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  • The Pure in Heart

  • Simon Serrailler 2
  • By: Susan Hill
  • Narrated by: Steven Pacey
  • Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,476 ratings)
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The Pure in Heart cover art

The Pure in Heart

By: Susan Hill
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
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Summary

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler, first introduced in The Various Haunts of Men, is on a painting holiday in Venice when he is summoned home by a telephone call. He has family problems to face, and the stress and grind of running a busy police station. When a little boy is snatched as he stands with his satchel at the gate of his home, waiting for his lift to school, an ordinary community realises that terror and evil are in their very midst.

You should listen to Susan Hill's brilliant Simon Serrailler trilogy in the correct order which is as follows:

  • Book 1: The Various Haunts of Men
  • Book 2: The Pure in Heart
  • Book 3: The Risk of Darkness
©2006 Susan Hill (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Pure in Heart

Average customer ratings
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully read and excellent characterisation.

Essential to read or listen to The Various Haunts of Men first to become familiar with the main cast of characters and to understand the references to things which have happened in the past. Although these stories are based around crime and police procedure I find that these aspects take second place to the exploration of the moral and social decisions that the characters are forced to make and what we learn about those characters as a result. A previous reviewer was disappointed that, in their opinion, the book seemed to come to a sudden end. Things are left unresolved and that may dissatisfy some listeners but I thought it added a realism to the story particularly poignant in the light of recent news.
I tend to choose audio books, not just on potential content, but on the voice of the reader. Stephen Pacey is very easy on the ear. I like to listen as I walk for fitness and found myself covering a few extra miles each day as the story unfolded just to hear more. So, very highly recommended. I have already flagged the third book in the series as my next listen.

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Characters and Narration, Difficult Subject!

I have read Susan Hill's 'The Woman In Black' and have also downloaded 'The Various Haunts Of Men' as well as this book. Susan Hill is a master of writing great characters, and the narration really bring these people to life. It is the 2nd book featuring Detective Chief Inspector Serrailler, who is quite flawed but likeable. It can be a difficult subject matter and I found it quite difficult to listen to as I have a child the same age as the missing boy. If you can distance yourself from this, I highly recommend this book and other works by Susan Hill. I will certainly look out for her future titles.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I'm rationing myself

I am completely hooked on this series by Susan Hill, and I'm rationing myself because I know that so far there are only five books.
These aren't detective stories or thrillers, but carefully constructed character studies of real people. This second story leaves some loose ends which other listeners have found frustrating, but that's the point - real life often has loose ends, and Susan Hill uses this to describe her characters.
I'm also totally in love with Stephen Pacey, who must be the most talented voice actor in the country. I keep forgetting it's not a radio play.
Highly recommended.

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13 people found this helpful

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

Addictive

Firstly I would like to thank Audible for allowing me to refund my credits for two Victoria Hislop books which I could not bear to listen to .... awful writing. Susan Hill is, in contrast, a wonderfully enthralling author and I can't stop listening to this "Serrailler" series. My dog is having her paws worn down with all the walks she is having while i listen. Thank you Audible and thank you Susan Hill !!!!

Narrator is first class too!!!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent until the end...

What a disppointing end to a great book. It just suddenly stops, I was so suprised as in 'The Various Haunts of Men' you find out 'who-dunnit', in this book you don't! Having said that, Susan Hill really brings the characters alive. grrr..I really wanted to find out what happened though....

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8 people found this helpful

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

A second cup of tea

Any additional comments?

You know when you're trying to get a second cup of tea from a teabag, having had a really good strong first cup? That's a bit what this book is like. It's good, but not as good as the first cup, and shows worrying signs of the author having fallen in love with her hero, although she is honest about what a despicable cad he is when it comes to women. There's not much going on in the way of detection, but an awful lot of mental anguish and people coming apart in prolonged and repetitive detail. Given the context, that's understandable, but I thought I was buying crime fiction rather than misery lit. The book was narrated extremely well as usual, and well enough written for me immediately to order the third as soon as I'd finished it, however. Fingers crossed...

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The pure in heart

I had already read the book but found revisiting it this way excellent.The reader is superb with just enough change of voice to keep the listener interested. Although I have also read the next book it will be my next one to listen . Can be thoroughly recommended for good writing and a cracking storyline Susan Hill is a master of the understated menace and surprising twist.

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4 people found this helpful

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

What was the point?

A story with no ending...how disappointing! I want to know if the next one continues the storyline but also resent the money spent on this book!

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3 people found this helpful

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

A deep, engaging listen

I became as deeply engaged with this Simon Serrailler book as with the first.
Susan Hill creates complex believable characters. There are no trite fixes to the storyline. Although this works as a stand alone book it is greater for being part of a series & I am planning to get the next one
The narration by Steven Pacey is clear & well differentiated.
A gripping listen

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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

Very enjoyable!

Beautifully written and wonderfully read - second in the series and the characters are starting to feel like old friends! Just off to download No 3!

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2 people found this helpful