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The Magic Cottage
- Narrated by: Kris Dyer
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
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The Magic Cottage
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Summary
The nightmare home. We thought we'd found our haven, a cottage deep in the heart of the forest. Quaint, charming, maybe a little run-down, but so peaceful. The woodland animals and birds couldn't have been more neighbourly. That was the first part of the Magic. Midge's painting and my music soared to new heights of creativity. That was another part of the Magic. Our sensing, our feelings, our love for each other - well, that became the supreme Magic. But the cottage had an alternative side. The Bad Magic.
What happened to us there was horrendous beyond belief. The miracles, the healings, the crazy sect who wanted our home for themselves, the hideous creatures that crawled from the nether regions, and the bats - oh God, the bats! Even now those horrible things seem impossible to me. Yet they happened...
James Herbert was one of Britain's greatest popular novelists and our #1 best-selling writer of chiller fiction. Widely imitated and hugely influential, he wrote 23 novels which have collectively sold over 54 million copies worldwide and been translated into 34 languages.
Born in London in the forties, James Herbert was art director of an advertising agency before turning to writing fiction in 1975. His first novel, The Rats, was an instant bestseller and is now recognised as a classic of popular contemporary fiction. Herbert went on to publish a new top ten best-seller every year until 1988. He wrote six more best-selling novels in the 1990s and three more since: Once, Nobody True and The Secret of Crickley Hall. Herbert died in March 2013 at the age of 69.
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Editor reviews
A young couple finds a dilapidated but still-idyllic cottage in Hampshire's New Forest and quickly move into their dream home. However, before long, strange occurrences begin to disturb their little paradise: ominous sounds from the attic and shadowy figures lurking among the trees. Narrator Kris Dyer builds an easy rapport with listeners as Midge and Mike settle into their home, then slowly infuses tension and anxiety into his performance as the couple cross paths with a cultish group with sinister intentions. Listeners will continue to feel the chill of this horror story long after they have turned it off.
What listeners say about The Magic Cottage
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jo
- 02-12-13
Not what I expected
This story in the main is a “nice” meander through which seems an enchanted life of a musician who turns out to be a magician. It is not until Midge and Mike meet up with members of a sect that things become interesting and even then I was expecting far more than this novel had to offer. The narration of this story didn’t help either. Even though Mike is supposed to be a bit weedy Kris’s portrayal of him left you wondering if he even had the strength to lift his guitar.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- patricia mckechnie
- 13-06-18
Another Herbert classic.
James Herbert is a master at horror writing. Every book is fantastic. I read his books over and over and never tire of them..
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 07-04-21
Great book, awful narration for female voices
I read this book years ago and loved it, so I feel bad for the 3* review. It is however, all down to the narrator, really let's the book down. The male voices are absolutely fine but the female voices are appalling. Really detracts from the story.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MR SIMON BUTTON
- 06-11-18
Better in book form
I don’t usually read horror story’s these days but read all of James Herberts books as a youngster with this then being my favourite. So I thought I’d re visit as an adult . The book does not transfer as an audible Reading seems to evoke the imagination more and the book is so much better for that . Also the narrators interpretation of the female was was terrible
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kandi C
- 24-08-22
Great little twist
This book is different to what I would normally read. I love how the author makes you focus on certain things, then that lovely twist in the end.
This story does make you think why? in a few places in the beginning, then as you get deeper into the book, things slowly, but at a nice pace starts to unfold, to the point that near the end, you feel like you are watching what is happening and wanting to encourage and push for the good ones to come through. I have to admit, I'm not really a James Herbert fan, but this particular book, although not the type I would go for, was narrated wonderfully and the storyline was very interesting.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 31-07-22
Such a shame
I bought this book when it was first released, late 80s I think. I thoroughly enjoyed it as a twenty something reader.
Fast forward over 30 years and thousands of books read.
I find the late James Herbert books are all included in my audible subscription.
I started with Fluke, remembering why I’d loved it as a teenage reader. Next stop The Magic Cottage, as the two are linked.
What we have here is a short story stretched out, using 50 word descriptions where 5 would work at every opportunity.
As for the narrator, male voices fine, he seemed to turn into Julian Clary when voicing Midge. Truly awful ( no disrespect to the real Julian).
Then the ending, could have done better, a lot better.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rosemary Clark
- 04-07-22
Narrator
The female voice, Midge was terrible. In fact it would have sounded better, in my opinion to have women reading the female parts.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Xanthe
- 07-09-22
Wrong voiceover
The narrator is very talented, but was completely wrong for this story. Too many characters to voice and really bad at women!!! Sorry!! Stuck it out, but ruined the story for me!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- shell
- 14-11-22
It’s Magic
Narrated brilliantly couldn’t stop listening
Funny in places had me on tender hooks fab ending
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- KW
- 09-01-23
The Magic Cottage
Slightly old fashioned in style, evil cult leaders, supernatural occurrences, females in distress, and young male saviours. Enjoyable nonetheless with good twists, turns and surprises.
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