surrounding them - both allies and enemies. The way they used slaves is beyond repulsive, and that’s how Spartacus steps into the history books and the common imagination. A brilliant, brave, charismatic and unique leader, who Karl Marx called ‘the first socialist’, and later Romans would respect as a man and leader.
Great book, thorough, and gives insight into the many people, individuals and as groups, who played a part in this important historical period. Plenty of time is spent focussing not directly on the man itself to spread out the world he was in, to which one can only appreciate. A lot more to the man but movies and tv shows, as entertaining as they may be.
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Cocaine Cowboys
- The Deadly Rise of Ireland's Drug Lords
- By: Nicola Tallant
- Narrated by: Nicola Tallant
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Cocaine Cowboys tells the story of Ireland's love affair with cocaine since it first washed ashore on Cork's rugged coast to the billion-euro trade it has become. From Ireland's first cocaine lord and his attempts to establish a direct route from Miami to Dublin to the modern-day violence that led to the brutal dismemberment of teenager Keane Mulready Woods, the book will follow the stories and the increasing chaos that has engulfed those desperate for a slice of this modern day gold rush.
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eye opening
- By Cian Ryan on 18-01-24
- Cocaine Cowboys
- The Deadly Rise of Ireland's Drug Lords
- By: Nicola Tallant
- Narrated by: Nicola Tallant
Insightful and brutal.
Reviewed: 18-12-24
A nice thorough insight into the white powderstorm sweeping across the Republic. The narrator has a nice tone and tempo, and there is no issue lisening his to her for hours on end.
I’ve read a bit about several mentioned people and groups mentioned in the book, and the writer tried to put effort into mentioned what they find relevant. A couple longer sidestories, where you are thinking ‘how is this relevant?’, until the culmination where you think ‘Ahh, okay I see now’. The time jumps and focus switches aren’t too confusing. Good book.
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Fiasco: Vigilante
- By: Leon Neyfakh, Prologue Projects
- Narrated by: Leon Neyfakh
- Original Recording
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In 1984, as a New York City subway train made its way downtown, a white man named Bernhard Goetz shot four unarmed Black teenagers he believed were going to rob him.
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Fascinating and intriguing.
- By Zazafraz on 16-12-24
- Fiasco: Vigilante
- By: Leon Neyfakh, Prologue Projects
- Narrated by: Leon Neyfakh
Fascinating and intriguing.
Reviewed: 16-12-24
A very thorough and deep dive into a controversial American case, dividing all people. One cannot listen without having an opinion oneself.
They did a great job fleshing out the many people involved, painting a picture for and against, and giving us the canvas of the world where this one train ride would change millions of lives.
You can kinda sense the narrator has his own opinion, but it mostly did not make him bias too much. He is mostly fair, but states his own views which I think makes for a better podcast.
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Ghost on the Throne
- The Death of Alexander the Great and the Bloody Fight for His Empire
- By: James S. Romm
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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When Alexander the Great died at the age of 32, his empire stretched from the Adriatic Sea in the west all the way to modern-day India in the east. In an unusual compromise, his two heirs - a mentally damaged half brother, Philip III, and an infant son, Alexander IV, born after his death - were jointly granted the kingship. But six of Alexander's Macedonian generals, spurred by their own thirst for power and the legend that Alexander bequeathed his rule "to the strongest," fought to gain supremacy.
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Better than Game of Thrones.
- By Tim H. on 18-09-21
- Ghost on the Throne
- The Death of Alexander the Great and the Bloody Fight for His Empire
- By: James S. Romm
- Narrated by: Michael Page
An important time in history.
Reviewed: 15-12-24
The aftermath aftee the death of one of history’s most discussed, controversial, revered, and straight up important people.
Fascinating to hear how many of the names which we know as giants in the future will truly take shape in this period. Incredibly fascinating subject, with many interesting pieces on a personal level, but a bit of a dry narration and some tough parts to go through. Very thorough and in-depth still. Enjoyed it.
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Young Al Capone
- The Untold Story of Scarface in New York, 1899-1925
- By: William Balsamo, John Balsamo
- Narrated by: Daniel May
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Many people are familiar with the story of Al Capone, the legendary Chicago gangster best known for orchestrating the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. But few are aware that Capone’s remarkable story began in the Navy Yard section of Brooklyn, New York. Tutored by the likes of infamous mobsters Johnny Torrio and Frankie Yale, young Capone’s disquieting demeanor, combined with the “technical advice” he learned from these shady teachers, contributed to the molding of a brutal criminal....
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Exciting!
- By Zazafraz on 03-12-24
- Young Al Capone
- The Untold Story of Scarface in New York, 1899-1925
- By: William Balsamo, John Balsamo
- Narrated by: Daniel May
Exciting!
Reviewed: 03-12-24
A window into the early world of one of the most notorious, recognizable, and infamous people in the world. A view on the fascinating man, and the violent and corrupt world he settled in, and dominated, told in a direct almost novel-like fashion.
So many names and stories I recognize, now given a face and story.
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