anasta
- 110
- reviews
- 56
- helpful votes
- 145
- ratings
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Murder in the Valleys
- Lambert and Havard, Book 1
- By: Pippa McCathie
- Narrated by: Gwen Watson
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Out walking near the rain-swelled river running past her small Welsh town, she comes across the body of Amber Morgan. Fabia’s police training tells her instantly that the death is the result of foul play. But no longer in the force, all she can do is call it in. Yet she has mixed feelings when she discovers it is her former colleague, Matt Lambert, newly promoted to chief inspector, who will head the investigation into the girl’s death.
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Quite a good tale
- By NJB on 08-11-20
- Murder in the Valleys
- Lambert and Havard, Book 1
- By: Pippa McCathie
- Narrated by: Gwen Watson
Not good
Reviewed: 10-01-25
Awful narration! Was the reader on a mission to finish asap? The Welsh pronunciation was right but some other words were not correct. The story was poor too...
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The Christmas Party
- By: Kathryn Croft
- Narrated by: Billie Piper, Avita Jay
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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When Sasha receives a call from her old university friend Gabby inviting her to spend Christmas at Gabby’s remote Scottish lake house, Sasha knows she shouldn’t go. Twelve years ago, on Christmas Eve, when Sasha and her five closest friends were celebrating the festive season, something truly horrific happened that would change the course of their friendship forever. Something that meant Sasha hasn’t spoken to any of them since that night.
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Decent storyline. Worth a listen.
- By D K Moffat on 21-11-24
- The Christmas Party
- By: Kathryn Croft
- Narrated by: Billie Piper, Avita Jay
Weird little story!
Reviewed: 13-12-24
The story never got any more believable nor less complicated the more it went on!
the narrator is not too bad, which is a bonus.
No more books by this author for me!
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The Winter Cottage
- Applemore Series, Book 1
- By: Rachael Lucas
- Narrated by: Helen Keeley
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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When Rilla Clark’s long lost father dies, she leaves New England and heads to his cottage in the Scottish Highlands to sort out his affairs. Rilla's determined that her visit will be a fleeting one. The little village of Applemore holds a lot of memories for her, but looking back might just open up her heart, which she’s kept well-guarded until now.
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Relatable characters in and very well read
- By Square Sparrow on 28-09-22
- The Winter Cottage
- Applemore Series, Book 1
- By: Rachael Lucas
- Narrated by: Helen Keeley
Cosy and utterly predictable!
Reviewed: 13-12-24
Great book for insomniacs as it is quite harmless and very predictable.
The performance by Helen Keeley was very good though.
May not read anything else by this author!
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One Good Thing
- By: Alexandra Potter
- Narrated by: Margaret Cabourn-Smith
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Liv Brooks is still in shock. Newly divorced and facing an uncertain future, she impulsively swaps her London Life for the sweeping hills of the Yorkshire Dales, determined to make a fresh start. But fresh starts are harder than they look and feeling lost and lonely, she decides to adopt Harry, an old dog from the local shelter, to keep her company. But Liv soon discovers she isn’t the only one in need of a new beginning.
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One Good Thing
- By Sometimes it's a Zebra 🦓 on 14-05-23
- One Good Thing
- By: Alexandra Potter
- Narrated by: Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Twee
Reviewed: 22-09-24
I thought that there were some aspects of this book which were fairly OK. The performance was good and saved the story I thought. Just glad I didn't read it and just listened to it.
It was weird that this author tried to put every life experience known to man in one book. Divorce, betrayal, moving home, giving up your job, new pet owner, finding long-lost people, missing people, long-lost romance, autism, loneliness, dementia, old-age, DNA testing, community life, mental health problems, teenage anxiety, etc etc etc!!!
Goodness me, there was enough material for 6 books here!
Some of the writing was good in its reflective aspects, but I think that this book was definitely NOT for me! Much too twee - too many loose-ends tied up for a sugary ending.
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The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
- By: Laura Pearson
- Narrated by: Penelope Freeman
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
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Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’. But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’. Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.
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Heartache, loss, love and life
- By Amazon Customer on 08-12-23
- The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
- By: Laura Pearson
- Narrated by: Penelope Freeman
Excellent story
Reviewed: 24-08-24
This book had unexpected twists and turns at the beginning but pretty soon I guessed the significance of the main plot.
It was well-written, good characters, good plot.
I liked the idea that the main protagonist was not young - and that things happen to older people!
I must say the narrator was amazing and did a fabulous job with the whole story. She performed it all so well and made it come to life. I would definitely read more from this author but also listen to this narrator again.
I like the different feel to this book and its POV is refreshing.
Would recommend.
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In Pale Battalions
- By: Robert Goddard
- Narrated by: Jilly Bond
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Six months after the sudden death of her husband, Leonora Galloway sets out on a trip to France with her daughter Penelope. At last the time has come when secrets can be shared and explanations begin.... Leonora takes her daughter to the battlefields of WW1, where her father is commemorated on the Thiepval Monument. But the date of his death is surprising, and reveals that Captain John Hallows cannot possibly have been Leonora's real father.
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Superb...
- By Mrs Maureen Cate on 18-10-19
- In Pale Battalions
- By: Robert Goddard
- Narrated by: Jilly Bond
Ok but over-complicated
Reviewed: 18-08-24
Was a bit convoluted in its plot formation....not for me! \
I am not sure I would want to read more of this author.
Fair play - the narrator did her best.
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The Custom of the Country
- By: Edith Wharton
- Narrated by: Lorna Raver
- Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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From New York to Europe, the apartments of the nouveau riche to ancient French estates, Edith Wharton tells the story of Undine Spragg, a girl from a Midwestern town with unquenchable social aspirations. Though Undine is narcissistic, pampered, and incredibly selfish, she is a beguiling heroine whose marital initiation into New York high society from its trade-wealthy fringes is only the beginning of her relentless ambitions.
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Stunning
- By mancbella on 13-02-17
- The Custom of the Country
- By: Edith Wharton
- Narrated by: Lorna Raver
Too long!
Reviewed: 18-08-24
Normally I enjoy Edith Wharton but this book was SO LONG!
I mean, if there is a moral to this story, one can see it about a third of the way through the book.
However, it is amusing and quite fun to listen to I guess.
The narrator was brilliant and performed the story very well indeed, I thought.
Maybe I shoul have abandoned it and not finished it [the ending was slightly strange!].
Overall...a bit disappointing.
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One Day
- By: David Nicholls
- Narrated by: Anna Bentinck
- Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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He is Dexter Mayhew, tall, dark, and (she can't deny it) handsome. She is Emma Morley, bottled red hair, wilfully badly dressed, all principles and no action. Could this be the dawn of the rest of their lives? Or are Dex and Em living proof that - despite an unlikely beginning - men and women really can be just good friends?
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You'll laugh, you'll cry.
- By Charles on 09-12-09
- One Day
- By: David Nicholls
- Narrated by: Anna Bentinck
Brilliant!
Reviewed: 31-07-24
I loved this book. I had read [for my book group] "You are here" so I perhaps should have started with this one.
I think the writing of David Nicholls is superb. The way he structures his stories, brings characters in and out of focus, surprises the reader with events and generally just uses words properly and excitingly.
The characters take over the plot and become so well-known to the reader that they are missed when the book finishes!
The narrator [Anna Bentinck] performs this book superbly and never forgets a character's nuances or accents. She is exceptional and does the book proud.
I shall go on with more David Nicholls' work but I think I heard in an interview that he only writes one book every 3-4 years...so hopefully there are enough to keep me heppy!
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The Love Letter
- By: Lucinda Riley
- Narrated by: Camilla Rockley
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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1995, London. When Sir James Harrison, one the greatest actors of his generation, passes away at the age of 95 he leaves behind not just a heartbroken family but also a secret so shocking, so devastating that it could rock the English establishment to its core. Joanna Haslam is an ambitious young journalist assigned to cover the legendary actor's funeral. The great and the good of the celebrity world are there. But Joanna stumbles on something dark beneath the glamour: the mention of a letter James Harrison has left behind, the contents of which others have been desperate to conceal for over 70 years.
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Ridiculous
- By susan harper on 19-11-18
- The Love Letter
- By: Lucinda Riley
- Narrated by: Camilla Rockley
Oh dear!
Reviewed: 11-07-24
Well, it is the sort of book which leaves me speechless, all for the wrong reasons!
It is about 5 hours too long - mainly because the intricacies of the convoluted plot are so tightly woven as to become completely incredible.
All the characters were flawed - did not believe in ANY of them! Even down to the old lady [same name!] from the Titanic film...and others named after [it seems] characters from other books. [Won't give anything away, see if you can spot them].
The book is heavy on coincidence which doesn't help the feeling of being totally unbelievable. It was almost like a soap opera in that "surely not all that drama [and so many necessary revelations] can happen in one book"....?
Quite a few grammatical errors - not sure how they were missed! By the way, I think the narrator did as good a job as she could...
This is my first [and last!] Lucinda Riley. So disappointed.
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The Guest
- By: Hilary Boyd
- Narrated by: Anna Cordell
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Kitty Cox is adjusting to a new life alone. She’s spent several years caring for her ailing husband but now she’s having to adjust to a life without him.When Kitty’s old friend Vee reappears in the village in desperate need of a place to stay, Kitty quickly sees an obvious solution to both their dilemmas. She invites Vee, her new partner Raf and young son Bear to move in with her for the summer.
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Excellent!
- By anasta on 23-06-24
- The Guest
- By: Hilary Boyd
- Narrated by: Anna Cordell
Excellent!
Reviewed: 23-06-24
Another triumph by Hilary Boyd!i
This author manages to write about people and their lives in an interesting and caring way.
She is aware of - and sympathetically writes about - the problems and foibles of people who are "past the first flush of youth" shall we say and that alone is refeshing. [Not everything is about people in their 20s - 40s!]
Most of the issues written about in this book are topical and relevant to society in general and that is brilliantly done.
The narration is also great and I felt it is worthy of a 5*
I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. Well done Hilary Boyd and well done Anna Cordell.
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