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The Curse of the Burdens

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The Curse of the Burdens

By: John Wyndham
Narrated by: Carl Prekopp
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About this listen

James Burden has unexpectedly inherited Shotlander Priory after his cousin dies mysteriously. Little does he know that the old Prior, crossing the worn threshold for the last time, had called down a curse on those who were to take over the property. 'By fire and water,' he had said, 'your line shall perish.'

They had seemed the foolish words of an old and dying man. For nearly four hundred years, the descendants of Sir James Burden had held the property, though it had never passed from father to son.

Until now....

Nothing appears as it seems as mysterious characters, unexpected developments, and emotions start to unravel....

©1935 John Wyndham (P)2022 Audible, Ltd Mystery Traditional Detectives
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A good old-fashioned murder mystery! This was thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you for this 'included' bonus.

Great fun

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Apparently there isn't a printed copy of this book to be found so it's a huge treat for Wyndham fans to have this available and especially included! Thank you! It's one of the earlier books (learned all this from a YT video) and hence not as great a story is the authors other books. Still a worthy listen though and well read by Carl Prekopp.

Great performance

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Im a big fan of Wyndham's work but this was a tiny bit boring and average compared to his usual work but is for free so a good time killer.

A ok but slightly boring story

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I really enjoyed this novella - gripping once the plot evolved! Very much set in 1935, when it was published. Unsettling elements of later dystopia. Female characters have obviously always been strong and feisty!

Detective Story/Gothic Horror

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I'd previously read cuckoos, chrysalids and triffids and whilst I really enjoyed all three this one isn't a patch on them. Decent narrator but an average story at best.

Not a patch on Wyndham's Sci-fi

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Excellent performance breathed some life into a good but not all-time-great story about a "cursed" family and made it all rather enjoyable.

Very different from Wyndham 's better known work

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An old house, a one time priory, cursed for five hundred uears, two brothers, last in the line of inheritance, a beautiful girl loved by both, suspicious deaths, an ugly observer, fire, two policemen, an intrepid investigator, an heavy snow storm, mud and mystery - not what I'd expected from John Wyndham. But great fun, reminding me a little of P.G.Workhouse with its rather farcical denouement and lashings of bad weather.
Great fun and admirably read by Carl Prekopp whose vocal inflections and character voices added enormously to the enjoyment of the book. A recommended read, if a little confusing, free to download from the Audible Plus programme

"Not wrong, sir, but odd."

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Definitely not the best story, rather hokey but well performed. Of it's time I guess.

Not vintage Wyndham

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Perfectly narrated, this book was a surprise for me! I love Wyndham’s more famous books (Triffids, Chrysalids etc) but this was quite different!

Highly enjoyable short listen.

Not Sci-Fi … clever Murder Mystery

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A wonderful tale the keeps you on your toes, wondering and waiting to the very end. 🧐
Is there a happy ending? 😳
You'll have to listen to find out. 🤓

who did what to whom 🤯

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