April in Spain cover art

April in Spain

A Strafford and Quirke Murder Mystery

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April in Spain

By: John Banville
Narrated by: Stanley Townsend
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About this listen

The sumptuous, propulsive, sun-kissed follow up to the bestselling Snow, from the Booker Prize winning author

'He wanted to know who she was, and why he was convinced he had some unremembered connection with her. It was as simple as that. But he knew it wasn't. It wasn't simple at all.'

When Dublin pathologist Quirke glimpses a familiar face while on holiday with his wife, it's hard, at first, to tell whether his imagination is just running away with him. Could she really be who he thinks she is, and have a connection with a crime that nearly brought ruin to an Irish political dynasty?

Unable to ignore his instincts, Quirke makes a call back home and Detective St John Strafford is soon dispatched to Spain. But he's not the only one on route: as a terrifying hitman hunts down his prey, they are all set for a brutal showdown.

©2021 John Banville (P)2021 Faber & Faber Crime Thrillers Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Ireland Mystery Exciting

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All stars
Most relevant  
On the idyllic coast of San Sebastian, Spain, Dublin pathologist Quirke is struggling to relax, despite the beaches, cafés and the company of his disarmingly lovely wife. When he glimpses a familiar face in the twilight at Las Acadas bar, it's hard at first to tell whether his imagination is just running away with him.
I am not a big fan of detective stories, but Banville adds so much character and backstory you cannot help but be drawn in. Stanley Townsend's narration is faultless. A a native Irishman, he catches the accents, the lyricism of that beautiful Island to perfection. Banville is a true poet and his plots are dense and entertainingly told, I wish I could write like that. I very much recommend this almost perfect audiobook.

ALMOST A PERFECT AUDIOBOOK

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John Banville could write about washing up and it would be wonderful. The prose is perfection, characters are created with great care and attention, and the story is woven together beautifully. The way that JB writes about women, and in particular the way that men think about women is sublime. His characters and their flaws are explored throughout. JB is in my opinion a truly great writer of our time.

Wonderful

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The narrative arc of this is unconventional - No early murder or kidnap awaiting a solution. But as ever with Banville, the writing is poetic and the plot carefully constructed and revealed. Stanley Townsend’s narration helps to bring well drawn characters to life. I have already read Snow but am tempted to listen to the audiobook.

Poetry or prose?

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Disappointing after Snow but easy listening and an okay story. I was confu by Evelyn’s dying comment about her boy

Disappointed

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This is an intriguing story well narrated by Stanley Townsend ,the 'Terry' sequences were a bit tiresome, however. I read these out of sequence and much preferred the third book. I enjoy John Banville's writing and look forward to the fourth in this series due out later this year.

Good story

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Here is a writer who must rank amongst the greatest. His prose is intelligent, romantic and hypnotic. His characters live and breathe. This is poetry in the guise of a mystery. And all brought to life by the wonderful brogue of the narrator. Magnificent!

Brilliant

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Very interesting characters, set in Ireland and Spain. A good story. Great narration. Quite short at around 6 hours so the plot evolves quickly.

Power, family problems and crime converge

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Cannot wait for the Quirke series to be made into films- but having said that, this played like a film in my head.
Outstanding story, plot- and narration!
More please.

Brilliant.

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This is my third Quirke book by this author and I must remember not to make the mistake of buying any more.

Most of the book is setting the tone for an explosive ending and it is very laboured and full of very unpleasant people, Quirke included. There is a dark and unremitting corruption underlying them and this one especially.

The narrator did a pretty good job and may have enjoyed himself conveying the venemousness of most of the male characters, which he did with great force. Unfortunately, there is a character, origins uncertain but who self-identifies as a cockney. The narrator gave him an accent which was a mix or Michael Caine and Harold Steptoe. it might have been a source of light relief if he had not been voicing the thoughts of someone so bad.

A very unpleasant listen

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After ‘reading’ SNOW I was looking forward to April in Spain. I was not disappointed. Excellent.

We will forgive Stanley Townsend’s Michael Caine impressions in the “Cockney” chapters. Part of the entertainment.

What a team. Great script, great performance.

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