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And so It Begins
- Stephanie King, Book 1
- Narrated by: Olivia Vinall
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
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Summary
WHO WILL BELIEVE YOUR STORY IF THE ONLY WITNESS IS DEAD?
Cleo knows she should be happy for her brother Mark. He's managed to find someone new after the sudden death of his first wife - but something about Evie just doesn't feel right...
When Evie starts having accidents at home, her friends grow concerned. Could Mark be causing her injuries? Called out to their cliff-top house one night, Sergeant Stephanie King finds two bodies entangled on blood-drenched sheets.
Where does murder begin? When the knife is raised to strike, or before, at the first thought of violence? As the accused stands trial, the jury is forced to consider - is there ever a proper defence for murder?
Critic reviews
"A properly addictive, leave-the-light-on thriller." (Red Magazine)
"Masterly and compelling. I couldn't put it down until its heart-stopping conclusion." (Robert Bryndza)
"Unbearably tense, with a killer twist." (Good Housekeeping)
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What listeners say about And so It Begins
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David M
- 05-11-18
Absolutely first class psychological, thriller
I really don't understand the indifferent reviews posted so far, to me this is an exceptionally good, gripping story. I just couldn't put it down. I was hooked right from the start. The unexpected twists and turns were amazing.
It did take a bit of concentration during the first hour to get some understanding of what the book was all about, then the listening became easier. It was by no means the end of the intrigue because despite thinking we have everything in place, the goalposts just kept moving. What exactly was the crime, who was the guilty one, who was the victim? Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? We're kept in suspense all through.
There's a very good court-room drama about three-quarters through. This book though is about much more than a police investigation and a court-room drama. The police play a relatively small role in the book as a whole. I can't say more without giving away parts of the plot, but I can say that I will be seeking out more books by Rachel Abbott.
Olivia Vinall performed well too. As narrator she has an impressive range of voices, both make and female. She added value without adding any distractions,
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39 people found this helpful
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- molly68
- 27-08-21
Food novel spoiled for me by irresponsible misrepresentations
On the whole I liked this book. I didn’t love it but largely enjoyed it and it was narrated well. However, the last 1/3 was spoiled for me because I was so angry about the way the author misrepresents the samaritans. They NEVER store your details and then keep a record of everything you’ve said. Having been a Sam myself I know that this misrepresentation is dangerous. It’s one of the only places where you can genuinely speak in complete confidence with no judgment regardless of who you are. This warping of facts gives people the wrong impression and one day someone may choose not to call because they don’t trust that information won’t be stored or passed on. Unless you voluntarily give your details they have no idea who you are and certainly don’t keep your name address and notes on your call on file. Even if you do give your information to them (they won’t ask you for it) they will only ever intervene in very rare circumstances such as you telling them that a child is in danger. The author here gives a lazy and irresponsible fictionalisation of a service designed to be a safety net for people in dire need of someone to listen to them in their darkest moments. I was so angry about the potential risk of anyone reading this and assuming that the authors interpretation and then not trusting them enough to call if they ever need to they I struggled to stick with the story foe the remainder of the book.
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37 people found this helpful
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- Ann D
- 14-11-18
Rather Dull!
I have really enjoyed several of Rachel Abbott’s books, but for me this one is rather dull. I can’t quite put my finger on why it is as lacking as I’m finding it. The writing was a bit poor (surprisingly) in the early chapters. I ploughed on though and that improved (almost as if the book was written at two separate points for the author), but the story never really took off. All of the material was there, but the characters were pretty one dimensional and I couldn’t care about any of them. I have reached chapter 51 and I am going to give-up on it I’m afraid. Disappointing.
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15 people found this helpful
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- Emma mason-Darcy
- 14-11-18
stick with it
i love rachel abbott books and this one did not disappoint. honesty it was slow to start with but it gets going and once it does it grips you. dont give up.
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14 people found this helpful
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- S. Christie
- 18-07-19
Top Notch Thriller
I’ve read every one of Rachel Abbott’s books but have been disappointed with the last few. I felt the writing, plot and believability of her books had deteriorated and that her normally excellent five star listens had slipped into mediocrity. Not so with ‘And so if begins’! An absolutely excellent top notch thriller but plenty of twists, twins and suspense. A return to top form Rachel, and absolutely one of your best. I loved this book. The best book I had read this year. Download it now!
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12 people found this helpful
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- eljay001
- 23-11-18
Really far fetched.
Really far fetched. Characters not very believable. Shame because I generally like Rachel Abbots books.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Cathryn B.
- 04-11-18
Really dissapointed
Normally love Rachel Abbott but couldn't get past chapter 13. Totally bored. Its going back.
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9 people found this helpful
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- SandraL
- 16-07-20
Wickedly Good
You know you're onto a winner when you read/listen to a Rachel Abbot book and this one had me hooked right from the start. It is such a clever story and it tied me up in knots. Nothing is as it seems and there are twists galore. I kept changing my opinion of the lead characters, Cleo, Mark & Evie throughout the book. The writing is excellent. And So It Begins is a police procedural, courtroom drama and psychological thriller all rolled into one. It would make an awesome tv series/movie.
The narration by Olivia Vinall was excellent.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Nicola Grounds
- 08-01-19
Didn't enjoy this. The 5th Rachel Abbott book
This is the 5th Rachel Abbott book i have read and it just didn't compare for me. The style of writing was different. I didn't find it at all gripping or exciting. It was a bit more like a documentary than a thriller! I wouldn't recommend.
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5 people found this helpful
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- A. F. Blower
- 20-12-18
Slow start but keep with it !!
I was ready to give up listening to this book at around chapter 15 but went back to previous reviews and many said to stick with it
So pleased I did , couldn’t stop listening
Excellent book and well read
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5 people found this helpful