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Talking to Strange Men

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Talking to Strange Men

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: Christian Rodska
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About this listen

Safe houses and secret message drops, double crosses and defections - it sounds like the stuff of sophisticated espionage, but these agents are only schoolboys engaged in harmless play. Not that John Creevey knows this. To him, the messages he decodes with painstaking care are the communications of dangerous and evil men, and as he comes face to face with the fact of his beloved wife Jennifer's defection, he begins to see a way to get back at the man she left him for. Safe houses and secret message drops, double crosses and defections - it sounds like the stuff of sophisticated espionage, but these agents are only schoolboys engaged in harmless play. Not that John Creevey knows this. To him, the messages he decodes with painstaking care are the communications of dangerous and evil men, and as he comes face to face with the fact of his beloved wife Jennifer's defection, he begins to see a way to get back at the man she left him for. Soon the schoolboys are playing more than just a game.

©1980 Kingsmarkham Enterprises Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Crime Thrillers Mystery Psychological Thriller & Suspense Fiction Thriller Marriage Espionage Suspense

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All stars
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I enjoyed this story, finding most of the characters compelling. The storyline is a bit contrived but interesting nevertheless. I didn't really understand why Mungo and Angus had Scottish accents, having been brought up in what is clearly the South of England. Their father is Scottish, but accents aren't genetic.

A good compelling listen

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This book is wonderful. A sort of " a butterfly flaps it's wings" intricately woven tale that has the ability to chill and make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Marvelous stuff and perfectly narrated.

Rendell at her best!

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foolish school boys pranks in which a loser adult John gets involved, sinister unpleasant

Hard going

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So so complicated it is almost impossible to understand first time around. So many names to keep a grip on. I had to refer to reviews for understanding properly. However I did get drawn in and admire the fictional city set up a tour de force by RR. She gets so much into her stories!

Schoolboy spooks, unhappy adults

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I had to listen to the first few chapters twice as I found the switching among scenarios confusing. Even after I caught on to there being two separate stories I found the characters and narrative didn't grab my attention. It took a long time for much to happen and both stories were repetitious. Eventually the pace quickened and the two stories came together. A strange book but well read

Unengaging for most of the book

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This book has a strange storyline with a teenager game linked to other disparate scenarios. I was bored by it for the first half but it warmed up in the second half. The narration was good.

Strange.

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Having read this novel in hardback many years ago, I half knew what to expect. The two parallel storylines concerned the loss of John's sister, Cherry, years ago when she was murdered beside the bridge and the more recent desertion of his wife, Jennifer, in favour of her former lover, Peter Moran. In addition, there is a public school spy network operating in the town, spearheaded by Mungo Cameron.

Did I enjoy this book? Well, it was deftly plotted, but I really did find it difficult to get into at times. I also kept muddling up the various schoolboys and their underworld aliases. It was also set in a place, which remained un-named and rather anonymous.

Special mention must be of the novel's narrator, who was brilliantly versatile.

Talking To Strange Men

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An old favourite of mine and perfectly narrated. A gripping, thoroughly enjoyable tale of codes , relationships and typical Rendell, the dark side. Still stands up in this digital age of mobiles and the internet. Fabulous writing.

Gripping and ingenious

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British men behaving strangely - women hardly feature but drive much of the narrative. Rendell is so clever mixing teenage and middle aged outcasts who are lost in Anytown. Lots of tension made me very eager to get to the end but sad when it was all over.

Tension, weirdness and lots of emotionally stunted Brits

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I Liked the staggered story , the book rolled merrily along. Not Ruth’s usual style. Most enjoyable.

The story written from a boys point view

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