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Title: The Twylight Tower

Author: Karen Harper

Narrator: Katherine Kellgren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-23-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is May 1560. As sinister storm clouds gather overhead, 26-year-old Queen Elizabeth dispatches William Cecil, her most trusted adviser, to Scotland for crucial negotiations. Handsome, ambitious Lord Robert Dudley is at her side. But their leisurely midsummer idyll is cut short when the courts master lutenist plunges to his death from a parapet beneath the queen's window. The loyal retainers of Elizabeth's privy council do not accept the official verdict of accidental death. Their fears are borne out when another tragedy rocks the realm, and points the way to a conspiracy to bring down Elizabeth and seize the throne. As ill winds of treachery swirl around the court, and suspicion falls on those within Elizabeth's intimate circle, a vengeful enemy slips from the shadows...a traitorous usurper who would be sovereign.

With The Twylight Tower, Karen Harper brings a legendary era to life, drawing us into an intoxicating world of majesty and mayhem, political intrigue and adventure...where danger is everywhere...and where a young queen journeys to greatness in the long shadow of her bloodstained past.

Members Reviews:

The wrong narrator ruined the story for me

I have a long standing mental image of Elizabeth I that the narrator, Katherine Kellgren, tore to shreds. Those of you who have listened to the Her Royal Spyness series will be familiar with Ms. Kellgren. She is great for that series (though wearing after a couple of volumes) which is campy and light. Unfortunately, her reading style doesn't translate well to Tudor England. Her overwrought narration often overwhelms the story. When a Elizabeth shouts, she shouts so loudly I jumped. I have trouble keeping the volume at a consistent level.

I selected the book because it takes place at almost the same time and involves many of the same characters as a book I had just finished (To Shield the Queen by Fiona Buckley) and I was interested in comparing the stories. To Shield a Queen is a lighter story but a much better listening experience.

This book deserves no stars at all!

Awful. The narration is muddy. The story and characters are absurd. Elizabeth I must be whirling in her grave at the way she is portrayed. Sometimes it is a matter of taste. I've bought a couple of historical mysteries from Audible and had to force myself to listen to the whole thing. Maybe I didn't like the narrator or the story had a few holes (like Swiss cheese!) but I did get to the end. I could only make it through the first hour and a half of this book. That should be long enough to flesh out at least a little of the story but not this time.

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Title: Treasure of Saint-Lazare

Author: John Pearce

Narrator: Tim Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-04-13

Publisher: John M. Pearce

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

An old lover brings a cryptic letter to Paris, pulling Eddie Grant reluctantly into a treacherous web of intrigue and death - but giving him a slim chance to find the terrorists who murdered his family seven years before.

It launches him on a dangerous quest through Paris and the Loire Valley for the most valuable piece of Nazi loot that remains missing, a famous Raphael self-portrait from the early 16th century, along with the crates of Nazi bullion that accompanied it - all intended to finance the Fourth Reich.

Jen Wetzmuller, daughter of his father's World War II colleague in Army Intelligence, arrives in Paris, bearing a letter she found after her father was run down by a car on the streets of Sarasota. Its clues take Eddie from his Paris home to Florida, where he works to solve the mystery, barely escaping with his life. Then it's back home to burrow into the darkest reaches of the German occupation in search of the treasure.

Along the way he and Jen restart the brief, fiercely passionate affair that he abandoned, to his regret, 20 years before Sarasota. Most of all, Treasure of Saint-Lazare is a novel about Paris. (Treasure of Saint-Lazare is based on fact, the theft in 1939 of the priceless Raphael painting Portrait of a Young Man which disappeared in 1945.)

Members Reviews:

Entertaining Read

I found this book interesting and entertaining. I can't say that it was a page-turner or that it kept me up at night because I just couldn't stop reading it (which is how I define a 5-star book) but it kept me engaged through to the end.

I would have given it four stars except that I didn't find the characters all that appealing or well defined. I didn't really care about what happened to any of them. The plot is what kept me engaged in the story.

A Great Read

This book was a great read from beginning to end. There are lots of twists and turns and never a duo moment.I cant wait to read his next book.

Intriguing treasure hunt

Well-written.The excitement of looking for the ill gotten treasures from world war two will excite you,and the treachery will make you sad.

A real gripping novel. I loved it

This book is very well written.The story line is based in historical facts. The characters are a little hard to keep track of. Over all it is a wonderful story

Three Stars

THE FIRST 3/4 OF THE4 BOOK WERE VERY WELL WRITTEN. THE LAST QUARTER OF THE BOOK LEFT ONE CONFUSED

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Title: SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates

Author: John Maddox Roberts

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-18-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 146 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

As I walked back through the City, my mood was moderately elevated. This appointment did not displease me nearly as much as I pretended. Like most Romans I abhorred the very thought of sea duty, but this was one of the rare occasions when I was looking forward to getting away from Rome...

For years I had complained of the disorder of the City, and now that it was gone, I found that I missed it. All the peace and quiet seemed unnatural. I did not expect it to last.- Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger in SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates. His two years of aedileship over, Decius is ready for his next adventure. He would rather do anything than join the war with Caesar in the dismal forests of Gaul, so he and his slave/protg Hermes find themselves on a mission to rid the Mediterranean of pirates. They set off with shoddy ships and sailors to the island of Cyprus, where a young Cleopatra is staying. Between her impressive crew and the ex-pirate Ariston providing insider knowledge of that cutthroat occupation, Decius thinks he stands a good chance of bringing himself some glory. That would be too simple, though. The ruler of the island, Silvanus, is murdered in a most peculiar fashion and Decius, as a guest in his home, has a sacred duty to find and punish the guilty party. Because world relations are already strained, he would rather not suspect Cleopatra, heir to the Egyptian throne. But she has plenty of reasons to hate Rome and murder runs in her family. Another guest and suspect is Gabinius, who is in exile and could have easily given up loyalty toward his friend if it meant a quicker return to Rome.

In the meantime, Decius is being humiliated in his pirate hunt, and as if this weren't enough, Aphrodite herself seeks Decius's help by appearing to him in a dream vision. As Decius investigates world trade, the island history, and the new kind of piracy plaguing the waters, he is finding connections more menacing than he had ever imagined possible. In this ninth book in the series, Roberts crafts another skillful mystery, this time fervently pulsing with the collision of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian interests.

Members Reviews:

Love SPQR

I love this series and listen to them over and over, especially the ones narrated by John Lee (III +). If you gave up after I or II you must give the rest a try.

SPQR stories are very good, stuffy narrator

What did you love best about SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates?

Fun story w/ details about strengths and weaknesses of Roman Naval organization and equipment

What other book might you compare SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates to and why?

The Eagle's Prophecy for Roman Naval tactics and equip.

Would you listen to another book narrated by John Lee?

Yes

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

no

Any additional comments?

no

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Title: The Demon's Parchment

Subtitle: Crispin Guest, Book 3

Author: Jeri Westerson

Narrator: Michael Page

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-09-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In 14th century London, Crispin Guest is a disgraced knight convicted of treason and stripped of his land, title and his honor. He has become known as the Tracker- a man who can find anything, can solve any puzzle and, with the help of his apprentice, Jack Tucker, an orphaned street urchin with a thiefs touch - will do so for a price. But this time, even Crispin is wary of taking on his most recent client. Jacob of Provencal is a Jewish physician at the Kings court, even though all Jews were expelled from England nearly a century before. Jacob wants Crispin to find stolen parchments that might be behind the recent, ongoing, gruesome murders of young boys - parchments that someone might have used to bring forth a demon which now stalks the streets and alleys of London.

Members Reviews:

Maudlin Crispin

Where does The Demon's Parchment rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Middling fair. Adore Michael Page as a narrator, but Crispin was wallowing in self pity and drinking way way too much.

Would you recommend The Demon's Parchment to your friends? Why or why not?

Would recommend other Crispin books.

Which character as performed by Michael Page was your favorite?

Love sweet Jack and as much as I am complaining about Crispin -- he is my favorite. A flawed hero.

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

Would not make a film of this book.

This series is addicting!

This series just keeps getting better. I didn't realize that the Edict of Expulsion issued in 1290 banished Jews from England over usury. Jews could only stay if they converted to Christianity , but many still worshipped in private. Oliver Cromwell overturned the Edict in 1657.

This time the hunt is on for missing parchments written in Hebrew. Young boys are being murdered and mutilated, possibly by a monster who was created using the missing parchments.

I love this series. As usual, Michael Page does a fine job narrating.

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Title: An Inquiry into Love and Death

Author: Simone St. James

Narrator: Rosalyn Landor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-05-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 205 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In 1920s England, a young woman searches for the truth behind her uncles mysterious death in a town haunted by a restless ghost.

Oxford student Jillian Leigh works day and night to keep up with her studies - so to leave at the beginning of the term is next to impossible. But after her uncle Toby, a renowned ghost hunter, is killed in a fall off a cliff, she must drive to the seaside village of Rothewell to pack up his belongings.

Almost immediately, unsettling incidents - a book left in a cold stove, a gate swinging open on its own - escalate into terrifying events that convince Jillian an angry spirit is trying to enter the house. Is it Walking John, the 200-year-old ghost who haunts Blood Moon Bay? And who besides the ghost is roaming the local woods at night? If Toby uncovered something sinister, was his death no accident?

The arrival of handsome Scotland Yard inspector Drew Merriken, a former RAF pilot with mysteries of his own, leaves Jillian with more questions than answers - and with the added complication of a powerful, mutual attraction. Even as she suspects someone will do anything to hide the truth, she begins to discover spine-chilling secrets that lie deep within Rothewell...and at the very heart of who she is.

Critic Reviews:

"I thoroughly enjoyed it!. Simone clearly relishes and is steeped in the traditions of gothic fiction - in the best way. She conjures that secretive, hushed atmosphere perfectly, and the story kept me turning pages from beginning to end. At once an intriguing mystery and an eerie ghost story, it had more than enough spine-tingling moments to keep me gripped." (Katherine Webb, author of

The Unseen)

"This is a perfectly balanced combination of mystery, romance, ghost story, and history. Conveys the lasting psychological and practical consequences of war movingly." (RT Book Reviews Top Pick for March 2013)

Members Reviews:

Old Fashioned Ghost Story ----

This story provided a lot of chills and suspense, and I thought was very well done. I loved the narration of Rosalyn Landor, although her voices for the men could have been better.

Jillian Leigh, 22 years old and studying at Oxford, is called away to deal with the death of her uncle in a small town near Devonshire. Although reluctant, she has no choice but to take care of identifying his body and disposing of his belongings, as her parents are in Paris and unable, or unwilling, to do it.

When she arrives in the village of Rothewell, the coroner has already ruled her uncle's death an accident. He apparently fell off a cliff, but there really was no investigation into the death. As she gets to know his landlady and other town folks, she becomes more convinced that perhaps it wasn't an accident. Coincidentally, a Scotland Yard Inspector is also in town investigating, and when they meet, they work together to figure it out. There is some mild romance/sex between them, which wasn't really necessary for the story, but also wasn't overwhelming.

This story is set in post WWI England (1920's) and provides a vivid description of the countryside and town setting for that period.

Incorrect usage of terms at times was not enough to disrupt, and didn't bother me at all.

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Title: SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses

Author: John Maddox Roberts

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-26-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 197 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When Roman junior senator Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger has a chance to join a diplomatic mission to Alexandria, he welcomes the opportunity to temporarily elude his enemies in the Eternal City - even though it means leaving his beloved Rome. Decius is just beginning to enjoy the outpost's many exotic pleasures when the suspicious death of an irascible philosopher occurs, coinciding with the puzzling and apocalyptic ravings of a charismatic cult leader. Intrigued, Decius requests and is given permission by the Egyptian Pharaoh to investigate the heinous crime. What he discovers is beyond shocking.

And when the corpse of a famous courtesan mysteriously turns up in his bed, Decius suddenly finds himself entangled in a web of conspiracy far more widespread and dangerous than he ever imagined - one that threatens to bring about the downfall of the entire Empire.

Members Reviews:

One of my favorite series

I am rereading this series - I own all of the books in print form, and am now listening to them via Audible. The main character is interesting, has wry comments, and I like the spin Roberts puts on ancient Roman events. After all, we have so little real information, just the rough outlines, that someone who can write - Roberts can - has a lot to work with. One problem with Roman historical mysteries is that the society was incredibly brutal and primitive, and slavery is ugly - there is no way these things can be completely evaded. It was an amazing civilization given the world at the time, but the Romans were basically a tribal people who somehow found a way to achieve some mind boggling feats of engineering, art, and architecture. I appreciate that the author does his best to keep the worst of these things enough in the background so that you aren't so grossed out you can't enjoy the story and characters. If he uses some creative license - that's what creative people are supposed to do!

This is only #2 in the series, and it gets better over time - but I wanted to give it all the stars, since I feel I'm rating the series as much as this one book. The only thing that's missing in the audio version is the glossary and I admit I'm not sure how they would do it without putting the reader to sleep. However, it's more than worth it to get the book out of the library to read the glossary, which explains how the names work, what the various weapons are, how the political system works, and other things that are so different from our world. It's not necessary, but it does help flesh out and enrich the story. All told, I think that this series may be my all time Roman mystery series.

Hard to beat the system

What made the experience of listening to SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses the most enjoyable?

Decius, always tries to hold the high ground. Once again he's sent from Rome (for his own health) on a mission to Alexandra. There is murder and mystery that he must solve. As usual the political situation puts him in a position of having to flee or die.

What was one of the most memorable moments of SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses?

The last chapter, when he makes it to the Roman headquarters thinking he will be save........there is always a twist in the SPQR series.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last scene, seems like Decius can't get a break. even thought he solves the crime he must let many of the guilty people go because of politics.

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Title: Breaking the Line

Author: David Donachie

Narrator: Andrew Wincott

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-08-13

Publisher: Soundings

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

1799: Having evacuated the King and Queen of Naples ahead of Napoleons advancing army, Nelson must now await developments in Sicily. In the meantime, he and Emma savour their passionate affair, and when Nelson travels back to Britain with the Hamiltons, he finds he is the toast of Europe. To the British elite, however, Nelson is a dangerous upstart, and his love for Emma is his weakness. With rising resentment, Nelson and Emma are forced to keep up appearances.

As the war with Napoleon drags on, Nelson engages the Danish fleet at Copenhagen with stunning results. Finally he is given the chance hes been waiting for: Off a little-known Spanish cape called Trafalgar, he will show the world what he is made of!

Members Reviews:

Another lousy Nelson/Emma novel

Attempting to make main characters out of real historical figures is a risky thing at best, which is why it is so seldom done well. (And why it is so seldom done by real novelists) Donachie's effort fares no better than most; here are no new insights on the era's most hyped liaison which might help to justify yet another fictional treatment. Instead we find the same tired melodrama and cloying passages as every other attempt.

Whatever other reviews may say, the dialog is stilted and unnatural, and consequentially the characters never ring true. The atmosphere is fair and occasionally evocative but cannot redeem the poor characterization. I suggest that the interested reader obtain one of the many volumes letters between the Nelson and Emma and allow them to speak in their own words.

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Title: Ratlines

Author: Stuart Neville

Narrator: Alan Smyth

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 157 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ireland 1963. As the Irish people prepare to welcome President John F. Kennedy to the land of his ancestors, a German national is murdered in a seaside guesthouse. Lieutenant Albert Ryan, Directorate of Intelligence, is ordered to investigate. The German is the third foreigner to die within a few days, and Minister for Justice Charles Haughey wants the killing to end, lest a shameful secret be exposed: the dead men were all Nazis granted asylum by the Irish government in the years following World War II.

A note from the killers is found on the dead German's corpse, addressed to Colonel Otto Skorzeny, Hitler's favorite commando, once called the most dangerous man in Europe. The note simply says: "We are coming for you."

As Albert Ryan digs deeper into the case, he discovers a network of former Nazis and collaborators, all presided over by Skorzeny from his country estate outside Dublin. When Ryan closes in on the killers, his loyalty is torn between country and conscience. Why must he protect the very people he fought against 20 years before? Ryan learns that Skorzeny might be a dangerous ally, but he is a deadly enemy.

Editorial Reviews:

Editors Select, January 2013 - I listened to Stuart Nevilles debut novel Ghosts of Belfast 3 years ago, and was totally swept up by his seamless blending of fantasy into an IRA noir thriller. In Nevilles next two novels he delivered solid thrills, but they were slightly more traditionally drawn. But when I heard about his newest stand-alone Ratlines, I knew I had to listen to it. He heads back to his old narrative stomping grounds of an Ireland at war with itself, while bringing in an alternate history element involving Nazi stowaways. It doesnt get more chilling than that!

Critic Reviews:

Thrilling.... Readers will hope to see more of Ryan, a formidable yet damaged hero." (Publishers Weekly)

Another moody winner mixes Nazis into Neville's usual Irish noir. (Kirkus Reviews)

"Neville, whose debut, The Ghosts of Belfast, won the 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, concocts a believable plot with an intriguing protagonist torn between duty to country and his distaste for Nazi criminals. Fans of Jack Higgins and Ken Follett will enjoy this novel." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Complex Crime Tale in Compelling Time and Place

As expected from Stuart Neville, this is a good, solidly crafted story that quickly captures the imagination with a morally complex mystery set in 1963 Ireland. The title "Ratlines" refers to a system of escape routes through Europe utilized by Nazis after the end of WWII. Having never heard the term before, I was surprised when a quick internet search revealed that the novel's villain, Otto Skorzeny, was not only a real historical figure, but the very Nazi who masterminded the "Odessa File" underground railroad for fleeing fascists. As Neville expertly builds a multi-layered foundation for his story, much is explained about Ireland's role in WWII. A large portion of the Irish population seemed to believe the old chestnut, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Unfortunately, Ireland's neutrality and some citizen's quiet support of Hitler's war with Britain brought the country to the slippery slope that is the background of "Ratlines."

Some reviewers have taken exception to Alan Smyth's narration of this book.

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Title: Death and the Maiden

Subtitle: A Max Leibermann Mystery, Book 6

Author: Frank Tallis

Narrator: Robert Fass

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-02-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ida Rosenkranz is top diva at the Vienna Opera, but shes gone silent for good after an apparent laudanum overdose. Learning of her professional rivalries and her scandalous affairs with older men, Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt and Dr. Max Liebermann suspect foul play instead. Their investigation leads them into dark and dangerous conflicts with Gustav Mahler, the operas imperious director, who is himself the target of a poison pen campaign, and Karl Lueger, Viennas powerful and anti-Semitic mayor.

As the peril escalates, Rheinhardt grows further into his role as family man, while Liebermann finds himself at odds with his inamorata, Amelia, whos loosening both her corset and her tongue in the new feminist movement.

Members Reviews:

Death and 1903 Vienna

If one is familiar with late 19th and early 20th century Vienna AND Gustav Mahler then this is the book for you. I spent too much time reading Death and the Maiden and not enough sleeping.

One of the most creative endings that I've ever read.I spent most of the night thinking about it.

The book made me think of how much Austria changed after WWI. Even though the characters are fictional, one thinks about the people of Vienna and what happened to them just 34 years later.

A wonderful mystery for the history buff.

Music, murder and psychiatry - A very good read!

First Sentence: The lord marshal and the lord chamberlain, Prince Rudolf Liechtenstein, were observing Emperor Franz Joseph from the staircase.

1903 Vienna is a city of great learning, enlightenment, technological advancements, beauty, art and culture. It is also a city whose subtext of politics, antisemitism and peril grows with each day. Diva Ida Rosenkranz of the Vienna Opera is dead. Although her doctor proclaims it suicide due to an overdose of laudanum, DI Rheinhardt differs and proclaims it a murder. The investigation is complicated by politics. Gustav Mahler is the Director of the Vienna Opera but someone has been sending critical letters to the paper, trying to get him removed. Can Rheinhardt discover the identity of the letter writer? Liebermann becomes so taken with the life and works of composer David Freimark, he convinces Rheinhardt to have Freimark exhumed. What will they find?

This is a time of an enlightened Vienna where women could study medicine and attend lectures on equality. It is the time of Freud and Mahler; where psychiatry and music play a key role. There is a fascinating listing of technological achievements, and information on pathology, showing advancement in detection methods, as is the profiling by the detective while still at the crime scene and the use of crime scene photos. However, this was also a time when things were changing..."Perhaps bad things could still happen in this beautiful, cultured city." and antisemitism is on the rise.

Being new to the series, I had a hard time figuring out who were the protagonists. It took a long time to realize the relationship between Rheinhardt and Liebermann. They weren't really well introduced to the readers, nor was much backstory provided and their personalities seemed quite flat. However, as the story progressed, I became quite taken with them, both individually and as friends.

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Title: The Jewels of Paradise

Author: Donna Leon

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-02-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 103 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Donna Leon has won heaps of critical praise and legions of fans for her best-selling mystery series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti, one of contemporary crime fictions most beloved characters. With The Jewels of Paradise, Leon takes listeners beyond the world of the Venetian Questura in her first stand-alone novel.

Caterina Pellegrini is a native Venetian, and like so many of them, shes had to leave home to pursue her career elsewhere, mostly abroad. With a doctorate in baroque opera from Vienna, she lands in Birmingham, England, as a research fellow and assistant professor. Birmingham, however, is no Venice, so when she gets word of a position back home, Caterina jumps at the opportunity. The job is an unusual one. After nearly three centuries, two locked trunks, believed to contain the papers of a once-famous, now largely forgotten baroque composer, have been discovered. The composer was deeply connected in religious and political circles, but he died childless, and now two Venetian men, descendants of his cousins, each claim inheritance. With rumors of a treasure, they arent about to share the possible fortune.

Caterina has been hired to attend the opening of the trunks and examine any enclosed papers to discover the testamentary disposition of the composer. But when her research takes her in unexpected directions and a silent man follows her through the streets, she begins to wonder just what secrets these trunks may hold.

Members Reviews:

A "mystery" of a different sort, . .

While the Brunetti mystery's are slow paced, this stand alone was too slow for me to stay engaged. It is a book beautifully written, with Leon's elegant craftsmanship, but scholarly paced, which makes sense as an unravelling of a historical mystery to the protagonist scholar. While I do from time to time listen again to the Brunetti mystery's, I can't say that I will listen again nor recommend to mystery readers this novel. Those interested in historical fiction and the landscape of Venice will find it charming. Leon's subtle and dry sense of humor is present, which always makes me smile. Narrator, excellent.

jewel of a book

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

I have followed Leon through the Brunetti series and--dare I say it--she and I seemed to be getting a bit tired of his problems. This new stand-alone, though, was a delight. There are all the same insider tidbits about Venetian life and the historical references woven into the story were superb. The reader Cassandra Campbell is clearly a fluent speaker of Italian and it showed; no halting pronunciations as have made me wince in other books. Leon is supremely understanding and forgiving about the foibles and obsessions of human beings and this wonderful quality is clearly evident in this academic puzzle focusing on Caterina and her sisters. Brava!

Jewels of Paradise

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

I enjoyed this book, I was surprised when the story ended. I had developed empathy for the main character and was disappointed that she hadn't resolved glaring issues in her life.

If youve listened to books by Donna Leon before, how does this one compare?

This book is similar, love the glimpses into Venetian life. I enjoyed the main character.