Listen free for 30 days
-
Blue Monday
- A Frieda Klein Novel, Book 1
- Narrated by: Beth Chalmers
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Blue Monday
Buy Now for £21.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Blue Monday, the first in a fantastic new series from the masters of psychological thrillers, Nicci French. Read by the actress Beth Chalmers.
Monday, the lowest point of the week. A day of dark impulses. A day to snatch a child from the streets...
The abduction of five-year-old Matthew Farraday provokes national outcry and a desperate police hunt. And when his face is splashed over the newspapers, psychotherapist Frieda Klein is left troubled: one of her patients has been relating dreams in which he has a hunger for a child. A child he can describe in perfect detail, a child the spitting image of Matthew.
Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson doesn't take Frieda's concerns seriously until a link emerges with an unsolved abduction twenty years ago and he summons Frieda to interview the victim's sister, hoping she can stir hidden memories. Before long, Frieda is at the centre of the race to track the kidnapper. But her race isn't physical. She must chase down the darkest paths of a psychopath's mind to find the answers to Matthew Farraday's whereabouts. And sometimes the mind is the deadliest place to lose yourself.
Critic reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about Blue Monday
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
- Kirstine
- 04-12-11
A mishmash of detection & pop-psychology
I have enjoyed a number of these authors' books, but was sadly disappointed by this first book in a planned new series. The story meanders into unnecessary by-ways; depends on unbelievable co-incidences and pseudo psychology masquerading as science; and the senior detective on the case is a boor using the F-word all the time, which I'm sure in the real-world would be counter-productive.
The reader does a good job, but I won't be following this series.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
21 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- S. K. Doughty
- 10-08-13
Welcome first outing for a new series
The double act writing as Nicci French are new to me and certainly two heads work well with this new series. A great read by Beth Chalmers, which given the mixture of men, women and children could have been a disaster. I enjoyed the contrast between the quietly self sufficient Dr Freda Klein and the police suffering huge pressure to resolve the case. Each had entirely different objectives during the book and it all came together at the end. The plot had a twist at the end which I should have seen coming but didn't. In many books the author seems to spend the last few pages pulling together all the loose ends, sometimes with no real credibility but given the number of strands running through the story Nicci French resolved what needed to be resolved but left me with quite a bit to think about afterwards.
Hopefully some of the main characters will turn up in future books and we can see how life is treating them over the next few years.
I look forward to the next Freda Klein with anticipation.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
17 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- AnniV
- 22-06-14
Gripping from start to finish
What did you like most about Blue Monday?
The first few chapters left me thinking where are they taking this story, but even the additional red herring characters were compelling and it made me want to keeping listening.
I was chilled by the first person reasonings of little Matthew and thought that like all the other characters this was well observed. The authors pulled all the pieces together in an ending that I didn't expect, which was great for me as I often guess the plot half way through the read.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Karlsson. (PC GRUMPY) the relationship between Klein and the detective. I hope he is in the next book
Which character – as performed by Beth Chalmers – was your favourite?
All of them I was lost in the performance of her male female and younger characters ...10/10
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 30-06-13
I really, really tried
I've tried to listen to this book now for almost 18 months. I've gone back to it again and again thinking, maybe it was me? I've managed a few hours but nothing has happened to keep my interest. I have always loved the duo's writing in the past, but I must admit I've found the last few I've listened too harder and harder going. There was nothing that grabbed me that made me want to carry on, lots of inconsequential stuff that seemed to lead nowhere. Maybe if I'd kept going it might have all started to make sense, but life is too short - sorry!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Sean
- 31-10-14
Incredible - in the true meaning of the word...
Would you try another book written by Nicci French or narrated by Beth Chalmers?
This novel is all the more troubling because one or two of the characters have some modest potential, not least of whom is Frieda herself - but for all her alleged training she behaves like an impulsive teenager in spasmodic passages interspersed with domestic drudgery. If in doubt, have a character appear through the ceiling above.
Has Blue Monday put you off other books in this genre?
Very little for the human spirit in this one.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- AmazonCustomer
- 26-09-14
Great listen
Would you consider the audio edition of Blue Monday to be better than the print version?
Loved the narrator - made the whole story come alive.
Who was your favorite character and why?
I liked Frieda, the main character. Although she could be irritating at times the narrator's voice made me forgive her limitations.
Which character – as performed by Beth Chalmers – was your favourite?
The small boy Matthew. Very disconcerting at times listening to his torment.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I was on the edge of my seat wondering if the child would be found
Any additional comments?
Totally did not expect the twist!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Louise
- 27-11-13
Superb listen. Totally hooked.
What made the experience of listening to Blue Monday the most enjoyable?
The narration is clear and engaging. Expertly done.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Blue Monday?
Gripped by the ending.
What about Beth Chalmers’s performance did you like?
Excellent narration. Just brilliant.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Totally addicted.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Russell K
- 09-09-15
Good story, Great reader.
Pretty harrowing stuff - was squirming to some of the story. Voice was excellent and got me through a bit if a slow start. It's the first of a series so there is some scene setting.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Pip
- 02-05-15
Didn't expect too much so enjoyed it!
After reading the reviews I really wasn't sure but decided to give it a go and with very low expectations I actually quite enjoyed it and have decided to give another Nicci French book a go so all in all glad I gave it a go.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- S. Murdoch
- 19-05-15
Good solid series
I love crime series and I recommend this one as being among the better ones. Stick with the stilted narrator...she comes to embody the reserved remoteness of the main character.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anne
- 21-08-12
**Stunning! Brilliant! Fabulous All Round!**
The best audiobook I've listened to in a long time. The storyline has twists and turns and depth to it. We are given the background scenery in brief, not describing it at length so as to be able to make the book bigger as alot of authors seem to do. Fast moving. Strong characters.
Beth Chalmers is a brilliant narrator. Each character is unique. I'm not so much a fan of women narrators as they are either dry or overdo it. Beth is spot on and carries us smoothly and does credit to this already thrilling story.
Make sure you follow this one up with Tuesdays Gone. I'm half way through it and it's turning out to be just as good.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anet
- 05-11-12
A gripping book, expertly read
What did you love best about Blue Monday?
Everything. The characters, how the story flows and unfolds, and the disfunctionality of Frieda's circle.
Who was your favorite character and why?
A toss-up between Frieda and Joseph. Frieda because she is so unrelenting in her work, and Joseph because he just knows what needs to be done and gets to it, from food to ceilings and paint colours.
What about Beth Chalmers’s performance did you like?
The earnestness and range of voices, and her accents are not bad either.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me want to drive the long way around.
Any additional comments?
I cannot wait for the next instalment.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Eva
- 18-11-12
very well descibed story and background
Where does Blue Monday rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
third in my list
Would you be willing to try another book from Nicci French? Why or why not?
I'm already listening to the second book (Tuesday gone)
Which scene was your favorite?
I liked all the scenes when Frida Klein had therapy sessions with Alan
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carla C. Galeano Ferreyra, David Tapia Cubillo
- 24-08-18
Oustanding performance and great heroine!
I LOVED Frieda! Finally a long list of books to read about a strong female character who doesn’t take shit from anyone! And the performance by Beth Chalmers was amazing! On to the next book!!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!