Download the Top 100 Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical

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Title: The Fortune Hunter

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Daisy Goodwin

Narrator: Clare Corbett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-29-14

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 271 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Empress Elizabeth of Austria, known as "Sisi", is the Princess Diana of 19th-century Europe. Famously beautiful, as captured in a portrait with diamond stars in her hair, she is unfulfilled in her marriage to the older Emperor Franz Joseph. Sisi has spent years evading the stifling formality of royal life on her private train or yacht or, whenever she can, on the back of a horse. Captain Bay Middleton is dashing, young, and the finest horseman in England. He is also impoverished, with no hope of buying the horse needed to win the Grand National - until he meets Charlotte Baird.

A clever, plainspoken heiress whose money gives her a choice among suitors, Charlotte falls in love with Bay, the first man to really notice her, for his vulnerability as well as his glamour. When Sisi joins the legendary hunt organized by Earl Spencer in England, Bay is asked to guide her on the treacherous course. Their shared passion for riding leads to an infatuation that threatens the growing bond between Bay and Charlotte, and all of their futures.

The Fortune Hunter, the brilliant new novel by Daisy Goodwin, is a lush, irresistible story of the public lives and private longings of grand historical figures.

Members Reviews:

Excellent narration but...

If you could sum up The Fortune Hunter in three words, what would they be?

It was just an okay story nothing extraordinary really. I have doubt that Empress Elizabeth was an adulteress. The historical facts are not accurate at all and for most is quite fictional. Nonetheless, the story remained descent but with so many inconsistencies in relation to the whereabouts of the main characters. The book was relating a lot promiscuity and indecency and shed light on a glorious aristocracy with their many flaws. Unfortunately, Charlotte Baird naive side was very much annoying and she looked foolish throughout the book.

Would you recommend The Fortune Hunter to your friends? Why or why not?

Well, that I would say yes and no...it all depends on the person's view of adulterous romance and mainly based on deceit and lies.

Which scene was your favorite?

The entrance of the Empress at Melton to observe the naive Charlotte and how she confronted both protagonists (Bay Middleton) in a daring way. Also the confrontation with Queen Victoria...Well, they are Empresses after all!

Who was the most memorable character of The Fortune Hunter and why?

None really but Augusta was quite something. I think each character had their moments. I would say the Empress as well who is very much willing to break all conventions to live her forbidden love. Also the fact that Sissy really raised her voice no matter the circumstances which requires requires great control of oneself...

Any additional comments?

The narration was quite superb and theatrical, the very way a narration should be. I congratulate the narrator for their achievement, I don't think the book would have that much enjoyable without it. I had quite a laugh too several times throughout the book.

Listen to this one

I started out reading the print edition but couldn't find the time to just sit and read so I used a credit. So glad I did as the narration increased my enjoyment of this surprisingly quiet historical novel. For me it seemed the pace picked up a bit in the second half of the novel and I was quite happy to listen for large chunks of time.

Especially appreciated is the author interview at the end.

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Title: Wars of the Roses

Subtitle: Stormbird

Author: Conn Iggulden

Narrator: John Curless

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-08-14

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 194 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In 1437, the Lancaster king Henry VI ascends the throne of England after years of semi-peaceful regency. Named "The Lamb," Henry is famed more for his gentle and pious nature than his father's famous battlefield exploits; already, his dependence on his closest men has stirred whispers of weakness at court.

A secret truce negotiated with France to trade British territories for a royal bride - Margaret of Anjou - sparks revolts across English territory. The rival royal line, the House of York, sees the chaos brought on by Henry's weakness and with it not only opportunity in the monarch, but also their patriotic duty in ousting an ineffectual king. As storm clouds gather over England, King Henry and his supporters find themselves besieged abroad and at home. Who or what can save the kingdom before it is too late?

Members Reviews:

Excellent!

As ever, Iggulden is a master of research and of embodying characters, both real and imagined. Curless' voices are nuanced and satisfying, like salt to the roast!

Needs much more historical accuracy

Would you try another book from Conn Iggulden and/or John Curless?

No

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Meh

Have you listened to any of John Curlesss other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nope

Could you see Wars of the Roses being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Nope, too inaccurate

Any additional comments?

He fictionalized the Cade Rebellion way beyond poetic license. The citizens of London did the fighting, no Knights or King's troops. Margaret went with Henry too, she wasn't in the Tower during the rebellion. That kind of error shows lack of research and you shouldn't do that in Historical Fiction. It makes me question the whole book and those other he's written.

Great Book for Game of Thrones War of Roses Fans

Would you listen to Wars of the Roses again? Why?

i really liked this book own the whole series and listen to these many times. The story is well known and told so many times that this series brings some new dimensions that gave the story a depth that includes POV characters for the major players , these are well read and entertaining, especially after a first listen.

What other book might you compare Wars of the Roses to and why?

All of the details engaging military and political history are just great.

If you could take any character from Wars of the Roses out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Richard III

Great book

Was a great read, one of the best books I read in a while, narrator was amazing! Onto the next one in series.

History with an interesting twist

If you could sum up Wars of the Roses in three words, what would they be?

broken system power

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dairy, and the queen both wanted the same thing to see Henry V1 same his people

Which scene was your favorite?

Storming of the tower, and the kaos of London under attack

Who was the most memorable character of Wars of the Roses and why?

The king for he was a good hearted man, just had a feeble body

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the story that added interest in dry historical facts, although the author admits some slight errors to make the story more interesting

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Title: The Serpent of Venice

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Christopher Moore

Narrator: Euan Morton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-22-14

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2180 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Christopher Moore channels William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe in this satiric Venetian gothic featuring the irresistibly mischievous Pocket, the eponymous hero of Fool.

Venice, a really long time ago: Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from Britain who also happens to be a favorite of the Doge: The rascal-Fool Pocket. This trio of cunning plotters have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising a spirited evening. Their invitation is, of course, bogus. These scoundrels have something far less amusing planned for the man who has consistently foiled their quest for power and wealth. But this Fool is no fool.

Once again, Christopher Moore delivers a rousing literary satire: A dramedy mash-up rich with delights, including (but not limited to): Foul plots; counterplots; true love; jealousy; murder; betrayal; revenge; codpieces; a pound of flesh; occasional debauchery; and water (lots of water). Not to mention a cast Shakespeare himself would be proud of: Shylock; Iago; Othello; a bunch of other guys whose names end in o; a trio of comely wenches; the brilliant Fool; his large sidekick, Drool; Jeff, the pet monkey; a lovesick sea serpent; and a ghost (yes, theres always a bloody ghost).

Wickedly witty and outrageously inventive, The Serpent of Venice pays cheeky homage to the Bard and illuminates the absurdity of the human condition as only Christopher Moore can.

Members Reviews:

Shakespear, E.A. Poe, and Pocket the Fool

Combining plot points and characters from The Cask of Amontillado by Poe, Othello and The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, Moore sends Pocket the Fool off on another adventure, this time in medieval Venice. Pocket, nicknamed Fortunato by the Doge starts at a very low point in his life. He is the intended victim of a conspiracy between some merchants of Venice and Iago who want to start a crusade in order to increase their wealth. The last one had worked so well for them. Pocket is so low that he little cares for his life-- until he discovers that this conspiracy is the cause of his misfortunes! Most Heinous F___ery, as he says.

And the story takes off-- ribald, bawdy and very, very clever as Moore combines characters from all the stories into a fun listen. Christopher Moore is funny when read by oneself, but when Euan Morton does the narrating it is rib splitting and laugh out loud-- if you like Christopher Moore's brand of humor. HIs satire about recent world events is spot on.

So why not 5 stars across the board? I thought that there were a couple of places where it moved a little slow. Also there were so references back to events and characters in Fool that probably would have confused a new reader. I just took it as an opportunity to listen to Fool again.

In fact, if you thinking about buying this listen and have not heard Fool you would do yourself a great favor if you listen to Fool first. Both books have entertaining Author Notes read at the end by Christopher Moore himself explaining why he made the choices he did in terms of characters and time periods.

Fool's Gold

What made the experience of listening to The Serpent of Venice the most enjoyable?

I am in a small minority of people who seriously dislike Shakespeare and are not abashed to admit it. I just never got it. But one thing I've always loved are alternative interpretations of Shakespeare.

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Title: The Proving Trail

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Louis L'Amour

Narrator: Michael Crouch

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-04-14

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 292 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

They tried to tell him that his father had killed himself, but Kearney McRaven knew better. No matter what life had dealt him, his father would go down fighting. And as he delved deeper into the mystery, he learned that just before his father died, the elder McRaven had experienced a remarkable run of luck: hed won nearly ten thousand dollars and the deed to a cattle ranch.

Not yet eighteen, Kearney was determined enough to track down his fathers murderer and claim what was rightfully his. Now, followed every step of the way by a shadowy figure, Kearney must solve the mystery of his fathers hidden past - a past that concealed a cold-blooded killer who would stop at nothing to keep a chilling secret.

Members Reviews:

The entire family liked it

Great book for driving through Colorado on a family road trip. I would highly recommend.

Excellent Narration

Michael Crouch is one of the best narrators of Louis Lamour fiction in my humble opinion. The story is a typical Louis Lamour western fiction but I'm yet to read a Louis Lamour fiction that I haven't fully enjoyed. If you're a fan of Louis Lamour this narration will not dissapoint.

great book

loved it. made me want more and looked forward to listening to it. great book.

One of LL's best!

I love stories of boys becoming men of character under duress and this is a good one for that. Loved every minute!

Unique story line.

Very good story! Surprising twists and tuns. You are missing out if you havn'r read this one.

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Title: The Splendour Falls

Author: Susanna Kearsley

Narrator: Barbara Rosenblat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-14-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 684 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

An ancient castle, a tragic love, and a web of secrets begins to unravel....

Emily Braden has stopped believing in fairy tales and happy endings. When her fascinating but unreliable cousin Harry invites her on a holiday to explore the legendary town of Chinon, and promptly disappears - well, that's Harry for you.

As Emily makes the acquaintance of Chinon and its people, she begins to uncover dark secrets beneath the charm. Legend has it that during a 13th-century siege of the castle that looms over the city, Queen Isabelle, child bride of King John, hid a "treasure of great price". And in the last days of the German occupation during World War II, there was another Isabelle living in Chinon, a girl whose love for an enemy soldier went tragically awry.

As the dangers of the past become disastrously real, Emily is drawn ever more deeply into a labyrinth of mystery as twisted as the streets and tunnels of the ancient town itself.

Critic Reviews:

"Award-winning narrator Barbara Rosenblat handles the great variety of accents with aplomb - from Emily's British accent to the locals' French accents and the intonations of global tourists. While Rosenblat sounds too old and a bit stiff for the 28-year-old Emily, among her strengths are rock-solid characterizations and believable male voices, both of which will keep listeners invested in this romantic mystery. (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Wrong narrator

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was a really interesting book although the end unraveled a bit too quickly like "ooops, need to wrap now!" I really like Suzanne Kearsley books but they become too formulaic if you read them all at once so it was really nice not to have the time travel aspect for once. Although I do love the time travel in the other books, it just gets too repetitive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Splendour Falls?

I really liked how you were placed in the city of Chinon

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Her voice was all wrong, much too old

Did The Splendour Falls inspire you to do anything?

Return to Chinon

adventure, mystery an a touch of the supernatural

If you have picked up The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley expecting it to be one of her charming time travel romances novels you are in for a surprise. The story revolves around 28 year old Emily Braden who is convinced by her errant cousin Harry to go on holiday to the French town of Chinon, France where a young and beautiful Queen Isabella once rumored to have hidden a great treasure. Ahh but there is another story of a lost treasure and another beautiful Isabella hidden in a medieval chateau or in the maze of ancient tunnels underneath the streets of Chinon and Harry has gone missing Emily begins to fear that Harry might be more than just delayed. As Emily tries to find her cousin, she becomes more aware of some strange tension, old hostilities, new friend and loves among her fellow guest.

I found it took a bit to get into the story but once the web of secrets started to disentangle I found the story compelling and unpredictable. The Splendour Falls I felt one of Ms. Kearsleys best The Winter Sea being my favorite.

This was an audio book that was narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. While I felt she did a decent job narrating the book I felt her voice was too old for the main character it was too gruffy.

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Title: Unspoken: Bathsheba

Author: Francine Rivers

Narrator: Barbara Rosenblat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-30-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 184 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The compelling story of Bathsheba and David as told by award-winning author Francine Rivers. Listeners will see the familiar biblical account unfold in a whole new light through the eyes of Bathsheba. This timeless story has contemporary meaning for today's listeners. A study on the biblical text is included for personal or group study.

Members Reviews:

Beautiful love story!

Would you listen to Unspoken: Bathsheba again? Why?

Francine Rivers fills in the gaps of the Biblical story while stiring in an imaginative never told love story.

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciated the depths of honesty that Rivers expresses in the human flaw of not being able to forgive oneself.

What about Barbara Rosenblats performance did you like?

The narration was good.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Heart of Bathsheba

Wonderful! The only word I can think of

The only word I can think of to describe this narration. The Arthur masterfully takes you into the life of This amazing woman. It is with new eyes I see David and much more importantly device in which I see the Lord God Almighty. Thank you so much for making this a record book.

His Mercy, His Grace

Be encouraged.... Amazing book. Recommend to all who feel never good enough and are beyond thankful for His mercy, grace, and love. He is faithful.

Beauty and forgiveness

Francine Rivers weaves scripture into beautiful novel of truth and intrigue. You learn to feel what it was like in the days of King David.

Bathsheba

Where does Unspoken: Bathsheba rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

This book ranks high for many, many reasons.

What did you like best about this story?

God's love and forgiveness.

Have you listened to any of Barbara Rosenblats other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. This book ranks as well as the other two I've listened to.

If you could take any character from Unspoken: Bathsheba out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Nathan. Because he was an unwavering prophet.

Any additional comments?

Another first for Francine Rivers. I would love to meet this great, GREAT writer. :)

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Title: The Game of Kings

Author: Dorothy Dunnett

Narrator: Samuel Gillies

Format: Unabridged

Length: 24 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-07-13

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 166 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The Game of Kings: First in The Lymond Saga. It's August 1547, and unrest in Europe is rife. Scotland, nominally ruled by 4 year old Queen Mary, is heaving with intrigue - and hot gossip. The notorious rebel, Crawford of Lymond, is rumoured to be back in Edinburgh.

The city is sealed, but such things never worry 'Lymond'. As usual, he leaves a characteristic trail of hue and cry, vanished contraband, and a drunken sow.Infamous for his ingenuity, Lymond has his own plan, starting with setting fire to his brother's castle and purloining his mother's silver. Stories about him abound, agreeing only that he's not a man to sit idle. With Europe recently unbalanced by royal deaths, he'll take a hand in The Game Of Kings.

Members Reviews:

At Last, the best in historical fiction!

I'm a fan of the Game of Thrones series (assuming it will one day be finished). But Dunnett's "Lymond Chronicles" has everything GoT has, squared. To begin this book is to step into another universe. The first time I read the series--this is my third time through--when I closed the cover at the end of Book 6 I felt like Adam or Eve, unwillingly leaving Eden behind.

Francis Crawford of Lymond is a hero you will never, ever forget.

The story begins in Scotland in 1547. The series takes you across Europe and Asia and back. The characters become a part of your world. The settings are exquisite, or barren, or squalid, or magnificent. The research is impeccable. The humor can be dry, droll, or outrageously slapstick. The danger is breath-taking. The background story--of the little girl, Mary Queen of Scots--is a compelling scaffold for the drama of the Crawford family.

Disappointing

I've loved the Lymond Chronicles since I discovered them in the 80s and have reread them so many times my books are literally falling apart. I just couldn't take this production and gave up on it after about an hour. Samuel Gillies read this as if it were a stage play with an almost vaudeville cadence; it was painful to hear. Definitely wish Andrew Napier had done the narration.

The rest of the recorded books in the series are SO much better.

Best historical series ever! But awful narration!

Would you listen to The Game of Kings again? Why?

I can't bring myself to listen to the narration again. If I didn't want to have the entire series in my library I would return it. I'll have to just read the ebook when I want to enjoy this wonderful series again and again.

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

It can only compare to the other five books in the series. It's so rich, complex, mature, and also frequently hysterically funny!

What didnt you like about Samuel Gilliess performance?

He's way too mature for the main characters, especially Francis Crawford of Lymond. This is supposed to be a young man with a voice that's described as light, mellow, extremely witty and clever, sometimes cutting and sarcastic. Mr. Gillies sounds like an over-aged and over-dramatic stage actor, and is completely wrong for this series. My dearest hope is that someday Andrew Napier, the narrator of the rest of the series, will redo this volume.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I frequently laughed and cried when reading this book multiple times.

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Title: Outlaw

Author: Ted Dekker

Narrator: Nicola Barber

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-22-13

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 303 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The story of how I, Julian Carter, and my precious two-year old son, Stephen, left Atlanta Georgia and found ourselves on a white sailboat, tossed about like a cork on a raging sea off of Australia's northern tip in 1963, is harrowing.

But it pales in comparison to what happened deep in the jungle where I was taken as a slave by a savage tribe unknown to the world. Some places dwell in darkness so deep that even God seems to stay away.

There, my mind was torn in two by the gods of the earth. There, one life ended so another could begin. Some will say I was a fool for making the choices I made. But they would have done the same. They, too, would have embraced death if they knew what I knew, and saw through my eyes.

Members Reviews:

More Than A Great Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Outlaw to be better than the print version?

This is the type of story that draws you into the scenes. Hearing it as an audio book was like being a part of the action.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Outlaw?

I was on that island with that tribe learning about myself just as much as the characters were. This was truly a journey of self-discovery.

Excellent book

It took me a little bit to get into this book because I thought that it was just going to be a book about a woman held prisoner by a tribe. I'm so glad that I continued to listen because it was so much more than I thought it would be. Listen and you'll see!

Outlaw

AWESOME!!! This is my 4th book I've read by Mr. Dekker. This one, changed my life. It is my prayer that God bless and increase him with even greater revelation. My words to Mr. Dekker: Thank You.

outlaw is an amazing story of love and redemption.

I loved this story by author Ted Dekker. It is expertly written, causing the reader to look at all of life through different eyes. Through its tale of love and forgiveness it will broaden your mind as to what God's love really looks like. Don't miss experiencing Outlaw.

Deep Truth, what a blessing

Ted Dekker has an incredible God-given talent to weave truth into deep plots and stories. Indeed, this life is so short in comparison with eternity and I believe our on reason for staying here is to bring other people into the Kingdom of God, or should I say, be the vessels for God to bring other people to know Him.

The narrator was brilliant, she completely pulled you into the story. So thank you to you both, and may God continue to bless you with anointed stories!

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Title: Last Train to Istanbul

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Ayse Kulin

Narrator: Sanjiv Jhaveri

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-08-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 320 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Born into privilege to one of the last Ottoman pashas, beautiful, spirited Selva is the brightest jewel in her fathers household - until she falls in love with Rafael Alfandari. Though Turkey has long been a safe haven for Jews, marriage between a high-ranking Muslim girl and a Jewish boy is strictly forbidden. Yet young love will not be denied, and Selva and Rafael defy their parents and marry, fleeing to Paris in hopes of a better life - only to find themselves trapped in the path of the invading Nazis.

But in the midst of darkness shines a beacon of hope: A handful of courageous Turkish diplomats, protected only by the tenuous neutrality of their homeland, hatch a daring plot to spirit the exiled lovers and hundreds of innocent Jews to safety. Together, they will traverse a war-torn continent, crossing enemy lines and risking everything in one last, desperate bid for freedom.

Critic Reviews:

"Aye Kulin is a clever writer. She draws the reader into the story of the life and loves of a Turkish family in wartime, and by the time the reader realizes that she has also cranked up the tension with a rescue plot, it is too late to put the book down unfinished. For aficionados of wartime novels, as well as for anyone glued to his or her seat watching the film Argo, this is a must read." (Helen Bryan, best-selling author of War Brides and The Sisterhood)

Members Reviews:

A disorganized mess.

2 1/2 stars. This book sounded so good. Unfortunately the result is an uncohesive compilation of POVs of more than 14 characters. Many of the vignettes are barely related to the storyline. Most of the characters aren't even likeable. I listened to this book on audiobook and most of the voices are annoying as well. The husbands are all verbally abusive to their wives. One man even rapes his wife. The psyciatrist is especially loathesome. He seduces his patient while psychoanalyzing her. Let me undress you as you tell me about your relationship with your 8 year old daughter. Creepy! Near the end there was suddenly an erotic semi-public scene between two random characters. It was unexpected and made me uncomfortable. I didn't even know these characters so I skipped ahead. Then I discovered it was actually a rape by a random german soldier. Next we had a minor character die in his sleep. Neither of these scenes or characters were really plot pertinate. Finally we come to the finale we have all beeen waiting for. The relief of safety and the long awaited reuniting of estranged families. Except it cuts off before you get reuniting of estranged families. Except it cuts off before you get closure. A book full of background details of minor characters fails to provide details of the resolution of the main plot and characters. It was unsatisfying.

3-Stars

Last Train To Istanbul is a beautiful work of historical fiction about two privileged Muslim Turkish sistersSelva and Sabiha. Sabiha marries a prominent Turkish diplomat, and Selva falls in love and marries a Turkish JewRafael Alfandari. Selva and Rafael are shunned by her family, and move to Paris shortly before the Nazi German invasion in World War II.

What I really appreciated about this novel was Ayse Kulins extensive research about that period of history, and I loved to learn about WWII from a Turkish perspective. Its a beautiful story of hope and courage.

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Title: Under Fire

Subtitle: The Corps Series, 9

Author: W. E. B. Griffin

Narrator: Dick Hill

Format: Unabridged

Length: 24 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 664 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Korea, June 1, 1950. Captain Ken McCoy's report on probable North Korean hostilities meets with so much bureaucratic displeasure that not only is it promptly suppressed, but McCoy himself is kicked out of the Corps. At least two outfits, however, are not impressed by such infighting: the fledgling CIA, which promptly hires McCoy; and the North Koreans, who on June 25th invade across the 38th parallel.

Immediately, veterans scattered throughout military and civilian life are called up, many with only seventy-two hours' notice. For Fleming Pickering and Pick, his daredevil son, and Ed Banning, George Hart, Jack Stecker, Jake Dillon, Ernie Zimmerman - and for the women who love them - names such as Inchon and Pusan will acquire a new, bloody reality, and Korea will become not only a new battlefield - but their greatest challenge of all....

Members Reviews:

OK - Big gaps between Book and this one

Would you consider the audio edition of Under Fire to be better than the print version?

no

What was one of the most memorable moments of Under Fire?

That we started in 1950'ish no account of what haapened from 1943 until then.

Have you listened to any of Dick Hills other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes - Dick Hill reads an amazing stroy

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

I wanted to know what happened from the Gobi Desert to the end of the war that should have been book IX.

And the hits keep rolling. Great books!!!

As a former military member, I loved this series and the Army series. I would love to hear a series about the Army air corps/ Air Force.

Awesome story. Historical and entertaining.

Loved the book. One more in the marines series. WEB Griffin is by far my favorite author

Fast Forward for repeat performance

What made the experience of listening to Under Fire the most enjoyable?

I really like WEB Griffin's stories of military fiction. The Corps is an excellent series of books in both text and audio.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Under Fire?

No particular moment. It is an all around good strory.

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Yes.. Dick Hill does an excellent job of narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it like the others, is long. You cannot complete this book in one sitting. But, I keep sneaking back for more. I have already read the texts.

Any additional comments?

There is a timeline gap from from 1943 until 1950. I think Griffin could have, or intended to, use it for another book. He had plenty of material to work with. Also, the story line in this book and the next (continuation) of McCoy's work is based on a mission of a Lt who worked behind the lines at Inchon. That book, in non-fiction, is a great read -- not available in audio.

Great is an understatement

Each book of the Series better than the last. Looking forward to the next.