Wonderful Emilia Fox

Brilliant narration and writing. Weak story line, though. Great beginning and end, but long tedious middle. Was irritated by pronunciation of 'roofs' till I read in Collins that the eff could be pronounced 'f' or 'v'!

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Preambling at its greatest

Having enjoyed other Vine novels, this one was spoilt by the great long preamble preceeding the bones of the story. After the first few chapters, I gave up on the over detailed descriptions and name dropping of stores and food outlets. Might be OK for Maida Vale residents, but not for others.

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A well read very long story

Excellently read by Emilia Fox, it goes on a bit. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it because I did, and I wanted to find out what happens, but it was rather drawn out, and I started looking for my next listen half way through, returning to this when I needed a quiet narrative whilst doing chores.

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excellent lesson

A gripping and well-written, fine psychological thriller. For all Barbara Vine fans and newcomers.

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loved it

very satisfying storyline, kept me interested till the end, so many good characters. Amelia Fox does a great job narrating

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Slowly builds to a nerve-wracking crescendo

A lot of time is spent creating memorable characters and the details of their present and past lives. I had to concentrate as the story switches back and forth among three different times of Clodagh’s life, her relationships, first, with Daniel and then, Michael Silverman,’Silver’ and the young people who come and go in Silver’s flat. The book seems slow at first but gradually the pace quickens as Clodagh and Silver become involved with helping a couple on the run culminating in an ‘edge-of-the-seat’ scene.

Some reviewers have been bored by the slow start and stopped listening, but I’d say stick with it and don’t give up believing that not much is happening. I think that the time taken by the author to create the mix of weird, irritating, obnoxious and kindly people in the earlier chapters made me feel more involved in what happened to them than if their characters hadn’t been brought to life in the early chapters.

Emilia Fox’s narration added to the enjoyment of the book.

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1 person found this helpful

One of my favourites

Found myself gripped by this unusual story. So many elements combining to make an interesting and compelling narrative. The reader is excellent. One of the best audiobooks I have listened to.

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A New Lease of Life!

As a Barbara Vine fan, read this when first published in 2000, I recalled the pylon incident but had forgotten most of the stories threads, so was delighted to be transported back to the rooftops of London by 'Silent Witness' actress Emilia Fox's fine narration.
It's a longish listen @ 17+ hours, took me 3 days, but so worth it.

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Well worth a listen

Beautifully interwoven story is you might expect from such a master. Nicely read in a noticeably dispassionate tone which seemed to me to colour the characters’ exotic obsession.

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Enjoyable

I loved every minute not predictable just interesting and Emilia reads it beautifully good to listen to when pottering about

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