Discover the New Releases Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

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Title: The Wrong Hill to Die On

Subtitle: An Alafair Tucker Mystery, Book 6

Author: Donis Casey

Narrator: Pam Ward

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-06-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The year 1916 was not shaping up to be a good one for Alafair Tucker, and finding Bernie Arruda dead in a ditch didnt help matters.

Alafair had not wanted to go to Arizona in the first place. But her 10-year-old daughter, Blanche, was suffering from a stubborn ailment of the lungs, and her best chance for a cure was dry desert air. So Alafair and her husband, Shaw, had bundled their sick child onto the train and made the difficult trip from Oklahoma to the home of Alafairs sister in Tempe, Arizona.

As soon as they arrived on that bright day in March, Blanche began to improve. And Alafair was overjoyed to see her witty, brilliant, beautiful sister Elizabeth again. Adding to the excitement was a Hollywood motion-picture company that was filming a movie on the streets of Tempe.

But Alafair and Shaw soon discover that all is not well in sunny Arizona. Elizabeths marriage is in tatters; tensions are high between the Anglo and Latino communities following Pancho Villas murderous raid on Columbus, New Mexico; and Alafair suspects her sister is involved in an illegal operation to smuggle war refugees out of Mexico and into the United States.

And now here is Bernie Arruda, lying on his back in a ditch, staring into eternity. The night before, he had been singing Mexican love songs at the party in Elizabeths backyard, his black eyes flashing as he winked at the ladies. He had been a charmer, all right - too bad there were so many people who would be glad he was dead. Alafair decides to find the culprit.

Members Reviews:

I Enjoy The Series--This Book--Not So Much

I look forward to the books in this historic mystery series because they are so evocative of farm and family life in early 1900s Oklahoma. To me, book 6 just was not up to the previous five books in the series.

Much of this difference was due to formatting. This book is very choppy--comprised of 104 (!!!) short chapters--some only 3 minutes long. I checked and the previous books all had an average of 8-10 chapters and the total book lengths were all similar. This format change really had a profound effect on the ability of the book to grab and hold the attention. The action and flow of the story are ruined by all the stops and starts and odd pauses and announcements for the endless chapter titles. Many of these frequent breaks make no sense in the story line and as such are unnecessary distractions.

Further, rather than Casey's usual fluid and smooth story telling we have many awkward flashbacks and uneven character development. The wonderful family interaction and varied and complex characters are missing from this installment. I found myself unable to maintain interest in the mystery and really couldn't care less who did what and to whom. This is a terrible thing to say about a mystery--I know and I am disappointed. I can't seem to bring myself to finish the book. The 2 star rating is only because I love the series--if not for that it would have been all one stars. I hate wasting my time reading rough, unedited drafts.

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Title: For King or Commonwealth

Author: Richard Woodman

Narrator: Andrew Wincott

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-12

Publisher: Soundings

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

1649: England has been torn asunder by a civil war that has pitted Parliamentarians against Royalists. Captain Kit Faulkner, bound to the Royalist cause, has been living in exile for the past four years. Faulkner must now support himself with the tiny rump of the Royal Navy that remains loyal. But his loyalties are torn, partly by the desire of his old patron, Sir Henry Mainwaring, who wishes to return home, and partly by the predatory nature of Prince Charles, who has his eyes on the beautiful Katherine Villiers.

Members Reviews:

Five Stars

hard to put down

I love sea adventures

I love sea adventures , and this being in the 17th century makes it that much better. Great story line with tons of action.

used but good condition.

As advertised . . . used but good condition . . .

Extremely well written chronicle of the battle for naval supremacy between the English and the Dutch during the time of Oliver C

The story is replete with sea battle descriptions, politics, love and loss. All are very realistically described in detail. To a non-seafaring person like myself, there was too much jargon regarding sails, masts and wind directions used for it to have meaning to me. This is why I give the book four rather than five stars. If you enjoy sea battles between the old sailing ships you should enjoy this book. Even a landlubber like me will find it hard not to become excited during the heat of the battles. Be forewarned that the book is written using the old English which takes some getting used to. However, I found that after a few pages I was no longer overwhelmed by its use.

Good book

Good conclusion over the last book. Though it felt a little like the author was just going through the paces to wrap things up.

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Title: Figure of Hate

Subtitle: Crowner John Mysteries

Author: Bernard Knight

Narrator: Paul Matthews

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-12

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Exeter, 1195: At day-long a jousting tournament, a serious altercation takes place between High Peverel and a stranger by the name of Reginald de Charterai. Two days later, Hugh's body is found in a barn. Is de Charterai to blame? The county coroner, Sir John de Wolfe, soon finds plenty of other suspects for the murder of the almost universally hated Hugh Peverel.

Members Reviews:

Good Listen

The characters are great and both realistic and likeable. The story is a bit obvious and the outcome is hardly a suprise.But the story is excellently read and everything skips along a great pace. If you're looking for an easy listen then I would definitely recommend this

Figure of Hate

I like medieval mysteries and this was very enjoyable, as are all Bernard Knight's Crowner John books.

Great story

Very good story lot's of good listening and the characters we're interesting understanding the times 1195

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Title: The Melancholy Countess

Author: Frank Tallis

Narrator: Robert Fass

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-25-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Haunted by the sudden death of her grown son, Countess Zigana Nadazdy-Hauke is as unhappy as she is elegant. But is she miserable enough to drown herself in the bath? Thats the conventional wisdom in Vienna. But Rheinhardt and Liebermann have another idea after meeting the poor souls much younger widower: Oktav Hauke is handsome and dashing, but also callous to the point of pathology, admittedly abusive, in debt up to his ears, and a serial surviving spouse: Hes lost two other rich older wives to premature deaths. Now hes the obvious suspect. But can this solution be too simple, as well?

Members Reviews:

Once again Dr. Tall is delivers a sparkling gem of a story. Although short it contains all of the historical detail and finely d

This short story is a sparkling gem. It contains all of the thoroughly researched historical detail and the finely drawn characters associated with this series. Dr. Tallis never fails to deliver an exciting yarn. Am eagerly waiting for his next book.

A Little Taste of Vienna

This short story is fun for those who have been following Tallis's turn of the century Vienna series of mysteries, but a first time reader should know that the books open a much richer world of intrigues, prejudices, psychoanalysis, pastries, music, love and good storytelling.

Great way to spend an evening at home with a ...

Great way to spend an evening at home with a good reading. I have enjoyed all of the author's books.

Having spent time in Vienna, I find the novels very interesting and fun to read.

We need more Tallis!

I'm a huge Frank Tallis fan. Especially The Max Liebermann series. Come on, Frank, spin us another full Liebermann novel!

great short story

Tallis is a fine author, I am looking forward to his next publications. Vienna at the time of Freud is fascinating

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Title: The Incense Game

Subtitle: A Novel of Feudal Japan

Author: Laura Joh Rowland

Narrator: Bernadette Dunne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-18-12

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the wake of a terrifying earthquake, Sano Ichiro races to solve a crime that could bring down the shogun's regime. When a massive earthquake devastates Japan in 1703, even the shogun's carefully regulated court is left teetering on the brink of chaos. This is no time for a murder investigation - except when a nobleman's daughters are found dead from incense poisoning and their father threatens to topple the regime unless Sano Ichiro tracks down the killer.

As Sano and his wife strive to solve the case in a world that is crumbling around them, Laura Joh Rowland - author of one of the "five best historical mystery novels" (The Wall Street Journal) - brings us her most powerful and evocative thriller yet.

Critic Reviews:

"...stellar... Once again, Rowland sets the bar high for her hero, who must navigate treacherous political shoals as well as deduce the killer's identity." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Brilliant Execution

What made the experience of listening to The Incense Game the most enjoyable?

Bernadette Dunne's voice just somehow fit Rowland's writing style. It fluctuated with energy where it was needed and it legitimately felt like I was listening to the characters dialogue around me. Though I didn't quite imagine some of the characters to sound the way she portrayed them, it still worked and I've very pleased with this. Only listen if you've read/listened to the first fifteen books in the series (you won't regret reading one of her books).

What other book might you compare The Incense Game to and why?

The Sugawara, Akitada series by I.J. Parker. Though the Sano Ichiro series is set and the Edo era circa 1500s - 1800s and Sugawara is set in the Heian era circa 700-1200, I think these two detectives (though very different in social ranking and society, etc.) are very similar in their casework and relationships...though Akitada is a bit more hot-headed (I mean he was born into The Kyoto Nobility of the Heian era, he is bound to be a bit more spoiled than Ichiro who was born into the samurai caste of the edo period before working his way up, he knows how to keep a more level head.)

Which scene was your favorite?

SPOILER ALERT: When Reiko finally tells Sano that's she's pregnant with their third child and Marume finally laughs again! Made me emotional :)

Any additional comments?

I've read this series over the years and I almost feel like I've grown with these characters. It's definitely worth the investment of time if your genuinely enjoy classical Japanese history.

Good if know series

What about Bernadette Dunnes performance did you like?

I like her -- she fits for this series.

Any additional comments?

This book is good but not a stand out in the series. It is contrived that he must start all over again. I like the series very much it just seems too caught up in the back story now and not enough about the mysteries themselves.

Recommended

I have read a few books in the Sano Ichiro series and I would definitely recommend. This series is accessible to absolutely anyone who loves a good mystery novel despite its exotic (to me) setting. The narrator was excellent and to my ear (although I am no expert) the pronounciation seemed true enough.

However this instalment in the series was a little overly-theatrical, in particular the finale.

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Title: A Scandal in Belgravia

Author: Robert Barnard

Narrator: Frederick Davidson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-31-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

This unique murder mystery is both a penetrating analysis of a decaying social class and a deeply moving personal story of two men: Peter Proctor, recently retired as a senior British cabinet minister, and Timothy Wycliffe, a young aristocrat who was bludgeoned to death more than 30 years ago. Once close friends, their relationship had gradually faded; even Wycliffe's shocking murder caused relatively little impact on his friends and the national press, who were distracted that week by more momentous events in the news.

Only now, over three decades later, does Wycliffe's death become Proctor's obsession. At the end of a long and distinguished career, Proctor decides to write his memoirs, and finds his mind overtaken by memories of Timothy Wycliffe. It is only in probing the past and discovering the shocking truth of Wycliffes murder that Proctor will find peace.

Members Reviews:

Not typical but the only one available

I have been a Robert Barnard fan for years, starting with "Death of a Perfect Mother" and "Death of an Old Goat". His books have varied a lot in quality over the years, as high production mystery writers' works tend to do, but all have been enjoyable, classic-type british mysteries, in style somewhere between Christie and Francis. I remember that the first time I read A Scandal in Belgravia I was impressed by its literary quality, but disappointed that it wasn't as much fun as many of his others. However, if you live in the U.S. and don't sign in to Audible, you find quite a few Barnard's listed - but due to some copyright issues, none are available to U.S.-based purchasers - so I got this in hopes that by purchasing it I'd help convince Audible to do whatever they need to do to solve the problem. AND, it turned out that, thanks to an absolutely appropriate reader, it was better than the paperback. I recommend it highly, but hope that his other works will also be available soon.

Murder by Memoir

Barnard is a great writer and he delivers a delicious story, a murder by memoir rather than an active investigation. The narrator's upper class tone is perfect, at least for an American listener.

Nasty!

I bought this book expecting a suspenseful mystery novel, and I got a bunch of pro homosexual propaganda from the get go.Instant return.

Disappointing in the end

What did you like best about A Scandal in Belgravia? What did you like least?

I thought the mystery of plot in the end was obvious and, to compensate for this, the writer put a final twist at the very end that discredited the supposed very neutral voice of the main character. Overall, disappointing.

Splendid!

Highly recommended listen! A kind of minor British author with lots of books. This is the only one recorded so far. Frederick Davidson's upper-class voice is a perfect match. The story is complex and the ending very, very unexpected. Characters elegant, carefully drawn. This book will evoke plenty of sympathy, empathy, and, of course, disgust (at the end) thrown in. Give it a try!

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Title: The Map of Lost Memories

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Kim Fay

Narrator: Karyn O'Bryant

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Suspense and secrets are woven together in this engrossing fiction debut by Kim Fay. The Map of Lost Memories takes readers on a daring expedition to a remote land, where the search for an elusive treasure becomes a journey into the darkest recesses of the mind and heart.

In 1925, the international treasure-hunting scene is a mans world, and no woman knows this better than Irene Blum, who is passed over for the coveted curator position at Seattles renowned Brooke Museum. But she is not ready to accept defeat. Skilled at acquiring priceless, often illicitly trafficked artifacts, Irene is given a rare map believed to lead to a set of copper scrolls that chronicle the lost history of Cambodias ancient Khmer civilization. Such a find would not only restore her reputation, it would be the greatest archaeological discovery of the century.

As Irene travels from Seattle to Shanghai to the Cambodian jungles, she will encounter several equally determined companions, including a communist temple robber and a dashing nightclub owner with a complicated past. As she and her fellow adventurers sweep across borders and make startling discoveries, their quest becomes increasingly dangerous. Everyone who comes to this part of the world has something to hide, Irene is told - and she learns just how true this is. What she and her accomplices bring to light will do more than change history. It will ultimately solve the mysteries of their own lives.

Critic Reviews:

"In The Map of Lost Memories, Kim Fay draws us into a universe as exotic, intense, and historically detailed as the ancient artifacts her unforgettable heroine seeks. It's a deliciously unexpected journey: Indiana Jones meets Somerset Maugham meets Marguerite Duras; all culminating in a glorious traipse through a forgotten Asian world. This novel will stay with me for a long, long time." (Jennifer Cody Epstein, author of The Painter from Shanghai)

"Kim Fay's engaging debut novel, The Map of Lost Memories, not only weaves together a smart, compelling story of a quest for scrolls believed to contain the lost history of Cambodia's ancient Khmer Empire, but also gives us a glimpse into 1920s China and Indochina during the time of transition from colonialism to the beginnings of communism. With deftness and clarity, Fay brings her world to life and gives us a captivating read." (Gail Tsukiyama, author of A Hundred Flowers)

"In The Map of Lost Memories, Fay updates the archaeological adventure tale with an ambitious heroine and a cast of morally ambiguous characters in a race to discover an ancient temple in the jungles of colonial Cambodia. Fay's assured, absorbing prose will compel readers with its lush detail, multiple plot twists and keen insight into this politically combustible period of history." (Aimee Phan, author of The Reeducation of Cherry Truong)

Members Reviews:

Could not care about the characters

Couldn't make myself care about the characters or even finish the book. The main characters were all self-absorbed and flawed in uninteresting or distasteful ways. Too bad, because the plot would have been interesting, but the characters couldn't handle the heavy lifting of moving the story along.

Young female who grew up in a museum (without credentials) is kicked to the curb when she hopes to step into an important role in the organization.

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Title: Bloodstone

Author: Paul Doherty

Narrator: Terry Wale

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-01-12

Publisher: Soundings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

December, 1380. When the corpse of Sir Robert Kilverby is discovered in a locked room, Brother Athelstan accompanies the Kings coronor to investigate. For the late Sir Robert had in his possession a sacred bloodstone which he was planning to donate to the Abbey of St Fulcher-on-Thames.

The bloodstone has disappeared and the Regent is taking an uncomfortably close interest in the case. Athelstan is sceptical of rumours of a curse hanging over Kilverby and his comrades of the Wyvern Company. But then it is discovered that a second old soldier has been slain on the same night. As Athelstan begins to uncover the dark secrets surrounding the Abbey of St Fulcher, the bloodstone curse seems all too real.

Members Reviews:

complex

Would you listen to Bloodstone again? Why?

this is a book which needs listening to more than once as it is easy to miss things. to me it seemed quite complex and clever but i found it hard to follow in places so had to rewind a few times so i didnt miss the plot. however i did persevere and was pleased to get more absorbed in it as it progressed. it is a book you really need to listen to every word and the first few chapters are very descriptive, giving a lot of background to the story which emerges after the fist few chapters

What other book might you compare Bloodstone to, and why?

Bloodstone is comparable with Bernard Knights (Crowner Series) and Ellis Peters (Cadfael) with a bit of added mystery. It is not quite as easy to listen to as these but I would still recommend it

What about Terry Wales performance did you like?

The narrator has a lovely story telling voice and sounds quite like John Hurt. I think this made the listening experience well worth while and he has been chosen well for this story

Awful, awful narration

Was so pleased to see a Paul Doherty title that I made the mistake of not listening to the sample. The narrator is unbelievably abysmal and 30 seconds in had me reaching for the stop button! Such a shame but he rendered it un-listenable!!

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Title: Lestrade and the Guardian Angel

Author: M. J. Trow

Narrator: M. J. Trow

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-01-12

Publisher: Soundings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The first fatality in a bizarre series of killings is a Captain of the Second Life Guards, found in the River Thames with a war medal wedged between his teeth. Then a dead Egyptologist is discovered with a scarab clamped between his molars. When a young soldier is found dead in the saddle (this time a locket is the dying mouthful), Sholto Lestrade is forced to impersonate a barrack-room lawyer.

His hunt for clues takes him on a near-fatal trip in a hot-air balloon, on a disastrous bicycle tour ending with a night in jail, and to Londons East End. Eventually, some seven cadavers later, things begin to fit into place and the final conundrum emerges. Who or what is Coquette Perameles?

Members Reviews:

Inspector Lestrade always solves the crimes!

"GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS!" Better than Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes," believe it or not! Who knew Inspector Lestrade would outshine Holmes and & Watson? Lestrade does not perform near-miracles like the competition, but perserveres through hard detection of a great many years experience grounded in reality and not bolstored by a chemical solution to perk up the gray matter. It takes the great inspector longer to tie up the loose ends, he does it with great humility and if he does not get due credit, he accepts it as working for human-kind and justice. You really must read all of the Lestrade novels and loan them to your friends and neighbors if they are home-bound or better yet, tell them about http://www.amazon.com/ and show them how to find subjects that interest them and give them a brief lesson on operating the computer and getting on the internet if they have yet to discover? They'll turn of their television sets and save money not go to a motion picture theatre when they have the real thing in these books that are difficult at best to put down! I am a huge fan of Inspector Lestrade, join me! Sarge Booker of Tujunga

But in a good way!

Different than I expected. But in a good way!

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Title: A Journeyman to Grief

Subtitle: A Murdoch Mystery, Book 7

Author: Maureen Jennings

Narrator: David Marantz

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-19-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The abduction of a young woman in 1858 ends in Toronto thirty-eight years later - in murder.

In 1858, a young woman on her honeymoon is forcibly abducted and taken across the border from Canada and sold into slavery. Thirty-eight years later, Detective Murdoch is working on a murder case that will take all of his resourcefulness to solve. The owner of one of Torontos livery stables has been found dead. He has been horsewhipped and left hanging from his wrists in his tack room, and his wife claims that a considerable sum of money has been stolen. Then a second man is also murdered, his body strangely tied as if he were a rebellious slave. Murdoch has to find out whether Torontos small coloured community has a vicious murderer in its midst - an investigation that puts his own life in danger. Maureen Jenningss trademark in her popular and acclaimed Detective Murdoch series is to reveal a long-forgotten facet about life in the city that dispels any notion that it really ever was Toronto the Good. As well, in A Journeyman to Grief, an exceptionally well plotted and engrossing story, she shows just how a great harm committed in the past can erupt fatally in the present.

Critic Reviews:

"When it comes to evoking a bygone era of dim gas lighting, ill-heated homes, the shenanigans of the criminal underclass and the corrupt hypocrisy of our 'betters,' Jennings has [Anne] Perry beat hands down." (The Calgary Herald)

Members Reviews:

Detective Murdoch, 7th book, 1895 Toronto

This is the seventh book in the Detective Murdoch series. In this one a 38-year-old secret leads to murder in Toronto. In 1858, a Mulatto woman in Canada was kidnapped on her honeymoon in Niagara Falls. Her Caucasian husband is implicated in selling her into slavery. In 1896, Murdoch must solve two murders and an attempted murder to determine what happened, and how this kidnapping gave rise to the current murders. A very good book which allows us to see the problems of slaves who escaped through the underground railroad to Canada where their problems were not over. This book had the feeling of finality as various relationships in the series were resolved, but I hope Im wrong. I love this series and the people so involved.