Listen free for 30 days
Black Maria
People who bought this also bought...
-
Archer's Goon
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Miriam Margolyes
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fact: A Goon is a being who melts into the foreground and sticks there.… When the Goon turns up demanding "Archer’s 2,000", life turns upside down. As Howard desperately tries to get to the bottom of this peculiar demand, he discovers that the town is run by seven crazy wizards (not all of whom live in the present!) and someone is trying to take over the world! Exciting, bizarre and truly hilarious!
-
-
A much loved book
- By Kindle Customer on 09-04-17
-
Witch Week
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Ursula Jones
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH. When the note, written in ordinary ballpoint, turns up in the homework books Mr Crossley is marking, he is very upset. For this is Larwood House, a school for witch-orphans, where witchcraft is utterly forbidden. And yet magic keeps breaking out all over the place - like measles! The last thing they need is a visit from the Divisional Inquisitor.
-
-
Shame it's abridged
- By Anonymous on 26-08-15
-
Mixed Magics
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Anthony Head
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The stories featured in this collection are:Warlock at the WheelStealer of SoulsCarol Oneir’s Hundredth DreamThe Sage of TheareEverybody’s favourite nine-lifed enchanter makes a guest appearance in each tale.
-
-
Great stories and narration
- By B. Barrett on 08-02-15
-
The Magicians of Caprona
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Nickolas Grace
- Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits!The Dukedom of Caprona is a place where music is enchantment and spells are as slippery as spaghetti. The magical business is run by two families - the Montanas and the Petrocchis - and they are deadly rivals. So when all the spells start going wrong, they naturally blame each other.
-
The Lives of Christopher Chant
- The Crestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discovering that he has nine lives and is destined to be the next ‘Chrestomanci’ is not part of Christopher’s plans for the future: he’d much rather play cricket and wander around his secret dream worlds. But he soon finds that destiny is difficult to avoid, and that having more than the usual number of lives is pretty inconvenient - especially when you lose them as easily as he does!
-
-
Another Wonderful DWJ Book
- By Kindle Customer on 19-04-14
-
Charmed Life
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Tom Baker
- Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother Eric (better known as Cat) is not so keen, for he has no talent for magic at all.However, life with the great enchanter is not what either of them expects and sparks begin to fly!Winner of the Guardian Award.
-
-
From My Favourite Childhood Author
- By Taiga on 23-10-19
-
Archer's Goon
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Miriam Margolyes
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fact: A Goon is a being who melts into the foreground and sticks there.… When the Goon turns up demanding "Archer’s 2,000", life turns upside down. As Howard desperately tries to get to the bottom of this peculiar demand, he discovers that the town is run by seven crazy wizards (not all of whom live in the present!) and someone is trying to take over the world! Exciting, bizarre and truly hilarious!
-
-
A much loved book
- By Kindle Customer on 09-04-17
-
Witch Week
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Ursula Jones
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH. When the note, written in ordinary ballpoint, turns up in the homework books Mr Crossley is marking, he is very upset. For this is Larwood House, a school for witch-orphans, where witchcraft is utterly forbidden. And yet magic keeps breaking out all over the place - like measles! The last thing they need is a visit from the Divisional Inquisitor.
-
-
Shame it's abridged
- By Anonymous on 26-08-15
-
Mixed Magics
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Anthony Head
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The stories featured in this collection are:Warlock at the WheelStealer of SoulsCarol Oneir’s Hundredth DreamThe Sage of TheareEverybody’s favourite nine-lifed enchanter makes a guest appearance in each tale.
-
-
Great stories and narration
- By B. Barrett on 08-02-15
-
The Magicians of Caprona
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Nickolas Grace
- Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits!The Dukedom of Caprona is a place where music is enchantment and spells are as slippery as spaghetti. The magical business is run by two families - the Montanas and the Petrocchis - and they are deadly rivals. So when all the spells start going wrong, they naturally blame each other.
-
The Lives of Christopher Chant
- The Crestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discovering that he has nine lives and is destined to be the next ‘Chrestomanci’ is not part of Christopher’s plans for the future: he’d much rather play cricket and wander around his secret dream worlds. But he soon finds that destiny is difficult to avoid, and that having more than the usual number of lives is pretty inconvenient - especially when you lose them as easily as he does!
-
-
Another Wonderful DWJ Book
- By Kindle Customer on 19-04-14
-
Charmed Life
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Tom Baker
- Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother Eric (better known as Cat) is not so keen, for he has no talent for magic at all.However, life with the great enchanter is not what either of them expects and sparks begin to fly!Winner of the Guardian Award.
-
-
From My Favourite Childhood Author
- By Taiga on 23-10-19
-
Conrad
- The Chrestomanci Series
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Tom Hollander
- Length: 5 hrs
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Conrad is young, good at heart, and yet is apparently suffering from the effects of such bad karma that there is nothing in his future but terrible things. Unless he can alter his circumstances – well, quite frankly, he is DOOMED. Conrad is sent in disguise to Stallery Mansion, to infiltrate the magical fortress that has power over the whole town of Stallchester, and to discover the identity of the person who is affecting his Fate so badly. Then he has to kill that person. But can any plan really be that simple and straightforward?
-
The Merlin Conspiracy
- Trick or Treason
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Emilia Fox, David Tennant
- Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The story is narrated by two very different teenagers, who each inhabit two extraordinarily different worlds. Arianrhod Hyde's world (or Roddy, as she prefers to be called) is very much the world of magic, pageantry and ritual. Not unlike Britain in King Arthur's Day, Roddy is daughter of two Court Wizards and therefore part of the King's Progress, travelling round the Islands of Blest and ready to take part in whatever ritual or ceremony is required, as it occurs.
-
-
Isn't this recording is Abridged NOT unabridged?
- By Fes on 10-05-13
-
The Dark Lord of Derkholm
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Jonathan Broadbent
- Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A humorous fantasy adventure from the Godmother of fantasy, Diana Wynne Jones. Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature in 1999. A humorous fantasy from Diana Wynne Jones. In a world next door to ours, the tourist industry is devastating the population by its desire to experience all the fantasy clichés - Dark Lords, impoverished villages, dragons etc.The Head of the University resolves to shut the tours down; the only problem being the ruthless tour-master - and his all-powerful demons.
-
-
Odd accents!
- By FJM on 07-02-14
-
Deep Secret
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Chris Webster, Harriet Carmichael
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A fantasy adventure about saving the universe one world at a time from Diana Wynne Jones. The companion novel to the bestselling The Merlin Conspiracy.Magids look after all worlds, steer them towards magic, and keep history happening. But Rupert Venables’ mentor has just died, and as the junior magid on earth he has to find a replacement while also trying to find the lost heir of a collapsing empire, worlds away.
-
-
A great interpretation of a favourite DWJ story
- By Marie O'R on 10-02-14
-
Howl's Moving Castle
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: John Sessions
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the land of Ingary, where seven league boots and cloaks of invisibility do exist, Sophie Hatter catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell. Deciding she has nothing more to lose, she makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls....
-
-
fun
- By tina on 22-02-18
-
Castle in the Air
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: John Sessions
- Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Far to the south in the Land of Ingary, lives a young carpet merchant called Abdullah. In his dreams, he is the long-lost son of a great prince. This dream is a complete castle in the air…or is it? Abdullah’s day-dreams suddenly start to come true when he meets the exquisite Flower-in-the-Night, daughter of the ferocious Sultan of Zanzib. Fate has destined them for each other, but a bad-tempered genie, a hideous djinn, and various villanous bandits have their own ideas. When Flower-in-the-Night is carried off, Abdullah is determined to rescue her - if he can find her.
-
-
DWJ has better but the performance is lovely
- By Amazon Customer on 14-08-19
-
Cart and Cwidder
- The Dalemark Quartet, Book 1
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Huw Parmenter
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first audiobook in the spellbinding, epic adventure series from 'the Godmother of Fantasy', Diana Wynne Jones. For centuries Dalemark has been a land divided by the warring earldoms of the North and South. Now, with the help of the mysterious gods of Dalemark, four extraordinary young people must join forces to reunify their beloved home. When 12-year-old Moril's father is murdered by soldiers, Moril inherits his ancient cwidder - a musical instrument with a mysterious past.
-
-
An absolute classic from Diana Wynne Jones
- By Cait on 05-11-16
-
The Islands of Chaldea
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Ursula Jones
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The brand new and final novel from the magical pen of ‘the Godmother of Fantasy', Diana Wynne Jones; co-authored with her sister Ursula Jones. How are you supposed to turn into a Wise Woman if your powers just won't show up? Aileen is convinced she'll never become as magical as her Aunt Beck. Then one day her aunt is set a seemingly impossible mission. She must go to the island of Logra and rescue the kidnapped High Prince from the enemy, and Aileen must go with her.
-
-
Fabulous - don't miss this!
- By Stephie on 28-07-18
-
I Capture the Castle
- By: Dodie Smith
- Narrated by: Jenny Agutter
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"I write this sitting at the kitchen sink" is the first line of a novel about love, sibling rivalry, and a bohemian existence in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. Cassandra Mortmin's journal records her fadingly glamorous stepmother, her beautiful, wistful older sister, and the man to whom they owe both their isolation and poverty: Father. The author of one experimental novel, and a minor cause celebre, he has since suffered from writer's block and is determined to drag his family down with him.
-
-
funny and well written
- By Patricia on 22-05-06
-
Earwig and the Witch
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Julia Barrie
- Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everyone knows that orphanages are horrible places. But Earwig has a surprising amount of power over everyone else at St Morwald’s Home for Children, and loves it there. So the last thing she wants is to be sent to live with the very strange Bella Yaga….
-
-
Short story
- By cassie on 10-10-18
-
Year of the Griffin
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Jonathan Broadbent
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A hilarious fantasy sequel to The Dark Lord of Derkholm, set at the University after the ‘fantasy world' tours have stopped, and centered around six students (one a Griffin) and the bumbling new University Head Wizard. From the ‘Godmother of Fantasy', Diana Wynne Jones. The Year of the Griffin is the sequel to the Dark Lord of Derkholm, set in the same world several years after the abolition of commercial ‘fantasy world' tourism from our world.
-
-
Enjoyable, but oddities in the narration
- By FJM on 04-02-14
-
The Christmas Hirelings
- By: Mary Elizabeth Braddon
- Narrated by: Jennifer Saunders
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A heartwarming festive tale of redemption and cheer, The Christmas Hirelings is the story of a lonely widower who reluctantly invites a group of children to his manor for Christmas. It showcases the benefits of opening your doors and hearts during the holiday season.
-
-
Loved it! What a wonderful Christmas tale.
- By Helen SJ on 17-12-18
Summary
On the surface, Aunt Maria seems like a cuddly old lady, all chit-chat and lace doilies and unadulterated NICEness!
When Mig and her family go for a short visit, they soon learn that Aunt Maria rules the place with a rod of sweetness that’s tougher than iron and deadlier than poison. Life revolves around tea parties, while the men are all grey-suited zombies who fade into the background, and the other children seem like clones.
The short visit becomes a long stay, and when all talk of going home ceases, Mig despairs!
Things go from bad to worse when Mig’s brother Chris tries to rebel, but is changed into a wolf. Mig is convinced that Aunt Maria must be a witch - but who will believe her? It’s up to Mig to figure out what’s going on. Maybe the ghost who haunts the downstairs bedroom holds the key?
More from the same
What members say
Average customer ratings
Overall
-
-
5 Stars2
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
-
5 Stars2
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Story
-
-
5 Stars3
-
4 Stars1
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Simon
- RUGBY, United Kingdom
- 27-10-13
Enjoyable with a good villain
Perhaps I am too old for this sort of book, but it's not stopped me enjoying it.
I discovered Diana Wynne Jones after watching the animated film of Howl's Moving Castle. Ever since I have dipped into her books now and again.
This is quite different to the Moving Castle series, the plot moves at a faster pace and the feel of the book is more claustrophobic. Aunt Maria is much like Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, pleasant on the outside, evil on the inside. Which makes her a far more formidable sort of character.
I enjoyed the way that Ursula Jones read the book, her selection of voices were impressive and suited each character well.
I would give it a good 4 out of 5