Cambridge Blue

Impossible narration

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Better narration - all emphasis in this reading on wrong words - irritating and irrational.

Would you ever listen to anything by Alison Bruce again?

Not with this reader

How did the narrator detract from the book?

See above: ruined story with consistently incorrect emphasis thus breaking any flow in meaning

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

not really - it was so hard to get past the distracting reading.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Disappointing story uninspiring narration

I tried to listen to this story several times but eventually gave up
The story didn't grip my attention and the narration was very flat the characters just didn't come to life

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Holds your attention

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Jonathan Broadbent?

Possibly Sean Barrett or Robert Glenister, although their voices might be too mature for the part of Gary Goodhew.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed listening to this book but while the narrator is competent, he is not outstanding. His characterisation is virtually non-existent, and at times I had to go back, or think hard, to figure out who was speaking in a conversation. It made the story a little difficult to follow at times, and made the characters a little bland. Still a good listen though.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Hard going to start with

I aborted my first attempt at listening to this book as I struggled to get a grip of the characters. However, a few months later, and because I was on holiday without wi-fi, I decided to try again. How glad I am that I persevered. In the end I just couldn't stop listening. My I-pod went everywhere and my husband got a little irate at trying to talk to me with my headphones in. I was kept guessing until the end and can't wait to start listening to Book 2.

I do agree however with a previous reviewer about the lack of characterisation of the narrator, particularly the women's voices. I do appreciate that it's always difficult for a man to speak a woman's voice and vice versa, but other narrator's manage it and I think that this was one of the reasons I had initial difficulty sticking to the story in the first instance.

This is a minor niggle however for a great story well written and generally well read.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Not up to morse standards

Has Cambridge Blue put you off other books in this genre?

I will not be getting any more by this author.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance was good.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed in this book. The story didn't flow well. It is trying to be a Cambridge Morse but unfortunately is not up to the same standards.
I will not be getting any more in the series.
It was well read.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Something quirky and unexpected...

I bought this title in a rush and for 15 minutes regretted it. Then....
If not a wholly original premise the photos well constructed with few obvious plot holes. Importantly the focal character is interesting and well rounded and there were no glaring plot devices to (yes, some but doesn't there have to be) to lead him to the resolution.
Now, the narrator. Initially it felt like I was listening to a first year RADA project but I am glad I persevered. He has a young voice but managed to characterise competently and after a chapter or two he became irrelevant to the story. Sounds like faint praise but that should be the aim of all readers in my view.
I have romped on to#2 in the series!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good first attempt

I read this with the fact that this is the first in the series by Alison Bruce and may well be her first book in mind I think she keeps pasting in Cambridge into the scene and it is laboured and not relevant to the story line. Indeed Cambridge features less and less as the book progresses.

I think it is obvious that this is a book produced early in an authors career as she overworks similies and tells the reader rather than showing. Ms Bruce would do well to read - oops sorry - listen to Chris Brookmyres latest novel where he leaves huge chunks for the reader to infill rather than over-burdening them with huge amounts of detail.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

So so story, poor narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. I found it very run of the mill & found it hard to empathise with any of the characters. The narrator used the same voice for each character, making it difficult to keep track of who was speaking. I gave up after the first half of the story, which I rarely do.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jonathan Broadbent’s performances?

No.

Could you see Cambridge Blue being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No. Too run of the mill.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

Would you try another book written by Alison Bruce or narrated by Jonathan Broadbent?

I would not read another Alison Bruce book - I found her work far too wordy, the story lacked pace and there was little tension. Whilst appreciating this is fiction I found that it was far too beyond belief in the way the police were portrayed. Characters were too shallow. At times I felt I was in the middle of a piece of contrived 'easy summer reading'.

What will your next listen be?

Something grittier - maybe a David Hewson if I can find one I haven't heard - or try a different Scandinavian crime writer.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jonathan Broadbent’s performances?

Yes.

What character would you cut from Cambridge Blue?

Difficult to say - none was memorable enough or even induced enough of a dislike to get rid of anyone, all rather boring!

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Not good

What disappointed you about Cambridge Blue?

The story teller was not great
I only got to chapter 4 i found it unexciting

Would you ever listen to anything by Alison Bruce again?

I may do

How could the performance have been better?

yes absolutely

2 of 3 people found this review helpful