Audiobooks: November and December 2023
And just to be consistent, my TBL list is now back at 20!
Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson, read by Graham Halstead.
This was a Shedunnit modern novel candidate a couple of years ago, which sounded interesting. There's a series of murders which are committed based on a number of classic golden age stories. Unfortunately there was considerably more to the story than I expected and I grew rather tired of the main character.
The Flemish House by Georges Simenon, read by Gareth Armstrong
A Maigret novel, written in 1932 and again a great insight into the period. It's set on the French-Belgian border and looks at small town prejudices, which could be found in many places. The Maigret books are quite short, but the plots are clever and I completely failed to spot whodunnit, although as Maigret explained what happened at the end it all made sense. I have three more Maigrets on my TBL list.
The Borgia Portrait by David Hewson, read by Richard Armitage
Another story set in Venice with the same main protagonists as The Medici Murders. Given I was listening in a very wet November, imagining the heat of a Venetian summer was very pleasant. The plot is a bit OTT, but it's still enjoyable as a listen, and certainly improves the washing up!
Lord Emsworth and Others by P G Wodehouse, read by Stephen Fry
The first story in the book is set at Blandings Castle and definitely fun, the others are tedious and the last few, simply annoying. They served to pass the time when stuck waiting in traffic. I really don't care for some of Wodehouse's characters who are so self-centred I don't find them funny.
The Carter of La Providence by Georges Simenon, read by Gareth Armstrong
Written in 1931 this has some excellent descriptions of the people working the barges on the canals of northern France, really evocative. And there's such an interesting collection of characters. I felt like I was there.
Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection: Volume Three: The Sixties (1960-1968)
I've been listening to the Paul Temple stories on BBC Sounds for a while, but there's normally quite a wait between series. This way I get to hear all of them, without waiting. Not to be taken seriously, the number of times Temple and his wife are involved in car crashes, are shot at etc, and walk away only a little shaken is amazing. But it's enjoyable. And the plots often involve exotic locations, smart nightclubs etc. I have the other three volumes in my TBL.
Unnatural Causes by P D James, read by Daniel Weyman
Another Adam Dalgleish story. Set on the Norfolk coast. This one I found disappointing. There was too much description of the coast, some of the drama seemed unnecessary, and I think it was a mistake to have Dalgleish as a bystander rather than conducting the investigation. I have four more P D James on my TBL so it will be interesting to see how those go.
I've listened to 38 audiobooks this year, so theoretically it should be no problem getting through my current TBL by the end of next year. Although I don't doubt there will be other shiny titles to attract me :)
Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson, read by Graham Halstead.
This was a Shedunnit modern novel candidate a couple of years ago, which sounded interesting. There's a series of murders which are committed based on a number of classic golden age stories. Unfortunately there was considerably more to the story than I expected and I grew rather tired of the main character.
The Flemish House by Georges Simenon, read by Gareth Armstrong
A Maigret novel, written in 1932 and again a great insight into the period. It's set on the French-Belgian border and looks at small town prejudices, which could be found in many places. The Maigret books are quite short, but the plots are clever and I completely failed to spot whodunnit, although as Maigret explained what happened at the end it all made sense. I have three more Maigrets on my TBL list.
The Borgia Portrait by David Hewson, read by Richard Armitage
Another story set in Venice with the same main protagonists as The Medici Murders. Given I was listening in a very wet November, imagining the heat of a Venetian summer was very pleasant. The plot is a bit OTT, but it's still enjoyable as a listen, and certainly improves the washing up!
Lord Emsworth and Others by P G Wodehouse, read by Stephen Fry
The first story in the book is set at Blandings Castle and definitely fun, the others are tedious and the last few, simply annoying. They served to pass the time when stuck waiting in traffic. I really don't care for some of Wodehouse's characters who are so self-centred I don't find them funny.
The Carter of La Providence by Georges Simenon, read by Gareth Armstrong
Written in 1931 this has some excellent descriptions of the people working the barges on the canals of northern France, really evocative. And there's such an interesting collection of characters. I felt like I was there.
Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection: Volume Three: The Sixties (1960-1968)
I've been listening to the Paul Temple stories on BBC Sounds for a while, but there's normally quite a wait between series. This way I get to hear all of them, without waiting. Not to be taken seriously, the number of times Temple and his wife are involved in car crashes, are shot at etc, and walk away only a little shaken is amazing. But it's enjoyable. And the plots often involve exotic locations, smart nightclubs etc. I have the other three volumes in my TBL.
Unnatural Causes by P D James, read by Daniel Weyman
Another Adam Dalgleish story. Set on the Norfolk coast. This one I found disappointing. There was too much description of the coast, some of the drama seemed unnecessary, and I think it was a mistake to have Dalgleish as a bystander rather than conducting the investigation. I have four more P D James on my TBL so it will be interesting to see how those go.
I've listened to 38 audiobooks this year, so theoretically it should be no problem getting through my current TBL by the end of next year. Although I don't doubt there will be other shiny titles to attract me :)