too many monologues

just too many monologues. I began to get fed up listening to Manon go on and on - just solve the mystery

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Great characters, narration flawed

Susie Steiner writes fabulous characters and I find the twists and turns of Manon’s life and her no-holds -barred observations more satisfying than the crimes, particularly in this book. Her feelings on middle age and marriage are so acute that if I had been reading a physical book I would have underlined them and popped a post it note on the page so I could re-read them. ‘No one is entitled to be happy’ or words to that effect! And Manon’s lecture to Bri’s husband Peter (I won’t do a spoiler about why) is nothing short of brilliant.

However, I have to agree with other reviewers about the narration. Juanita is talented as a reader but regional accents are not her strong suit. The Scottish accent in particular is problematic and Davy veers from ooh-aah zummerset by way of Cardiff and as for Kim; Geordie, Irish, Liverpudlian? It’s a shame, narration can make or break audio books. My advice is fast forward through the Scottish, it’s not deal-breaking in terms of plot!

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4 people found this helpful

One of the very best narrators around

extremely good storyline about a current concern, slave labour. thoroughly entertaining book. I enjoyed form beginning to end.

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Another good tale…

…but I’m afraid I revert to my opinion from Book 1: the narrator is not up to the job. Odd pronunciations of words, inconsistent pronunciation of recurring names, wildly varying accents for the same characters and the most risible attempt at Glaswegian I’ve ever heard.

But try not to let that put you off the story, which is well crafted, interesting and thought provoking.

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Good story, terrible narration

Really really awful narration completely ruined the audiobook. Accents were all over the place. Laughable.

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3 people found this helpful

Another great story from Suzy Steiner

Manon brings us another great episode of policing v managing life.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this as much as the first two books (which I read), as the narration was very uncomfortable.

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2 people found this helpful

Not bad

Not as captivating as the others in the series. Not great narration, dodgy accents! Still enjoyed it though.

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1 person found this helpful

Great Story - Terrible Narration

I love Susie Steiner’s Manon Bradshaw books. They are superbly written, have great plots and Manon is just a joy. This book was no different. However, the narration is just awful. This book requires the narrator to perform a large number of accents, none of which she manages to carry off convincingly. The Glaswegian characters sound nothing like any Glaswegian or indeed Scottish people I’ve ever heard.

If you love this series of books, as I do, do yourself a favour and read this book instead of listening to it.

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4 people found this helpful

No one does it better!

Please Susie, Keep them coming. You are spot on portraying people. One becomes addicted to Your storytelling and I very much need Manon Bradshaw in my life. The only drawback to this audio book is, that it has ended.
Juanita McMahon as the narrator does a fantastic
job breathing life to the charachers. Thank You both.

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1 person found this helpful

Terrible narration - gave up

This is the first Susie Steiner audiobook I've tried, having read the first two. Couldn't get along with the narration at all - the voice just didn't chime with Manon's character for me. Manon is fierce and funny, if a bit of a misery, and the narrator made her sound oddly frumpy. Some of the accents for the supporting characters are cringe-inducingly awful and there's quite a lot of stumbling or losing the flow with the text, which jars really badly in places. These books were a huge hit and it's another example of publishing houses losing a selling opportunity by mis-casting the narrator. Audiobooks are a wonderful thing when they work but it never fails to amaze me how often the narration is just off. At the very least, make sure your narrator can do the accents.

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2 people found this helpful