Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Readers' Room cover art

The Readers' Room

By: Antoine Laurain
Narrated by: Mary L Phillips
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £11.99

Buy Now for £11.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Red Notebook cover art
The Portrait cover art
The President's Hat cover art
Vintage 1954 cover art
The Venetian Game cover art
The Fine Art of Invisible Detection cover art
The Martins cover art
The Milan Contract cover art
Sign of the Cross cover art
Femicide cover art
Midnight at Malabar House cover art
England's Finest cover art
Aspire to Die cover art
Rites of Spring cover art
1979 cover art
The Asylum cover art

Summary

When the manuscript of a debut crime novel arrives at a Parisian publishing house, everyone in the readers’ room is convinced it’s something special. And the committee for France’s highest literary honor, the Prix Goncourt, agrees. 

But when the shortlist is announced, there’s a problem for editor Violaine Lepage: She has no idea of the author’s identity. As the police begin to investigate a series of murders strangely reminiscent of those recounted in the book, Violaine is not the only one looking for answers. And, suffering memory blanks following an airplane accident, she’s beginning to wonder what role she might play in the story....

Antoine Laurain, best-selling author of The Red Notebook, combines intrigue and charm in this dazzling novel of mystery, love, and the power of books.

©2020 Gallic Books (P)2022 Gallic Books

Critic reviews

"The plot blends mystery with comedy to great effect". (Daily Mail)

"A profound love of books and authors underpins this sprightly mystery." (Publishers Weekly)

"A stylish whodunnit blended with an affectionate send-up of the world of books." (Sunday Mirror)

What listeners say about The Readers' Room

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Absolutely Fantastic

This was a very good story. Excellent translation, which retained its realism. High intrigue which kept me riveted to see if the editor was indeed the killer, and the ending was a completely unexpected one. Highly recommend this one. 100%

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Beautifully narrated, a strangely developing story

The narrator's, Mary L Phillips, transition from RP to her impeccable French accent was perfect. She captured the characters so well as she transitioned from one personality to another, bringing them to life so convincingly.
The story began with a mood of whimsicality whilst at the same time there was an accompanying shiver of a potential evil looming.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

very slow start

I'm afraid this took me ages to get into however the last 1/4 of the audiobook was quite good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

a Sun and a half of a book!

Subtly complex and intriguing novel from the wonder that is Antoine Laurain. Comical in parts, intertwined with well established characters and a firm sense of Parisian life. I throughly enjoyed the descriptions of the way editors and other members of the publishing world find authors manuscripts and bring their hope and dreams to life. The idea of finding that needle in the haystack, or in this case a Sun amidst squares. Possibly a naive viewpoint of the complexities of the industry but I loved it nonetheless.
The detectives were believable, as was the way in which the case was taken on, I was really taken aback by how much the author was able to fit into such a short novel, so refreshing to read a book under 500 pages that was riveting and yet didn’t feel rushed. I can wholeheartedly agree that this is a Sun and a half of a book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Brilliant

It kept me guessing right until the end.
Another Laurain book to add to my favourites list.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Fabulous

What a wonderful and unique book.

Initially I was unsure whether this book would be for me but the drama and mystery quickly builds.

Several mysteries interwoven with characters who come to life.

I found this a very easy listen and thoroughly enjoyed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!