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The House on Vesper Sands

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The House on Vesper Sands

By: Paraic O'Donnell
Narrated by: Charles Armstrong
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About this listen

 Richly atmospheric and deliciously eerie, The House on Vesper Sands is a gothic mystery set in Victorian London - best read while the night deepens and lamplight flickers . . .
'Dickens is whirling enviously in his grave' Irish Times
'Clever and funny and exquisitely disturbing' Joanna Cannon
'Spine-tinglingly spooky' Red

In Victorian London, poor women are vanishing, and rumours abound of a shadowy gang known as the Spiriters.

While Gideon Bliss sets out in search of his lost love, a seamstress jumps to her death with a mysterious message stitched into her own skin. Nearby, her aristocratic employer makes an abrupt exit from a gala ball, with society columnist Octavia Hillingdon in pursuit.

And on the sullen Kent shore, as the darkness gathers, secrets lie hidden at the house on Vesper Sands.©2018 Paraic O'Donnell (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group Historical Historical Fiction Horror Mystery Romance Traditional Detectives Victorian Scary Fiction Detective Suspense

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Critic reviews

'Tremendously good' Observer

'The most vivid and compelling portrait of late Victorian London since The Crimson Petal and the White' Sarah Perry

'Part Wilkie Collins, part Conan Doyle' Guardian
All stars
Most relevant
That's a one word review. Loved every second of the story, the narration and the pace.

Perfect!

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Really enjoyed listening to this book. Loved the charactors. Having listened to a number of Victorian detective stories, this has a charm which many do not. while detailing living conditions etc of the era it did so in a way that highlighted the unpleasantness without the nauseating language of other authoes. Excellent narration Hope there are more from this author. Highly recommend.

Highly Recommend

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I came on this accidentally - I think I was looking for titles narrated by Charles Armstrong (which takes care of what I think of the narrator!). I have always been conflicted re Wilkie Collins and his like - no jokes! I'm so glad I took a chance on this. Jokes, twists, scary bits, all here together with some supernatural. I read while washing up and I even looked for extra chores afterwards. ps I think that the title of my review is a quote from Kurt Vonnegut.

Unexpected journeys are dancing lessons from God

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It's been a while since I've been well into a book from the first chapter, but the characters were just so endearing to me. Especially Inspector Cutter. From his gruff affection to his creative insults, he had me laughing out loud. There is real potential for the author to form a series with these characters. They kept me reading! Not that the plot was bad, just the mystery fizzled out a bit at the end. It was a decent concept. A crime mystery with an unusual take on paranormal beings. Really enjoyable to read.

Cracking Good Characters!

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I Really enjoyed this book. gentle and easy. i would live to hear more from Inspector Cutter. what a great character he is.

very enjoyable.

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