Discover New Releases Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Green Man

Author: Kate Sedley

Narrator: Robbie MacNab

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-18-08

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

But a series of sinister events, centred round the mythical Green Man, makes Roger question Albany's true motive for requesting his presence. Then, once in Edinburgh, he is required to investigate a murder - and begins to realise that his own life could be in danger.

Members Reviews:

My Initial Encounter With Roger Chapman

I've been reading historical mysteries for years. Many authors are good, some are great, few make me anticipate another work by the same author mid-listen. Yet this was the case with The Green Man. It is well written. It is also true to the voice and character of it's historical figures. More than that, it's a fun book to be swallowed by. I pretty much guessed the main course of both mysteries, but not any of the details.

You don't need to know anything about Glouchester or Albany because Sedley presents their true characters accurately. She accurately sets the political scene and the social scene of England and Scotland in 1482 without being pedantic. I thoroughly enjoyed The Green Man and am looking forward to hearing The Three Kings of Cologne.

Good

This book takes place a few years into the married life of Roger Chapman, the chapman (peddler). The plot is a bit different from the other books but interesting. A pleasant book to listen to while sitting in traffic.

Kate Sedley fan dissapointed.

I love the Roger the Chapman series by Kate Sedley. I've been collecting them since I first discovered them a few years ago, and as a woman from Somerset, who knows Bristol well, I have been thrilled with each adventure. I was excited to see The Green Man as an audio book. I know quite a bit about both Scotland, and the Green Man in all of his forms (most especially in the West Country) ....but this book failed me. Roger was not quite his usual self, the story limped along until it reached the mystery portion, and even then, it lacked the lustre and feel of her other novels. So sad. I think Kate Sedley was trying to cash in on the whole Dan Brown phenomenon of a few years ago ...it fell flat. She was also somewhat insulting to the Green Man followers ....so perhaps her research was not as fine this time.

The reading was good. Solid reading, very well done by Robbie McNab.

If this is your first Kate Sedley ...her other books are SO much better. The mysteries well done, the descriptions are wonderful, she has the ability to transport you into the past . She just didn't quite make it in this book, sadly.

A serious disappointment

I've enjoyed much of Sedley's "Roger the Chapman" series up to this point. Unfortunately "The Green Man" is not at all up to her usual standard.

Roger seems a shadow of himself: he makes ridiculous mistakes (repeatedly putting his life in the hands of people whom he has good reason to mistrust), fails to draw conclusions that are patently obvious to the reader/listener, and is significantly less likable than in previous books. There is none of his usual compassion and kindness to offset his brusque manner and his nosiness, and his attitude towards the female characters he encounters loses a lot of the sympathy that he's built up with this listener over previous books.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Stratton's War

Author: Laura Wilson

Narrator: Sean Barrett, Anna Bentinck

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 08-26-08

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

As he starts asking questions, it becomes clear that Morgan's fatal fall may have been the work of one of Soho's most notorious gangsters. When Stratton's path crosses with MI5 agent Diana Calthrop, they uncover a criminal network and a secretive pro-Fascist organisation.

It soon becomes clear that the intrigues of the Secret Service are alarmingly similar to the machinations of war-torn London's underworld.

Critic Reviews:

"A compelling and wonderfully atmospheric murder mystery deftly woven into Blitz-era London." (Robert Goddard)

"Wilson's seventh novel is atmospheric and exciting." (Observer)

"A gritty work of imagination that has the ache and authenticity of the real thing." (Literary Review)

Members Reviews:

undervalued crime fiction for social history buffs

From doodle bugs and MI5 to Teddy Boys, Billy Graham and the bomb - it's all there in the background of this series.

I finished the four in the series to date. Each gets stronger as novel, though the central crime involved may make one more interesting than another to you. The novels can be read as stand alones, each with enough backstory but not too repetitive in that respect, as some series can be.

There are good WW2 (and then 1950s) setting details, comparable to WWI Maise Dobbs series, except Stratton is an ordinary detective inspector, with very ordinary human failings --kind of a Rebus in a historical setting, though Wilson doesn't approach the inventiveness of an Ian Rankin ( but then either did Rankin in his first half dozen novels). Good dialogue.

These are not edge-of-seat thrillers, but there is some gristle - though never for shock value (# 3 had the most detail of corpses and post-mortems). There are a few but spare R rated words. Sex is obliquely handled, with nothing explicit, but there are some adult themes, adding to the realism. LG issues are treated sympathetically, but in character for the time.

This probably won't be a long drawn out series: The first is set in 1940; second jumps to 1944; then 1953 and 1956, respectively -- all rich with the gritty daily grind in WW2 and aftermath London, something we North Americans need to be aware of to understand Britain.

Narrator Sean Barrett is a this very best as Stratton and handles all the characters well.

A surprising gem of a story

I Really did like this book, the narration moves from the male to the female character with elegance and the story is believable with each character well set for his station and time and I must add, intelligent. Even the ending was realistic. So many stories forget there provenance by trying to end with a big boom! And some of the best just dont. They end when the story is over. Well done, I will be looking for this author again!

Brilliant

I am very impressed with this author; my first book by her. I enjoyed all aspects of the story and particularly enjoyed the setting. Realy first class !

Start of a long series?

Laura Wilson's website indicates that Ted Stratton is going to be around for some time. I for one am very pleased about that as I found this book and the follow up 'An Empty Death'very absorbing. Unfortunately I read them the wrong way round!

But can recommend them as a jolly good read, (to use a term from the era!)

Good 'read'

Good atmosphere, nice character build ups but a few too many clich?s.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: City of the Dead

Author: Ian Morson

Narrator: Gordon Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-12-08

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 23 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Zuliani jumps at the chance, but he regrets his decision when he becomes embroiled in solving the murder of the man Alberoni was seeking. Sneaking into the Inner Palace - where discovery means instant death - he begins to unravel the threads of deceit and corruption at the heart of the Mongol Empire. Soon Zuliani realises he is the one most in danger.

Critic Reviews:

"Already well-known for his Falconer series set in Oxford, Ian Morson has found a new and unique character in his Niccolo Zuliani . . . written with his usual combination of authenticity and panache, it takes the medieval historical novel into Central Asia for the first time." (Bernard Knight)

"City of the Dead is a wonderfully atmospheric tale, bursting with colour and dark intrigue. Very highly recommended" (Susanna Gregory)

This brilliant new series from the historical crime writer Ian Morson brings fresh life to the legend of Kubilai Khan. A must for all historical buffs - (Mike Jecks)

Members Reviews:

Lively!

This character is in one of the stories from the Audible book "Sword Of Shame". This book takes place right after that story. It was quite enjoyable. The narrator does an excellent job with several very exotic voices. I enjoyed the characters very much. The plot was a bit twisted yet it was fun to listen to Nick sort it all out.

The descriptions of the exotic Mongol kingdom of Kubli Khan give the story depth. A good read.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Iron Tongue of Midnight

Author: Beverle Graves Myers

Narrator: Geoffrey Blaisdell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 04-23-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The countryside is awash with the golden hues of autumn, but the bucolic mood quickly turns menacing when a notorious figure from Tito's past turns up at the villa. That night, at the stroke of 12, a soprano stumbles over a stranger who has been beaten to death with the clock pendulum.

With the local constable away on a boar hunt, the midnight murderer strikes with impunity, raising terror to a fevered crescendo. Tito must pursue his own quest for answers, a quest that leads straight into the painful secrets of his heart and beyond.

Critic Reviews:

"Tito proves himself a lively narrator, and fans of cozier period puzzles and Italian opera will enjoy his company as well as the book's appealingly bucolic, autumnal setting." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Flamboyant!

and delightful! I wasn't prepared to enjoy these books as much as I have. They seem a bit "overwrought" at first but one gets into the "groove" after an hour or so. This is the second of Tito's adventures for me. I enjoy them very much. After I'm done I am almost surprised I've not heard Tito singing gloriously up to the angels. Good story, well written, dealing with Venice which hasn't been done to death. I loved it!

This should have been great!

From the synopsis I expected "The Iron Tongue" to be exactly the kind of historical mystery tale that I most enjoy. Sadly however, the narrator's voice and the author's prose combined in a way that just couldn't hold my attention. I kept losing track of the characters and the plot, and eventually just gave up. Try some Roberta Gellis or Martin Stephen instead.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Seven for a Secret

Subtitle: A John the Eunuch Mystery

Author: Mary Reed, Eric Mayer

Narrator: James Adams

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-15-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Had the mysterious woman truly been the model for the mosaic years before, as she claimed? Who was she? Who wanted her dead and why? The answers seem to lie among the denizens of the smoky streets of that quarter of Constantinople known as the Copper Market, where artisans, beggars, prostitutes, pillar saints, and exiled aristocrats struggle to survive within sight of the Great Palace and yet worlds distant. Before long, John suspects he is attempting to unravel not just a murder but also a plot against the empire.

Critic Reviews:

"The authors get everything right in their latest historical. The story is fast paced, the tensions between characters well portrayed; the ending leaves the reader clamoring for more." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Very Good

Very well drawn characters and an excellent sense of place make this book an enjoyable. It illuminates a period of time that hasn't been overly exploited by popular culture. The mystery part of the book was very good:)

It's just like the mural in the book!

This book really fascinated me, as its theme was about a woman who appeared in a mural. It shows research into how murals are made, but in the meantime, the book itself is a mural, with each element being one little piece of the puzzle, but leaving the reader unsure where it fits into the puzzle. I thought the book was excellent in its portrayal of the period and of the way it drew out the mystery. Highly recommended.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Trip Wire

Author: Charlote Carter

Narrator: Lizzie Cooper Davis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-15-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 1.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

This suspenseful novel goes back to Chicago after the social and political upheavals of the Summer of Love, when three unassuming sleuths began working on a startling new case.

©2004 Charlotte Carter; (P)2007 Recorded Books

Members Reviews:

The Setting Shines, Mystery is Only Okay

The setting for this mystery story is in 1968, Chicago. Cassandra Perry moves away from his uncle and auntâs home to a commune, where she considers all the members her good friends, in the beginning. When two members of the commune are murdered, Cassandra takes it upon herself to find the killers, despite the fact that, however intelligent, she is gullible and inexperienced in life and with interpersonal relationships.

Despite her rebelliousness, Cassandraâs aunt and uncle help her along the way, making a deal with her for her to return home once the murders are solved. The details of the mystery and other relationship facts in the plot are up to the reader to find out.

The background of Chicago and the time of the story with its racial and political upheavals are skillfully shown, without them overcrowding the plot. Yet, the storytelling especially in the beginning was a little less than desirable. I also found the different and quirky secondary characters to be more interesting and relatable than the main character. The ending of the story, however, is a twist with complications and very well told.

Murder mystery set in Chicago during the summer of love

It's Chicage, 1968, the summer of love. Cassandra Perry, early 20s, has moved out of her Aunt Ivy and Uncle Woody Lisle's place and into an integrated commune. Cassandra and the other members smoke lots of dope, listen to music (she enjoys Hendrix), and protest the Vietnam War. Their tight-knit, happy household is rocked when two members are found gruesomely murdered. Displaying anger and purpose, Cassandra resolves to expose their killer. She uncovers a possible police coverup and a militant black group aiding in the desertion of black soldiers. The commune members begin to suspect each other. Despite a somewhat slow start, once the narrative gains traction, events spill out at a satisfying pace. I liked the several surprising twists and Cassandra becomes a sympathetic, hip protagonist. This is a perceptive, intelligent read good for a few hours of engrossing pleasure.

A Light Summer Read...

Continuing with the characters introduced in Jackson Park, Charlotte Carter returns to 1968 Chicago where an older Cassandra Perry is caught up in the "hippie" lifestyle popular during that era. She is a rebel having moved from the protective home of her aunt and uncle into a multi-cultural commune where vegetarian diets, free love, and an endless supply of drugs are the norm. She is playing "grown up" and her latest decision is to drop out of college - an act that would break her family's heart.

Things quickly change when the lead interracial couple of the commune is brutally murdered and the commune members become the prime suspects. Common for her generation, trust in the police is eroded by years of corruption, racism, and apathy, so she starts her own investigation into the death of her friends.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Zugzwang

Author: Ronan Bennett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-18-07

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Meanwhile, he finds himself preoccupied by two new patients: Anna Petrovna, a society beauty plagued with nightmares, with whom he is inappropriately falling in love, and the troubled genius Rozental, a brilliant but fragile chess master on the verge of a complete breakdown. As Dr. Spethmann is drawn deeper into the murderous intrigue, he finds that he, his patients, and his daughter may all be pawns in a game larger in scope than anything he could have imagined.

Zugzwang is a masterfully written novel packed with cliffhangers, romance, unforgettable characters, and a plot that keeps listeners guessing to the very end.

Critic Reviews:

"The plot packs more than enough surprises to keep any suspense junkie sated." (Publishers Weekly)

"Readers who love Anna Karenina as much as they enjoy a gripping mystery will find a little slice of heaven here." (Booklist)

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Secret Supper

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Javier Sierra

Narrator: Simon Jones

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-15-06

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Milan, 1497: Leonardo is completing "The Last Supper". Pope Alexander VI is determined to execute him after realizing that the painting contains clues to a baffling and blasphemous message that he is driven to decode. The Holy Grail and the Eucharistic Bread are missing, there is no meat on the table, and the apostles, shockingly, are portraits of well-known heretics and none of them are depicted with halos. And why has the artist painted himself into the scene with his back turned toward Jesus? The clues to Leonardo's greatest puzzle are right before your eyes.

Critic Reviews:

"A fresh contribution to the da Vinci industry." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

The Last Supper's Hidden Message

I love this story of the Last Supper and the hidden message in the painting. In the midst of religious Italy

Leonardo da Vinci is completing his painting on a wall at the Santa Maria Monastery in Milan, so it can't be moved or changed, while the Church is trying to decode his "blasphemous" message, which introduces the spiritual church replacing the

temporal church and all its controls. The interesting history and practices of the Cathars is woven into

the story. Also, after reading this book you will want to have the painting to study. I ordered mine,

a 30x40 of the original painting from Great Big Canvas as a decal, so I could attach it to my wall for the

proper effect, making sure to have the one with the knot on the tablecloth. After reading this story,

and listening to the DVD (my favorite version) you will never look at this painting in the same way.

A good read, I could hardly put this book down

A good read, I could hardly put this book down. I want to read more from this author. His theory of Da Vinci's "Last Supper" is most convincing, as is his sympathetic treatment of the Cathars. I highly recommend this book!

Lower your expectations....

I am a fan of the recent spate of historical mysteries. Put the words Templar or Grail in the title, and I'm going to take a look.

Saying that, I was disappointed in this book.

Brief summary, no spoiler:

This is the story of Agostino Leyre, a Papal Inquisitor who is telling the story of his assignment to investigate Leonardo DaVinci, and his painting of The Last Supper (the Cenacolo).

This was a time of religious intrigue and violence, and anyone who opposed the Catholic Church was deemed a heretic and subject to horrible punishment. In order to express their beliefs, many artists used symbols in their works, both as messages to their followers and future audiences.

This book does a good job of explaining some of the mysteries surrounding the Last Supper. You learn a lot about the Cathars, and about what life was like in the time of DaVinci.

However, perhaps partly because this is a translation, I found this book slow-going. I had to push myself to finish, even though I was curious how Sierra was going to resolve his "puzzle".

I ended up thinking that Sierra gives an interesting and enlightening interpretation of what he believes DaVinci was trying to say in his masterpiece; but the puzzle was very convoluted and there is no way the reader could've figured it out on his own.

Overall, I am glad I read this book. I learned a lot. But I was often bored, and thought the hype surrounding this book didn't serve it well.

Recommended for those who enjoyed the DaVinci Code.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: A River in the Sky

Subtitle: An Amelia Peabody Murder Mystery

Author: Elizabeth Peters

Narrator: Karen Cass

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-25-11

Publisher: Oakhill Publishing Ltd

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It's 1910, and archaeologist Amelia Peabody heads for Palenstine hoping to prevent an English adventurer called Morely from causing damage during his search for the vanished treasures of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The War Office fears increasing German influence in Palenstine and insists Morley is working for German intelligence.

In the meantime, her son Ramses is working on a dig at Samaria where he encounters a female German archaeologist, and a mysterious man of unknown nationality and unknown past.

Ramses' curiosity leads him to a startling discovery about the pair.

He must pass the information on to his parents in Jerusalem but can he get there alive?

Critic Reviews:

"The most potent female force to hit Egypt since Cleopatra." (Philadelphia Enquirer)

Members Reviews:

Good story poor narration

To longtime fans of the Amelia Peabody series a warning that this is not "the latest instalment" but is set in 1910, between "Guardian of The Horizon" and "The Falcon at the Portal". This is disconcerting, as if you are already familiar with the personal lives of the younger characters, Ramses and Nefret, David and Lia, in this book it is hard to forget what eventuates later on. The story is typical of the usual strange mystery, this time set in Palestine, and with the usual wonderful by-play between Amelia and Emerson. It is shorter than usual, but a welcome return and another pleasant interlude with our much loved characters. For new readers of the Amelia Peabody books it would be better to start at the beginning of the series with "Crocodile on the Sandbank" and work through in order.

Having become used to the superb narration of Barbara Rosenblat who portrays all of the characters in these books so perfectly and with each having individual distinction, I regret that this narrator, Karen Cass, was very disappointing. She seems to merely "read" the book, often rather fast, and without the special dignity these characters deserve. Amelia sounds like a fussy hen and even sometimes seems to have a lisp, while Emerson sounds like a jolly schoolboy. I believe there is a Barbara Rosenblat version available and hope that audible will include it very soon, as I had to stop listening to this version and return to my hardback book. For this reason only three stars.

For Peabody addicts a must read.

Elizabeth Peters captivates her readers once again. nobody could read the work better than Barbara Rosenblat. Karen Cass's reading in its own right does justice to the text.

Sorry

I was delighted to find an Amelia Peabody I hadn't even read, let alone heard, but I was really disappointed with this. I'm afraid it's not amongst Elizabeth Peters best efforts, but even worse the narrator wasn't Barbara Rosenblat.

The voice is pleasant, but I kept hearing another narrative alongside it, much richer more varied and better modulated. It just wasn't Amelia, it wasn't Emerson and it wasn't Ramses.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Rome's Fallen Eagle

Author: Robert Fabbri

Narrator: Peter Kenny

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-14

Publisher: Isis Publishing Ltd

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Rome, AD 41. Caligula has been assassinated and the Praetorian Guard have proclaimed Claudius Emperor but his position is precarious. His three freedmen, Narcissus, Pallas and Callistus, must find a way to manufacture a quick victory but how?

Pallas has the answer: retrieve the Eagle of the Seventeenth, lost nearly 40 years before. Who but Vespasian could lead a dangerous mission into the gloomy forests of Germania?

Accompanied by a small band of cavalry, Vespasian and his brother try to pick up the trail of the Eagle. In search of the Eagle and the truth, whilst being pursued by barbarians, Vespasian must battle his way to the shores of Britannia. Yet can he escape his own Emperor's wrath?

Members Reviews:

Excellent!

If you like historical fiction this is a wonderful addition to the genre. Basically it is about the rise of Vespasian. It is a great story and the narrator is excellent. Buy it and enjoy!

Great story

If you like scarrow or conn igolden you will love this. great story lines. and well read!

excellent

loved it very good story and very well presented. well worth purchasing. Would recommend to others.

Treason on his field.commanders

Hard tactical battles commanded by middle Doherty Commanders robbed by Generals. Especially the missing Eagle recovery wrongly claimed by the General. Then Crashed inbred familyy have mock battle with losses in Britannia to make brain damaged Leader of Roman army look good

Completely absorbing

Another completely absorbing title from Robert Fabbri, brilliantly read by Peter Kenny. It has just the right balance of action and intrigue and the characters are believable and well-drawn. I am gobbling these books up as they are released - currently loving Rome's Lost Son. I hope they all get the Kenny treatment soon. His characterizations are superb and really make the whole experience of listening a joy.