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  • The Cleansing

  • DCI Tom Caton Manchester Murder Mysteries, Book 1
  • By: Bill Rogers
  • Narrated by: Michael Troughton
  • Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
  • 3.6 out of 5 stars (233 ratings)
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The Cleansing cover art

The Cleansing

By: Bill Rogers
Narrated by: Michael Troughton
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Summary

Introducing Detective Chief Inspector Tom Caton. Christmas approaches. A killer dressed as a clown haunts the streets of Manchester. For him the City’s miraculous regeneration had unacceptable consequences. This is the reckoning. DCI Tom Caton enlists the help of forensic profiler Kate Webb, placing her in mortal danger.

The trail leads from the site of the old mass cholera graves, through Moss Side, the Gay Village, the penthouse opulence of canalside apartment blocks, and the bustling Christmas Market, to the Victorian Gothic grandeur of the Town Hall.

Time is running out. For Tom, for Kate…and for the City.

©2009 Bill Rogers (P)2014 Bill Rogers

What listeners say about The Cleansing

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    64
  • 4 Stars
    66
  • 3 Stars
    63
  • 2 Stars
    25
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    71
  • 4 Stars
    63
  • 3 Stars
    51
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    15
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    58
  • 4 Stars
    47
  • 3 Stars
    63
  • 2 Stars
    33
  • 1 Stars
    11

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

Very good

Where does The Cleansing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

8 of 10

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tom easy going new kind of detective

What does Michael Troughton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Don't know what you mean

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

no

Any additional comments?

Very good first attempt cant wait for the next one

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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

Great!

Loved it. Story was compelling and couldn't wait to hear the end. Narrator was amazing. Love how he changed his voice for each character.

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6 people found this helpful

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

gripping story but ...

If you could sum up The Cleansing in three words, what would they be?

policing and profiling

What did you like best about this story?

It keeps you guessing

What about Michael Troughton’s performance did you like?

I don't think I will look out for his narrations especially, but I won't reject a book because he was reading it either.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have said no, but bearing in mind I continued listening long after I could have opted to do something else, I'm surprised to say yes.

Any additional comments?

Description was a little turgid at times and it was rather overly full of beautiful people which made it feel like the author was trying too hard at times. The first hour or so I was tempted to give up but after that I wanted to know what happened.

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

Didn't do for me

Would you try another book written by Bill Rogers or narrated by Michael Troughton?

No

If you’ve listened to books by Bill Rogers before, how does this one compare?

No

What aspect of Michael Troughton’s performance might you have changed?

He narrated it to fast a slower pitch would have been better

Could you see The Cleansing being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

Average story line, didn't warm to the characters and wasn't narrated as well as others I have heard

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4 people found this helpful

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

It was ok

Ok story but not very well paced. Narrator was fairly bland. Not sure if there was a finale or a world record attempt to see how many times the words Albert and Stephen could be said in 10 mins

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

Unbelievable!

I do mean that the story and plot is not believable. We have a hard-boiled copper (must be to get to DCI) who talks to his staff like they are children, correcting their speech etc.

He really sounds naïve and talks like somebody who has just left a minor public school and been given an important job.

Manchester is in the north of England and it is still dark at 6:30am in November, but our hero SEES his DI in the car park then shouts to him about a parking space "before the jack-hammers start". a) Lighting must be good, b) Who wields jack-hammers at 6:30am?

Sorry but this story and the scenes in it are very poor and not thought through. I think that the writer is trying to do a Michael Connelly and keep us interested in the Cop's route through the City. This in not LA.

I can see why this book was offered in the sale.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Quite Good could use a better narrator

First the author's books for me an OK story the main character seems a bit prissy but its only the first book in the series. But it could do with a better narrator.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Needs cleansing

The story is good, cliched sexual attractions apart... The narrator is terrible with accents and all the characters sounded the same. Not a mancunian accent in sight...

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

A good listern

Would you try another book written by Bill Rogers or narrated by Michael Troughton?

Yep

What about Michael Troughton’s performance did you like?

An easy listen. Kept me interested to the end

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No - film writers wreck stories with too much gore!

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1 person found this helpful

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

Too much detail

What made the experience of listening to The Cleansing the most enjoyable?

Being able to follow the characters around Manchester in my mind's eye. However I suspect that this would be too much detail for someone without a detailed knowledge of the city.
Ironically the identification of who the subject was was glossed over and dealt with in briefing one of the characters after the event. The procedures rang true to me, but I have no knowledge of them personally.

If you’ve listened to books by Bill Rogers before, how does this one compare?

Very similar. Great use of place, but probably this pads out the plot rather than moving it along.

What three words best describe Michael Troughton’s voice?

Good characterization, however a northern accent would have worked better. Also so many mistakes not edited, the worst being pizza for piazza.

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

No

Any additional comments?

I will read or listen to more Bill Rogers because of the Manchester scenes, but wouldn't if set elsewhere.

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