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  • The Villa of Mysteries

  • The Rome Series: Book 2
  • By: David Hewson
  • Narrated by: Christopher Kay
  • Length: 16 hrs and 16 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (211 ratings)
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The Villa of Mysteries cover art

The Villa of Mysteries

By: David Hewson
Narrated by: Christopher Kay
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Summary

In Rome's crowded Campo dei Fiori, a woman rushes up to two carabinieri lounging in their sunglasses and uniforms, insisting that her sixteen-year-old daughter has just been abducted. Detective Nic Costa sees the scene unfold and intervenes. Because Costa knows what the two officers don't: that in the morgue at Rome's police headquarters, a forensic pathologist is examining the strange, mummified corpse of another girl, whose disappearance and death bear haunting similarities...

Police pathologist Teresa Lupo is Nic's colleague, friend, and his only equal when it comes to breaking the rules to get results, whatever the cost. Now, after years of living with the dead, Teresa insists that her superiors move quickly to save a life. Poring over the body of the girl in the morgue, she has found too many similarities between the girls, including a unique, leering tattoo. Lupo is sure that the vanished girl is headed for a bizarre ancient Bacchanalia involving virgins and sacrificial murder - a ritual that is only days away.

As Nic and Teresa claw at the case from two sides - and as Nic finds himself at once puzzled and beguiled by the missing girl's seductive mother - a chilling picture is beginning to emerge of secret relationships and sexual depravity, organized crime and unimaginable corruption. With the clock ticking down on a young girl's life, Nic and Teresa are about to make the most horrifying discovery of all - in a pit of human darkness, where an age-old malevolence still endures, evil has consumed innocence. And a very modern vengeance has begun...

©2004 David Hewson (P)2004 W F Howes Ltd

What listeners say about The Villa of Mysteries

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Oh my gosh ...

Well if I thought the first book in the Rome series was narrated badly, then this one is awful. I am about an hour from finishing it. The listener will have to endure all of the Italian characters (i.e. most of the characters in the book) being narrated in an accent like 'oh shuddup-a-ya-face'.

I do not know how much this has detracted from this book but I am also disappointed by the main thread of this story - a story often related by less able authors and dirty old men. I also really disliked Eyes Wide Shut for similar reasons.

I am going to proceed to listen to the 5th in the Rome series, safe in the knowledge that Saul Reichlin is reading it, and hope that it will be much less gratuitous than this, the second.

I am aware that this has disturbed me much more than any of the violence in other books - this may be true for other female listeners.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

I agree with Gwen

I just want to echo everything that Gwen has said about this book. It is the first audiobook I have actually given up on. I cannot listen to any more of it.

Having listened to and really enjoyed the later Nic Costa books narrated by Saul Reichlin I was delighted when three earlier David Hewson books appeared recently on Audiobooks but I am very disappointed. The narration is so terrible on this one I shall not bother with the other two.

Hopefully Saul Reichlin will narrate any future audiobooks by David Hewson. His narration is brilliant.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Chico Marx accent

I cannot but agree with several other reviewers. The Chico Marx accent that the reader uses for every Italian character (the majority) detracts so much from the novel that it is almost impossible to listen through. A waste of money ... unless you think you will like the combination of a crime-novel with Chico Marx.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Appalling accents

What would have made The Villa of Mysteries better?

Saul Reichlin reading it would have made it better! Or any reader who didn't use caricature Italian accents! And if you are going to try Italian accents (please not again!) at least pronounce Italian words correctly eg Machiato is not pronounced 'ch' but 'k'. The reader of the first book was good I thought with his regional English accents but I am just going to move on to Book three which I know is in Saul Reichlin's safe pair of hands. Poor Christopher Kay; it must be awful to receive these reviews but really he gave an awful performance. I too was immensely irritated throughout and also the weird pronunciation of 'cadaver' drove me crazy. I can't imagine why readers don't look up any pronunciations they are not sure of ... they should do their homework first.

Would you be willing to try another book from David Hewson? Why or why not?

Yes. I have 'read' three and like them with a good reader.

Would you be willing to try another one of Christopher Kay’s performances?

I'm afraid not if it contained foreign voices. If all are English, he could be fine perhaps.

What character would you cut from The Villa of Mysteries?

I don't think this is his best book and several of the characters are too caricature so I can't really pick one that stands out.

Any additional comments?

Stop calling 'crazy Teresa' Crazy Teresa. It's irritating to go on and on. We've got the message! She's a reasonable character without the silly name.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Spoilt by Accents

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Story excellent as with all David Hewson books

Who was your favorite character and why?

No particular favourite character

Did Christopher Kay do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Christopher Kay ruined the listening pleasure by insisting on giving virtually every character a really naff, bad Italian accent. The falseness of the accents ruined the listening pleasure for me

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was an intriguing, complex story which I always enjoy

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Can't keep listening

The narration of this book is so awful.... I'm about one and a half hours into listening and have to give up. Sadly, because the book seems really good so far, but I wish the narrator hadn't attempted an Italian accent.- his pronunciation even of Italian places like Trestevere is so wrong. And why doesn't he know how to say cadaver????! What a shame, I think I might actually have to buy the book if I want to continue with the Rome Series.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Most irritating reader ever

I thoroughly enjoy David Hewson's books, but this narrator is ridiculous. His annoying Italian 'accent' completely detracts from the story, so much so that I have deleted the whole book without listening to more than 10 minutes. Hopefully Saul Reichlin will narrate this one in future.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Dreadful Narration

I am a great fan of David Hewson's books but had to stop listening to this one after an hour. The narrator totally ruined he book as the voices he uses for all the Italian characters are like something out of a bad sitcom and all you can do is cringe when you listen to it. The worst I have ever had from Audible so save your money and buy the paperback instead.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Nic Costa back in full form!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A relaxing way of enjoying a marvellous detective story, read by an excellent actor.The places referred to in and around Rome are spot on and precise.The only blemish was having Kay "Italianise" the pronunciation of the various Italian characters. It was tiring and disturbing, especially for those who actually speak Italian!They should have spoken English with an anglophone accent to convey the impression that for them their accents were "normal".

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Italian?

Very well written book slightly marred by comedy Italian accents.

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1 person found this helpful