Discover Most Popular Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

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Title: The Confession

Author: Olen Steinhauer

Narrator: Robertson Dean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-25-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 110 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Inspector Ferenc Kolyeszar must track down a murderer while dealing with his crumbling marriage. As he is drawn deep into an underworld of betrayal and violence, he finds that he is not so different from those he pursues.

Critic Reviews:

"Simply brilliant....[A] well-crafted mystery that mixes murder and political intrigue with the human element....Robertson Dean's narration makes the listener's journey a bit more believable." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

very good very different

I think it is way past time for us to get some good writing out of the Eastern Block. They certainly have the sorrowful background for some soulful mysteries. This is a good start.

my 3rd Steinhauer

This is my 3rd listen to Steinhauer and I have to say I've enjoyed them all. He weaves a good story giving what seems to be a god depiction of life in the eastern bloc under communism. That life must have realy sucked for lots of people.

Heart-breaking, chilling and utterly engrossing

This is the fifth Steinhauer novel I've read (so far) and his best to date. Though if you're seeking light fare or a pleasant tale with a storybook ending, you might wait until you're ready for this novel. I'm continuously drawn to novels of this era if they're well written, and particularly with this book, Steinhauer is a masterful storyteller, drawing rich characters. I caught myself scowling many times as I went through the main character's trials- getting totally caught up in the story. It's a rare novelist- and a rare novel- that can get me so engrossed.

I only wish that stories of this era, and the madness they stemmed from and the madness they inflicted, with the worst failings of humankind on display, were a thing of the past. But as long as power can intoxicate its wielders, it always has the potential to perverse and subjugate. Or maybe I'm just writing this too soon after the reading and it's all too fresh in my mind.

interesting - but rather unlikable main character

I really enjoyed Olen Steinhauer's The Tourist. In contrast, The Confession is engaging but the central character is not particularly likable although the eastern bloc background is interesting - in particular the role of the US ultimately deserting the cause of the resistance in Hungary. Pretty grim reading.

very disappointing

Would you try another book from Olen Steinhauer and/or Robertson Dean?

no

Would you ever listen to anything by Olen Steinhauer again?

no

Any additional comments?

I found the book to be cliche-ridden and the historical setting superficial---in spite of the fuss there was no organic relationship between these characters and the

Hungarian uprising. They spoke and acted as if they had come straight from an American cop show. The whole thing was formulaic and fairly low brow. I wish I could get my credit back.

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Title: The Painter of Battles

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Arturo Perez-Reverte

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-08-08

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Andres Faulques, a world-renowned war photographer, has retired to a life of solitude on the Spanish coast. He spends his days painting a huge mural that pays homage to history's classic works of war art and that incorporates a lifetime of disturbing images.

One night, an unexpected visitor arrives at Faulques' door and challenges the painter to remember him. As Faulques struggles to recall the face, the man explains that he was the subject of an iconic photo taken by Faulques in a war zone years ago.

"And why have you come looking for me?" asks Faulques. The stranger answers, "Because I'm going to kill you."

This story transports Faulques to the time when he crossed continents to capture conflicts on film with his lover, Olvido, at his side. Until she walked into his life, Faulques muses, he had believed he would survive both war and women.

As the tense dialogue between Faulques and his visitor continues, the stakes grow ever higher. What they are grappling with quickly proves to be not just Faulques' fate but the very nature of human love and cruelty itself, in this stunning composition on morality. Superb and tautly written, The Painter of Battles is a deeply affecting audiobook about life and art.

Members Reviews:

grim reality

This not the usual action-packed Perez-Reverte and the subject is hard to take at times, but it is a clever way to set up a dialog about war and the baser aspects of humanity and has enough suspense to carry you along. This is definitely the right voice for this book.

Just OK

I really like some of the authors books and don't like others, this comes in the middle.

Any book that brings up the "butterfly effect" more than once will lose my interest and I believe I heard it 4-5 times. I lost interest in the art and painting comparison's and life and reality.

I even fast forwarded though parts of this book mostly toward the end when I was bored. Usually if I FF I will give a book only 1-2 stars so there are redeeming qualities.

I liked the talk about photography, how to frame a picture and why and how to set the lens to capture the light just right. I like how Faulques and Olvido shoot the same war but choose to show different subject matter.

Simon Vance is a great narrator and his work on this book is no different.

Painter of Battles

The narration is confusing at times as the accents or voices of the characters switch around in a way as not to know who is speaking. The 2 characters have distinct voices but the narrative speaker wasn't distinctive enough so you knew who was talking.

well done.

fascinating look into war from a different but very relative angle. great perspective, makes one think

The Painter of Battles

Very disappointed in the ending- I got involved with the charters but this ended in a hurry like the author lost steam -

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Title: The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood

Author: Susan Wittig Albert

Narrator: Virginia Leishman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 12-21-07

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 81 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Best-selling author Susan Wittig Albert has delighted fans of all ages with her Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter.

Members Reviews:

Loved it.

Following a series is always fun. I love escaping into the world of nature with a little fairyland added. Albert does a wonderful job weaving her plot into the world of animals and fairies into this one.

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Title: Sovereign

Author: C. J. Sansom

Narrator: Anton Lesser

Format: Abridged

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-14-07

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Already in the city are lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant, Jack Barak. As well as assisting with the legal work of processing petitions to the king, Shardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission: to ensure the welfare of an important but dangerous conspirator being returned to London for interrogation.

But the murder of a local glazier involves Shardlake in deeper mysteries, connected not only to the prisoner in York Castle but to the royal family itself. As the king and the Great Progress arrive in the city, Barak stumbles upon a terrifying secret, and a chain of events unfolds that will lead Shardlake to the most terrifying fate a subject of Henry VIII can fear: his own imprisonment in the Tower of London.

Critic Reviews:

"Anton Lesser performs with marvellous versatility, helped by Sansom's sure touch for voicing telling detail with simple directness." (The Times)

Members Reviews:

Great historical crime series

This is a wonderful series set in Tudor England. Sansom captures exactly the right mix of historical authenticity and modern sensibility. The narrator is fantastic. I love his voice and he does a wonderful job of conveying character with subtlety.

Another stunning performance

An enjoyable and plausible historical mystery which is enhanced massively by Anton Lesser's wonderful delivery

An enjoyable tale

Well written and narrated, with an entertaining plot, the book falls a bit short of great. I like a richer historical context, or more character development, but I recommend it.

No holiday

Poor Matthew Shardlake is forced by Cranmer to go north to meet up with the Procession of Henry VIII and his unfortunate queen of the moment, Catherine Howard. Henry is to accept the homage of the northern lords after a failed northern uprising is brutally supressed. Shardlake and Barrak, his clerk, are to go to York to meet up with the royal procession, review petitions and to see that a rebel prisoner is brought safely back to London for questioning. The task is complicated by attempts on his life and on the life of the prisoner.

The plot is gripping and the detail about the politics of time is enlightening. The feeling of the uncertainty and cheapness of life in Henry's reign is shown as well as that of the people of the court who may rise and fall on a whim of an irascible monarch.

Brilliantly read by Anton Lesser who brings all the characters to life. This is another of the excellent books in the series by CJ Samson about Matthew Shardlake, the reign of Henry VIIIth and the beginning of the English Protestant movement.

Well worth a listen for history or crime fans

I have read "Dark Fire" by C J Sansom and thoroughly enjoyed it, so thought I would try listening to "Sovereign." It is an excellent book, and although I am not an expert, it feels historically accurate. I always enjoy descriptions of the minutiae of life in Tudor times, and C J Sansom has a real art with this. Whilst some parts are gruesome, this is a reflection of the time, so relevant and not gratuitous. The character of Shardlake is well drawn and the twists in the tale keep you guessing. Until I started listening to audio books I had not realised what a difference a reader can make to the story, and Anton Lesser's voice is perfect for the topic.

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Title: The Accusers

Author: Lindsey Davis

Narrator: Jamie Glover

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 04-15-05

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 160 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Fresh from his trip to Britain, Falco needs to re-establish his presence in Rome. A minor role in the trial of a senator entangles him in the machinations of Silius Italicus and Paccius Africanus, two real-life lawyers at the top of their trade. These notorious ex-consuls play a dangerous game, where success brings rich pickings but a mistrial or a wrong verdict entails huge financial penalties. The senator is convicted but then dies, apparently by suicide. However, Silius hires Falco and his young associates to prove it was murder.

©2003 Lindsey Davis (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"Jamie Glover is delightful as the indomitable Falco." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

An Imperial Treasure

You can't go wrong with Falco. He wants to be a ruthless hard case but his tender heart won't let him....his tender heart and Helena, the love of his life! This case shows a more intellectual side to Falco. As usual he is bruised, but Falco also wins some kind of victory in the end. Jamie Glover does a fine job with the narration.

Love this series!

I have read and re-read the books, and now am having fun listening to them on audio. Great narration! These novels have a little bit of something for everyone- they're good mysteries, they're an interesting look at the Roman Empire, and the main character is funny. Smart, but also light and entertaining. So far there has only been one book in the series I haven't absolutely loved.

Repetitive.

What did you like best about The Accusers? What did you like least?

This one had a plot hole.

If youve listened to books by Lindsey Davis before, how does this one compare?

The first 2 books in the series are awesome.

Not the best of Falco

I don't care much for Jamie Glover - there are better narrators in the series. My particular favorite is Christian Rodska. This particular book got tied up in the legal intricasies of Roman Law. It was really an inheritance case and all the scam the lawyer do to exact more money from clients and estates -- sort of the Roman Version of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. None of the characters are particular appealing and I felt the book dragged on way longer than was necessary. The author really padded it out and there was little meat in it. There really was not any suspense or mystery in this book. Basically I was prettty disapointed in the title and was bored with the book. If you are Falco devotee then you will marginally enjoy it. It you are just getting started with Falco go for Silver Pigs - more exciting -- or Three Hands in a Fountain.

Love this series

Falco et al, have developed since the start of this series. Mystery and humor are always there. Even though different narrator Jamie Glover did a fine job. Falco his wife Helena and the rest of the crew have developed since start of series. Davis always keeps you guessing. Love this series.

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Title: Jane and His Lordship's Legacy

Author: Stephanie Barron

Narrator: Kate Reading

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-06-05

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 102 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is July 1809, and Jane is just beginning to emerge from her grief over her lost love, Lord Harold Trowbridge. When, moving with her mother and sister into a cottage on her brother's estate in Chawton, Hampshire, she begins to revise one of her first manuscripts, determined to honor Lord Trowbridge's confidence in her work, a corpse is suddenly discovered in the cellar. Who killed Henry French? And what does his death have to do with the stolen Chawton Emeralds? Jane can't keep her mind off the mystery, even though someone who will stop at nothing to secure a fortune is lurking just out of sight.

©2005 Stephanie Barron (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"As usual, Barron has masterfully imitated Austen's voice." (Publishers Weekly) "Barron's latest, featuring plenty of drawing-room intrigue and long-buried family secrets, will continue to please both historical-mystery readers and the ever-going Austen fan club." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Love this book

I love the stories about Jane Austen Stephanie Barron writes, even though they are fictional. If you are a Jane Austen lover you will love this book. Kate Reading is the best reader out there.

OK, Good, and Great.

It's OK with me if a good book is the step child of a great one. The Jane series is very satisfying. Although I'm not crazy about the narrator, I love the pace and language, and I will be delighted when another comes along.

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Title: Guardian of the Horizon

Subtitle: The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 16

Author: Elizabeth Peters

Narrator: Barbara Rosenblat

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-04

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A lost journal of Amelia Peabody has been miraculously recovered: a chronicle from one of the "missing years", 1907-1908, shedding light on an already exceptional career...and an unexpected terror.

Ousted from their most recent archaeological dig and banned forever from the Valley of the Kings, the Emersons are spending a quiet summer at home in Kent, England, when a mysterious messenger arrives. Claiming to be the teenage brother of their dear friend, Tarek, he brings troubling news of a strange malady that has struck down Tarek's heir and conveys his brother's urgent need for help only the Emersons can provide.

The family sets off in secret for the mountain fortress from which they narrowly escaped 10 years before. The Emersons are unaware that deception and treachery are leading them onward into a nest of vipers, where a dreadful fate may await. For young Ramses, forced to keep his growing love for the beautiful Nefret secret, temptation along the way may prove his ultimate undoing. And a dark past and grim obligation have ensnared Nefret once again, as she is helpless to save those she loves most from the prison of the Lost Oasis.

Rich with suspense, surprises, unforgettable characters, and the intoxicating atmosphere that has earned her the coveted title of Grand Master two times over, the remarkable Elizabeth Peters proves once again that in the world of historical adventure fiction, she is truly without peer.

Critic Reviews:

"Peters, as her many accolades would suggest, knows precisely what she is doing as she spins a tale of romance, derring-do, bravery, and, of course, deceptions, betrayals, and disguises in the classic tradition of H. Rider Haggard, if with tongue often in cheek." (Publishers Weekly)

"A highly entertaining entry in a series that continues to delight." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Perplexed

It's a great story line. I enjoy all of these books. This was my first time listening to an abridged version. Not my favorite version, I like to hear every detail. So if like it short and sweet it will work for you.

I love "Peabody" and "Emerson" and family

Many more than three chears for Elizabeth Peters and Guardian of the Horizon. Almost as much fun as the book itself is the intro by the "editor" of Amelia Peabody's journals. And the use of "Manuscript H" written by Ramses. In this story they go back to the hidden valley per a perported request by King Tarreg (not sure of spelling of his name). As usual, Peabody and her parasol get into the thick of things, which aren't as expected. Emerson sputters and plays his excellent roll as "Father of Curses". Ramses is a grown son, but not yet married. He is still in a quandry over whether or not to tell Nefrett that he loves her, as David keeps urging. The "Master Criminal" plays an important role as well. Lots of intrigue and parasol weilding and good laughs. I highly recommend this series, this author, and this narrator. Barbara Rosenblat nails the personalities of the various characters.

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Title: Nemesis

Author: Lindsey Davis

Narrator: Christian Rodska

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 110 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the high summer of 77 AD, Roman informer Marcus Didius Falco is beset by personal problems. A middle-aged couple who supplied statues to his father have disappeared. They had an old feud with a bunch of notorious freedmen, the Claudii, who terrorize the neighborhood. When a mutilated corpse turns up, Falco and his friend Petronius investigate. But just as they are making progress, the Chief Spy, Anacrites, snatches the case away. He makes false overtures of friendship, but fails to cover up the fact that the Claudii have acquired corrupt protection at the highest level. Falco and Petronius dig deeper while the shocking truth creeps closer and closer to home.

Members Reviews:

Everyman's Rome

I love Falco. Such a wisecracking everyman in a Roman Tunic. I am fascinated by the life of Rome woven through the books without hitting you over the head with the research. The plots are interesting, the writing is wonderful, and Christian Rodska is the perfect Falco. This was the first I bought and I am completely hooked.

The Best Falco Yet

After having read all the Falco novels, I must say that Nemesis is the best yet. It takes a slightly darker turn, and although sated, wanting more. Loose ends are tied, and one in particular. This pleased me enormously.

As to the narration -- just as Simon Vance IS Ruso in Ruth Downie's novels, Christian Rodska IS Falco to me. I enjoyed the radio plays led by Andrew Lesser, but the single voice unabridged books read by Mr. Rodska are much more fulfilling!

A fitting end to a wonderful series

What did you like best about this story?

The characters and their relationships are so rich and textured. For someone who has been reading the series since the beginning, they are old friends whose actions have nuance and moral ambiguity

Any additional comments?

This is not the place for new readers of Falco, or even ones who have read only a couple of the books. This is a valediction to a series and will resonate best for those who have been fellow travelers over the years.

If you've been following Falco et al......

I found this to be the best so far, so many questions about characters are answered. There is a fantastic ending in the last two minuets, that I will not spoil for anyone who has followed Falco, Helena and the crew. I promise you this was the best, I really hope that Lindsy Davis creates more, to follow this. I'm so hooked.

Wonderful

I adore Marcus Dudius Falco. The entire cast of characters, even the bad guys, is well developed and very entertaining. The plot was a bit more convoluted than usual but as always, Ms Davis played fair with the clues. The best kind of mystery, IMHO, is the one that you enjoy listening to as it unfolds, even if some parts are not surprising. It isn't just the destination but the journey! The usual Falco humor is there too. I wasn't too sure about Christian Rodska as the narrator in the first Falco book I bought but now I can't imagine anyone else playing the assorted parts, especially Falco. This book does have an interesting surprise at the end. I can't wait for the next book in the series to see what happens!

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Title: The Poe Shadow

Author: Matthew Pearl

Narrator: Erik Singer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-15-06

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 107 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

As Quentin explores the puzzling circumstances and unanswered questions of Poe's demise, he realizes that he must find the one person who can help: the real-life model for Poe's brilliant fictional detective character, C. Augustine Dupin, the hero of ingenious tales of crime and detection. Soon Quentin finds himself enmeshed in sinister machinations involving international political agents and the lost secrets of Poe's final hours, and must himself turn master investigator to escape Poe's grisly fate.

Drawing on original, groundbreaking research, the best-selling author of The Dante Club has once again crossed literary history with sublime craftsmanship and devious twists to create a beautifully detailed, ingeniously plotted tale of suspense.

Includes Matthew Pearl's exclusive audio afterword on the truth behind Poe's death!

Critic Reviews:

"Exciting plot, numerous twists, and convincing period detail." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Two hours too long

I enjoyed The Dante Club. This book has a bit of the same intrigue, but the plot goes off on tangents that leave you not caring at all what happens. The narrator (in the book) of the story is stilted and overly-analytical. The reader is fine. The ending is interesting, and the interview with the author is worth the listen.

I wanted to like it...

I was first introduced to Mathew Pearl through The Dante Club, and absolutely loved it. I've listened to two more of his books since then, The Poe Shadow included, and while I felt the concept had merit, as other reviewers have indicated, the story was way too long. So many of the details could have been omitted without any harm coming to the story, and ultimately, I had a hard time caring about what was taking place. I kept waiting for a wow moment that would pull it all together and make it worth the length, but it never happened. The protagonist spent the entire length of the book fighting to uncover the mystery behind Poe's death, but the reason behind his obsession was never fully validated, in my mind. I won't give up on Pearl, but I won't blindly follow, either.

Pointless, I'm afraid

I enjoyed the Dante Club and hoped this book would be similarly appealing. To a certain extent, the historical aspects of this book are interesting. Pearl has done a good job of imagining a historical period and populates the book with colorful characters. The narrator, as another review pointed out, does a good job of voicing the various accents. But unfortunately, some good parts do not make up a worthwhile whole. As Pearl himself practically concedes in his remarks at the end of this audiobook, there's no real point to the characters' actions or efforts and there is little recognizable narrative cohesion or direction. All the more infuriating, this very pointlessness and lack of cohesion appears to have some lit-crit significance to the author. My suggestion to authors who want to convey similar messages: do it in a journal, not a 13 hour audiobook novel.

Tedious

I shold've known, in comparing the reviews of the unabridged vs. abridged versions of this audio book. I plowed through this, it was tedious. The author clearly has put in a great deal of research and thought into this book. It needed a good edit for length.

Erik Singer's reading of the novel was outstanding, his grasp of accents very good.

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Title: A Game of Bones

Subtitle: The Privateersman Mysteries, Volume 6

Author: David Donachie

Narrator: Peter Wickham

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-12-10

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

1796 The long-awaited return of the Bucephalas to the safety of Cinque Ports is interrupted by a disastrous engagement in the Channel.

The looming shape of a merchantman becalmed in fog presents an almost irresistible allure. But for Harry Ludlow and his battle-weary crew, the pursuit of one last easy prize leads to a desperate fight. Yet, it is events closer to home that present the greatest danger.

As the Bucephalas seeks refuge in the Solent, the red flags fluttering from the topmasts signal that His Majestys Navy has reached a state of full mutiny.

Members Reviews:

Did David Donachie tire of writing the Privateetsman Mystery series?

Why did Donachie Privateer Mysteries end with this Game of Thrones book right in the middle of Harry Ludlow's career? I've really gotten into them and don't understand why they ended. It would seem there are materials after the Great Mutiny to contribute to another dozen books as he is still relatively young! Anyone know?

Intrigue and action, but little mystery and no brother

When privateersman Captain Harry Ludlow and his socialite brother James Ludlow return to Britain to find the fleets at Spithead and the Nore in mutiny, Harry assumes James will want to be in the middle of the action. James puts Harry in his place by informing him that Portsmouth is hardly the center of things and heads for London. I always found James a distraction, and probably enjoyed his time in London even more than he did.

Unlike some of the other books in this series, this one's less of a mystery and more of a spy novel. It further develops the impetuous and manipulative character of Harry Ludlow, and sees him negotiating with everyone: local smugglers, able seaman, through half the admiralty and even William Pitt himself. This installment also has more action, including a combined land/sea battle in a river with galleys and ships.

Like most of the other sea heroes (Alan Lewrie, Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey, in particular), Harry's luck on land is not what it is at sea. Although in this book, it could be argued Harry makes his own "luck" at sea and on land.

Read the first five of these books first. They tell one long story in episodes, much like other nautical fiction series. After Aubrey, Kydd and Hornblower, Harry Ludlow's my favorite sea officer. The novels move along with crisp dialogue and excellent nautical action. The fourth Thomas Paine Kydd book, "Mutiny", by Julian Stockwin, covers the same events from a rather different perspective, and I think gives a better perspective on the mutiny itself.

Book No. 6 in a series

This is novel No. 6 in a series about Privateersman Harry Ludlow. The author assumes you have read previous books in the series, as references are made to previous events without clearly explaining them. Most of the action takes place on land or aboard moored ships.

Much of the plot material has been used before. Patrick Obrien's novel "Post Captain" found Captain Aubrey in debt after his bank failed, and sent him on a quest for prize money to satisfy his debts. Various novels have included fictional accounts of the mutinies at Spithead and the Nore (See C.