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  • The Risk of Darkness

  • Simon Serrailler 3
  • By: Susan Hill
  • Narrated by: Steven Pacey
  • Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,177 ratings)
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The Risk of Darkness cover art

The Risk of Darkness

By: Susan Hill
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
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Summary

Following on from the child abduction in her previous novel The Pure in Heart, Susan Hill explores the crazy grief of a widowed husband, a derangement that turns to obsession and threats, violence and terror.

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 Risk of Darkness

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Another gripping instalment beautifully read

For those who were frustrated by the unresolved ending of The Pure in Heart, the second novel in the series, this third book brings matters to a conclusion. Very easy to get into, if you have listened to or read the previous two, as the central characters, DCI Simon Serailler, DI Nathan Coates and Dr Cat Derebon have become very familiar. However, I found this an altogether darker book than the previous two. An air of danger, menace and general moral decline pervade the story. Some extremely unpleasant crimes are committed, some by people who are pure evil, some seeking retribution and others by people who have been brought to the edge by tragic events. As before, I found the novel more about the exploration and development of the characters: the difficulties they face, the opportunities which are presented to them, the choices they make, rather than a concentration on police procedure. Once again, Stephen Pacey?s reading is impeccable. Very highly recommended.

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34 people found this helpful

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

MIDDLE CLASS PRETENTIONS

I am finding these Simon Serrailler books weak in plots with no skilled detection work taking place. I realise it is personal preference but I am constantly irritated by the middle-class lives, behaviour and pretensions. Do I really need to know the characters are drinking from Emma Bridgewater mugs, that avocado plays a big part in every salad, or listen to repeated descriptions of doctors and their children living in such idyllic conditions in the farmhouse? Personally I prefer the down to earth Ruth Rendell's Wexford and his colleagues, alongside P D James' Adam Dalgleish. Narration, as usual, excellent. Definitely a book to fall asleep whilst listening!

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11 people found this helpful

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

What an amazing trilogy!

Loved each of these books for their attention to detail, vivid portrayal of the characters and ability to allow total immersion in the stories. As you listen to each book it further develops individual character strengths and weaknesses, their lives and ambitions.
Could not put this down and look forward to more Susan Hill books, so well read by Steven Pacey

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7 people found this helpful

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

Dissapointed

"Simon Serrailler Trilogy, Books 1-3"
I listened to the first Serrailler books in order.
This review could be applied to any one of the three books in the trilogy, or all three.
The narrator was excellent. The material, especially in book 3 was very black, do not listen if you are at all emotionally disturbed by the loss of a loved one, a sub plot involving hospices that has no bearing on the main plot. The crime story in this book could have been gripping, however, far too many characters are introduced that lead nowhere, or just stopped when they were getting interesting.
It seems that there was no conclusion to the main 'thriller' story in the book.

I will not be buying any more books in the series as they seem to be a never ending story cut into pieces for the commercial gain of the author.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Main story hampered by a subsidiary one

The main crime story in this book is gripping and, while it is out of the ordinary, it is not out of the realms of possibility, whereas a extra story, about the irrational behaviour of a bereaved man, which is largely irrelevant spoils the book by being ridiculous. I would have given the book 5 stars had it not had this subsidiary thread. The reader is excellent.

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7 people found this helpful

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

Simon Serrailler Trilogy, Books 1-3

I bought the 1st 3 Serrailler books together as the blurb was quite adamant they should be read in order, or listened to in this case.
This review could be applied to any one of the three books in the trilogy, or all three.
Steven Pacey did a great job with very weak material.
There were far too many characters introduced that had nothing to do with the story.
There were character story arcs that lead nowhere, or just stopped when they were getting interesting.
There was no conclusion to the main 'thriller' story in the book.
I listened to all 3, felt the same way about all 3, and as the end of book 3 approached seriously began to doubt that all the previous storylines were going to be resolved and explained, and unfortunately it turned out I was right to doubt.
I will not be buying any more books in the series, it was so frustrating to have the books finish so abruptly with no conclusion to the main storylines.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Another fantastic book in this series - can't wait for Susan Hill to write another. Brilliantly read by Stephen Pacey. Highly recommended.

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6 people found this helpful

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

Brilliant narrator. Good story.

What did you like most about The Risk of Darkness?

This was a well narrated story. Steven Pacey brings life to all the characters. I thought the storyline was ok, but the narration did it for me.

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

Steven brings all the characters to life brilliantly. His accents are spot on.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

The Pure in Heart part II

In terms of story line this is really a continuation of the previous book, The Pure in Heart, and it turns the pages just as well as the last thanks to the writer's skill and the superb reading of Simon Pacey.

As for subject matter, Susan Hill explores the deterioration of British society of recent years, painting a very grim portrait of life in this materialist and godless culture. She has a sharp eye for observation and sadly it all rings too true. This single novel could easily replace a truckload of academic study for future historians.

But so much for posing the problem, Hill fails to convince when it comes to the answer.

Perhaps, rather conveniently the story introduces a young Church of England clergywoman (incorrectly called a priest), who acts as a focus for asking if God has answers for we disintegrating British or if he doesn't matter anymore. Like too many real CoE churchmen, she has no grasp of biblical doctrine and is little more than a shallow new age pedlar of 'faith'. When she should have plenty of answers she gives none, and the reader is left unconvinced by this cardboard cut-out idea of what church people have to offer the disenchanted. Susan Hill would have done well to research her subject better for this character. She may even have been able to answer the difficult questions she asks in the book.

The police station characters continue to fascinate and Simon Serailler's family still reflect the middle class in all its messy glory, trying to find a place in this brave new world which is coarse, brutal and punishing, both mentally and physically. There is little reward in quality of life.

Roll on the next installment.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Good stuff!

Any additional comments?

This is another great tale in the Simon Serrailler series. It ties up loose ends from the previous one. The main characters in the series are all a bit 'posh' and mostly religious, which is fine. There was a little too much religious worship in this one for me though. Hence, the loss of one star.

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2 people found this helpful