Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical

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Title: Hadassah

Subtitle: One Night with the King

Author: Tommy Tenney, Mark Andrew Olsen

Narrator: Suzanne Toren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-11-05

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 218 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

"One night with the King changes everything." This is the message Esther, later known as Queen Hadassah, wrote circa 492 B.C. to one special candidate for new bride to King Xerxes. Now, in present day, another Hadassah, descendant of the bridal candidate, has been given these stories, passed down from generation to generation, of Esther's fateful time in history. It is a tale of persecution and benevolence, death and rebirth, and ultimately, an illustration of faith.

Tommy Tenney painstakingly researched the life of Esther to uncover the riveting details behind this woman's courageous ascent to the throne. Award-winning narrator Suzanne Toren immerses listeners in the captivating world of ancient Persia.

Critic Reviews:

"Esther...is a fascinating character whose story lends itself well to a fictional retelling." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Suprisingly good

I was surprised by how much I liked this audiobook. I even listened to it a couple of times.

The book was written with a "Christian" audience in mind, the authors are not well know, and reviews on Amazon.com were mixed so I didn't expect greatness. However, the book works as a historical novel.

I liked the characters and the action kept moving. The narration was excellent; it was very easy to listen too and helped to keep the story moving along.

I enjoyed listening to this story and I learned a bit about Queen Esther. I would definitely recommend this audiobook. If you liked this, try any Tracy Chevalier book, Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis series (Sarah, Rebekhah), and "The Red Tent".

A Mistake for Me

This was the first historical fiction novel I have listened too and although it was probably wonderful for some, it dragged for me. As it is based on the life of Queen Esther, the story could not be changed much to add more intrigue, so I found that the author filled up the hours with tons....and I mean tons....of descriptions. Every pillar, every wall, every floor, every garment, every piece of jewelry and not once but over and over again. Granted the story picked up about half way through, but even "The night with the king" was anticlimactic (no pun intended).

The narrator was good match for this reading. She did a very good job.

I did learn more about the Story of Esther than I knew before, that is for sure. I guess that would be the saving grace for this book. I came out knowing more than when I went in.

The beginning of the book seemed to go on forever before anything good happened. We finally got into the meat of the plot after about 4-5 hours of listening. I can't tell you how many times I almost put this audio book away, but I decided to persevere just so I could say I read it. I can tell you, that had it been a book I was actually reading and not listening to, it would have made it back to my shelf long before chapter 10 (I think there is something like 46 or so chapters).

I've read mostly glowing reviews about this book, unfortunately I can't join in with that same sentiment.

Incredible

I was so moved by this story. The book of Esther came alive. I could hardly stop listening.

Good Spiritual Read

This is a great work of spiritial fiction. Many of the information closely compares to the Bible, but is told in a way that will interest you in the historical times.

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Title: Miss Mapp

Author: E. F. Benson

Narrator: Nadia May

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-10-05

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 136 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Miss Elizabeth Mapp, magnificent grande dame and heiress, is always on the lookout lest her neighbors fall outside the bounds of perfect, exemplary manners. But her tightly controlled world is soon beset on all sides by interlopers, first in the disturbingly masculine form of two very different retired army officers, both of whom are anything but retiring in their conflicting aims upon her heart. Second, there appears the elegant, insidiously evil Contessa possessed of dazzling charm and diabolical designs.

(P)2001 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews:

"Nadia May does a hilarious Miss Mapp, the small-minded small-town heiress of a certain age who leads an absolutely full life spying on and attempting to best her neighbors." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Classic British Turn of the Century Comedy

The Lucia series by Benson is as fresh as it was 100 years ago. This is broad comedy, with a lot of absurdity. This is one of a six book series (as originally written) and introduces Miss Mapp, who is a wholly riduculous and mostly unlikeable character. But very, very funny; as we can all still some of oursevelves (and others) in this comdedy. The series was very daring for its time with a major gay character (not in this book, but all of the others), and a lesbian--but never any sex.

Nadia May is one of the better British readers, although her women (not surprisingly) are quite a bit better than her men. But in this series of books, only the women really matter. The men are just foiils for the plotting, backstabbing, and--when it all comes home to roost--the hilarious, slow-train-wreck-of-an-exposure.

This is not a romance though.

Benson at his satirical best

Benson's inimitable gift for satire shines in this classic. Yes, obviously it is very much a story of its time: that is the whole point. As others have said, this is certainly not a romance: it is satire in the finest British tradition. Sometimes darkly comic, sometimes farcical, it plays up the manners, customs, and social-climbing of a small society of seaside Edwardians. If you're not interested in reading that sort of thing, look elsewhere. But I daresay if you enjoy Wilde and Saki, you will adore Benson and long for more!

The narration is superb. From the brusque (and sometimes inebriated) exchanges of the military men to the catty competition of Elizabeth Mapp and "Diva Darling" Plaistow, the false brogue of the Reverend, and the flirtatious Contessa, Nadia May brings each character to life. Somehow you feel you reallly know them.

Of course I recommend you continue with the "Mapp and Lucia" series if you enjoy this book. And don't neglect Benson's supernatural short fiction: most of the stories are excellent entertainments for Hallowe'en and dark winter nights.

Fun and joyful

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

Yes, itis a funny, endearing story, a reminder of another time when life was so simple!

What did you like best about this story?

Mapp's character is funny and sooo hypocritical!

Have you listened to any of Nadia Mays other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Enjoyable

I had a little trouble getting into this book, but after about 45 minutes I was hooked. While I thought that Miss Mapp could be petty and gossipy, her little rants, plottings, and schemes seemed familiar and realistic.

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Title: Birds Without Wings

Author: Louis de Bernieres

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 22 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-18-04

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 369 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Birds Without Wings is the story of a small town in Anatolia in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire told in the richly varied voices of the men and women (Armenians, Christians, and Muslims) whose lives are intertwined and rooted there: Iskander, the potter and local fount of wisdom; Philotei, the Christian girl of legendary beauty, courted almost from infancy by Ibrahim the goatherd, a great love that culminates in tragedy and madness; and many more. When jihad is declared against the Franks and the young men of the town are conscripted, we follow Iskander's son, Karatavuk, to Gallipoli, where the intimate brutality of battle robs him of all innocence, just as the town he left behind is robbed of its centuries-old peace by the twin scourges of fanatical religion and nationalism that the war unleashed.

©2004 Louis de Bernieres; (P)2004 Books on Tape

Editorial Reviews:

Why You Should Download This Audiobook: Hard to put into words the effect of this powerful historical novel. British author Louis de Bernieres has essentially created a world of vivid, finely drawn characters, whose simple lives will change irrevokably in the wake of World War I. Like the best novels based on real events, de Bernieres' Birds Without Wings enriches the listener's understanding of a period in history while revealing with great sensitivity the impact of terrible events on human lives.

Members Reviews:

Not for the faint of heart

An intricate web of storytelling that brings an understanding to a part of WWI that has received such little attention. I am in awe of Louis De Bernieres' ability to impart through dialogue so much of the feeling, with such authenticity, the perspective of characters who are so foreign in every way. The one perspective that is not foreign, though, is their humanity, that which is common to us all. It is through the eyes and ears and hearts of these characters that we see the world in which they lived, the community that they shared, and the sometimes improbable lives that they led. De Bernieres weaves a complex story whcih demands much from his reader. If you can commit to that demand, he will deliver an unforgettable tale full of history, humanity, and humor. A masterpiece!

Truely Excellent

The imagery, the characters the complex web of plots and themes is really quite overpowering. From the first line to the end of the book John Lee had me captivated and transported to such an unusuall reality that I couldn't stop listening.

The emotional depth is palpable, and even though it has been months since I have read this book I can't stop thinking about the characters: their innocent ignorance, sincere love and afection, and in some cases the bullheaded hatred. You cannot get them out of your head.

This isn't a light read, and it isn't for the faint of heart but highly recommended. You will remember it for years to come.

Bird Without Wings

I so was moved by this book that I'm writing my first reader review. I previously read Paris 1919 and the two should read in sequence. Paris 1919 tell us of the machinations of rather stupid political leaders( Lloyd George, Wilson and Clemenceau) who in their effort to sort out national interests and greed for colonies, after WW 1 destroyed lives, nations and cultures. The Ottoman empire made many bad decisions such as joining the Germans in WW 1Turks as well as Greeks and Armenians paid a terible price.

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Title: Victory, Volume 1

Author: Stephen Coonts

Narrator: Eric Conger, Ron McLarty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-08-03

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 52 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Stephen Coonts asks what happens when you load a Catalina flying boat with five tons of bombs, a half-dozen machine guns, and a crew that walks a fine line between valor and suicide. In the Pacific theater of war, the Japanese Navy is about to discover the answer to that question in The Sea Witch.

Jim DeFelice takes us to the height of the war when information was bought dearly on both sides. When an American pilot parachutes into Germany to gather information, he lands right in the middle of the viper's nest a place more deadly than anything he could have found in the skies above.

Members Reviews:

One part great, one part not-so-great

Coonts story, Sea Witch, is engaging and horrific. He involves the listener with characters who are both sympathetic and flawed. The tragic and ultimately honest look at the combat experiences of the Black Cats honors those flying boat crews whose struggles in the early part of the Pacific campaign were so critical to eventual victory. The De Felice story, in contrast, disappoints, though not sufficiently to spoil the book.

Victory volume1

The awesome blending together of the reality of war and vivid story telling make this book excellent listening. For those who lived and remembered the stories and to those who made it possible for people like me to hear them I say sincerely, " Salute ".

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Title: The Passion of Artemisia

Author: Susan Vreeland

Narrator: Gigi Bermingham

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-03

Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 120 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Set against the glorious backdrops of Rome, Florence, and Genoa, and Naples, peopled with historical characters and filled with the details of the life of a 17th-century painter, The Passion of Artemisia is the story of Gentileschi's struggle to find love, forgiveness, and wholeness through her art.

Critic Reviews:

"The Passion of Artemisia offers a vivid portrait of a complex female artist who doggedly pursues her passion despite seemingly overwhelming obstacles." (Booklist)

"Vreeland's remarkable ability...makes this novel an accomplished work of art." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: Dreamland

Author: Kevin Baker

Narrator: John Rubenstein

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

While hiding out, Kid meets young Esther Abramowitz, a shirtwaist seamstress who labors under inhumane conditions. As their love affair blossoms, Esther emerges from quiet shop worker to foot soldier in the burgeoning labor movement. Changed by love, Kid, too, is no longer the ruthless scavenger he once was, as he prepares for an electrifying showdown with the vengeful Gyp the Blood.

Kevin Baker's deftly imagined blend of meticulous historical research and assured narrative invention recreates a world bursting at the seams, a world of freak shows, cataclysmic exhibitions, mad dwarves, and bathing beauties. In prose that is at once ferocious and breathtakingly lyrical, Dreamland weaves a richly layered tapestry that captures perfectly the emotional and psychological essence of the American experience at the dawn of a new age.

Critic Reviews:

"A powerful, deeply moving epic, an earthier, rowdier, more inclusive Ragtime....[A] populist masterpiece." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Every bit as entertaining as "The Alienist."

After I had read "The American Century" and found that Kevin Baker was responsible for the bulk of the research on that fine book, I wanted to read his new work of historical fiction, "Dreamland." I'm glad I did. Not since I read Caleb Carr's "The Alienist" a few years ago, have I enjoyed a novel as much as this one. Baker is able to bring the reader nearly to tears as he details the travails of young women trying to make it from day to day in New York, either as workers in one of the sweatshops on the lower east side or, unfortunately as one of the prostitutes every night putting her life in jeapordy in the Tenderloin or on the other mean streets of that heartless, corrupt, and sad, very sad city. The section detailing the days spent in jail by the striking women is especially chilling. The inclusion of Freud and Jung is compelling not so much for the interpretation of their work, but rather for the hint of progress that would be made in the years to come in the field of psychoanalysis. Other critics have harped on their inclusion in this work, but I found their conversations stimulating. How they end up in Dreamland at the end of the book with the other colorful and larger than life characters in this inspired work-Kid Twist, Gyp The Blood, the Mad Carlotta, Esther, Trick the Dwarf, Tim Sullivan-is deliciously presented. I thought that the inclusion of Frances Perkins as the sole upper class liberal fighting vainly with limited success to stem the tide of worker abuse allowed the author to speak through her character and graphically describe the carnage enveloping the poor young ladies of that era. No wonder FDR made her his only Secretary of Labor. I thought it ironic that a scant thirty years after the time of this novel, this same age group of women, imprisoned in 1912 for having the gall to ask for a 54 hour work-week, formed the nucleus of the manufacturing force that produced all the armament that saved our world from tyranny and made it safe for democracy during World War II. It is never fair to give away the ending of a book, and I won't. But, trust me, you'll love it!

Ugh

Read this for two hours and hated every minute. Just couldn't get into the style of writing.

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Title: Ramona

Subtitle: The Heart and Conscience of Early California

Author: Helent Hunt Jackson

Narrator: Boots Martin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 39 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Termed the Uncle Tom's Cabin of the southwestern Indians and the first protest novel of California, Ramona is the story of 3 cultures - Indian, Mexican, and Anglo - locked in combat. The upheaval and injustice are humanized through the romance of a beautiful half-Indian orphan who grow up as the ward of Señora Moreno in privileged surroundings, then falls in love with an Indian and joins him in a life of poverty and tragedy. The Ramona Pageant in Hemet, California, based on this romance, has played each year since 1923, reenacting the transition period between Mexican traditions and the new U.S. and state governments.

© and (P)1995 by The Audio Partners Publishing Corp.

Critic Reviews:

"The impact of [Jackson's] work makes it clear that a single person...can change the lives of millions. The defiant spirit that produced Ramona is the answer to complacency, to defeat, to injustice." (Michael Dorris, from the introduction to the Signet Classics edition of Ramona)

Members Reviews:

Does not follow along with the book!

Any additional comments?

I'm writing this because this audio did not follow along correctly with my book! I wanted to be able to read along with it, but the audio version skips around.

Great book!

I could hardly take a break from listening. Strong characters, great character development and involvement with each other. Loved, loved, loved this book.

Boring

Not enough substance for characters. The main character, Ramona, should have been developed a lot more.

ramona

I had to read it for my history class it was a great story I ever read.

Wonderful Historical Fiction!

It was a story I did not want to put down. The story of the Missions, the Native Americans and the Mexicans of early California has never been written better than this. I have seen the play Ramona twice over the past 15 years at the Ramona Bowl in Southern California. It was not until I listened to this entire book that the story came to life for me. I will be seeing the play once again next weekend and look forward to seeing it through new eyes!!

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Title: Wars of the Roses: Bloodline

Author: Conn Iggulden

Narrator: John Curless

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-19-16

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 106 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The brilliant retelling of the Wars of the Roses continues with Bloodline, the gripping third novel in the new series from historical fiction master Conn Iggulden.

Winter 1461: Richard, Duke of York, is dead - his ambitions in ruins, his head spiked on the wall of the city. King Henry VI is still held prisoner. His Lancastrian queen, Margaret of Anjou, rides south with an army of victorious Northerners, accompanied by painted warriors from the Scottish Highlands.

With the death of York, Margaret and her army seem unstoppable. Yet in killing the father, Margaret has unleashed the sons. Edward of March, now Duke of York, proclaims himself England's rightful king. Factions form and tear apart as snow falls. Through blood and treason, through broken men and vengeful women, brother shall confront brother, king shall face king. Two men can always claim a crown - but only one can keep it.

Following Margaret of Anjou, Bloodline is the third epic installment in master storyteller Conn Iggulden's new Wars of the Roses series. Fans of Game of Thrones and The Tudors will be gripped from the word go.

Members Reviews:

Another masterpiece for Iggulden

It is unbelievable to me that one writer captures the world of England during the war of the roses so completely. I always have been an Iggulden fan, but he truly has outdone his previous work here. The scene at that faithful Sunday in Taunton, in the driving snow, will forever be written as part of the true events surrounding that historic battle.

Great!

Fascinating, well written historical fiction. I am loving the War of the Roses series and hope there are more to come! Conn Iggulden writes to make you feel as though you are standing in the thick of the action and John Curless is a wonder!

Love the series

Conn Iggulden can't write fast enough for me. Love this series same as The Khan and Cesar series. This is the first audible book as I have read the others but much enjoy this for the commutes to and from work.

Who knew English history could be so interesting!

Conn Igulden is a great story teller. The War of the Roses is a fascinating story and Conn brings it to life. I have also read his histories of Genghis Khan and Julius Caesar and both were equally well written.

Great series of books

Great series of books really enjoy and helps me understand this war a little better. Can't wait for the last one come on audible.

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Title: What Is Visible

Author: Kimberly Elkins

Narrator: Jo Howarth

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-03-14

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A vividly original literary novel based on the astounding true-life story of Laura Bridgman, the first deaf and blind person who learned language and blazed a trail for Helen Keller.

At age two, Laura Bridgman lost four of her five senses to scarlet fever. At age seven, she was taken to Perkins Institute in Boston to determine if a child so terribly afflicted could be taught. At age 12, Charles Dickens declared her his prime interest for visiting America. And by age 20, she was considered the 19th century's second most famous woman, having mastered language and charmed the world with her brilliance. Not since The Diving Bell and the Butterfly has a book proven so profoundly moving in illuminating the challenges of living in a completely unique inner world.

With Laura - by turns mischievous, temperamental, and witty - as the book's primary narrator, the fascinating kaleidoscope of characters includes the founder of Perkins Institute, Samuel Gridley Howe, with whom she was in love; his wife, the glamorous Julia Ward Howe, a renowned writer, abolitionist, and suffragist; Laura's beloved teacher, who married a missionary and died insane from syphilis; an Irish orphan with whom Laura had a tumultuous affair; Annie Sullivan; and even the young Helen Keller.

Deeply enthralling and rich with lyricism, What Is Visible chronicles the breathtaking experiment that Laura Bridgman embodied and its links to the great social, philosophical, theological, and educational changes rocking Victorian America. Given Laura's worldwide fame in the 19th century, it is astonishing that she has been virtually erased from history. What Is Visible will set the record straight.

Critic Reviews:

"What Is Visible is remarkable at many levels. It is written in an intelligent, intricate style, populated with many true historical figures, and teeming with convincing period details. Above all, the novel has a unique narrative structure, which illustrates the art of fiction at its best in presenting the interior. A splendid debut indeed." (Ha Jin, National Book Award Winner for Waiting)

Members Reviews:

A.M. Rousseau

A beautiful, sad , compelling story based on the real life of a blind and deaf girl who lived fifty years before Helen Keller . A heartbreaking true account written with compassion and skill.. Well worth listening.

communication is life

this book provides a window into the struggle inherent to the living world's members efforts to communicate. Pre Helen Keller, we learn of a heroic, dark as well as brilliant creative minds.

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Title: Stettin Station

Author: David Downing

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-07-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 150 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the fall of 1941, Anglo-American journalist John Russell is still living in Berlin, tied to the increasingly alien city by his love for two Berliners: his fourteen-year-old son Paul and his longtime girlfriend Effi. Forced to work for both German and American intelligence, he's searching for a way out of Germany. Can he escape and take Effi with him?

Critic Reviews:

With strong, vivid prose, the author maintains a high level of suspense throughout, and makes the reader care about his leads. (Publishers Weekly)

This is a tense spy thriller that is particularly good at evoking the stark terror of living under the Nazis, and reminding us there was a German opposition to Hitler. (Euro Crime )

Members Reviews:

Very Strong Addition to the Marvelous John Russe

Stettin Station is the third book in David Downings very excellent John Russell series. With characters introduced and developed in the prior two books (Zoo Station and Silesian Station), the action of Stettin Station takes place in Nazi Germany during the period from Germanys invasion of Russia (June 1941) to Americas entry into WWII (December 1941). With meticulous research and the development of personalities that the reader can care about, Downing captures the mood of the times and provides enough action to keep momentum on a forward path. I now look forward to reading the fourth book in the series, Potsdam Station, inasmuch as Ive become totally engrossed in the lives and times of Downings characters. Although Stettin Station can be successfully read as a stand alone novel, I strongly recommend that a new reader start first with Zoo Station.

This Series Just Keeps Getting Better

The third book in the John Russell WWII series takes place in 1941. The Nazis have started shipping trainloads of Jews to unknown parts, though Russell suspects it can't be anywhere good. Hitler's troops are fighting in Russia, but the best information he and the other foreign reporters can get is what the Germans are willing to tell them, and apparently they are winning one victory after another. John's actress girlfriend Effi keeps being offered parts in movies with blatant propagandist scenarios, and the latest script would have her interpreting the role of a deviant Jewish woman who cheats on her Nazi husband... but can she refuse it without offending Goebbels and getting in trouble? Finally, after one of his spying missions goes horribly wrong, John is forced to escape Berlin, and Effi surprises him with her foresight and resourcefulness, but will they managed to leave together unscathed?

This was by far the most thrilling book in the series so far, and Downing plunges us into an entirely believable recreation of WWII Berlin, where the small pleasures of life can still be found even as the horrors of the war keep piling up. I mostly feel frustrated that I've let too much time go by since I finished listening to the audiobook before writing this review, because the details have faded from memory, and I see I can't come close to doing justice to this great addition to an excellent series. Just start with the excellent Zoo Station and make your way to this one, and I'm sure you'll be dying to get to the next book, just as I am. Simon Prebble delivers great narration.

Great listen!

Another fine John Russell novel. Not too much deos ex machina.