A Fatal Inversion

Having read this at least twice in print form and watched the BBC TV adaptation, it was great to hear the unabridged audiobook. The story, set in rural Suffolk and London back in the long hot summer of 1976 and ten years on in the mid-late 1980s was brilliant to explore and the attention to detail was amazing. That said, the majority of the characters were pretty loathsome.

The narrator, William Gaminara was extremely accomplished and performed a wide selection of characters with aplomb.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Fantastic

A brilliant story, well worth it!! Great plot twist and well read. I’m off to find another 😀

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

masterly narrative

rendell's command of narrative technique is astonishing here, every bit as worthy as Philip Roth's novels. masterly. and a terrific story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Confusing

I lost the will to live with this book. One minute in the present next minute with no warning in the past. I wasn’t into the story after chapter 3, not persevered as I like to finish what I start.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Layers of story never fail to intrigue

This has been a favourite book of mine for decades and my most recommended ever. I have read and re read it but still I was delighted to hear it on audible as an included choice. Again I loved it and felt the narration was excellent, offering this in a new dimension. My only slight gripe is that I didn’t like the narrator’s take on Zoe’s voice, she sounded like a cranky!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good story

Good story but goes from ten years ago to storyline present day without a break, making it very confusing. Also some stilted language I don’t know anyone who calls a nappy a napkin even in 76 or 86.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great story but narration no good for me

I love this novel, read it first as a young adult and it resonated, the characters weren’t likeable but their predicament was involving, I found parts of it darkly funny, and the narrator’s voice was great company.

Not so this time round, the narrator can certainly ‘do’ a posh voice and Adam and Rufus, and Shiva, were convincing, as was Mary Gage; I could live with Lily, although her full-on Indian accent was far from the south-Asian lilt described in the book, but my god, poor Zosie. We are told that she looks like a beautiful illustration of a fairy girl, but in this narrator’s mouth she sounds like Baldrick. It’s not the first time I’ve been enjoying an audiobook very much only to switch off in disgust when the first working class character to be voiced sounds gormless (I’m looking at you, Little Dorrit). Perhaps it’s unfair to expect every voice to be spot on, in such a polyphonic work, but I’m sensitive to the sound of working class people being patronised, and that’s how this came across to me.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great story spoiled by silly voices

Enjoyable murder mystery but the narrator’s attempt at the voice of a 17 year old girl, plus a very dodgy Indian accent, changed the characters in ways the author did not intend. I recommend reading it in print rather than this audiobook.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Best book

It's a fabulous story. My favourite and excellent writing. I think it win an award.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Absolutely gripping

With a really satisfying twist at the end. It’s a very dark story with no sympathetic characters but if you are in the right frame of mind for that I can highly recommend this audiobook.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!