The Accidental Detectorist cover art

The Accidental Detectorist

Uncovering an Underground Obsession

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The Accidental Detectorist

By: Nigel Richardson
Narrated by: Patrick Warner
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About this listen

When a travel writer is stuck on home soil in the middle of a pandemic, he meets Kris Rodgers, one of Britain's eminent metal detectorists. Dipping a toe in the hobby, Nigel quickly finds himself swept up in the world beneath the surface. Above the ground are a cast of fascinating and passionate people who open Nigel's eyes to a subterranean world of treasure and stories that bring the history of the island to life.

Scouring the country from Cornwall to Scotland in search of treasure and the best detectorists, Nigel finds himself more immersed in the culture than he bargained for and makes his own personal journey from cynicism to obsession in his trail through the heartlands of metal detecting. From women's groups who react against the hobby's male bias, to the 'Nighthawks' who risk jail-time in their pursuits, he finds his preconceptions disabused and gets to the heart of what makes this quiet community so obsessed with happy beeps.

©2022 Nigel Richardson (P)2022 Octopus Publishing Group Travel Writing & Commentary

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All stars
Most relevant
I have really enjoyed this book because it’s a hobby that I would like to do. The story was easy to follow and you could feel that the author was gaining experience through the chapters using the detector. I also enjoyed information about the different hoards found in the UK.
The performance of the reader was definitely 5* as I was kept interested throughout as the voice was clear and concise.
Recommend reading this if you would like to take up the hobby - i need to find an expert now.
I

Accidental Detectorist

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excellent, but not long enough, more information is needed please. thank you enough words now?!

excellent, but too short

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Having absolutely no interest in the hobby, other than watching the TV series I thought I would take a punt and I was so glad that I did.
Excellent story, well written and kept me interested with well balanced facts and narrative, been back and listened several times and the narration was excellent, I couldn’t believe that it was not read by the author such was the narrators tone and pace.
I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Mesmerising!

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I really hope Nigel writes a second book to take us through his next phase of detecting. Thoroughly good account and certainly reminds me of my first year in this amazing hobby.

Great account of starting a fantastic hobby

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I've been detecting for around 9 months and I kept finding myself saying, that sounds like me, that's just what happens to me.
Apart from the author seeming to be able to get invited to permissions without much trouble, I put this down to being a journalist and knowing how to write the right things in emails, it's an accurate account of the trials and tribulations of detecting and trying to find something interesting
I would highly recommend reading/listening if you're wanting to dip your toe in becoming a metal detector .

As a new Detectorist this rang so true

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