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A Trick of the Light

An Inspector McLevy Mystery 3

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A Trick of the Light

By: David Ashton
Narrated by: David Ashton
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About this listen

London had Sherlock Holmes. The dark alleys of Edinburgh had Inspector McLevy.

Known as the father of forensics and a likely influence on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, real-life police inspector James McLevy is here reinvented by David Ashton in a thrilling mystery - the third in a series - set in dark, violent Victorian Edinburgh.

Halloween 1881, Edinburgh, and the dead are restless. In respectable Edinburgh society, beautiful young American spiritualist Sophia Adler is causing a furor with her dramatic séances. But the ghosts of the past seem hell-bent on retribution.

Inspector James McLevy finds his investigations distracted by more earthly concerns when Muriel Grierson, an outwardly genteel widow, is robbed at home. Her knight in shining armour - one Arthur Conan Doyle, recently graduated from medical school - is keen to learn from such a master of detection as the renowned inspector, but McLevy is less sure that he requires a new acolyte.

A vicious murder occurs with evidence of supernatural strength and violence. Treachery revenged from a battle long ago. All roads lead to Sophia Adler, and the inspector becomes involved with one of the most dangerous women he has ever encountered.

©2016 David Ashton (P)2016 Hodder & Stoughton Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Fiction Scotland Crime Exciting

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Critic reviews

"David Ashton impeccably evokes Edinburgh." (Financial Times)
"Elegant and convincing." (The Times)
"Ashton is the direct heir to Robert Louis Stevenson." (Brian Cox)
"Excellent." (The Sherlock Holmes Society)
All stars
Most relevant  

Would you listen to A Trick of the Light again? Why?

Yes in fact I already have. It is rich in detail and characters as well as the central storyline

What did you like best about this story?

McLevy

Have you listened to any of David Ashton’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes - I appear ot be one of the few people that love him narrating McLevy - I admit I hated it when I tried to listen tothe first book and even (shamed to say) returned it. But I gave him another go and am now hooked. I think he IS the character of McLevy

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I lenjoy the interaction between McLevy and Mulholland and also the Inspector.

Any additional comments?

Unlike a couple of the other books the violence was not quite so detailed in this.

Have become a huge fan of stories and narrator!

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Kept going off at tangents. Weak story with lots of unrelated filling He has developed characters well

Love the series, but very weak story

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I'm a great fan of McLevy dramatisations ... downloaded this last night in anticipation of hours of wonderful listening experience ahead of me...now I can't work out whether it is simply the dull, flat, narration which found me being dragged down with it ... or the story-line, which I must admit I didn't engage with ... probably because of the dreary narration. I wonder if I can get a refund?

DISAPPOINTINGLY DULL

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I've listened to the first two books in this series and while I love the characters, Ashton makes the experience a total trial. This instalment seems to be even worse than the first two books and they were bad enough. This time the plot is not carrying me through.
Because I do like the premise of the book I'm going to return this and give the BBC radio versions a try.
Take the hint David and let someone else have a go - you might get more sales that way.

I'd give this zero if I could

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couldnt cope with the narration can I pleasehave my credit back for this book thank you

couldn't cope with the narration

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