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Devil's Breath
- A BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick
- Narrated by: Rachel Capell
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
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Devil's Breath
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Summary
I've always been better with plants than people . . .
Eustacia Rose is a Professor of Botanical Toxicology who lives alone in London with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company. She tends to her garden with meticulous care. Her life is quiet. Her schedule never changes. Until the day she hears a scream and the temptation to investigate proves irresistible.
Through her telescope, Professor Rose is drawn into the life of an extraordinarily beautiful neighbour, Simone, and nicknames the men who visit her after poisonous plants according to the toxic effect they have on Simone. But who are these four men? And why does Eustacia Rose recognise one of them?
Just as she preserves her secret garden, she feels inexplicably compelled to protect her neighbour, but Eustacia soon finds herself entangled in a far more complicated web than she could ever have imagined. When her precious garden is vandalised and someone close to Simone is murdered with a toxin derived from a rare poisonous plant, Eustacia becomes implicated in the crime.
After all, no one knows toxic plants like she does . . .
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic reviews
'FASCINATING AND EERILY COMPELLING.' JESSICA FELLOWES, New York Times bestselling author of The Mitford Murders series
'AN INTOXICATING TALE, DEVIL'S BREATH MIGHT TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY.' SALENA GODDEN, author of Mrs Death Misses Death
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What listeners say about Devil's Breath
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bookworm
- 05-01-24
Very different subject (botany) than is normally found in this type of novel
I loved the protaganist and the way the writer made her thoughts and reasoning very understandable. The narrator was also excellent.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Catherine Gordon
- 16-12-23
Unusual story
Seeing the world through different eyes - eustasia rose - such an interesting character combined with a who donnit plot
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mrs R.
- 15-04-24
Maybe should have read this book…
I was looking forward to this mystery crime story for it’s specialist botanical content as well the development of the neurodiverse main character. The story was interesting but my enjoyment and connection was hindered by the narration which came across monotonous and synthetic at times. So much so that I had to reassure myself that it wasn’t an AI I was listening to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hayley
- 11-03-24
fascinating story, kept its mystery
I loved this story, it's nerdy facts and it's quirky (neuro divergent maybe?) awkward main character. it's a gentle yet twisty listen and I grew quite attached to the Professor, which was surprising lol.
I found the performance really hard at first, almost emotionless and like an AI but as the story picked up this changed. I guess in some ways looking back that suits the story but I did almost give up as it was so hard to follow.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Manx Miss
- 15-12-23
Disappointing
This promised more than it delivered . The story began well but then I found myself losing interest. The character of the protagonist comes across as dull and contrived. The narrator reads in a dull and monotonous way which didn't help me to engage with Eustacia , who should be fascinating but is unlikeable and dull. For me she just doesn't work as a credible character.
Not a gripping listen. Not a story that I couldnt wait to get back to. Didnt care what happened in the end
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