Download the Top 100 Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical Popular Titles

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Title: Loyal Creatures

Author: Morris Gleitzman

Narrator: Morris Gleitzman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-14

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Like many of his mates from the bush, Frank Ballantyne is keen to join the grand adventure and do his bit.

Specially as a chestfull of medals might impress the currently unimpressed parents of his childhood sweetheart. So Frank ups his age and volunteers with his horse, Daisy...and his dad. In the deserts of Egypt and Palestine he experiences all the adventure he ever wanted, and a few things he wasn't expecting. Heartbreak, love, and the chance to make the most important choice of his life.

From Gallipoli to the famous charge at Beersheba, through to the end of the war and its unforgettable aftermath, Frank's story grows out of some key moments in Australia's history.

They were loyal creatures, the men and horses of the Australian Light Horse, but war doesn't always pay heed to loyalty. This is the powerful story of a young man's journey towards his own kind of bravery.

Critic Reviews:

"Tender and terrible; beautiful, brave and brutal, Morris Gleitzman has written a most remarkable story of men and horses in war, uncompromising and unflinching in its portrayal of the agonies of the First World War for men and horses alike. Sparely and supremely well written, this is quite simply one of very best novels I have read." (Michael Morpurgo, author)

Members Reviews:

... heart strings and made me feel both proud and sad to be an Australian

A story which tugged the heart strings and made me feel both proud and sad to be an Australian.

A tragic, but informative tale.

A sweet story and informative as to how many innocent horses lost their lives in such horrific circumstances.

Illustrating manâs capacity for kindness alongside the senselessness of war and violence

During WWI nearly 150,000 horses were transported from Australia and conscripted to the army â majority of their owners joined the Lighthorsemen, and were sent to the Middle Eastern theatre.

When the war ended in 1918 some of the 150,000 horses had survived.

But only one would be sent home.

âLoyal Creaturesâ is the new novel from childrenâs author Morris Gleitzman.

I am a huge fan of the famous Australian author, but even this book surpassed my expectations and is most certainly a favourite of 2014. Even more so since last week I had the absolute pleasure of attending a performance of the bookâs first incarnation â as a stage play â in an event hosted by Penguin Teacherâs Academy and the Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library. Actor Paul-William Mawhinney was the protagonist in the powerful one-person show of âLoyal Creaturesâ, playing 16-year-old Frank Ballantyne â and the performance added new dimensions to the book for me and wrung new emotions from the page.

In 2012, the National Theatre of London was preparing to bring the stage production âWar Horseâ to Australia. To bring an Australian perspective to the play, adapted from Michael Morpurgo's 1982 children's novel of the same name, they approached renowned Australian childrenâs author Morris Gleitzman. In 2005 Gleitzman had released the first childrenâs book in a four-part series called âOnceâ, set in 1942 about a Jewish boy called Felix who is searching for his lost parents.

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Title: Princess of Egypt

Subtitle: A Mystery in Ancient Egypt

Author: Nathaniel Burns

Narrator: Kevin Clay

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-02-14

Publisher: Heiken Marketing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ancient Egypt, 1233 BC

Neti-Kerty's reputation as Egypt's first female mummifier has apparently reached all the way to the Pharaoh. Neti-Kerty and Shabaka, Special Investigator and Prefect of Thebes, are astonished to be summoned to the palace of Ramses II to investigate the sudden death of the Vizier Khay. Thanks to her powers of deduction and knowledge of the dead, Neti soon determines that something is amiss.

As more people disappear during the investigation, the situation increasingly gets out of hands and before long Neti and Shabaka find themselves peering into the deepest recesses of the human soul....

Princess of Egypt returns us to a land steeped in gods, god-kings, ritual and magic. It paints for the reader a detailed picture of Pharaonic Egypt in all its shadowed glory. Faithfully recreating one of the most remarkable eras in Egypt's history, author Nathaniel Burns weaves a shudderingly ominous tale of ancient Egypt's mysteries revealed through a cast of characters the modern reader will recognize even though millenia have passed.

So light up the incense, sit close to the light and draw back the curtains on the shadowed past with this gripping tale of love and intrigue among the living and the dead in one of history's most intriguing civilizations.

Members Reviews:

love the series

great historical setting with well thought out characters and plots

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Title: The Paris Plot

Subtitle: Malcolm & Suzanne Rannoch, Book 3.5

Author: Teresa Grant

Narrator: Derek Perkins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-25-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the fallout of one of historys bloodiest battles, a personal war is waged

Paris in 1816 is reeling from the Battle of Waterloo, and relations between the British and French are uneasy at best. So its hardly a surprise to British attach and Intelligence Agent Malcolm Rannoch when he and his wife Suzanne, soon to give birth to their second child, become the target of violent threats. Malcolm is certain that the secrets of his past have caught up with him - but hes unaware that Suzanne has more than a few secrets of her own

The Rannochs both served as spies throughout the Napoleonic Wars, Malcolm for the British and Suzanne for the Bonapartist French - and both could have left any number of enemies in their wake. But even for two seasoned agents, finding a would-be killer in a country where allegiances are tested and no one can be trusted may prove as impossible as escaping their history

Members Reviews:

(3.5 stars) Probably of interest mainly to established fans of Malcolm and Suzanne.

I rounded up to 4 stars for this because I enjoy everything Grant writes about Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch. After so many years, they've become like old friends. (I met them when they were Charles and Melanie.) There's a slight mystery here but that's not the reason I liked the story. Instead, it's because we're getting more and more into the personal relationship of this couple, who had married for reasons of convenience or necessity, have secrets from each other, some internal unease about possible discovery of things in the past, but they are learning to love each other as time passes.

It's 1816, just after Grant'sThe Paris Affair (Malcom & Suzanne Rannoch Historical Mysteries) (Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch Historical Mystery)and just before her upcoming release,The Berkeley Square Affair (Malcolm & Suzanne Rannoch Historical Mystery). There's a slight mystery for Malcolm and Suzanne to solve, and each is thinking that secrets in their own past are what may be to blame for the problem.

As they work towards solving the puzzle, there's a bit of a Refresher Course in Malcolm and Suzanne Adventures for the reader, with references to many characters and plots of previous books in the series. And, of course, there's the personal, with Suzanne due to give birth any day now as the story begins. Someone not familiar with the series would probably find this short to be cluttered and confusing. A die-hard fan will probably find this to be a must-read in the continuing Malcolm and Suzanne Saga.

This novella fills the time between Waterloo . . .

. . . and the Berkeley Square Affair. Threats of revenge from an unknown enemy come sailing into the lives of the pregnant Suzanne and Malcolm, their friend Henri Rivaux, friends Harry and Cordelia Davenport, and even their footman Valentin. The tensions of their secrets place additional strains on Malcolm and Suzanne, but they still manage to grow their relationship as their family expands to add baby Jessica to the circle of their uneasy but somehow steadfast love.

Very short, as expected...

...but is a very quick and enjoyable read. Has several of the characters and plot devices we are all used to. Also includes the first chapter of the next book which we have to wait until April to read. Well worth the price.

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Title: Vagabond

Subtitle: The Grail Quest, Book 2

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Narrator: Andrew Cullum

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-27-14

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the best-selling Harlequin, this is the second installment in Bernard Cornwell's Grail Quest series. It is 1346. While King Edward III fights in France, England lies exposed to the threat of invasion. Thomas of Hookton, archer and hero of Crécy, finds himself back in the north just as the Scots invade on behalf of their French allies.

Thomas is determined to pursue his personal quest: to discover whether a relic he is searching for is the Holy Grail. But once again it is the archers whose skills will be called upon, and who will become the true heroes of the battle.

Critic Reviews:

"Crackling with good deeds, fine characters and sparkling set pieces, it confirms yet again Cornwell's reputation for masterly historical novels" ( Daily Mail)"It is all spectacular, rattling good stuff: war and torture; love, lust and loss" ( The Times)"The battle scenes, as always, are masterful; and the vignettes of everyday living, in times of extreme hardship, have the ring of simple truth" (Sunday Telegraph)"A very fine writer" (Economist)

Members Reviews:

Vintage Cornwell

This is an excellent series and advances the story of Thomas of Hookton who is an extraordinary English archer in the 1300s. The story develops further and Cornwell pulls no punches, this isn't an author that treats his main characters with kid gloves. It's a great historical military thriller and plays well on the superstitious nature of the population at the time.

The book is well narrated and moves at an excellent pace. The plot has depth and a pleasingly varied cast of characters. Highly recommended.

Great Book

Good book all characters were true to their original form. You feel you are growing worth them, can't wait to read the next one

Loved it, twist and turns galore

Knowing the backdrop of the storyline is well researched history makes this a fabulous read.

OUTSTANDING BOOK FULL OF HISTORICAL REFERENCES

Great story and very well narrated. Historical references to battles had me researching the facts about Nevilles cross. Had read harlequin but thos would standup in its own right.

Vivid battle scenes

Good story with vivid battle descriptions.

The next episode in the tale ia must get.

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Title: Riverfinger Women

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Elana Dykewomon

Narrator: Tamara Marston

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-21-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Award-winning author Elana Dykewomons powerful debut novel about lesbian life in America during the social upheaval of the late 1960s and early 1970s

Written when she was just 24 years old, Riverfinger Women is Elana Dykewomons beloved, intimate coming-of-age novel about Inez and her circle of friends - the Riverfinger women - struggling to find themselves amid the changing social mores of the Civil Rights era. Inez has known she was a lesbian since childhood, and while moving between Highland, her boarding school, and her friends Greenwich Village apartment, she experiences longing and disappointment, friendship and romance, and her first real relationship, with schoolmate Abby. Along with their experimental and outgoing friend Peggy, Inez and Abby graduate from Highland and move into adulthood, confronting the prejudices of the larger world as they go.

Told in an engrossing interweaving narrative, Riverfinger Women explores the characters brushes with sexual violence, prostitution, drugs, love, and, ultimately, happiness amid the thrills and challenges of lesbian life during the second womens liberation movement.

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Title: The Quiet Twin

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Dan Vyleta

Narrator: Bronson Pinchot

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-17-14

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Vienna, 1939. Professor Speckstein's dog has been brutally killed, and he wants to know why. But these are uncharitable times, and one must be careful where one probes.

When an unexpected house call leads Dr. Beer to Speckstein's apartment, he finds himself in the bedroom of Zuzka, the professor's niece. Wide-eyed, flirtatious, and not detectably ill, Zuzka leads the young doctor to her window and opens up a view of their apartment block that Beer has never known. Across the shared courtyard there is nine-year-old Anneliese, the lonely daughter of an alcoholic. Five windows to the left lives a secretive mime who comes home late at night and keeps something - or someone - precious hidden from view. From the garret drifts the mournful sound of an Oriental's trumpet, and a basement door swings closed behind the building's inscrutable janitor. Does one of these enigmatic neighbors have blood on their hands?

Dr. Beer, who has his own reasons for keeping his private life hidden from public scrutiny, reluctantly becomes embroiled in an enquiry that forces him to face the dark realities of Nazi rule.

Members Reviews:

Very Engrossing

I really enjoyed this book. It took me a little while to get into it. Just when I was going to quit it, it got interesting and I was hooked from that point on. Really hooked. I don't need to give a synopsis, you can read the summary on Audible to find out what the book is about. It is well written and well narrated. I recommend it. I tried the sequel, i.e. "The Crooked Maid", but I felt the narrator was wrong and therefore could not get into it. I like Kate Reading as a narrator ordinarily (she narrates "The Crooked Maid") but I didn't think her voice fit that novel. One of the main characters is a German woman and I just don't associate her voice with that accent. I would have preferred Suzanne Bertish who narrated "City of Women", another really good book.

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Title: A Star for Mrs. Blake

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: April Smith

Narrator: Bernadette Dunne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-14-14

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 56 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The United States Congress in 1929 passed legislation to fund travel for mothers of the fallen soldiers of World War I to visit their sons graves in France. Over the next three years, 6,693 Gold Star Mothers made the trip. In this emotionally charged, brilliantly realized novel, April Smith breathes life into a unique moment in American history, imagining the experience of five of these women.

They are strangers at the start, but their lives will become inextricably intertwined, altered in indelible ways. These very different Gold Star Mothers travel to the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery to say final good-byes to their sons and come together along the way to face the unexpected: a death, a scandal, and a secret revealed.

None of these pilgrims will be as affected as Cora Blake, who has lived almost her entire life in a small fishing village off the coast of Maine, caring for her late sisters three daughters, hoping to fill the void left by the death of her son, Sammy, who was killed on a scouting mission during the final days of the war. Cora believes she is managing as well as can be expected in the midst of the Depression, but nothing has prepared her for what lies ahead on this unpredictable journey, including an extraordinary encounter with an expatriate American journalist, Griffin Reed, who was wounded in the trenches and hides behind a metal mask, one of hundreds of "tin noses" who became symbols of the war.

With expert storytelling, memorable characters, and beautiful prose, April Smith gives us a timeless story, by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, set against a footnote of history - little known, yet unforgettable.

Critic Reviews:

"A Star for Mrs. Blake is a beautifully written, meticulously researched slice of American history. April Smiths poignant and tender story of five courageous World War I Gold Star mothers amazing journey across the sea is one you will never forget." (Fannie Flagg)

"A heartfelt glimpse into a little-known episode in U.S. history... Smiths historical fiction is captivating and enlightening." (Deborah Donovan, Booklist)

"Captivating... Smith captures the mothers interactions in beautiful detail and delves into the governments not-entirely-altruistic reasons for sponsoring the trip." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Boring Did not finish it

Hoped for a good listen as the synopsis sounded good. Listened for @1 1/2 hours and grew bored . Did not finish it .Unfamiliar with the author but would not get another by her.

A bit lengthy

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I think it could have been shortened without taking away from the story. It got to the point where I was just ready for it to be done

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I found the historical aspects of the story very interesting. I must admit I haven't read much about WWI and enjoyed listening to the battles and hearing about the battle locations.

Have you listened to any of Bernadette Dunnes other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't heard any of her other performances.

Do you think A Star for Mrs. Blake needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, the story was resolved.

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Title: The King's Daughter

Subtitle: Thornleigh Series, Book 2

Author: Barbara Kyle

Narrator: Barbara Kyle

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-10-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Upon the death of her father, Henry VIII, Queen Mary assumes the throne after a long exile. Her first order of business is to wed the devout Prince Philip of Spain, creating a powerful alliance that will transform Mary's fanatical dream of ridding England of Protestantism into terrifying reality.

And so begins the reign of Bloody Mary. . .Even as she plans for her own nuptials, Isabel Thornleigh is helping to lay the groundwork to overthrow Mary and bring Elizabeth to power. But none of the secrets Isabel has discovered compares to the truths hidden in her own family. With her beloved father imprisoned by Queen Mary, only Carlos Valverde - a Spanish soldier of fortune - can help Isabel. Now with England's future at stake, Isabel risks all to change the course of history...

Members Reviews:

A MUST Read for Tudor Era Historical Fiction Fans

What did you love best about The King's Daughter?

I am a huge fan of all things historical fiction to do with the Tudor Era. It fascinates me. I picked up The Kings Daughter on my way to Mexico off the new release wall at my local bookstore. I was looking for an interesting read and was so thrilled with my choice. I read this book first although it is not the first in the series. Each book stands alone as a great read but are even better enjoyed in order.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Isabel Thornleigh is by far my favourite character - and has continued to be so throughout the series. She is a strong young woman who goes after what she believes in.

inted!

What does Barbara Kyle bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Barbara Kyle does a fantastic job at transporting the reader to the 16th century. In this particular novel, we follow a fictional young lady named Isabel Thornleigh and her family through her journey during Mary Tudors reign. The novel focuses on the Protestant and Catholic religious battle. Isabel and her father Richard are of the Protestant belief which finds them in many difficult situations during Queen Marys Catholic period of influence. I dont want to give the story away by saying what hardships they face but the journey is incredible for the reader.

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

YES! Sadly - I don't have that much free time on my hands. Many late nights were spent reading this one!

Any additional comments?

This book is a fantastic read as are Barbara Kyles other novels following the Thornleigh family. I can never put them down. You will not be disappointed.

Unendurable

What would have made The King's Daughter better?

I am a history buff. The author obviously needs to go back and study the subject.

Would you ever listen to anything by Barbara Kyle again?

NO

Would you be willing to try another one of Barbara Kyles performances?

NO

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

NONE

Any additional comments?

It is insulting to present this as a book with ANY research on the subject behind it.

The series continues

Any additional comments?

Beginning 20 years after The Queen's Lady this is the 2nd book in the Thornleigh Series.It got off to a slow start but a couple chapters in the pace picked up and I was hooked.Henry VIII's daughter Mary has begun her reign. Never having heard anything about Bloody Mary I was interested in her reign and the effect it had on the country.

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Title: Tales of a Texas Boy

Author: Marva Dasef

Narrator: Donny Baarns

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-30-13

Publisher: Marva Dasef

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

How do you handle a crazy jackass? Eddie knows. If you ask Eddie, he'll tell you pigs can fly and show you where to find real mammoth bones. Take his word for it when he tells you always to bet on the bear. These are things he learned while dreaming of becoming a cowboy in West Texas during the Depression. Through Eddie, the hero of Tales of a Texas Boy, we find that growing up is less about maturity and more about roping your dreams. Hold on tight. It's a bumpy ride. A wonderful listen for anyone who enjoys audiobooks like Little House on the Prairie or Tom Sawyer. A great bit of nostalgia for seniors, too.

Members Reviews:

It's Delightful!

What made the experience of listening to Tales of a Texas Boy the most enjoyable?

The stories themselves brought back many memories of growing up on a farm. Many a laugh at the boy's antics.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The boy, Eddie, has an open, honest, and fun-loving way about him.

What does Donny Baarns bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I loved the voice the narrator gave him. You could actually visualize the scene through the voice. Donny is a natural storyteller.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved each story and liked the break in between each giving a bit of enlightenment or history.

Like a time machine to the 1930s

What did you love best about Tales of a Texas Boy?

I originally read the Kindle edition of Tales of a Texas Boy a few years ago. When the audio edition was published, I downloaded it and listened to the stories again. It was a different - and very enjoyable - experience hearing Donny Baarns narrate the book.

My full review is below under Additional Comments.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My full review is below under Additional Comments.

Which character as performed by Donny Baarns was your favorite?

My full review is below under Additional Comments.

Who was the most memorable character of Tales of a Texas Boy and why?

My full review is below under Additional Comments.

Any additional comments?

"Tales of a Texas Boy" is a collection of twenty anecdotal stories told by a young boy, Eddie Perkins, who lived on a farm in rural Texas with his mother, father, a younger brother, and a younger sister during the 1930s when the country was deep in the Great Depression. I assume that Eddie is a fictional character, although the stories read like a true memoir.

I enjoyed the book very much. I was born in the 1940s, and I have a special fondness for the period from the 1920s through the 1950s, the period when my parents and I were growing up and coming of age. Marva Dasef has done a marvelous job of capturing what it was like for kids in the rural southwest in the 1930s. They probably never realized how tough their life was, and they actually had fun. Even though I was born a generation later, I related to the stories, especially in how siblings got along with each other.

Some of Eddie's anecdotes might have seemed mundane to another Texas kid in the era, but to me, a suburban kid in the post-WWII era, they were far from mundane. Try to imagine the thrill of hunting for (and finding) dinosaur fossils or going to town to buy livestock. Rattlesnake hunting with the local men was a thrill for Eddie, and little did he know what kind of animal he would rescue from a huge rattler's mouth one day.

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Title: Deadly Pleasure

Subtitle: A Francesca Cahill Novel

Author: Brenda Joyce

Narrator: Coleen Marlo

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-11-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Brenda Joyce has enthralled millions of readers with her New York Times best-selling novels. Now, join us in the next chapter of her unforgettable storytelling: the Francesca Cahill novels. Step into the glittering world of New York City's high society at the turn of the last century, where murder and pleasure are one and the same, and love becomes the ultimate weapon....

Francesca Cahill comes from one of New York's best families. Her mother is a leading socialite, her father, a millionaire. Their expectations for their daughter are simple - marry well, and soon. But the intrepid and self-styled "Crime-Solver Extraordinaire" has other plans....

Francesca discovered she had a penchant for sleuthing when she met Rick Bragg, New York City's powerful and enigmatic Police Commissioner. Together, they solved what was known as the crime of the century. Now, their paths are destined to come together once again, but this time far more dangerously and fatefully. For Francesca is tempted to give in to the desire she and Rick have been resisting. And when Bragg's arch-rival, Calder Hart, arrives in town, a respectable man is suddenly found dead, and now murder is the name of the game....

Members Reviews:

Better than average historical chic lit

Not my normal genre which is mystery/thriller/suspense. I suppose this book might weakly fall into the mystery category but is really romance built around a tepid mystery plot. I read the first in the series after reading a pleasing review. Sometimes I like something light & refreshing between engrossing thrillers, and this series meets with these needs most satisfactorily. it is like having a gelato on a hot summer's day.

The main character, Francesca, is a refreshing delight, a blue-stocking, a swat and a supposed intellectual! She is also a self made detective and, not quite like Miss Marple, manages to solve murders without too much fuss but with quite a lot of sexual stirring in not only herself but also in Bragg, the Police Commissioner with whom she is in love, her sister, Connie, who has a wayward husband and in Bragg's brother Hart with one of his socially unacceptable paramours. There follows quite a lot of erotic love making and for those who enjoy this sort of thing it will sure put a spring into your step. If you like gelato on hot days and want to put a spring into your step, buy this !!