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  • Grave Expectations

  • By: Alice Bell
  • Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
  • Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

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Grave Expectations cover art

Grave Expectations

By: Alice Bell
Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
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Summary

Claire and Sophie aren't your typical murder investigators . . .

Claire Hendricks is a hapless 30-something true-crime fan working as a freelance medium. When she is Invited to an old university friend's country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire's side, because she's been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of 17.

When the pair arrive at The Cloisters it's clear this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire realizes someone has recently met an untimely end at the house. Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family—depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage reactionary Alex—Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when…

“Read this fabulous book—you will not regret it!”—Ben Aaronovitch

©2023 Alice Bell (P)2023 W.F.Howes Ltd

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What listeners say about Grave Expectations

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Don't waste your credits

Started well ie haunted mansion, family secrets, seance but got dull and boring once the group left for Brighton. I did try and struggle on with it but by chapter 16 I just skipped to the penultimate chapter to find out who done it. Full of "woke" characters and severe lack of energy to drive the story along. sorry.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great fun and looking forward to more

Really loved the characters and the premise (though it would have been better if the review didn’t give it away!). The characters were well developed and the plot kept me guessing. And the narrator was excellent, Hopefully there will be more!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Genuinely gripping and hilarious.

Picked this up being a fan of Alice Bell from Rock, Paper, Shotgun so perhaps a little bias but really enjoyed everything about this story. Definitely going to listen through again and see if any of the clues stand out like any good mystery story does and the tie-ins with Great Expectations are really well grounded. I really hope for more from Claire and Sophie in the future.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent ghostly mystery

Heard about the book via the Rock Paper Shotgun podcast, and as a loyal listener gave it a go. Glad I did. Very much enjoyed this story. Hoping Alice will write more. The audio performance was great. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dreadful narrator

I only listened to a few chapters as I found the narrator did not make each character distinguishable from the others . I think the book would be better read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly fresh take on the whodunnit!

I loved Grave Expectations and heartily recommend it! The characterisations were super, the dialogue flowed and was effortlessly natural. Grave Expectations is a very modern take on the whodunnit, it's fresh and very funny with a couple of bursts of hilarious slapstick too. What Alice Bell has achieved is not in the slightest formulaic and she's to be congratulated on an accomplished debut novel. I for one, would welcome more offerings, hopefully with some of her delightful cast of characters, Pardon the pun but it was Great and it exceeded my Expectations.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining!

I loved the characters, flawed but lovable. Can’t wait for another one as I think this premise could run & run.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really didn’t want it it end

Funny and genuinely touching with the feel of a golden age of crime story brought up to date, I will be waiting with hope for the next one. Oh and ghosts, do not forget the ghosts!

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