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Title: Minerva

Subtitle: The Six Sisters, Book 1

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Charlotte Anne Dore

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 167 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Minerva marks the delightful debut of The Six Sisters, a family saga in six volumes that will recount the romantic adventures of the six marriageable daughters of a country vicar, the Reverend Charles Armitage, in Regency England. The eldest, Minerva, is enchantingly beautiful - but a prude. She lives in the country looking after her siblings while her mother reclines on a chaise longue happily inventing new malaises. Her father, a vicar of decidedly secular inclinations, indulges a hearty passion for hunting instead of worrying about the girls' dowries. But when he wants to send his boys to Eton, the money must be found - and how better than by marrying Minerva off to a man of fortune?

Dispatched to Town, Minerva experiences her first season under the wing of an elderly relative. But age, it seems, is no guarantee of respectability, and Lady Godolphin's plan for a good time scandalize her young charge. Finally Minerva's moralizing ways make her the subject of a shocking wager among the rakes and dandies of Regency London.

Meanwhile, the handsome Lord Sylvester Comfrey is observing her progress in the marriage market. For such a virtuous girl, Minerva unaccountably finds herself in some extremely compromising situations with this gentleman, who alas professes not to be the marrying kind.

Members Reviews:

If you like Emma, you'll like this one

I do really like a good comedy of Victorian Manners story and I loved this one. I'm looking forward to reading the whole series. M.C. Beaton put a good effort into this one!

I liked the narrator too, especially when she was doing the men's voices.

And I love finding a new narrator that I like!

For those who haven't read Georgette Heyer

This is a typical regency romance. A good way to wile away a rainy day, or a workout on the treadmill.

An M. C. Beaton book to miss.

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I always enjoy M. C. Beaton books but listening to this one was torture. The reader was inexperienced and halting. Her horsey voice did not resonate with the gentle, sweet timber of the main character, Minerva. Perhaps if it was redone by a softer, sweeter voice the book would read better. Now, it is just off-putting.

Has Minerva turned you off from other books in this genre?

The book in itself is fine for what it is. The reader was awful.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Charlotte Anne Dore?

Emilia Fox would have been a wonderful narrator.

What character would you cut from Minerva?

None, really.

Any additional comments?

Read the book instead of listening to it. The narrator was so bad that I just wanted the book to end.

Oh, so very romantic!

Any additional comments?

This is one of my favorite Regency romances by M.C. Beaton. I was a bit impatient with Minerva in the beginning, but the author does need to create and for a while maintain a tension between the would-be lovers. I especially liked Minerva's father, the good vicar and also his pal the squire. Old matchmakers to be sure! Lord Sylvester was all that was good and generous: a truly romantic hero. There are some funny scenes, too.Highly recommended.

Charmless story.

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Title: Two Testaments

Subtitle: Secrets of the Cross Trilogy, Book 2

Author: Elizabeth Musser

Narrator: Kirsten Potter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-28-12

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Love for war's victims keeps them apart. Will love for each other see them through? The slightest spark will ignite an explosion. And the tinderbox of broken political and racial relations in 1960s France and Algeria provides plenty of kindling.

In the midst of the chaos, Gabriella Madison guards the orphans in her care while battling jealousy with Anne-Marie Duchemin, Davids former flame who has recently arrived in Castelnau, France. Even more problems arise when the townspeople start expressing their discomfort with the multicultural orphanage. They want it shut downpermanently.

Meanwhile, David is trapped on the other side of the Mediterranean, caught in the turmoil of a country gone mad. He seeks a way to guard his life, and at the same time, protect the refugees he came to help. But even if he accomplishes his mission, can he get out of Algeria alive?

Critic Reviews:

Elizabeth Musser avoids preaching and simplistic answers, choosing instead to portray a God who cares in the midst of lifes complexity. (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Two Testaments review

It was an exciting book with great characters from beginning to end . David's proposal to Gabby and Mustafa's survival were great moments the narrator did and excellent job

Great great series!

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

In the top 10

Any additional comments?

Love love love E Musser's books!!! They never disappoint and leave you wanting more.

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Title: The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln

Author: Stephen L. Carter

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 22 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-10-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 123 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

From the best-selling author of The Emperor of Ocean Park and New England White, comes a daring reimagining of one of the most tumultuous moments in our nations past.

Stephen L. Carters thrilling new novel takes as its starting point an alternate history: President Abraham Lincoln survives the assassination attempt at Fords Theatre on April 14, 1865. Two years later he is charged with overstepping his constitutional authority, both during and after the Civil War, and faces an impeachment trial....

Twenty-one-year-old Abigail Canner is a young black woman with a degree from Oberlin, a letter of employment from the law firm that has undertaken Lincolns defense, and the iron-strong conviction, learned from her late mother, that whatever limitations society might place on ordinary negroes, they would never apply to her. And so Abigail embarks on a life that defies the norms of every stratum of Washington society: working side by side with a white clerk, meeting the great and powerful of the nation - including the president himself. But when Lincolns lead counsel is found brutally murdered on the eve of the trial, Abigail is plunged into a treacherous web of intrigue and conspiracy reaching the highest levels of the divided government.

Here is a vividly imagined work of historical fiction that captures the emotional tenor of post-Civil War America, a brilliantly realized courtroom drama that explores the always contentious question of the nature of presidential authority, and a galvanizing story of political suspense.

Members Reviews:

Worth It For Serious Readers

Is putting Lincoln on the stand just a sham? Remember, Lincoln???s successor, Andrew Johnson, WAS impeached by the House of Representatives. Lincoln had VERY limited support in his own government. He DID suspend Habeas Corpus.

I assumed I would be reading a story with a strong opinion on Lincoln laced with modern preaching. I was dead wrong. I dare say there is some genius in this novel. Mr. Carter???s book is actually stunning in its scope and I never once felt a single moment of authorial intrusion. Thank God! The characters are independent and the course of the novel is driven by their actions. The author never shies away from allowing the actual members of the U.S. government to become fully engaged in this conflict. There are senators, congressmen, chief justices, and Civil War generals buzzing about Washington like angry hornets. Racism had bloody teeth back then and Abigail, an educated ???colored??? woman gives us an excellent lead character. She???s very real, very vulnerable, and very motivated to push to the dark center of a conspiracy.

I LOVED the book???s portrayal of the capital city. Washington D.C. is a half-constructed labyrinth of Byzantine politics, skullduggery, and even murder. I was there. I was surrounded.

I did not give the book 5 stars because it is very slow moving and takes quite some time for the effects of the tale to take hold of you. The plot lines are heavily dialogue-driven. So, instead of FOX News fireworks, you???ll get something more akin to C-SPAN. That said, if you can weather the chatter of lawyers and politicians, you will be pleased to find yourself submerged into the deep waters of a fully imagined era.

In the end, Mr. Carter???s novel explores the phenomenon of a moral debate when it enters the arena of power politics. A moral position can be massacred by legal sharpshooters who serve powerful people.

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Title: The Bell Witch

Subtitle: An American Haunting

Author: Brent Monahan

Narrator: Cameron Beierle

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-24-12

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 295 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Known throughout Tennessee as "Old Kate", the Bell Witch took up residence with John Bell's family in 1818. It was a cruel and noisy spirit, given to knocking and gnawing sounds before finding its own voices. With these voices and supernatural acts, the Bell Witch tormented the Bell family.

This extraordinary tale recounts the only documented case in U.S. History when a spirit "actually caused a man's death". The then local schoolteacher and later senator, Richard Powell, witnessed these strange events and recorded them in a diary for his daughter. He died in 1948. His astonishing manuscript fell into the hands of novelist Brent Monohan, who edited it for this retelling.

Members Reviews:

Engrossing Story with Great Payoff

Really exceeded my expectations--I have no idea where the fact in this retelling ends, and where the fiction begins, but found it absolutely believable and engrossing throughout. And I really liked the ending (the "reveal"); sets itself apart from typical ghost stories through a rare subtlety and attention to character.

Yes, the narrator has a very unusual voice, (at times I wondered if he was computer-generated), but I quickly accepted it as the sound of the hickory strewn frontier! And he does a fantastic job as the voice of the witch.

Highly recommended!

Unseen powers...

Listeners who criticize this book as boring and not scary have been reading too many Stephen King novels.Think of this book more as the recollections of an aged great grandfather told around the fireplace. You wonder how accurate these recollections are but, if true, they are terrifying. The story may seem to drag a bit at times, with similar activities occurring in a number of episodes--but remember, this is taken from someone's actual journal and is not a piece of carefully plotted fiction. I am assuming, of course, that Mr. Monahan did not create any of the events described or any of the thoughts of the original journalist, only updated some of the language and perhaps excised portions not relevant to the story.

Make sure you finish the book--the ending is quite startling.

The Bell Witch

When I first started to listen to this I was a little distressed because the narrator sounded computer generated, but after getting about 10 minutes or so into it I realized that he was actually a pretty good narrator and did an outstanding job with the voices, particularly those of the "witch". This is a very interesting book and I would highly recommend it. I was still left wondering whether or not the story is true. By that what I mean is whether or not the account was just edited by the author from a diary that belonged to Richard Powell or whether or not he took these highly documented accounts and expanded upon them with his own theories.

Quite Interesting

What made the experience of listening to The Bell Witch the most enjoyable?

I listen to and read books like this for two reasons. Firstly, entertainment, and secondly, because I myself like to write in the horror genre, and naturally anything I read or listen to can spark ideas for my own, original work.

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Title: Katherine

Subtitle: The classic historical romance

Author: Anya Seton

Narrator: Diana Bishop

Format: Unabridged

Length: 24 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-19-12

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Katherine comes to the court of Edward III at the age of 15. The naïve convent-educated orphan of a penniless knight is dazzled by the jousts and the entertainments of court. Nevertheless, Katherine is beautiful, and she turns the head of the King's favourite son John of Gaunt. But he is married, and she is soon to be betrothed. A few years later their paths cross again and this time their passion for each other cannot be denied or suppressed. Katherine becomes the prince's mistress, and discovers an extraordinary world of power, pleasure and passion.

Members Reviews:

Please give us more Anya Seton!

I was delighted to find 'Katherine' by Anya Seton on Audible after it being recommended to me so often by my mum, for whom Anya Seton is one of her favourite authors. I promptly downloaded it as my trial membership, the 24+ hours of listening would keep me occupied for a month or so, I thought. How wrong I was! I listened long into the night when I should have been sleeping and consequently got through the book in just over a week. That's how enjoyable I found the book!

It is beautifully read by Diana Bishop, who does a wonderful job with characters and accents, and little smatterings of French and Spanish here and there. It isn't until you hear a truly terrible narrator that you can really appreciate just how well some narrators do. I appreciated Diana Bishop all the more after listening to some samples in preparing my 'wish list' for when my full Audible membership commenced.

The tale itself is based on the real Katherine Swynford and the Duke of Lancaster, the ancestors of our Royal Family, and the love story between them. Anya Seton researchers the time well for historical accuracy and it really was a pleasure to listen to, so much so that I can see myself listening to it repeatedly, but at a slower pace next time in order that I can savour it!

If you enjoy Historical Fiction/Historical Romance, and the works of Jean Plaidy et al, then I think you will enjoy this book and I heartily recommend it.

I would love to see more unabridged works of Anya Seton on here please Audible, hopefully read by Diana Bishop again or another equally talented British voice!

An enduring classic

It was with great pleasure that I spotted "Katherine" in New Releases. I first read this book as a teenager and have re-read it many times since - I even took a copy of it with me on my honeymoon. If you like Sharon Penman and Philipa Gregory you will love this. The narrator is excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting yet another old friend courtesy of Audible.

Fascinating.......

....brilliant. I have read this book several times since I first bought it some forty years ago. That alone says how good it is !! I have never read any other book more than once, It was only recently that I realised that it was available to download, and having listened, can honestly say that despite knowing the story well, I still found it amazingly addictive. Probably not for the historical purist but still an informative and very well written novel. It was also very well narrated.

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Title: The Garden Intrigue

Subtitle: Pink Carnation, Book 9

Author: Lauren Willig

Narrator: Kate Reading

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-12

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 238 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the ninth installment of Lauren Willig's best-selling Pink Carnation series, an atrocious poet teams up with an American widow to prevent Napoleon's invasion of England.

Secret agent Augustus Whittlesby has spent a decade undercover in France, posing as an insufferably bad poet. The French surveillance officers can't bear to read his work closely enough to recognize the information drowned in a sea of verbiage.

New York-born Emma Morris Delagardie is a thorn in Augustus's side. An old school friend of Napoleon's stepdaughter, she came to France with her uncle, the American envoy; eloped with a Frenchman; and has been rattling around the salons of Paris ever since. Widowed for four years, she entertains herself by drinking too much champagne, holding a weekly salon, and loudly critiquing Augustus's poetry.

As Napoleon pursues his plans for the invasion of England, Whittlesby hears of a top-secret device to be demonstrated at a house party at Malmaison. The catch? The only way in is with Emma, who has been asked to write a masque for the weekend's entertainment.

Emma is at a crossroads: Should she return to the States or remain in France? She'll do anything to postpone the decision - even if it means teaming up with that silly poet Whittlesby to write a masque for Bonaparte's house party. But each soon learns that surface appearances are misleading. In this complicated masque within a masque, nothing goes quite as scripted - especially Augustus's feelings for Emma.

Members Reviews:

Disappointed. :(

What did you like best about The Garden Intrigue? What did you like least?

I like Lauren Willig's writing. She writes well developed descriptive paragraphs. I really enjoy reading and listening to Ms. Willig's books because they are so well written. What I liked least about this book was the plot. There wasn't one. There was no espionage and no mystery whereas the other books in this series had a good mystery that required espionage.

Augustus Whittlesby was such a well developed character in the other books that I was looking forward to him having his own book. Mr. Whittlesby whould be let down that his story didn't do his years of espionage justice.

Eloise and Colin's story was also incredibly BORING! There was nothing.

What about Kate Readings performance did you like?

I truly enjoy listening to anything Ms. Reading reads. Her character portrayal makes the reading very believable.

Do you think The Garden Intrigue needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

This book itself doesn't need a follow-up; however, I'm looking forward to the next edition of the Pink Carnation Series.

Another great spy story of the Napoleonic era

Would you consider the audio edition of The Garden Intrigue to be better than the print version?

Kate Reading if a fabulous reader, not only in her overall production/delivery of the story but actually pronouncing all the french names correctly

More of what we expect from Lauren Willig

Intriguing characters, new and old. Solid reading by Kate. Lots of funny moments, awful poetry and clever parallels between the past and the present. Excellent set up for the next installment.

Average & pretty forgettable

I'm a fan of the Pink Carnation series, but some of the books I definitely like more than others.

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Title: The Deception at Lyme: Or, The Peril of Persuasion

Subtitle: Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, Book 6

Author: Carrie Bebris

Narrator: Leslie Carroll

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-21-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Critically acclaimed author Carrie Bebris earned a Daphne du Maurier Award for her lively mysteries starring the fictional creations of Jane Austen. Here, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy investigate a murder in the seaside village of Lyme. While on holiday, the Darcys stumble upon the body of a woman who had been at the center of a local scandal. Was it an accidental death? Or were there more sinister forces at work?

Critic Reviews:

Bebris cleverly entwines the characters from

Persuasion in the sixth of her mysteries based on Jane Austens beloved novels. (

Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

tolerable

While snippets of this novel used characters from Austen's Persuasion cleverly and entertainingly, long stretches of plot and dialogue were tedious. Even for a light listen, it's very uneven in quality, stretching beyond belief both the sciences of developmental psychology and acoustics (could win an award for plot devices dependent on evesdropping and oddly placed 18 month-old Regency toddlers). The mystery itself was about on par with a Stephanie Barron Austen mystery, and like those, a good "clean" listen - no vampires, blood or bodice ripping.

While I realize Regency Brits didn't sound like contemporary Brits, I'd still prefer an acutal Brit narrating a story about Brits. The narrator was competent, but all those overdrawn not-quite-right vowel sounds were annoying.

That said, could I be persuaded to download more of this series if available on Audible? Probably -- tolerable, untaxing bedtime stories are always welcome to my ears, especially if they evoke Austen, no matter how distantly.

Very ordinary

Would you try another book from Carrie Bebris and/or Leslie Carroll?

Possibly but this was very disappointing. The big draw is Darcy but his character is disappointing, drab and unappealing.

What was most disappointing about Carrie Bebriss story?

So slow and very little substance.

What three words best describe Leslie Carrolls voice?

Easy, clear, steady

What character would you cut from The Deception at Lyme: Or, The Peril of Persuasion?

Can't honestly remember. I switched off mentally so many times..

Any additional comments?

Very disappointing. There were some parts that grabbed my interest but they were few and far between.

Narrator kills story.

I like the book, it isn't a masterpiece, but I like the bringing together the characters of my 2 favourite Jane Austen novels.

Leslie Carroll, whoever she may be, ought not to narrate a story that is set in 1815. I don't want to start on what is wrong about her narration, listen to the sample and make your own mind up if you could listen to 14 hours of her 'not quite sure' upper class accent, which slips effortlessly into a little but of Irish, Australian and then a Lyme Regis sailor who sounds as though he's spent most of his life in a Lancastrian mill. Sorry, it's truly ghastly. One way of describing he voice is like Kate Bush singing her song based on Wuthering Heights, high pitched but without Kate's ability to do so.

I wish it could be re-read with Phyllida Nash narrating. She adds depth and a vision in your mind.

Another good post-Austen book

This was a good book. First of all, it was based on my all-time-favourite Jane Austen book - Persuasion - but it was also well written.

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Title: Monk's-Hood

Subtitle: The Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Author: Ellis Peters

Narrator: Stephen Thorne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-11

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 75 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Gervase Bonel, with his wife and servants, is a guest of Shrewsbury Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul when he is suddenly taken ill. Luckily, the Abbey boasts the services of clever and kindly Brother Cadfael, a skilled herbalist. Cadfael hurries to the man's bedside, only to be confronted by two very different surprises. In Master Bonel's wife, the good monk recognises Richildis, whom he loved many years ago before he took his vows. And Master Bonel has been fatally poisoned by a dose of deadly monk's-hood oil from Cadfael's herbarium. The Sheriff is convinced that the murderer is Richildis' son Edwin, who had reasons aplenty to hate his stepfather. But Cadfael, guided in part by his tender concern for a woman to whom he was once betrothed, is certain of her son's innocence. Using his knowledge of both herbs and the human heart, Cadfael deciphers a deadly recipe for murder....

Members Reviews:

Good Stuff

Great culture, great history of Cadfael and Remigus, (the Woman) Larriping good story

and excellent ending. Prior Robert and Borther Jerome in the thick of things. A repeater.

I love Cadfael!

I really, really liked the book, but I LOVE Cadfael. Cadfael gets ten stars. These books may be classified as stand-alones,but I believe you should read them in order, starting with the second book. Why? Because it is important to know who each one of the characters really is, their souls, what makes them tick, how they think and behave. In book two I came to understand who Beringar was. Book three has now taught me, showed me, who Cadfael is. I have seen the choices he makes, and I absolutely love him. I wish I had had this knowledge before I tackled the later books. Personally I think you can skip the first, or go back and read that when you want o fill in lost details because you know you love the whole series.

Super narration by Stephen Thorne.

One more thing. I guessed who the murderer was after two or three chapters, but you do not read these books to "solve the mystery". You read them to be with people you admire and respect. You read to see how they will deal with what is thrown in their path. The books let you escape into a completely different world. Is this why I less often enjoy picking up books set in modern times?

I really enjoyed this book; I do not want to leave Shrewsbury so I will move on to "Virgin in the Ice". I have read all the books between this and that one.

This Series Just Keeps Getting Better

What made the experience of listening to Monk's-Hood the most enjoyable?

Well written, faster pace, performance had clear and quicker delivery.

Who was your favorite character and why?

One could always answer that Brother Cadfael was but I thoroughly enjoyed Edwin and Edwy also. They were so adventurous and fun.

Which character as performed by Stephen Thorne was your favorite?

Most certainly, Brother Cadfael.

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

Suspenseful and humorous reactions were plentiful.

Entertaining escape

Low key approach to well constructed tales of the time with an interesting protagonist, Brother Cadfael.

Wonderful book, wonderful narration

Any additional comments?

I listened to a lot of the Stephen Thorne recordings of Cadfael years ago during a long illness, and they were an enormous source of pleasure.

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Title: The Big Switch

Subtitle: The War That Came Early Series #3

Author: Harry Turtledove

Narrator: Todd McLaren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-19-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 99 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In this extraordinary World War II alternate history, master storyteller Harry Turtledove begins with a big switch: what if Neville Chamberlain, instead of appeasing Hitler, had stood up to him in 1938? Enraged, Hitler reacts by lashing out at the West, promising his soldiers that they will reach Paris by the new year. They don't. Three years later, his genocidal apparatus not fully in place, Hitler has barely survived a coup, while Jews cling to survival. But England and France wonder whether the war is still worthwhile.

Weaving together a cast of characters that ranges from a brawling American fighter in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain to a woman who has seen Hitler's evil face-to-face, Harry Turtledove takes us into a world shaping up very differently in 1941. The Germans and their Polish allies have slammed into the gut of the Soviet Union in the west, while Japan pummels away in the east. In trench warfare in France, French and Czech fighters are outmanned but not outfought by their Nazi enemy. Then the stalemate is shattered. In England, Winston Churchill dies in an apparent accident, and the gray men who walk behind his funeral cortege wonder who their real enemy is. The USSR, fighting for its life, makes peace with Japan---and Japan's war with America is about to begin.

A sweeping saga of human passions, foolishness, and courage, of families and lovers and soldiers by choice and by chance, The Big Switch is a provocative, gripping, and utterly convincing work of alternate history at its best. For history buffs and fans of big, blood-and-guts fiction, Harry Turtledove delivers a panoramic clash of ideals as powerful as armies themselves.

Critic Reviews:

"The third volume of Turtledove's latest alternate-historical reworking of WWII, the War That Came Early, is definitely the strongest yet. . . . It is for lovers of high-quality alternate history." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Another Great Turtledove Alternate History

I have just finished Harry Turtledove's six volume set "The War that Came Early". Being a Harry Turtledove fan I of course enjoyed it. Some very thoughtful switches that made for a good and interesting story.

However, I do have a few knock-offs on this series.

First, I think it went a book too long. Well two books too long actually. I felt there was a lot off filler that didn't really enhance the story, and an abundance of redundancy in recounting stuff about the characters that were just covered a chapter or two previously and in the previous book(s). I mean how many times does he have to tell me that X character was a possessor of ancient history and now worked in a labor gang. He told me that in the first book and I got it then â but he kept telling me again and again through to the final book. He did this for other characters too.

The language in this was far raunchier than his previous books I've read of his. Not a prude, but something that unless it truly adds to a story I can do without.

One real nit, is a parachute jump action. He describes how when they were over the enemy territory, each trooper stepped into the door and when the light went to green from red for each trooper they jumped. Trust me the light went from red to green once and when it did all the troopers pushed out the door as quickly as they could. This helped insure they would be less scattered upon landing.

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Title: Charlotte Gray

Author: Sebastian Faulks

Narrator: Jamie Glover

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-22-11

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In 1942, Charlotte Gray, a young scottish woman, goes to Occupied France on a dual mission: to run an apparently simple errand for a British special operations group and to search for her lover, an English airman who has gone missing in action. In the small town of Lavaurette, Sebastian Faulks presents a microcosm of France and its agony in 'the black years'. Here is the full range of collaboration, from the tacit to the enthusiastic, as well as examples of extraordinary courage and altruism. Through the local resistance chief Julien, Charlotte meets his father, a Jewish painter whose inspiration has failed him. In a series of shocking narrative climaxes in which the full extent of French collusion in the Nazi holocaust is delineated, Faulks brings the story to a resolution of redemptive love. In the delicacy of its writing, the intimacy of its characterisation and its powerful narrative scenes of harrowing public events, Charlotte Gray is a worthy successor to Birdsong.

Members Reviews:

An exceptionally well told story, in every respect

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this intriguing story which was made all the more enjoyable by Jamie Glover's brilliant rendition. The accents which he uses are particularly praiseworthy, from the "pear-fect" soft Highland intonations of the Gray family to the clipped 1940's BBC accents of the Whitehall chappies - I felt that time & space had been transcended.

The story is of war so it is not a happy tale but it is such a well developed story, obviously meticulously researched, that the human elements of the conflict are all powerful.

Having listened to Faulk's earlier story, "Birdsong" about the First World War, I was quite emotionally moved by the links which he had so cleverly contrived to include in this story. It somehow made it all the more real.

Stunning

I was blown away by this book, slow to start, it became totally addictive and I was engrossed. Truely believable characters in a highly detailed and well researched world. I cannot recommend it enough.

Absolutely loved it

Would you listen to Charlotte Gray again? Why?

Yes. This was, in fact, my second time around. I had listened to it on iTunes before my days of audible.

Any additional comments?

This book is nothing short of a stunning rendition with marvellous historical references which will inevitably appeal to readers interested in the WW2 era.

The characters, as read superbly by Glover, remain as some of my favourite to listen to and I would probably even give this yet another listen. I definitely found listening to it a second time round I noticed more about the story; it's layered.

After this I would even dare to say that this is one of my favourite audiobooks (although I do have quite a few now). Faulks' exploration of love amidst trauma and devastation is absolutely masterful, he truly is unmatched and unrivalled in these areas.

Long story short: please buy this. Listen to it with a cup of tea under a blanket and be prepared for a bit of emotion. This book reminds me why Sebastien Faulks is one of my favourite authors: I implore and strongly urge you to buy it.