High Island Blues cover art

High Island Blues

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High Island Blues

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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About this listen

High Island Blues is the eighth and final mystery novel featuring George and Molly Palmer-Jones by Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope crime series.

Swarms of migrating birds fall from the sky seeking shelter as the spring storms begin, but the birders are distracted by a far more shocking sight: Mick Brownscombe’s dead body . . .

Old college friends Rob, Oliver and Mick reunite on a bird watching tour to America. It is the first time in twenty years the three have been together – since the fateful holiday to America during which they met the enigmatic Laurie . . .

The tour party is hoping for spectacular sights at High Island on the Upper Texas coast but, as the rain pours down and the birds descend, Mick is discovered dead.

Back in Britain, Private Investigators George and Molly Palmer-Jones are working on a minor fraud case with name of Brownscombe Associates attached. So when George receives a desperate transatlantic call from his friend Rob, he is on the first plane to Texas.

His investigations make little progress – until the second body is found . . .

'Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves' – Val McDermid, author of the Karen Pirie series

 Amateur Sleuths Cosy Crime Fiction Fiction Mystery Police Procedurals Detective Crime Suspense British Crime

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Critic reviews

A fine writer
Cleeves is quietly carving out a reputation as the new Queen of Crime
Ann Cleeves is a skilful technician, keeping our interest alive and building slowly up to the denouement. Her easy use of language and clever story construction make her one of the best natural writers of detective fiction
Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves (Val McDermid)
Ann Cleeves has an enviable talent . . . I love these books
All stars
Most relevant
loved it. Great story with lots if twists and turns . Will read more in this series

high island

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A good murder mystery which is interesting to listen too. But there is a substantial amount of references to birds and their habitats which is not really necessary to the story.

However overall a good listen

One for the birders

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Sean Barrett is normally terrific but on this occasion he was not at his best. The narration pulsed along so that the listener often heard the beginning of a word clearly, but not the end. This problem came on top of an ongoing issue with narration tumbling forward often making it difficult to know when one word ended and another began. So following the story could be challenging at times.

Narration disappointing.

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