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  • The Cruellest Game

  • By: Hilary Bonner
  • Narrated by: Karen Cass
  • Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (39 ratings)
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The Cruellest Game cover art

The Cruellest Game

By: Hilary Bonner
Narrated by: Karen Cass
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Summary

An unnerving psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Cruelty of Morning. Perfect for fans of Nicci French and Sophie Hannah.

The lie was just the begnning.... Marion Anderton lives the perfect life. She has a beautiful home, a handsome and loving husband, and an intelligent and caring son. But as easily as perfect lives are built, they can also be demolished. When tragedy strikes at the heart of her family, Marion finds herself in the middle of a nightmare, with no sign of waking-up. The life she treasured is disintegrating before her very eyes, but it's just the beginning of something much worse and altogether more deadly.…

©2013 Hilary Bonner (P)2014 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Critic reviews

"A gripping story set in Devon with a final, unexpected, twist." (Country Life)

What listeners say about The Cruellest Game

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

Disappointing

Any additional comments?

I bought this based on reviews on other Hilary Bonner novels.
It was boringly slow and the story line is full of holes. I regret wasting a credit on it.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Ok listen but dragged on and gaping plot holes

Would you try another book written by Hilary Bonner or narrated by Karen Cass?

I would try another by narrater not author. Narrator did her best and was quite good at differentiating different characters.

What will your next listen be?

Am listening to "the secret place"

Have you listened to any of Karen Cass’s other performances? How does this one compare?

no

Do you think The Cruellest Game needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

please no !

Any additional comments?

Very unbelievable plot and characterisation, felt like it should have ended about 2 hours before it finally did but author wanted to spin out final "twist" though that "twist" just like all the others in book had been pretty obvious all along.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Twists all the way through

Would you listen to The Cruellest Game again? Why?

I would def listen to this again. It was a brilliant book that kept you guessing all the way through.

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1 person found this helpful

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

So disappointing

I have read Hilary Bonner's books before, which is why I selected this, but boy was I disappointed! The narrator was awful (sorry), but I'm sure she got as fed up reading such nonsense as I did listening, even I picked up the end 'twist'very early on, and I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

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

Love the way this author writes.

Excellent, love the twist at the end.
I enjoy this authors writing and can't wait to start the next book.

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

Suspends belief !

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I've previously listened to " when the dead cry out" and enjoyed it very much. So thought I'd try another audiobook by Hillary Bonner. What a disapointment this was. Too wordy and a ridiculous plot. Unbelievable and unlikable characters.

What could Hilary Bonner have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not written it at all.

What three words best describe Karen Cass’s performance?

Has a pleasant, narrative voice which I felt I could easily listen to again, only her style did not suit this novel. Her narration is "cheerful" and positive, not at all suitable for the characters in this book, or the traumatic themes depicted.
I know this isn't three words but I feel it's relevant to warn other would be listeners.

Did The Cruellest Game inspire you to do anything?

To stop listening, but I persevered, having used a credit, and I don't like giving up on authors, especially one whose work I've previously enjoyed. It has made me wary of listening to any more of this authors work although I've wish listed another two. I'll have to read other listeners reviews before I download any more.

Any additional comments?

At first I blamed the narrator for not enjoying this book. She has an "upbeat" way of narrating which didn't match the theme/atmosphere of the story. In the end I decided she was a good narrator but should have left this one alone.

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