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Title: The Gallows Curse

Author: Karen Maitland

Narrator: David Thorpe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-12

Publisher: Oakhill Publishing Ltd

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The year is 1210 and a black force is sweeping England. A vengeful King John has seized control of the Church, leaving corpses to lie in consecrated ground, babies unbaptized, and the people terrified of dying in sin. In the village of Gastmere, the consequences grow darker still when Elena, a servant girl, is dragged into a conspiracy to absolve the sins of the lord of the manor. In desperation she visits the cunning woman, who has been waiting for just such an opportunity to fulfil an ancient curse conjured at the gallows.

Critic Reviews:

"Atmospheric and original." (Woman and Home)

Members Reviews:

The trouble with Mandrake

I am not normally a fan of full-on witchcraft and fantasy stories but the good reviews intrigued me so I decided to give this a go. To my relief I found that this is a credible story and is primarily about the harsh lives led by medieval peasants and they way they were maltreated by their overlords. This is set in the time when King John seized control of the church and as a result people could not get proper burials and be absolved of their sins. An innocent young woman, Elena, is duped into eating the sins of a dead crusader by his friend Rafael. This allows the crusader to go to heaven but leaves Elena with the burden of the terrible acts he perpetrated while at war. Despite this evil deed, Rafael is a tragic anti-hero, whose life is marred by the fact he has been made a gelding and in middle age speaks with the voice of a young child. He is treacherous but is not completely dishonourable and his struggle with his feelings for Elena is very poignant. What follows is a satisfying tale of revenge, murder, betrayal and love. Karen Maitland weaves a vivid story and the sections describing folklore (some of which is still practiced to this day) suggest she has done a great deal background research. My only criticism of the story is that I did think some of the sections were a bit ponderous and the plot could have been tightened up a bit more, but it is still a thumping good yarn.

I enjoyed David Thorpe's reading but struggled a bit with Rafaels voice. I expected him to speak with the voice of a pre-pubescent boy but it sounded a bit too shrill to my ear. It was however distinct, and there was no danger of me confusing him with any of the other characters.

Depressing, over long and dull

What did you like best about The Gallows Curse? What did you like least?

The main character is a whiny brat and almost impossible to like but the setting is well researched and believable.

What could Karen Maitland have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Shortened it, added some emotional highlights to the characters and given it a satisfying ending.

Did David Thorpe do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

The characters were well differentiated but the high pitched character grates and annoys.

Could you see The Gallows Curse being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No idea.

struggled to listen only

Having loved Company of Liars and David Thorpe's narration, I decided to get this thinking I enjoyed his voice so much I would ignore other critical reviews of the voice he adopts for the main character. Wrong. The silly high pitched screeching of this man's every thought and word drove me too distraction. Just like a piece of metal being scratched across glass. Painful and my nerves are still jangling.

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Title: The Plantagenet Prelude

Author: Jean Plaidy

Narrator: Jilly Bond

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-19-12

Publisher: Isis Publishing Ltd

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When William X dies, the duchy of Aquitaine is left to his 15-year-old daughter, Eleanor. But such a position for an unmarried woman puts the whole kingdom at risk. So on his deathbed William made a will that would ensure his daughters protection: he promised her hand in marriage to the future King of France. Eleanor grows into a romantic and beautiful queen, but she has inherited the will of a king, determined to rule Aquitaine using her husbands power as King of France. Her resolve knows no limit and, in the years to follow, she is to become one of historys most scandalous queens.

Members Reviews:

An incredible woman

The life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine make a great subject for a book, or several books, but Plantagenet Prelude missed the mark for me. Mostly I didn't care for the readers voice, I think it would be better suited to reading books for children. I wanted to spend more time getting to know Eleanor, Henry, Thomas and other important characters of that time, but I would recommend the book for introducing its readers to the times of the early Plantagenets.

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Title: Revenger

Author: Rory Clements

Narrator: Peter Wickham

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 03-15-12

Publisher: John Murray

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

1592. England and Spain are at war, yet there is peril at home, too. The death of her trusted spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham has left Queen Elizabeth vulnerable. Conspiracies multiply. The quiet life of John Shakespeare is shattered by a summons from Robert Cecil, the cold but deadly young statesman who dominated the last years of the Queen's long reign, insisting Shakespeare re-enter government service. His mission: to find vital papers, now in the possession of the Earl of Essex. Essex is the brightest star in the firmament, a man of ambition. He woos the Queen, thirty-three years his senior, as if she were a girl his age. She is flattered by him - despite her loathing for his mother, the beautiful, dangerous Lettice Knollys who presides over her own glittering court - a dazzling array of the mad, bad, dangerous and disaffected. When John Shakespeare infiltrates this dissolute world he discovers not only that the Queen herself is in danger - but that he and his family is also a target

With only his loyal footsoldier Boltfoot Cooper at his side, Shakespeare must face implacable forces who believe themselves above the law: men and women who kill without compunction. And in a world of shifting allegiances, just how far he can trust Robert Cecil, his devious new master?

Members Reviews:

could be better

The narrator doesn't appear to have a grasp of the correct accents. Irish and Scottish ascents are very different and this does let the narration down. The narrator's own Midlands accent comes through when it shouldn't and he had chosen a very odd way of portraying Walsingham.

Those used to C.J. Sansom will not like this series. Those not heard of Sansom must, must, must listen to the unabridged Shardlake series. Shardlake wipes the floor with Shakespeare and the author stays true to historical fact.

I am decidedly underwhelmed by the Shakespeare series.

A good Listen

I enjoyed this book, there was somethimg going on in every chapter.......apparently I have to leave a review of 20 words or more....bla bla bla

This is not C J Sansom

Where does Revenger rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

This is not C J Sansom but it is trying desperately so to be. Taken in isolation, it is a good tale but being an aficionado of the real thing, it falls a long way short. I recommend you to read Sansom first; leave it a while and then read this.

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

Anything by C J Sansom. Are you getting the picture?

What about Peter Wickhams performance did you like?

The reader's performance is very good. He has a good pace and the different voices are well defined.

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

Don't tempt me!

Any additional comments?

'nuff said.

Good but frustrating

John Shakespeare is the late Tudor James Bond; he wins through in the end after another tangled web of historically satisfying intrigue. But after being ambushed and nearly killed for the umpteenth time by his various enemies you begin to wonder why the author insists on letting him go in alone time after time. It becomes a little formulaic and lacking in credibility.

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Title: The Detour

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Andromeda Romano-Lax

Narrator: Dan Butler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-14-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ernst Vogler is 26 years old in 1938 when he is sent to Rome by his employer - the Third Reich's Sonderprojekte, which is collecting the great art of Europe and bringing it to Germany for the Fuhrer. Vogler is to collect a famous Classical Roman marble statue, The Discus Thrower, and get it to the German border, where it will be turned over to Gestapo custody. It is a simple, three-day job. Things start to go wrong almost immediately. The Italian twin brothers who have been hired to escort Vogler to the border seem to have priorities besides the task at hand - wild romances, perhaps even criminal jobs on the side - and Vogler quickly loses control of the assignment. The twins set off on a dangerous detour and Vogler realizes he will be lucky to escape this venture with his life, let alone his job. With nothing left to lose, the young German gives himself up to the Italian adventure, to the surprising love and inevitable losses along the way. The Detour is a bittersweet novel about artistic obsession, misplaced idealism, detours, and second chances, set along the beautiful back-roads of northern Italy on the eve of war.

Members Reviews:

gave up on it after listening for over 2 hours.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

less description and more characterisation that would make me interested in the journey.

Would you ever listen to anything by Andromeda Romano-Lax again?

after listening to this one NO.

Did Dan Butler do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

he did the best he could to make it interesting,

What character would you cut from The Detour?

all of them.

Any additional comments?

there were no reviews on this book when I bought it over a year ago.

I have just looked at the link with amazon where there is only one review. I agree that the description of the statue was good but the rest was boring..

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Title: The Return of Sam Rache

Subtitle: The Graham Ranch Legacy, Book 2

Author: George Goldthwaite

Narrator: J. P. O' Shaughnessy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-17-12

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

This is the story of a black man who serves as a scout for Custer's Seventh Cavalry. Custer split his command and took five companies to the Little Bighorn. The only survivor of his five companies was a bay horse named Comanche, returned to Fort Abraham Lincoln aboard the steamboat Far West, along with some 50-odd wounded soldiers from the other companies. In my novel, Sam is in charge of taking the horse home.

Members Reviews:

Great story, with memorable characters.

This is the second of the Graham Ranch Legacy series I've bought and listened to by George Goldthwaite, and it really captures the spirit of the Old West. The well-researched details provided by the author â whether it's describing firearms or Native American traditions or steamboats â really brings the story to life. Sam, the main character, has a fascinating backstory, and is a great role model for kids of all ages and races. The story is interwoven with historical people, places, and events, so it also offers a great history lesson. I highly recommend!

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Title: Iago

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: David Snodin

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-05-12

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

An unforgettable adventure beginning where Shakespeare's Othello leaves off....

Wounded in love, tormented by his past, Shakespeare's most complex villain is brought magnificently to life in this tale of two adversaries - one an accused killer; the other, one of the most powerful men in Venice. Having escaped from Cyprus, accused of the murders of the governor, known as the Moor, and his lovely young wife, Iago is now locked in battle with Annibale Malipiero, known as Il Terribile, the chief inquisitor of Italy's greatest city.

Malipiero is repelled by the more brutal tasks of the interrogante. His obsession is with the very nature of evil. What makes a man into a murderer, he longs to know? Is Iago a lone psychopath, or does he lie at the heart of a more widespread Ottoman conspiracy? Malipiero knows that torture will not provide him with the answers he seeks. But there is, perhaps, a more audacious and unusual route to the truth....

Exuberantly inventive, thrillingly complex, and richly entertaining, Iago will captivate fans already familiar with Shakespeare and appeal to anyone who loves a rich historical novel. Iago marks the emergence of a remarkable new literary voice.

Critic Reviews:

Snodin gives readers a closeup of an unforgettable villain: his charm, his strength, his capacity for brutality and manipulation . . . . while simultaneously taking readers on a dark, fast-paced adventure with satisfying moments of humor and romance. (

Publishers Weekly)

Readers wont need a thorough knowledge of Shakesperes

Othello to enjoy this vivid. . . novel, which is filled with all the drama, intrigue, and violence of Renaissance Italyand even a little romance on the side. (

Library Journal)

[A] familiar coming-of-age story with a touch of Elizabethan finery. . . . A likable page-turner about love, war and conspiracy in the early 16th century. (

Kirkus Review)

Members Reviews:

Convoluted story that was difficult to follow

What disappointed you about Iago?

Being familiar with Othello and some understanding of the character of Iago, I expected to learn more about Iago and his escape from the very beginning. I love complex plot lines that eventually find themselves converging to some point. It took this novel too long to make that happen.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I have already listened to Hunger Games and have The Life and Times of Owen Meany ready to go.

What three words best describe John Lees performance?

authentic accent, fluid

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

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Title: Murder at Pearl Harbor

Author: Jim Walker

Narrator: Richard Ferrone

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-06-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The Mysteries in Time series recreates some of the most dramatic events in American history and infuses them with an intriguing spiritual dimension. In November, 1941, U.S. Naval intelligence intercepts Japanese plans to attack Pearl Harbor. When Aki Kawa, one of the language specialists who deciphered the plans, is murdered, it is up to her colleague, Gwen Williams, to find out what Aki really discovered before her death.

Members Reviews:

frustrating

I have many complaints about this book, including those already listed. But one of the most frustrating things is that Gwen is some super woman and all the men fall so short of anything brave or smart except Sam. And of course Sam has his own set of flaws that only Gwen can fix with all her wisdom. I really can't believe that Jim Walker is a man. Is this just a pen name?

The good thing about this book is that it is not filled with profane language and explicit intimacy. I feel like the whole book is a fake. A quasi christian man/woman author trying to please the right demographic group to sell the most books.

Implausible, complex, clichéd ... but other than that, okay

Could we please have some sort of moratorium on the plot device of a hunky young naval officer, son of a gruff-but-ultimately-loving admiral, in a doomed love affair with a Japanese girl in Hawaii in the last days before the Pearl Harbor attack? It probably wasn't original when it featured in the 1976 filmMidway (Collector's Edition)and it has also been a major part of at least two recent murder mysteries -- this one, and Max Allan Collins'The Pearl Harbor Murders(2001), a book that has more in common with this one than just the title.

Considering that Collins' mystery and this one are built around the same set of real-life facts, events, and personalities, I was surprised by how much poorer a job Walker did with it all than Collins did. Some of the things "historical figures" do in this book struck me as uncharacteristic, based on what I've read about them in real life. One or two, in fact, seem to show up for no other reason than to have one more "historical figure" cameo. And speaking of "uncharacteristic," how likely is it that a naval intelligence specialist would reveal so much of her operation to a reporter she's barely met? And was naval intelligence HQ at Pearl Harbor really so easy to break into (by crawling through the air ducts, speaking of clichés)?

Without giving anything away, I'll say that one fairly substantial subplot involving an "historical figure" is largely irrelevant to the novel. It could have been left out altogether without weakening the narrative. As another reviewer notes, everything that happens in this book before the action shifts to Hawaii could have been summarized in much less space -- especially since much of what we're left with from that section are unresolved plot threads. As it is, the title murder doesn't even happen until the second half of the book. Instead, we get long descriptions of irrelevancies, like one character getting dressed, or another drinking a glass of milk.

I have some other problems with the plot too, but listing them would give away too much of the solution to the mystery.

Finally, one of the things I really liked about the Collins book was the way it wove the "atmospherics" of pre-war Hawaii into the story.

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Title: Restoration

Author: Rose Tremain

Narrator: John Franklyn-Robbins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 12-06-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Restoration is a panoramic novel of life in 17th-century England, from the restoration of vitality to the empire after the onslaughts of the London fire and the plague, to the restoration of purpose and wakefulness in the life of Robert Merivel, who places his faith in the greatest symbol of a forward-moving era - the King.

Members Reviews:

Disappointing

This historical novel doesn't deliver much either as history or as novel. It doesn't delve into political, economic or social details of the time, except for the broad strokes necessary to give the novel a setting. That might be okay if the novel itself were worth the candle, but it is not. The story of Robert Merivel is pointless from beginning to end, a story that never really gets going and peters out at the end. This was particularly disappointing after hearing Rose Tremain's intricately plotted and deliciously satisfying "Trespass." I would suggest you listen to that instead.

That said, I did very much enjoy John Franklyn-Robbins narration and his skill with the voices and dialects of the characters.

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Title: The National Theatre of Brent: Giant Ladies that Changed the World

Author: Patrick Barlow, John Ramm

Narrator: Patrick Barlow, John Ramm

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-04-11

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Spoof theatre company The National Theatre of Brent take on the story of the Suffragette Movement in this hilarious Radio 4 series, first heard on the Womans Hour Drama slot.

The award-winning National Theatre of Brent aka Desmond Olivier Dingle and Raymond Box present the entire epic struggle of the Suffragettes or the Giant Ladies as they was also known. In other words the fight for ladies to have the vote so they can vote like we do today. Few people realize what they went through and what the men done to stop it and it wasn't just the vote they won but a great revolution that the world needs today more than any other revolution actually before it all goes pear-shaped basically. This is their historic story. Told over a single week in five hard-hitting and historically researched historic episodes the first time in the history of the BBC that the whole history and many historic ladies of the fight for Women's Suffrage has been played by two men. The National Theatre of Brent has decided to tell this historic and revolutionary tale through the eyes of their heroine, Little Dorrit.

Written and performed by the National Theatre of Brent, who are Patrick Barlow and John Ramm, Giant Ladies that Changed the World is produced by Liz Anstee and directed by Patrick Barlow.

Members Reviews:

Radio Gold! Giant Ladies!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this to anyone with a quirky sense of humour. This is one of the few radio shows that will have me in stitches from start to finish - completely surreal and charming! I've been trying to find this on CD or download for years. Please can we have more of the Theatre's past series on Audible????

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Title: The de Lacy Inheritance

Author: Elizabeth Ashworth

Narrator: Gordon Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-11

Publisher: Soundings

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Damned by leprosy, Richard FitzEustace must leave his home and family forever. Condemned to shun the company of others he seeks a place of solitude where he can find forgiveness for sins committed in the Holy Land. One more family obligation remains: a secret promise to his grandmother that he will seek out her kinsman, Sir Robert de Lcy, and press her claim to his estate. Meanwhile, headstrong young Johanna FitzEustace, is distraught. With Richard gone the other brother, ruthless and ambitious Roger, becomes head of the family. A marriage is contrived for her to a wealthy old landowner, and without Richards protection there seems little she can do about it unless she can escape and find him wherever he may be.

Members Reviews:

It was an interesting read and it seems to be historically correct per the author's quite good notes. I do enjoy her books about

3.5 Stars

3.5 stars. It was an interesting read and it seems to be historically correct per the author's quite good notes. I do enjoy her books about the DeLacy's and their place in history although The Lady of Haigh remains my favorite.

The subject matter was serious, but perhaps a lighter touch for Richard and Joanna would have worked better, for me at least. They seemed to vacillate a great deal in their moods. The author's note seems to allude to Johanna as having descendants; I would like to hear about that.

Elizabth Ashworth is a fine chronicler of the De Lacy family and has a great website for perusing

Who is the intended audience?

I started out loving this book and certain I would read all of the author's published works, particularly as they relate to Magna Carta. About halfway-thru, however, I began to wonder who the readership should be? With its sweet, simple prose, nonexistent violence, and young protagonist Johanna, by the end of the novel I wondered if the correct audience shouldn't be Middle Graders (10-14 yrs old)?

Great read!

the de Lacy family is in my ancestry, I and I was very excited to read a fictionalized account of them. Elizabeth Ashworth is a fantastic writer and she really pulls you into the time period, which is the main goal of any historical fiction author! She clearly has done a lot of research on her subject. Thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to more books my Ms. Ashworth.

Faith, Hope and Devotion have just rewards!

This is such a precious story that it will touch your soul. With a very strong God influence showing devotion and what prayer and strong faith can do to give you great hope.

Richard FitzEustace was in the Holy Land fighting with his King for a just cause. A little indiscretion with a woman whom should be considered in all respects as a party of the enemy leaves Richard a leper and the King sends him home to suffer with his affliction.

Richard for all cause is considered dead by the church and is to be shunned by all. Only God will be his companion now and a strong sense of faith, devotion, and consistent prayer can absolve his sins before he is called to his maker.

Richard's grandmother asks a boon of her grandson for she is not afraid of what he has and he sets off to the de Lacy lands in search of a one last wish that he will be able to try and fulfill before his end. He finds upon the de Lacy lands people of more courage and kindness that he could ever hope for.