The past is a distant, receding coastline

Would you listen to The Charter again? Why?

What did you like best about this story?

This is a complex, well crafted tale of loss, greed and the inevitability of fate. The author has brought together elements of different genres (family drama, murder mystery, thriller, ghost story, treasure hunt!) and set them loose on the rugged but beautiful coastline of Anglesey. This may sound like a bit of a muddle but Gillian Hamer has done a fine job of delivering a cohesive narrative.I particularly enjoyed the descriptive passages regarding the Welsh scenery, the stormy seas and the terrible sinking of The Royal Charter which casts it's shadow through the entire story.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Catherine O'Brien has a soft, pleasant voice which suits the ghostly laments of Angelina and the narration of the tragedy well. However, she is not good at accents which can be distracting in a story such as this. I did get used to this though and found that it did not spoil my enjoyment of the last half of the book when the pace increased.

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

There are lots of sad or tragic events in this story, but it is compelling and I did not find it depressing to listen to.

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Good story but.....

Overall I enjoyed this audiobook, but there are a few issues. There are a couple of backstories that just sort of peter out, the ghost story goes absolutely nowhere and the ending is an anticlimax.

I also struggled with the “Canadian” accent.
It wasn’t awful and I don’t feel like I wasted my time.... but it did feel like a first try.

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The Charter

Would you listen to The Charter again? Why?

I may,just to see if I missed anything.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Sarah telling the story.

Which character – as performed by Catherine O'Brien – was your favourite?

Sarah.Catherine O'Brien did a great job with the voices getting all the characters just right.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I loved this book!The storyline was VERY interesting.The setting was perfect and the characters seemed real.The narrator,Catherine O'Brien did a great job with the voices making everyone a real person I cared about.I did get a bit confused with Louis vs Luke and Danny vs David toward the end.Maybe names with different beginning letters would help?Either way,I loved the story!

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Unsettling and atmospheric

What made the experience of listening to The Charter the most enjoyable?

The sense of place, with such swings from calm and peaceful to hugely dramatic and all related to the sea. A voice in full control of the material with a talent for switching voice pace to match srtory pace.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Charter?

The original shipwreck, the tragic correlation of greed and death, echoes through the whole book. And the opening scene is a shocker - in a good way.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The final scene is unexpected but exactly right. I had no idea how this would play out but felt fully satisfied by the conclusion.

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

No. I needed time to think about what I'd heard and consider the meanings. Having said that, I was always eager to get back to it.

Any additional comments?

It made me want to visit the location, see that coast and visit that church, to pay tribute to the real tragedy which sparked this story.

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