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The Rome Affair
- Narrated by: Katie Scarfe
- Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
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The Rome Affair
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Summary
The glamorous capital city of Italy is brought to startling life in The Rome Affair, a compelling summer story by Karen Swan.
It's 1974, and Elena Damiani lives a gilded life. Born to wealth and a noted beauty, no door is closed to her, no man can resist her. At 26 she is already onto her third husband when she meets her love match. But he is the one man she can never have, and all the beauty and money in the world can't change it.
It's 2017, and Francesca Hackett is living la dolce vita in Rome, leading tourist groups around the Eternal City and forgetting the ghosts she left behind in London. When she finds a stolen designer handbag in her dustbin and returns it, she is brought into the orbit of her grand neighbour who lives across the piazza - famed socialite Viscontessa Elena dei Damiani Pignatelli della Mirandola. Though the purse is stolen, Elena greets the return of the bag with exultation, for it contains an unopened letter written by her husband on his deathbed 12 years earlier.
Mutually intrigued by each other, the two women agree to collaborate on a project, with Cesca interviewing Elena for her memoirs. As summer unfurls, Elena tells her sensational stories, leaving Cesca in her thrall. But when a priceless diamond ring found in an ancient tunnel below the city streets is ascribed to Elena, Cesca begins to suspect a shocking secret at the heart of Elena's life.
What listeners say about The Rome Affair
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cherub 37
- 19-10-20
Utter Brilliance
I have read every book released by Karen Swan, and I had presumed that by now I would be able to work out the endings. I was very much mistaken. This book has lots of twists and turns and had me make an audiable gasp at the end. Utter brilliance which I will go back and listen to again as I loved the characters and narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Justine wright
- 02-08-19
loved it from the start.
I felt like I was Rome every time the streets and different plazas were mentioned. the story was so beautiful.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- JEM
- 25-10-17
Extremely enjoyable.
Great story but you need to concentrate as it jumps backwards and forwards between years.
Narrator brilliant as usual.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Liz C
- 01-05-19
Her best one yet!!
Loved it. Very amusing in parts and didn’t want to stop listening. Lots of colourful characters and a nice twist at the end. Narrator was very good too. Always amazed at how much research must go into her stories. Will definitely listen to this one again in the future.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- L. R.
- 04-04-19
lovely story
I really enjoyed listening to this book. narrator did a good job. will read another of this author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- L Sutherland
- 29-11-20
Never fails to amaze
I love Karen Swan, she manages to find the right mix of mystery, intrigue and romance every time.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Agnieszka Bania
- 24-08-17
An intriguing story
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes - it is beautifully read, unlike a lot of audible books I've listened to.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Rome Affair?
When you realise that it was Veto's brother that was in the heart of it all.
What about Katie Scarfe’s performance did you like?
everything - she created perfect atmosphere for the book
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I could never do that with any book. It was nice coming back to it every day
Any additional comments?
Very interesting story, I just wish it went deeper when going back to the past so that we could "live" in those moments more - would make a great series
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. M. Tappenden
- 02-03-23
You have done it again
A brilliant listen. Telling two linked stories at a time I thought was very clever , it worked for me. The build up was great and as usual your talent for describing people , places etc was extremely exciting
Keep writing….. please.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Little sue
- 22-02-18
Captivating
Captivating from begin to end , love,lust,lies and it's all set in beautiful Roma it's brilliant
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jaye22
- 14-04-24
*The Cost of Love*
This is a story that runs over two timelines in 1974 we are introduced to Elena who is born of wealth and has everything money can buy but she is searching for love. Her parents are far too busy and in her quest for love she marries far too young at 16 and she makes one mistake after another.
Ten years on she is married to her third husband she decided to marry someone from a similar background. He has a brother she is yet to meet. But upon meeting him she instantly knows that he is the one. What to do?…. The brothers have one face and one heart….
In 2017 we are introduced to Francesca aka Cesca who is living in Rome as a tour guide. She is British and is running away from her life in the U.K. for a fresh start.
Elena is now an old lady living across the square from Cesca in a lavish mansion where she lived with her late husband. She is intrigued by Cesca and has a proposal for her. She wants Cesca to write her memoir.
Over time we find out what happens in Elena’s life but, as Cesca digs into her life she realises that some truths are being withheld from her. The more she uncovers more secrets materialise. Elena was a barrister and can sniff out lies and goes after the truth.
One day there is a mighty sound when a sinkhole opens up on the grounds of the mansion. This reveals a secret tunnel below the property. When something priceless is discovered in the tunnel, Cesca finds out more than she bargained for as time goes by. Why when Elena is confronted by some of the truths that Cesca has found out, why is she unwilling to engage? Why is Elena
carrying around a unopened letter from her late husband who died 15 years ago?
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