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  • Arrowood

  • Arrowood, Book 1
  • By: Mick Finlay
  • Narrated by: Malk Williams
  • Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (232 ratings)
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Arrowood cover art

Arrowood

By: Mick Finlay
Narrated by: Malk Williams
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Summary

London Society takes their problems to Sherlock Holmes. Everyone else goes to Arrowood.

The Afghan War is over, and a deal with the Irish appears to have brought an end to sectarian violence, but Britain's position in the world is uncertain, and the gap between rich and poor is widening.

London is a place where the wealthy party while the underclass are tempted into lives of crime, drugs and prostitution. A serial killer stalks the streets. Politicians are embroiled in financial and sexual scandals.

The year is 1895. The police don't have the resources to deal with everything that goes on in the capital. The rich turn to a celebrated private detective when they need help: Sherlock Holmes. But in densely populated South London, where crimes are sleazier and Holmes rarely visits, people turn to Arrowood, a private investigator who despises Holmes, his wealthy clientele and his showy forensic approach to crime. Arrowood understands people, not clues.

©2017 Mick Finlay (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Arrowood

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Almost .. but not quite

As a fan of Victorian, London fiction of all kind I was looking forward listening to another entertaining crime story with good reviews.
Once I had got used to the narration style I thought I would enjoy the tale of a “not” Sherlock Holmes tale.
However this one is not quite there.
It is a a great plot, but unravels at a linear and plodding pace with little to like about any of the characters involved. I appreciate the attempt at a more vicious and gritty Holmes and Watson to reflect the harsh time period, but without any lighter themes or humour the result feels staid and unsatisfying.
But .. the author has introduced us to an interesting cast who may find themselves in a truly great novel in the future.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Great debut of a new detective

Excellent story, with interesting characters. Good plot. Really nice to find a detective who is both flawed and humane. Told through the eyes of his assistant develops the characters through the relationship. The resentment that Arrowood feels for the celebrated Sherlock Holmes is a great sub-plot. The ending is very satisfying, without the overblown and unbelievable endings of so many detective stories. I would recommend this to anyone who is bored with the usual, jaded detective stereotype or of unrealistic heroics. I was gripped from beginning to end and look forward to Arrowood's next case. Oh, and the narration is excellent.

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6 people found this helpful

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

Love love love

This is like the home from home
feeling. We know these characters so well because of the brilliant writing but also because of the brilliant narration. I’ve listened to both books twice and still enjoyed the wonderful, colourful language of the author and then the narrator. Can’t wait for number three.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • K
  • 02-08-17

Firmly in Sherlock's shadow.

Mr Arrowood, the book's namesake, feels in direct competition with a detective he considers inferior: Sherlock Holmes. I assume and certainly hope the latter sentiment is meant as dramatic irony on the author's part because there could be no comparison between the rendering of the character of Conan Doyle's Holmes and this detective. The former has stood the test of time, Arrowood, in my opinion, will not.

Having said that, the characters and their relationships have elements of originality and have the potential to be improved on in subsequent stories with less ponderous plot lines, more plausible dialogue and with tighter historical accuracy.

Fundamentally, there are too many 'rookie errors' in this book. Arrowood says, 'O.K.' at one point, another character says, 'Sex pictures' and a middle-aged, Christian evangelist throws herself on top of a friend wielding a knife after giving him an Indian-head massage. This is supposed to be Victorian England. Yes, frankly, laughable, not remotely plausible and not really forgiveable - even for the most historically naive reader.

The narrator does an alright job with lower-than-average material.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Brilliant atmospheric story

Absolutely great story. Very well read. I purchased book 2 in the series before I finished book 1.

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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

Atmospheric

Vert interesting characters and brilliantly narrated.Really enjoyed it.
Look forward to future books. x

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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

Very Good

There is nothing bad to say about this enjoyable yarn. Cannot fault the narrator, nor the story. Characters were very realistic and the story was well performed. Just the right length too.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Poor man's Sherlock

Arrowood clever cunning as was I think a line in the hustler a student of human moves and not as brave as he thinks he is hence need for trusty assistant Barnett.
A great ensemble cast and sense of time and place a great listen the narration is amazing
I really enjoyed it

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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

Straight out of the top drawer - a cracking story

Where does Arrowood rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right up there with the best

Who was your favorite character and why?

Barnet. Long suffering but still with humour.

Any additional comments?

This is a great detective story with the bonus of a well described period setting.

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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

fantastic

from being to the end this book held my interest and the caricatures were all engaging looking forward to the next installments 👍👍👍

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