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Exposure cover art

Exposure

By: Helen Dunmore
Narrated by: Emma Fenney
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Summary

By the Sunday Times best-selling author of The Lie.

Forbidden love, intimate betrayal and the devastating power of exposure drive Helen Dunmore's remarkable new title.

London, November 1960: the Cold War is at its height. Spy fever fills the newspapers, and the political establishment knows how and where to bury its secrets.

When a highly sensitive file goes missing, Simon Callington is accused of passing information to the Soviets and arrested.

His wife, Lily, suspects that his imprisonment is part of a cover-up and that more powerful men than Simon will do anything to prevent their own downfall. She knows that she, too, is in danger and must fight to protect her children.

But what she does not realise is that Simon has hidden vital truths about his past and may be found guilty of another crime that carries with it an even greater penalty.

©2016 Helen Dunmore (P)2016 Bolinda

Critic reviews

"A marvellous piece of seamless storytelling. A triumph." (Penelope Lively)

What listeners say about Exposure

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

Average book from a usually impressive writer

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

No. If I was to recommend a book by Helen Dunmore this is not the one I would choose. The story is totally predictable and while some of the characters are well delineated others are plain caricatures.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Avoided the clichéd homosexual spy ring and not tried to update The Railway Children.

What three words best describe Emma Fenney’s voice?

Refined, breathy, limited.

Was Exposure worth the listening time?

There are some good things in the book so I was glad to have listened to it but overall it was disappointing.

Any additional comments?

Why has Audible not released The Siege or The Betrayal by Dunmore? Really impressive books.

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17 people found this helpful

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

Slow start

The book wasn't the thriller I expected. Second half of book better than first which felt tedious and drawn out.

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11 people found this helpful

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

Heartstopping and addictive

Would you listen to Exposure again? Why?

How mistakes and moral flaws drive people to cover up the truth with disastrous consequences. Wonderfully drawn characters. Great listen....

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

wanted more

Very well performed but it didn't make up for what I felt almost lazy writing, in that I felt there could and should have been more twists and turns. It left me wanting

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11 people found this helpful

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

Not the most exciting book

This book did get better but felt the story was slow to pick up! Liked the different angle that Dunmore took about spying and how it impacted families.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A stirring and memorable story


I am a child of the fifties with memories stirred by this excellent and moving story. What captivated me? The precision of the language, the prejudice, social correctness, political incorrectness, homophobia, sense of family and the expectations placed on young children to care for their siblings and keep the boiler lit for the family's hot water.
Times have changed for the better in so many ways but something has been lost along the way.
I loved this audible.

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7 people found this helpful

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

Spy story? Period piece? Very good read/listen.

I enjoyed the narration and the storyline. The end of the story appeared hurried as if the author had got tired of the story and wanted it to finish. I would have liked the denouement to have been more subtle.
Story has good detail of life during period of story bringing back memories.

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6 people found this helpful

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

Loved it!

Cleverly written with a subtle building of tension and great characterisation. Slightly disappointed with the ending.

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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

Exposing story

Would you listen to Exposure again? Why?

Yes, I would. It's a great story and told from all the characters viewpoints but always holds together and keeps your interested in what happens next.

What did you like best about this story?

A simple plot and gripping story.

Have you listened to any of Emma Fenney’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, this is my first time.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. No. But it kept me reading till the end.

Any additional comments?

The original description of the story doesn't really relate to the story. So ignore it and just listen and be transported.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Superb

Beautifully written and beautifully narrated. A gripping and compelling story of life, intrigue love and loss. I could not recommend this book more highly. Don't miss it.

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3 people found this helpful