Superb

After listening the Company of Liars three times, I knew this book would give all sorts of twists, turns and intrigue to keep me glued to my audio devices. I was not disappointed.
The only thing that grated was the voice of Rafael which , to me, was not believable for a man with a girls voice. A minor quibble which did not put me off enough to not want to leave the book un-listened to. I have already downloaded her other books and will I look forward too and listen too with relish.
A superb book from a brilliant author.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

Hard start

A hard start but stay with it, the book becomes a great story and a really interesting insight to living in the middle ages!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

hey listener, there are better ones

this is my 5th book by Maitland. And it's not the best one. but it's not bad by any stretch and there are some great characters in it. There was just something lacking in this one compared to her earlier books. The reader is decent, but the reader of the older ones was world class. all in all - it's worth a credit if you are a fan and won't stop me continuing to listen to her books because they are all good.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The Gallows Curse

Why do I have to put words? It is most tedious, a rating is enough.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 Stars.. But.. Disappointed Thrice

After enjoying Company of Liars and The Owl Killers both of which I enjoyed I was 3 times disappointed by this book.

1. The voice the narrator adopted for a main character was just beyond ridiculous and at almost 20 hours became more irritating with each passing hour.

2. At around 10 hours in the ever increasing use of the use of the word "BUT" almost drove me insane.

3. In contrast to to several places where the story appeared to be rambling and prolonged the ending was rushed.

I still gave it 3 stars BUT I'm not sure why. It has put me off further Karen Maitland titles I was planning to read the series now I need a break.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

England's out of Europe -chaos reigns!

No, it's not Brexit, but there is some irony in listening to this book in the immediate aftermath of the Referendum.
King John has isolated the country in a standoff with Rome, so his subjects are suffering under an interdict. (Not as all encompassing as this book suggests, if truth be told; baptism, and confession/absolution of the dying weren't forbidden, some feast days were allowed, inter alia.)
Left to itself, England is home to deception, superstition, witchcraft and perversion. And the shadow of a dodgy war in the Middle East scars returned veterans. (This is the 13th century, nothing like the 21st, is it?)
I didn't enjoy this as much as "Company of Liars", neither story, nor narration (same reader). The bulk was recounted in an Italian accent; one main character was Italian, but he was a eunuch, portrayed with an exaggerated high pitched voice - higher than a child's, improbable even for a castrato. The story is based on major historical and theological errors, beyond poetic licence, and I'd like to have been spared some bad sex.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

A wonderfully narrated story

A gripping and evocative story set in the reign of King John, following the story of a young peasant girl Elena who is used by the lady of the manor and her steward thus binding their lives together in a story of hope and the search for redemption. The cruelty of the era is vividly described as the story stretches from England to the holy land and the crusades with an esoteric narrative running through the plot I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will certainly purchase more from this author

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Not my usual cup of tea but

His Bloody Project was a buy on a whim, which I enjoyed that much I looked for another medieval story and found this.

I had seen Karen Maitland’s name before but had never read anything by her, but David Thorpe had narrated other books (by Matt Dawson) that I enjoyed.

So, narration was first class - those accents brilliant (a high pitched Spanish gentleman with south east British inflections was amazing) with only complaint of one voice that reminded me of super mario.

The story was decent and kept me listening, but wasn’t quite as dark or cursed as I’d hoped, but intriguing and never obvious with a decent twist so to speak. Fans of hers would surely lap this up as it was atmospheric.

I would get another Maitland but not rush out for my fix. A good yarn nonetheless and I now fancy a flaggin of mead

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Very good story and excellent performance

All was excellent but, the Lord of the manor is predictable, it does not spoil it though

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

a bit confusing

found it a bit hard going at times . Had to concentrate or it could get a bit muddled . The story did make sense towards the end though.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!