Get the Most Popular Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

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Title: The Witch Hunter

Author: Bernard Knight

Narrator: Paul Matthews

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-08-12

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Exeter, 1195. When a prominent burgess and guild-master falls dead across his horse, Crowner John declines to hold an inquest as the man had been complaining of chest pains and shows no sign of injury. Events take a sinister turn, however, when a straw-doll is discovered hidden under the man's saddle, a spike driven through its heart...

Members Reviews:

An historical novel you care about

Would you consider the audio edition of The Witch Hunter to be better than the print version?

Not sure. I liked the fact that the narration was clear and straight-forward without any gimmicks but would probably have felt the same about this book if i had read it myself.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Witch Hunter?

The rescue of Nesta from the Bush tavern. The scene at the burning tavern was very well realised.

Which character as performed by Paul Matthews was your favourite?

Crowner John as he came across as a decent man who cared about other people. However he was a character within the time in which the novel was set so had his faults and was far from perfect which made him more likeable.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Witch or wisewoman? Time to make up your mind.

Any additional comments?

Historical setting obviously well researched and so gave a lot of interesting information. Characters very believable and even had me feeling sorry for the supporters of King Richard, knowing his brother would soon be on the throne!

Another excellent Crowner John!

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

Superb, fascinating read!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Crowner John is a complex, diverse and totally believable character who has many dimensions to his character including his mistresses!

Which scene did you most enjoy?

When Crowner John declines to hold an inquest; he is usually so keen to exert his influence and this change of tack was an interesting diversion from the usual ride roughshod and do his duty!

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Crowner John faces unknown, sInister and medieval trials to his authority

Any additional comments?

Another rip roaring Crowner John mystery ! Slightly different in its approach but Bernard Knight is always finding new ways to enthrall his readers. The fact that his long term mistress Nesta is facing accusations as a witch is a welcome added dimension.

The Witch Hunter

I like a medieval mystery and Bernard Knight's Crowner John books are great, and he characters build in each one.

captivating

first time for a sort of who done it.fantastic book great characters and made all the more good by a brilliant reader who put a lot into each person in the book. really well done.

Another fantastic Crowner John mystery!

Another fantastic Crowner John story! I'd recommend this to all fans of historical murder mysteries.

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Title: Not My Blood

Subtitle: A Joe Sandilands Investigation, Book 10

Author: Barbara Cleverly

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-05-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 39 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Scotland Yard Detective Joe Sandilands is caught off guard one night in 1933 by a phone call from a distressed boy named Jackie Drummond, who just might be the illegitimate son Joe never knew he had....

Members Reviews:

a leap ahead in time and quality

Much has changed in Sandilands. We find a career promoted Joe in 1933, with both Cleverly's prose and her packaging of the historical fiction detective formula much better than early entries in the series.

As in other similar series, character is built up over novels - so perhaps the characterization would not be as pleasing if you jump into the series here, in book 10. Other than that, it could be a stand-alone listen.

Cleverly's early novels all contained what seemed like one or two obligatory romantic scenes - - in these the dialogue would be weaker and the scene just, well, clumsy. This is a little better on that account.

If you're a fan of crime fiction featuring screenplay-like action, adventure and violence, this won't please. It's mostly the quieter type of mystery often found in British and Brit set crime fiction, with a bit of bravado at the end. Sandilands' protege (spelled Dorcus?) returns and becomes a bit of a Maise Dobbs type.

Are there "preposterous circumstances" as another listener suggests? Well, it is crime FICTION, but the theme of this mystery is not so far fetched, then or now. Compared to most in the genre (and even in this series) it was topical - although the 21st century version of these crimes is better disguised and conducted in regions other than the western world. Even LeCarre has used the theme. You do need to put up with "By God, this is England, and we won't stand for it!" - but that sounds OK by that part of the story.

Narrator Prebble is much easier on my ears than Terry Wale (Sorry, fans of Terry Wale; I know he's talented, but his narration grates on me.) Prebble can make the lapse into "by God, this is England" dialogue palatable.

A Worthy Series

Where does Not My Blood rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Ranks right up at the top. I am a great fan of the author and the series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Not My Blood?

The scene in the graveyard. Satisfying end to a legal problem.

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Simon Prebble is such a great reader. He never appears to be reading the book, rather he makes one feel like one is there!

Any additional comments?

I am a great fan of the author. Her characters are interesting and well fleshed out. The places where the books take place are well depicted and I enjoy the historical detail. The twists and turns of her plots are most clever. Always love the surprises.

so glad I stumbled across this series!!

A new (to me) voice relating the intricacies of a gentleman and his society in 30's England.

Simon Prebble Saves The Day

While I have enjoyed previous Joe Sandilands novels, I was not a fan of the narrator, Terry Wales. Simon Prebble brings a needed gravitas to the books and I hope he continues to be the narrator.

While I found this story engrossing, I couldn't give it a five star rating because the author leaves numerous plot points unaddressed or unanswered.

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Title: Death's Door

Subtitle: A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery, Book 7

Author: James R. Benn

Narrator: Peter Berkrot

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-04-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 51 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Lieutenant Billy Boyle could have used a rest after his last case. But when his girlfriend, Diana Seaton, a British spy, goes missing in the Vatican, where she was working undercover, he insists on being assigned to a murder investigation there so he can try to help her.

Members Reviews:

Very enjoyable

The characterizations, as usual, are top notch. Many of the characters are clergy, so it gives this one a different flavor. The narrator is better than he was in #6.

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Title: Whiskey River

Subtitle: Detroit Crime Series, Book 1

Author: Loren D. Estleman

Narrator: Dan Butler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Like nowhere else in America, Detroit flourished during Prohibition. The constant flow of liquor from across the Canadian border made Lake Erie a war zone, and lined the pockets of the men who ran the Purple Gang, the Unione Siciliana, and the Little Jewish Navy. But Prohibition was more than just a boon for gangsters. For newspapermen, it was a dream come true.

Its 1928, and the Detroit Times Connie Minor knows every thug, moll, and triggerman south of Eight Mile. Hes drinking rotgut whiskey in a speakeasy on Vernor when he meets Jack Dance for the first time, and watches as the preening young hothead joins Joey Machines mob. Over the next few years, the two mobsters will fight a battle for the soul of Detroits underground, and Connie Minor will be there to cover every shot.

Members Reviews:

Painful to hear

Would you listen to Whiskey River again? Why?

No

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I liked the performance. The fact that he didn't take the time to learn the pronunciation of ANY of the Michigan locations is maddening. It hurt my ears to listen to him pronounce some of them. Street names I grew up knowing were transformed into grotesqueries.

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

Only the bad pronunciation

Check local pronounciation

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Probably not. It was just an ok story

Would you be willing to try another book from Loren D. Estleman? Why or why not?

maybe

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dan Butler?

Anyone who would bother to check and find out how the landmarks are prounced. For a native Detroiter it was almost painful to listen to.

Was Whiskey River worth the listening time?

yes

Any additional comments?

Not pronouncing the names of landmarks and streets correctly really took away from the story. I've noticed this with a lot of audiobooks on Detroit. I've complained to different recording companies with no response. One phone call is all it would take to find out how words are pronounced in a certain area.

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Title: Anatomy of Murder

Author: Imogen Robertson

Narrator: Jenny Sterlin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-04-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 118 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Award-winning author Imogen Robertson continues the acclaimed series she began with Instruments of Darkness. Set in London during the Revolutionary War, Anatomy of Murder follows unlikely forensic investigator Mrs. Harriet Westerman and reclusive anatomist Gabriel Crowther as they try to solve the mysterious death of a man dragged from the murky depths of the Thames River.

Members Reviews:

I'll definitely be reading the rest of this series

If you could sum up Anatomy of Murder in three words, what would they be?

Three words only? Characters are real! The fictional hero and heroine of this book aren't perfect, which is what I think makes the novel better than most; whether the reader is male or felmale they are able to empathize with Ms. Westerman, the reluctant sleuth who simply wants her husband and her quiet life back.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harriet would have to be my favourite character, both from an emotional and entertainment perspective. She is a woman living in a time when wives/sisters/mothers stayed at home and ran the house; they did not keep company with men other than a relative for prolonged periods of time nor did they engage in "unladylike" pursuits, regardless of the reason. Our Heroine finds herself in the position of behaving in a way society finds unacceptable yet she is not afraid to continue, believing the benefits outwiegh the deficits and uncaring as to how her reputation might suffer so long as she is able to keep her husband, children and way of life safe from harm. I admire this character as she has been written by Ms. Sterlin.

Have you listened to any of Jenny Sterlins other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not yet had the pleasure of listening to any of Ms. Sterliin's other novels but will definitely be dowloading the remainder of this series.

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

As to what moment in the book moved me the most I cannot say without spoiling the end for those readers who have not yet experience this well written, entertaining novel. Those of you who have read the book, or listened to it, know the moment to which I am referring and doubtless have been moved by it yourselves. Suffice it to say I was moved to tears, whether those tears were brought on by sadness or joy I will leave to future readers to determine for themselves.

Any additional comments?

Only one additional comment; please, please, please find a way to include the first volume of this series in your list of available titles There were so many references to the first adventure in this second installment I would love to be able to listen to the original.

Guess What I Found!

I had started trying and sometimes succeeding to listen to Circle of Shadows on Kindle. Unfortunately,Android & Kindle doesn't always play well together... Anyway, When I was able to read the book I realized I wanted to go back to my first 3 Imogen's R's Crowther & Harriett series because their history was cloudy in my head. Imagine my surprise when I realized I had not read this one! Boy, oh Boy! This book had me running to move from car to home stereo so I wouldn't miss anything. I hate even mild spoilers that say things like "I cried while reading this book".

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Title: The Runner

Author: Christopher Reich

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-28-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 43 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Christopher Reich, New York Times best-selling author of Numbered Account, creates this electrifying story of conspiracy, treachery, and political intrigue. Packed with authentic details, The Runner plunges you into the chaos of 1945 postwar Germany, where enemies often appear as allies. American lawyer and former police detective Judge Devlin is in Europe sifting through evidence of Nazi atrocities. He is part of the International Military Tribunal, but his agenda is personal. He hopes to convict SS member and former Olympic sprinter Eric Seyss, the man responsible for his military chaplain brothers death. When Judge learns Eric has just escaped from an American POW camp, the American sets off in a desperate race for vengeance. As Judge follows his prey, he becomes tangled in a dark conspiracy where the hunter becomes the hunted - and the very future of Europe is at stake.

Christopher Reichs masterful storytelling and George Guidalls dramatic timing keep the tension crackling as the plot moves along at breakneck speed.

Members Reviews:

this story just went on and on and on

Looked forward to this fourth book I have listened to by Christopher Reich as I enjoyed the other three. Dissappointed somehow and left feeling empty, it is basically a good story however I was bored before finishing and did not finish.

Ok story GREAT!!!! narration

Story was average with excellent narration. It was worth the listen but nothing to set it apart

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Title: Sacrilege

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: S.J. Parris

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-10-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 94 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Sacrilege is a gripping historical thriller set in 16th-century England and centered on the highly secretive cult of Saint Thomas Becket, the 12th-century archbishop murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.

London, summer of 1584: Radical philosopher, ex-monk, and spy Giordano Bruno suspects he is being followed by an old enemy. He is shocked to discover that his pursuer is in fact Sophia Underhill, a young woman with whom he was once in love. When Bruno learns that Sophia has been accused of murdering her husband, a prominent magistrate in Canterbury, he agrees to do anything he can to help clear her name.

In the city that was once England's greatest center of pilgrimage, Bruno begins to uncover unsuspected secrets that point to the dead man being part of a larger and more dangerous plot in the making. He must turn his detective's eye on history - on Saint Thomas Becket, the 12-century archbishop murdered in Canterbury Cathedral, and on the legend surrounding the disappearance of his body - in order to solve the crime.

As Bruno's feelings for Sophia grow more intense, so does his fear that another murder is about to take place - perhaps his own. But more than Bruno's life is at stake in this vividly rendered, impeccably researched, and addictively compelling whodunit - the stability of the kingdom hangs in the balance as Bruno hunts down a brutal murderer in the shadows of England's most ancient cathedral.

Critic Reviews:

"Parris interweaves historical fact with psychological insight as Bruno, a humanist dangerously ahead of his time, begins his quest to light the fire of enlightenment in Europe." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Even John Lee Can't Make This Story Entertaining

A predictable tale of 16th Century murder masquerading as Umberto Eco's, "The Name of the Rose." A wise monk with unorthodox views is drawn into a murder intrigue and uses his wits and unearned forensic skills to rescue a damsel in distress. The problem is that this monk seems to stumble upon all the murders and clues like a kid on an Easter Egg Hunt (look Mom, I found another one).

John Lee, can't even rescue this one so don't bother.

Fab

Just excellent. I sure wish Treachery and Conspiracy were on Audible as well ... Hint Hint...

Can't Wait To Get More of Giordano!

Any additional comments?

I loved this... as I have enjoyed the whole series! Parris' novels are a bit easier to read than Eco's "The Name of the Rose", "Focualt's Pendulum", and "The Prague Cemetery", but no less impressive in their depth, scope, and imaginativeness!

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Title: Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder

Subtitle: Oscar Wilde Mysteries, Book 2

Author: Gyles Brandreth

Narrator: Bill Wallis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-01-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

"I see murder in this unhappy hand...." When Mrs. Robinson, palmist to the Prince of Wales, reads Oscar Wilde's hand she cannot know what she has predicted. Nor can Oscar know what he has set in motion when, that same evening, he proposes a game of "Murder" in which each of his Sunday Supper Club guests must write down those whom they would like to kill. For the fourteen "victims" begin to die mysteriously, one by one, and in the order in which their names were drawn from the bag....

With growing horror Wilde and his confidants, Robert Sherard and Arthur Conan Doyle, realize that one of their guests that evening must be the murderer. In a race against time, Wilde will need all his powers of deduction and knowledge of human behavior before he himself - the thirteenth name on the list - becomes the killer's next victim.

Members Reviews:

Luncheon with Mr. Wilde

What did you love best about Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder?

If you've ever entertained the desire to hobnob with Oscar Wilde, this book is for you. Though I found the mystery engaging and at times intense, the book revolves around the fop playwright and his friends having luncheon, drinking, and smoking. And what friends they are! The straight-laced Arthur Conan Doyle complains about Sherlock Holmes, hoping that character isn't all people will remember him by. Bram Stoker booms his laugh. And the adorable but potential-sociopath Bosie holds Wilde in his thrall.

The premise is that the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes were based at least in part on the mega-mind that was Oscar Wilde, and let's face it, the only thing that can make a detective more interesting than the big SH himself is heart-seeking wit and an arsenal of quips. The author portrays Wilde with spooky clarity, both his charm and his failings, and after listening to this book you'll feel you met him.

The author commands not only quips and perfection of character but also weaves as much history as possible into the story. The grid is introduced, as well as the rules for modern boxing. (The latter should interest zero percent of the book's target market, but at least it's nice historical flavor.)

I have a suggestion to best enjoy the novel: Skip the epilogue / afterward. It summarizes what happens to the primary (non-murdered) characters after the story, recounting their achievements and demises. I found it depressing after the satisfying final chapter.

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Title: Vienna Blood

Subtitle: A Max Liebermann Mystery

Author: Frank Tallis

Narrator: Robert Fass

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-01-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the grip of a Siberian winter in 1902, a serial killer in Vienna embarks upon a bizarre campaign of murder. Vicious mutilation, a penchant for arcane symbols, and a seemingly random choice of victim are his most distinctive peculiarities. Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt summons a young disciple of Freud - his friend Dr. Max Liebermann - to assist him with the case. The investigation draws them into the sphere of Vienna's secret societies - a murky underworld of German literary scholars, race theorists, and scientists inspired by the new evolutionary theories coming out of England. At first, the killer's mind seems impenetrable - his behavior and cryptic clues impervious to psychoanalytic interpretation; however, gradually, it becomes apparent that an extraordinary and shocking rationale underlies his actions.

Members Reviews:

Another great mystery in this atmospheric series!

The Liebermann series are smart murder mysteries set in fin de siecle Vienna, and they're really, really good. A mix of a serial killer hunt plus real life people from the era = super cool stuff. PLUS Robert Fass is brilliant at narrating these. He's the perfect voice for them, both interesting and easy to listen to. I can't recall how I stumbled on this author, but I've read every single book in the series! :) Highly recommended!

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Title: Archive 17

Subtitle: A Novel of Suspense

Author: Sam Eastland

Narrator: Paul Michael

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 70 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Stalins most trusted secret agent, the legendary Inspector Pekkala, is on his deadliest mission - one that could save his country... or plunge it into the abyss.

It is 1939. Russia teeters on the verge of war with Germany. It is also on the brink of bankruptcy. To preserve his regime, Stalin orders a search for the legendary missing gold of Tsar Nicholas II. For this task, he chooses Pekkala, the former investigator for the Tsar. To accomplish his mission, Pekkala will go undercover, returning to Siberia and the nightmare of his own past, where he was once a prisoner in the notorious Gulag known as Borodok.

Pekkala must infiltrate a gang of convicts still loyal to the Tsar who, it is rumored, know the whereabouts of the precious gold. He soon learns that the best-kept secrets are those that no one even knows exist.

In the brutal frozen fortress where his survival once made him a myth, he begins to unravel the true identity of a murdered inmate, whose own mission to Siberia has lain buried for years deep within the mysterious Archive 17, where long-lost files obscure a shocking conspiracy that could decide the future of the Soviet Union itself. As more people die around him, Pekkala must decide where his true loyalties lie, or else take his place among the dead.

With the superb research and stunning suspense that are his trademarks, Sam Eastland delivers his most powerful Pekkala novel yet - the best in a mystery series riveting readers and reviewers alike.

From the Hardcover edition.

Members Reviews:

One of My Favorite Series

I am now a huge Inspector Pekkala fan. While it's hard to beat the introductory novel, The "Eye of the Red Tsar", I found this book to be just as entertaining.

Some of the same characters live on in this sequel with new characters well developed, and a solid story that follows true historical event and held my attention throughout.

If you have not listened to or read the first book, I definitely recommend taking them in order.

Paul Michael is a very good narrator and does a great job here. Highly recommended.

Great Read

Would you listen to Archive 17 again? Why?

I love this series of Eastland's books. They are well written and historically accurate. I can not put them down. I listen to them on my way to and from work and hate to turn them off when I get to my destination.

What did you like best about this story?

The storyline puts you there and the reader is great.

Which scene was your favorite?

Pekala's meetings with Stalin. You can almost believe that is what would happen.

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

It certainly was

Any additional comments?

My favorite mystery series. When is the next one coming out?

great

amazing story and narrator. This is literary crack. I am absolutely addicted to these books.