The Rational Faculty cover art

The Rational Faculty

Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords, Book 1

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The Rational Faculty

By: Gregory Ashe
Narrated by: Tristan James
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About this listen

Three months have passed since Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset faced a madman and lived to tell about it. Three months have passed since Emery Hazard resigned from his job as a detective.Three months can be too long and too short, all at the same time.

On Halloween, a professor at the local college is murdered in his apartment, in front of dozens of witnesses. Then, the killer disappears. Somers is assigned the case and a new partner. While Somers investigates the murder, Hazard struggles to find purpose in his new freedom. Despite his decision to stay away, he finds himself drawn to the case. But he’s no longer in the police force, and in the small town of Wahredua, not all of his former colleagues are happy to see him investigating another crime.

When the sheriff’s son and husband go missing, though, the case becomes more complicated than either Hazard or Somers had expected. And soon, they learn that someone else is manipulating events in Wahredua. Someone who is very interested in Emery Hazard.

©2019 Gregory Ashe (P)2020 Gregory Ashe Crime Thrillers Literature & Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Police Procedural Thriller & Suspense Fiction Thriller

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All stars
Most relevant  
Depth of characterisation is just one of many things to appreciate about Gregory Ashe's writing. Hazard and Somers have been through the mill. Many writers would ignore that fact to present their characters afresh for a new series. Ashe doesn't. Darkness abounds in this novel - actual and figurative - and our two heroes don't escape its shadows. There's much less in the way of wisecracking between them but Somers' new partner supplies some unintended comic relief.

A well-crafted, thought provoking read.

Into the darkness

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Amazing book! Excellent just like the others with Hazard and Summerset, all masterpieces!
Tristan James did an excellent job again, he’s by far my favorite narrator.

Brillante

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The concept is interesting and well written. The characters are likeable and the narration is good.

Good story

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Listener received this title free

I was give this audible book as an advanced listener and all I can say is wow.I thought the original series was great but this new series takes us up another level. I had a slow start to the book as I was busy with other things but then listened to 2/3 of the book in one day. Tristan James continues to be his amazing self as narrator but then again Gregory Ashe has can given him some riveting material to work with. We get to see Hazard and Somerset adapt to Hazard's retirement from the police force, that necessitates a new understanding of what they mean to each other. This is not an easy road. Alongside this we have a gripping and disturbing crime to solve which has several layers of complexity that will takes us into book 2. It also leads to a number of clashes between Hazard and Somerset. As well we get to meet some lovely people and some people who even if fictitious make your flesh crawl. Ashe creates an atmosphere in which you can never feel quite comfortable. I have just received the second e-book in the series and I hope that the audible book won't be too far behind.

Gregory Ashe takes it up a notch

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Listener received this title free

It took me a while to
to get into the style of the narrator (despite owning the audiobook of a previous title in this series, also narrated by Tristan James), which is dry and slightly monotonous (at the start, there were a couple of times I felt like I was listening to a computer) HOWEVER as the audiobook went on, I was reminded why James was chosen to narrate this series: his deadpan delivery is perfectly fitting for Hazard's grimness and for the seriousness of the series. The other characters all come across beautifully and there were some moments that I laughed aloud because the delivery fit the wit of the moment so well; I've read the E-Book as well and I think I actually noticed way more moments of levity when listening to the audiobook.
Superbly done and definitely worth a listen, even if you've read the book.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC of this audiobook.

Almost perfect performance

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