History brought to life

Wonderful writing and clever use of an ancient English language. Final (?) episode in the James Marwood series, great story, very inventive beautifully thought out and written and so well read by Mr Pugh. Thank you Andrew Taylor excellent series. Will there be more? Must try your other books. loved them.

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Very interesting

This was a very good story and easy to listen to, as well as getting a good sense of what life must have been like during that period

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A series worth listening too

I'm not an historical novel buff, but I happened on the start of this series in a library app, and have now heard all 4. During each one, I've been engaged not only by the story, but also the historical detail, which in turn has led me to research the times post Cromwell and fire of London, which is a period my history classes didn't cover. As in most series, theres a predictability about the story because the 'hero' has to survive but compared to neurotic housewives and brooding policemen (and women) it makes an interesting and informative change.
Also try his book about Manhatten. its heavier going, I found, but again the details of the civil war and of how rural the New York area was, a relatively short time ago, fascinating.

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3 people found this helpful

Educational and to the point

I enjoyed listening to this book very much. Easy to follow and the Narrator braught it to life.

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Fabulous

I hesitate to use the word... Gripping.. But it was really compulsive listening. Now I tend to buy audible books based on both the author and narrator. Both in this book are excellent and I have just ordered more from the same series.

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2 people found this helpful

More exciting escapades by Marwood & Lovett

This is the fourth book in this series I've listened to and enjoyed. Set in the years after the Great Fire of London and a time when some of the public were beginning to question whether the restoration of Charles II had been such a good thing. Particularly those of a more Presbyterian inclination who feared that the King was closet Catholic and wished for the return of of Cromwell's son. Marwood and Lovett get embroiled in violent tussles between supporters of the King and those wishing his overthrow. Cat Lovett, being the daughter of a regicide, is particularly vulnerable to accusations of complicity. Added to the mix is the duplicitous Duke of Buckingham. It's a gripping story that kept me listening aide by excellent dramatization of the dialogue by the narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent Marwood

Thoroughly enjoyable and convincing. James Marwood is such an admirable and resourceful principal character.

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Every day is a school day

I love these characters. You get a real sense of living conditions. Each book introduces more facets of 16th century life with snippets of historical facts enough to get me googling actual people and places mentioned.
Alongside this is always a cracking and intricate story of murder, intrigue and mayhem amongst the aristocracy. I learned more about the Cromwells than I ever learnt for my O level Tudors and Stuarts syllabus.
The narrator just is the voice of Marwood.

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Inventive, Engaging and Thoroughly Enjoyable

For many the series of Andrew Taylor’s Restoration novels has something of an element of spice in the relationship between two of the recurring characters. This novel does not disappoint in that respect. The focus in this novel revolves around Oliver Cromwell’s family, and it does so interestingly, weaving villains closely and dangerously around them. Buildings, sewers and plain cruelty figure and the intrigue of this novel is delivered to us with great skill and listener involvement. Some may want to have seen one arch villain dealt with differently, but that would not have accorded with history. Andrew Taylor draws his characters extremely well, and listeners will find them fully formed and believable. Taylor knows how to write with humour and in this, his episodes dealing with Charles II will make many smile. At the end of this novel, listeners will want to accelerate to the next novel in the series. In terms of the performance of the audio-book, Leighton Pugh cannot be bettered. When I was listening to this audio-book on loud speaker at home, wife partner stopped to listen and remarked how good the performance was and how easy to listen to.

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Interesting look at the other Cromwell

This is a fun series but blimey, Andrew Taylor is fond of of creating likeable characters then doing horrible sad things to them! The overall story featuring Richard Cromwell just goes to remind how little impact the son of a ‘Great Man’ can have

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1 person found this helpful