Swashbuckling, intrigue, surprising discoveries and love

An absolute delight of a read. One complaint is that it robbed me of a night’s sleep. Couldn’t put it down once the story unfolded. Riveting read. Complex story of politics, war and peace, intrigues and, of course, a steaming love story. Sad and funny moments, at times so realistic that one forgot that the characters and the country location are fictitious. What more can one ask for in historic fiction?

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Another fabulous addition to this series

This, the third in Ms Brant's Alec Halsey mysteries, is quite possibly the best yet - which is saying something considering how good the previous two are!

Picking up where the last book, DEADLY AFFAIR, left off, Alec is leaving England to travel to the German principality of Midanich on a rescue mission. His best friend and the young lady he was escorting have been imprisoned by the new Margrave of Midanich and he will negotiate with no one but Alec for their release.

Some years earlier, one of Alec's earliest diplomatic postings was to Midanich, and it ended in disaster. As we have been informed in previous stories, something went badly wrong there which led to Alec's incarceration and subsequent escape, and he had vowed never to return. Now, however, he has no alternative but to go back - even though it may cost him his life.

Ms Brant has penned a gripping, well-paced story that is completely un-put-downable. The novel is admirably complex (without being impenetrable) with lots of twists, turns and shocks along the way; and I was kept guessing right up to the end.

Alex Wyndham delivers another outstanding performance, both technically and artistically. His ability to successfully differentiate between large numbers of characters of both sexes at the same time as sustaining a number of foreign (in this case, Germanic) accents is truly impressive, but more than that, his performance in the more emotional moments is absolutely spot on. Anyone who has already read the book will know that there is a scene around the middle of it which is crucial to the story and to listeners' growing knowledge of Alec Halsey as a character - and Mr Wyndham nails it completely.

Deadly Peril is another superb audiobook from this talented author/narrator team, and I am eagerly looking forward to their next collaboration.

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1 person found this helpful

Marvellous

Would you consider the audio edition of Deadly Peril to be better than the print version?

Without the print edition of the book, there would be no Audio Edition, and a narrator can only be as good as the story he is reading. The story is remarkable, and it's narration equally so.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed everything in this story, but the very best part has to be the twist that I just did not see coming. I had not even the slightest suspicion what was about to be unveiled, which to me is a real art when it comes to writing a book. Alex Wyndham's narration as always was superlative, he brings the characters to life in such a way that you feel as if you are right there, in the story with them.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I can never answer this question sufficiently because to tell of a favourite scene is to give spoilers. As I am a lover of romance though, I will just say that all the romantic scenes between Selena and Alec are always a delight to both read, and to listen to. Alex Wyndham's low husky voice when he speaks as Alec to Selena during intimate moments, well you can't help but get goosebumps.

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

I would love to have listened to this book in one sitting, but sadly it was too long to make that an option. I did however listen to it over 2 nights, so nearly one sitting. I had to know how things ended as soon as I could.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it's narration, Alex and Lucinda are the perfect author/narrator team, and I hope the partnership continues on with every new book that Lucinda writes. I have listened to many audio books narrated by different people, but I believe that Alex Wyndham's performance is both faultless and unrivaled.

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Complex and Wordy

This series goes from strength to strength and complexity to complexity!
Even for a mystery series, this has levels of complexity and ambiguity and Shea skulduggery that is both surprising and refreshing in an historical piece.

The Romance is an aside, incidental really, as it should be, but it’s still a force within the tale. Many parts of this saga are reaching a conclusion in this novel, but spin-off elements are now blossoming, therefore the next book, Deadly Kin, will be (or should be), a completely new tale. This is dark, dreary, war-torn, despicable, treacherous, startling, surprising and often sees the English, acting totally privileged! Inappropriately so! (Things haven’t changed today really)!

It was good to see new depths to Alec, sad to see predictable lack of depth to both Selina, the Duchess and Emily... but Cosgrove, is a star! As is Alec’s new valet. I like him.

Alex Wyndham is superb as a narrator. He so, aptly portrays each character. I really enjoyed listening to this.

Note: after the conclusion, relisten to chapter one.

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What a great story plot…

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story -
Now I am rushing into the next book

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Another fantastic audio book by the Brant/Wyndham team

How can an already fantastic 5* read be improved? By adding the performance of Alex Wyndham of course. This Georgian mystery, rich in historical detail, is set in the fictitious Germanic country of Midanich, torn apart by civil war. Lucinda Brant's clever penmanship actually has the reader/listener believing that this country actually exists.

Alec Halsey arrives to save his friends imprisoned by the regime of Midanich, an act perpetrated to lure Alec back to a place he had sworn never to set foot in ever again. A diplomatic posting 10 years previously had gone disastrously wrong for Alec and he had made a daring escape. He knows that this is a daring and dangerous mission but being the honourable man he is he must save Emily and Cosmo.

Alex Wyndhsm is a superb narrator and Lucinda Brant chose him to narrate her books wisely because he performs rather than narrates and it is difficult to believe that he alone is portraying the vast cast of characters, male and female with their many and varied accents, Dutch, German, Irish, English etc. And for me he will forever be the velvet toned and utterly gorgeous Alec Halsey. This audio book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as are the first two in this series and also Lucinda Brant's Roxton series. Long may this fantastic partnership continue.

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3 people found this helpful

A thrilling tale

Thoroughly enjoyed this story and Alex Wyndham's superb narration. Lucinda Brant has become one of my favourite authors.

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Boring unfortunately

This isn't like the first two books, this is more of a adventure story. it's overly long, there is too much unnecessary description of scenery and long conversations with too much dialogue. There's also silly lines in the story such as the Duchess going along with them; foolish story line to have her going along only then to cut her out of it! I'm on chapter 19 and really struggling, this entire chapter is just one conversation between two people. if I could read a synopsis of each chapter, I could move thru to the end quicker

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The twist at the end is good.

This is not a muder or mystery book and the romance is thrown in as a sideline. I found it over dramatic, should I marry him or not scenario.
This book follows on from the first, with the same basic characters and a few new ones. It exposes the pompousness of the English, at that time, abroad and their attitude to foreigners. At the same time showing their naivety and how easily they are lead and manipulated by others who live in reality. The mission is to rescue his friends, he goes with idea of sacrificing himself. However, everyone around him manipulates him to suit their own purposes. It is not a book I would read again, I had started it before, but gave up. This time I persevered to the end.

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