The Chimney Sweeper's Boy cover art

The Chimney Sweeper's Boy

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The Chimney Sweeper's Boy

By: Barbara Vine
Narrated by: Frances Barber
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About this listen

The obituaries for Gerald Candless were respectful. He had been, after all, an admired and popular writer, and his sudden death at his home in Devon was a loss to literature as well as to his family and friends.

The trouble was, as his daughter Sarah soon discovered, that it seemed that her father had taken on a different identity that he wasn't Gerald Candless at all. But if he wasn't Gerald Candless, who was he?

©1998 Kingsmarkham Enterprises Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Contemporary Contemporary Romance Detective Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Psychological Romance Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Exciting

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All stars
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My previous listen was marred by the reader having a strong regional accent which was at odds with the characters, so having Francis Barber read this was a breath of fresh air. The plot was certainly not superficial and this tale of a family dealing with trying to find out who was really the person who had dominated their family for so long was intriguing through many twists and turns. Fantastic characterisation made each character so realistic through all their failings and successes. OK, I need to hear the end again to finally work out the final twist but would really recommend.

Lost the plot at the end but a great listen

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Unusually for a Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell novel I found the early chapters unengaging and thought I might give up, however after six chapters the story took off and became riveting. Her hallmark of exploring the psychology of unhealthy, unhappy and damaging relationships pervades the book. There are few wholly sympathetic characters but I was carried along by the intriguing mystery the resolution of which is only revealed in the last few chapters.

Francss Barber energized the story with her ability to create different voices.

Slow to start and then takes off

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I enjoyed this book, the plot was interesting, it was well read and the pace of the book was comfortable. It is a story that I will probably listen to again in the future.

A very good read

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The premise was intriguing and for some reason I felt I had to know who this man was and why he felt the need to disappear. I found all of the characters largely unsympathetic; the wife who martyred herself for the sake of I'm not sure what, the shallow, self-centered daughters, all of whom appeared to be early 20th century characters living in a late 20th century world. Without Frances Barber there is no way I would have stayed the course. I'm a little mystified by the ending.

Rosebud...

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I really enjoyed this book. A little predictable in parts, but on the whole, very interesting.

Very good.

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