Queens' Play cover art

Queens' Play

The Lymond Chronicles, Book 2

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Queens' Play

By: Dorothy Dunnett
Narrated by: David Monteath
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Queen's Play by Dorothy Dunnett, read by David Monteath.

It is 1548 and seven-year-old Mary Queen of Scots, betrothed to her cousin the Dauphin, heir to the French throne, has been dispatched to France. But far from home and vulnerable, surrounded by the double-dealing and debauchery of a dangerous and unpredictable court, she suffers a series of 'accidents'.

Her mother, Scotland's Queen Dowager, orders Francis Crawford of Lymond to protect Mary, believing that at the very heart of Henri II's glittering, decadent court is an assassin hired to kill the infant monarch.

Lymond must secretly hunt down this individual before he himself is exposed . . .

©1964 Dorothy Dunnett (P)2018 Penguin Audio Action & Adventure Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Romance Royalty Thriller & Suspense Scotland Fiction Suspense Mystery

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Having read these books many times, I am left in a cold sweat at the end waiting for the next one. The reader is fantastic...

Brilliant

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A wonderfully rich, intricate, and sophisticated story, beautifully told. The best writing I have ever come across.

Brilliant

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There are books. There are books made into films. In between, there are books brought to life as audiobooks. I read the Lymond series back in the 1970s and loved them. I am not a fan of historical books and novels but the Lymond series was action set in an interesting historical context. Each book was so different and richly written - a lot of quotations in Latin, French, Spanish and Italian, which were beyond me but that didn’t matter. It engendered huge respect for the author, who could tell a great story and yet had such a grasp of international literature, she was able to pepper the book with no doubt speech that was relevant to the era. The reader is well able to bring all the various characters to life, and this second book has been a joy to listen to from start to finish. Onto the third now…

A favourite series brought to life

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Audible recommended this series to me after tracking what else I’d been listening to, and it wasn’t wrong. This is no light listen - it’s a series of intricately plotted, character deep, meticulously researched and utterly compelling stories.
I did get very confused particularly in Game of Kings, the first book, as to what was going on and who everyone was. To anyone else in a similar situation, I strongly recommend you search for a couple of excellent blogs / chat groups that cover these books. One called “now you have dunnett” for the first book, and another on an Outlander blog forum. They helped me immeasurably in understanding and thus enjoyment - like being part of a book group! Thanks to all who contributed!

Brilliant - and you can search for help if confused!

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I have read the Lymond Chronicles many times, but this is the first time I have had them read to me, and I am amazed at how much more I get out of them when they are performed so brilliantly as they are here, by David Monteath.

A wonderful book, a fabulous performance

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I continue to find the plots of this series insanely complicated, but I’m still hooked. I love the enigmatic character of Lymond and the level of historical detail. I guess the complexity of intrigue would have been authentic too, so I’m happy to go with the flow. I’ve also invested in the Dorothy Dunnett Companion which I would recommend as containing a wealth of historical information as well as helping me to hang on to who’s who. Bring on the next one!

Converted!

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This was my least favourite of this unsurpassed series, but listening to the superb narration gave me a better appreciation of the importance of this book within the oeuvre. Where I had found reading the Irish voices grating, the narrator showed me their beauty and value. The prose of course is sublime. “The flotilla curtsied”. Dorothy is simply the best writer I have ever encountered and has been my comfort these past fifty years.

Nuanced and beguiling

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