Ruined by the narration

As a huge fan of Mick Herron I am not sure if this was a weaker than normal book or whether the narration was so off the mark that it just felt like that. Especially when the usual narrator, Sean Barrett, reads Mike Herron’s work so brilliantly. This felt like we were being read a children’s bed time story in a particularly patronising manner.

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Not his best

It might be worth reading the physical book but the narrator sounds like she's reading an Agatha Raisin book. The first book ever that I couldn't listen to.

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Witty but unfocused

Mick Herron's style is witty, descriptive with often beautiful use of language, but the plot of this book doesn't work. Why is Sarah obsessed with finding a girl she doesn't know and who are the players involved? Lots of pointless murders and an unsatisfactory ending. Disappointing
The narration is slightly exaggerated but you get used to it.

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2 people found this helpful

Brilliant!

Superb story. Gripping all the way through. Best listened at 0,9 speed. Mick Herron is a master storyteller.

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Underwhelming - such a shame.

Perhaps anything would have been a disappointment after the Slough House books and perhaps writing this was all part of Mick Herron learning his craft.
Maybe that is something most authors need to do - I just don’t know.

However, while it is possible to catch glimpses of humour and of his eventual style, this plot lacks cohesion and credibility and is not helped one little bit by a turgid and stilted narration.

I was all up for buying the series but with a heavy heart will call a halt at this one.

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Slough house it isn't, but never purported to be

Loved it, Mick Herron knows how to shape a character. Beautifully written and equally well read. Had Sean Barrett read it might not have worked as well. It was a woman protagonist and worked very well with a woman narrator. I liked her voice and presentation of all the characters and I'm very picky about narrators.

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Slow burning but ultimately gripping. Brilliant

I’ve read all of the Slough House books so I was slightly wary about trying one of Mr Herron’s other books. I needn’t have worried. Such a master of language and plot did not disappoint. A fabulous performance in the reading completed a superb experience for me

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bit too predictable

the most annoying main character got on my nerves all the thoughts in her head and couldnt work out if it wa the reader or the writer

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Great story…but

I love the Mick Herron books,but couldn’t listen to the narrator. I went back to it a couple of times, but no. Brought the hardback and loved the story.

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Good but overly long story; awful narration

I like the Slough House books a lot. This has much good stuff but is overly drawn out.
The narration however is appalling. Really weird inflection on the words; all the male characters get the same gruff, sardonic voice. I was very tempted to give up.

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