Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Jack of Diamonds cover art

Jack of Diamonds

By: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £23.99

Buy Now for £23.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Story of Danny Dunn cover art
The Persimmon Tree cover art
The Potato Factory cover art
Brother Fish cover art
Four Fires cover art
Jessica cover art
Fortune Cookie cover art
Matthew Flinder's Cat cover art
The Power of One cover art
Smoky Joe's Cafe cover art
April Fool's Day cover art
The Family Frying Pan cover art
When the Lion Feeds cover art
A Falcon Flies cover art
Moose cover art
Finding Fish cover art

Summary

Born and raised in a poor, working-class family in Toronto, Jack Spayd is the son of an unhappy marriage. After being taken under the wing of "Miss Frostbite", the owner of a local jazz club, Jack becomes a gifted musician, playing piano and harmonica. Fame and the allure of gambling takes him to Vegas, and prospects of fortune take him to the Belgian Congo, where he's heard it's possible to earn big money working in the most dangerous parts of the local copper mines. Jack of Diamonds is the story of a young, talented man, fighting to achieve his ambitions, and having to use his considerable talents to find his way in a perilous world.

©2012 Bryce Courtenay; 2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about Jack of Diamonds

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    100
  • 4 Stars
    38
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    104
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    82
  • 4 Stars
    39
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Masterpiece!!

Bryce Courtenay is the master of fiction as far as I'm concerned. I have yet to find a book I don't enjoy thoroughly! The brilliance of Humphrey Bower had me living in the story and feeling everything Jack felt. I laughed with him and cried with him, how many writers can say they inspire people to that extent? I wait with huge anticipation for each and every one of Bryce's new books. What a perfect pair they make.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

Bryce Courtney sets very high standards…

Bryce Courtney is a legendary author who’s written some exceptionally good books, The Power of One (of course), Tandia and Jessica are all brilliant.

Jack of Diamonds doesn’t reach this heights but is a solid read. The main characters are all well crafted as is the storyline and the narrator did a fine job.

If you’ve already read the titles mentioned, then this one is a worthy next read.

The epilogue is poignant and emotional.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

A Really good listen, Excellent and lovely ending

Would you listen to Jack of Diamonds again? Why?

Yes, it was a magical story, really well read

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

He did really well with the accents and female voices, a great reader

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

No really, it was just a good listen

Any additional comments?

Recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Great storyline

I loved this book. Well written and well narrated, apart from a couple of annoying mispronunciations of South African words, same as his previous books. I just shout at the narrator and carry on.
Such a shame we won’t get any more wonderful Bryce Courtenay books. I’m glad he rounded off Jack’s story though.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Refreshingly good.

Not quite the power of one but still well above average. Interesting story and not too predictable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

For musicians everywhere

Great book didn’t want it to finish am going to look for more titles bravo

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

another great from Bryce

was enthralled by the story from the start and thoroughly engaged by it all the way through. It was read perfectly too

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Engaging story, superb story telling

Would you listen to Jack of Diamonds again? Why?

Yes. Well developed characters and interesting phases of life

What other book might you compare Jack of Diamonds to, and why?

Most of the Jeffrey Archer novels.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favourite?

Jack. Humphrey Bower was new to me and his ability to cover accents and genders is quite fantastic.

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

Nothing strong but it did keep me interested.

Any additional comments?

Introduced me to a new author. I'd definitely read more from this author. Good solid entertainment with well developed characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Unbelievably brilliant 👍

Once again a proper story from beginning to end bought together beautifully with the wonderful array of voices from Humphrey Bower. I couldn't put this book down and now it's finished I miss the main characters- Jack, Bridget and chef napoleon Nelson. A must read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Consistently Great Story Telling

Wasn't sure what to expect in the storyline, Bryce is a master story teller and never fails to entertain his audience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful