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  • The Abbot’s Agreement

  • The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon, Book 7
  • By: Mel Starr
  • Narrated by: Tim Bruce
  • Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (409 ratings)
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The Abbot’s Agreement cover art

The Abbot’s Agreement

By: Mel Starr
Narrated by: Tim Bruce
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Summary

“My life would have been more tranquil in the days after Martinmas had I not seen the crows. Whatever it was that the crows had found lay in the dappled shadow of the bare limbs of the oak, so I was nearly upon the thing before I recognized what the crows were feasting upon. The corpse wore black.” 

Master Hugh is making his way towards Oxford when he discovers the young Benedictine - a fresh body, barefoot - not half a mile from the nearby abbey. The abbey’s novice master confirms the boy’s identity: John, one of three novices. But he had gone missing four days previously, and his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death: The lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh’s sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him....

©2014 Mel Starr (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

What listeners say about The Abbot’s Agreement

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    7
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really like this series

sadly I do not like this narrator as much as the narrator on first books

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

Great series

I'm doing a review for the whole series as I've left it so long since I started listening to them.

I would highly recommend this series and in fact I have done so to a number of people already. Very impressed with the writing, the research that seems to have been done and the historical accuracy is excellent.

Nice characters, good pace, interesting stories. Really interesting to see the ability of surgeons then and the ways Hugh deducts things.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not the same with different Narrator

The characters and atmosphere are very different with no Stephen Crossley narration . Bruce does a decent job but the characters are not the same and not as engaging . May give the series a rest until Crossley hopefully returns .

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

Awful narration

Previously the narration in this series was excellent. Whist it is difficult to accept a new narrator at first, usually it is still ok. With this, the tone was monotonous, the distinction between characters was often none existant leading to confusion and generally was a very difficult listen

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Ok

Not bad for an included download but I found the narrator’s voice grating. The plot is very simple.

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

I hope there was a good reason!

Hopefully there is a good reason for the narration change as it has completely changed the feel of the series. I only started listening to these stories because of Steven Crossley's voice. I had listened to another well known series and craved another story read by Steven. What happened next was I fell in love with the characters Hugh, the caring surgeon who won't let a wrong continue if it can be discovered and undone, Kate his wife who charmed us in their courtship and Lord Gilbert with his one raised eyebrow! I really hope the original narration is restored as it's like asking an extra from the Bill to stand in for Richard Burton.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fine book, with nice details

Nice historical details about abby structure and life. Solid murder mystery and outstanding reading. I recommend Mel Starr's series highly for a pleasant listen. Not heavy, short length...great for entertainment.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good medieval read

I love medieval stories and this one was great. Excellent period detail and atmosphere, interesting characters, strong plo

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very dull read

Although the voice was younger and more suited to the protagonist, it was a very dull read - just going over the words with no differentiation between the characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Audible please explain why there is a new narrator

Like the others i wasn't diligent enough to check this out and advance and groaned on discovering a new narrator. Steven Crossley is so amazing that the story wouldn't be the same, I thought. But after a short while, I could understand why the casting crew chose Tim Bruce, and by the end of the book I'd really enjoyed his performance! Hugh sounds younger when voiced by Tim - and in fact Hugh is young!
However, i would really like an explanation from Audible when they change narrator like this mid series. I don't ever see this, and just a simple explanation would really encourage customer loyalty for both the write Mel Starr, and Audible itself - please think of doing this & you will assuage the wrath of your customer-base!

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12 people found this helpful