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  • Deadly Engagement

  • A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Mystery Book 1)
  • By: Lucinda Brant
  • Narrated by: Alex Wyndham
  • Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (107 ratings)

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Deadly Engagement

By: Lucinda Brant
Narrated by: Alex Wyndham
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Summary

It's 1763. Career diplomat Alec Halsey returns to London and the shocking news his estranged elder brother, the Earl of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but become engaged to the woman he had hoped to marry.

When Alec reluctantly attends a weekend house party to celebrate his brother's engagement, he gets more than he bargained for when a lady's maid is murdered, the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead. Alec uncovers a connection between these sinister acts and his brother's duel. He must also confront a cruel twist of fate that explains why his brother loathes him and will go to any lengths to discredit him in Polite Society.

©2011 Lucinda Brant (P)2014 Lucinda Brant
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What listeners say about Deadly Engagement

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting…

It took me a while to get into the story…and only gripped me half way through- towards the end it became spellbinding…
One good reason to give book II a try

The narrator was very good…

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

Wonderful

Brilliant narrator. Really enjoyed the book. looking forward to the next instalment. a b c

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2 people found this helpful

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

This was a find.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, not what I expected. Looking forward to the next.

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2 people found this helpful

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

refreshing change from straight romance

gripped by story, have bought set to read & will get Audible. well read, pleasure to listen to.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Entertaining story - Superb narration

It took me no more than five minutes of listening to this to know that in Alex Wyndham, Lucinda Brant had found the perfect narrator for her story. Alec Halsey is a terrific hero – handsome, urbane, intelligent and deeply honourable, a man whose birth is shrouded in mystery but who is secure in the knowledge that he is his own man, and Mr Wyndham's interpretation of him is nigh-on perfect.

As this is a mystery, I won't say much about the plot, other than it's very well thought-out and executed, with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings along the way. Ms Brant kept me guessing as to the identity and motives of the villain right up until the last possible moment. The romance between Alec and his old flame, Selina is fairly low-key, as that’s not the main focus of the book, but it bubbles along in tandem with the mystery in a satisfying manner. It’s a minor niggle that things are left unresolved between the couple at the end, but then I suppose there had to be something left for the next book in the series!

The author has clearly researched the period thoroughly and her attention to the historical detail really brings the story to life; this isn’t just a “wallpaper” historical, or a modern mystery featuring people in frock-coats and powdered wigs. She confronts some of the seedier sides of life in her stories, but does it in a manner that feels believable and isn’t at all salacious or sensationalist.

Ms Brant has obviously done her homework when it comes to narrators, too, because she’s found a real gem in Alex Wyndham. I’ve listened to many self-published audiobooks which have been let down by the poor choice of narrator, but fortunately, she seems to have taken a leaf out of Laura Kinsale’s book and spent a lot of time listening carefully before making her final choice.

I believe Mr Wyndham will be recording the next book in the series, and I'm certainly going to be listening to it.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Brilliant!

Fascinating! I hadn't listened to a period whodunit before and it made quite a refreshing change from the usual romantic bodice-rippers in this genre. Nicely described characters, as usual; beautifully read, as usual and a good story, why wouldn't you want to listen to it?!

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4 people found this helpful

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

Loved every second, Lucinda Brant does it again!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Deadly Engagement to be better than the print version?

I loved this book! I'm quite new to audible and usually read books on Kindle. However, with a stressful and tiring job, I decided to give the audio version a go. I'm now completely hooked!Lucinda Brant is an author I'm familiar with as I've read her Roxton series, Salt Bride and Salt Redux. Alex Wyndham narrates this book perfectly,Another winner from Lucinda Brant, kept me guessing to the end. I would say that audible version is as good as the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite character was Selina. A strong woman who even after 6 years of extreme unhappiness, comes through with strength and dignity.I don't give the story away in reviews but I will say it's a mystery set in Georgian England. There are lots of twists and turns and the ending was a surprise.

What about Alex Wyndham’s performance did you like?

Alex Wyndham's voice characterization is perfect! Just as I would have imagined them myself. He really acts out the book. A very talented actor.

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend this book!

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3 people found this helpful

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

Historical Mystery (Romance)

This has been a surprise 2nd find for me - following an enjoyable first surprise find, in the Rockliffe Series by Stella Riley. (Also narrated by Alex Wyndham).

Although this is not Georgette Heyeresque, it’s what I imagine GH would write, if she had combined her Georgian/Regency genre with her Detective/Murder Mystery genre.

This book is very well written. Anyone who can make a collection of ugly, surly, unconscionable overfed, ill bred characters, interesting and engaging, gets my vote!! Add to that, a really sneaky mystery and you will be thoroughly drawn into this book. I am immediately moving onto the next in the series.

The interconnected, yet loosely woven subplots (which really don’t present themselves as subplots at all), are superbly done! My only disappointment, is the fact that we don’t find out who killed the maid...

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

Entertaining story, good character portrayal

What did you like most about Deadly Engagement?

The Georgian atmosphere created through description of places, clothing, customs gives an air of authenticity to the story.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how the character of Alec Halsey was unfolded slowly to the listener from the point of view of different participants in the story, and through his actions. I was a bit puzzled during an important part of the story trying to answer the question if he was really a rake or he had only been labled as one by the society. And this added extra tension to the twists and turns in the story.

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

This was the first time I heard Alex Wyndham narrating an audiobook. He did a great job with this book. He has a warm voice, clear pronounciation and dynamic storytelling that made listening to this audiobook a pleasant experience.

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

There are some excentric characters well "portayed" by the narrator that made me laugh.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Bows and Beaux

Rampant exasperating fraught drama with far too many characters with similar names makes this story hard to follow, but well worth the trip; with such excellent narration, it was just too good to stop. Perfectly set within the genre, with ample petticoats and furbelows. A delight to hear period English correctly voiced. ENTERTAINING

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