thank you

Dear Robert. thank you for reading, to me , this extraordinary book. it is a fascinating story and I enjoyed every minute.

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Poor Bloody Henry!

This is a book that will live with me for a very long time. After a hesitant beginning, when I was tempted to abandon it, it pulled itself out of its mire and got going. I have to admit that was mainly due to the reading by Robert Powell; he could come and read the dictionary to me if he felt so inclined. I also have to admit my admiration for Barbara Vine, Aka Ruth Rendell. I simply cannot understand how she managed to keep that little lot going. A star.
I could have done without the history of the House of Lords but, hey, all knowledge has a use.
Previously, I knew very little about haemophilia, other than the fact that in the Victorian era it was rife. I know a lot more now.
The way Lord Martin Nanther plods his way through his family history is breathtaking, then to discover that there were unanswered questions and to be defeated at every turn was at times, almost crippling.
The final denouement was almost heartbreaking.
I listen to my books while walking my dog on our local park and this morning when I reached the end, I must be honest here, I very nearly wept.
Without doubt, the best Barbara Vine I have read/listened to yet. I just loved it.

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4 people found this helpful

Great listen

Took me a while to get into it but proved to a compulsive listen enhanced by the mellifluous voice of Robert Powell whose performance was faultless. There were so many characters in the Nanther family that I lost track a bit so a family tree to refer to would have helped.

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Convoluted and clever

I loved Robert Powell's reading of this book. It was difficult to keep up with all the family blood connections, but just go with the flow (pardon the pun).

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Hard going

While it was not a typical Barbara Vine overall the topics were interesting. It was hard going but I did want to understand the end. It was ok but quite dry compared to others which I have really enjoyed.

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Enjoyed it once I’d persevered

Started listening to this on holiday & couldn’t get into it.
Picked it up later at home - I listen to audio books whilst doing housework or gardening, and I began to get gripped. In the end I enjoyed it and was glad I finished it. A very unusual story with a satisfying twist at the end .

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Barbara Vine at her finest

Fantastic book engaging from start to finish. As always with Barbara Vine the characters are excellently drawn with depth and insight.

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Completely Unexpected.

Very cleverly done, completely unexpected. I know enough about the name Barbara Vine to recognise it as well known, and I vaguely recalled that it was an assumed name, but that was it. I wasn't expecting to be impressed, but I was. Very well read and put over by Robert Powell.

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1 person found this helpful

Review - Blood Doctor

Excellent narration by Robert Powell.
Interesting story and characterisation. Kept my interest from start to finish

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Brilliant!

Loved this book. It takes concentration and anyone saying it’s difficult to follow is just lazy because it is brilliant. The writing, the historical insights, the vocabulary, the ‘correctness’ and the twists and turns were fabulous. Still raving about it. Ruth Rendall/Barbara Vine was the stuff of TV dramatisations in my childhood which led me to dismiss her books but I’m so glad that I’ve found them! Loving them!

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