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The Wide World

By: Pierre Lemaitre, Frank Wynne - translator
Narrated by: Philip Bird
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Summary

From Beirut in 1948, to Saigon and Paris, this is the story of the Pelletier family, rich with corruption, death, blackmail - and murder. The first volume of THE GLORIOUS YEARS series, translated by Frank Wynne

Beirut, 1948. The Pelletier family returns...

The Pelletiers are a prominent French family living in Beirut. The patriarch, Louis, has built a successful business manufacturing and exporting artisanal soaps. He hoped to pass the business on to his eldest son, Jean, but Jean doesn't have the sharpness or aptitude for such an enterprise. After nearly running the company into the ground, Jean marries a money-grubbing young woman who quickly makes him miserable, and they emigrate to Paris. But there's another reason Jean must leave - he has committed a terrible crime...

His brother, Etienne, travels to Saigon, where he soon uncovers irregularities in the local currency office and begins investigating what he believes is a scheme to channel smuggled goods and cash to the Viet Minh. It is evidence that presents a real threat to his own life.

François, the middle Pelletier brother, has gone to Paris, ostensibly to study, but finds himself working as a journalist. His career flies when he reports on the brutal murder of an actress in a cinema ladies' room. It seems a serial killer is on the loose.

©2023 Pierre Lemaitre and Frank Wynne (P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
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A great story, well told

Loved the backdrop of Saigon and Paris. Took me to a world I know little about in era it’s set. Good set of diverse characters, and frustrating as it was, the author didn’t take the easy route of resolving everything neatly… Roll on the next instalment. Fabulous narrator.

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Absolutely wonderful

Enjoyed every minute of this book. The narrator was superb and the voices of the characters were just brilliant. Cannot recommend highly enough. Loved it!

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Great story on a world stage

Really enjoyed this story of the Peltier family in Paris, Lebanon and the Far East and it looks as if there is more to come. Not sure what the Audible equivalent of a page turner is but this was it.

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Great story well read

Great story telling with good descriptions. Good twists and turns and easy to follow. Narrator was excellent and really helped follow the story.

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