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West Cork

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About this listen

[Contains Mature Themes] This much we do know: Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered days before Christmas in 1996, her broken body discovered at the edge of her property near the town of Schull in West Cork, Ireland. The rest remains a mystery.

Gripping, yet ever elusive, join the real-life hunt for answers in the year's first not-to-be-missed, true-crime series. Investigative journalist, Sam Bungey, and documentarian, Jennifer Forde, guide listeners through the brutal, unsolved murder and the tangled web of its investigation, while introducing an intricate cast of characters, a provocative prime suspect, and a recovering community whose story begs to be heard.

When you add West Cork to your library you will receive all 13 episodes, each with a runtime of approximately 30 minutes.

©2018 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC Murder Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • Ep. 1: Blow-Ins

    Ep. 1: Blow-Ins
    Feb 7 2018
    [Contains Mature Themes] West Cork, Ireland is an outpost at the edge of Europe. Rugged, windswept, and coastal, it was a region of farmers and fisherman until the 1960s, when it was discovered by the “blow-ins” - artists, urban runaways, and people who drove until the road ran out. It was a haven for those wanting to turn their backs on their old lives and start over. But then there was a murder in West Cork, and everything changed overnight.
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    27 mins
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  • Ep. 2: The Back of Beyond

    Ep. 2: The Back of Beyond
    Feb 7 2018
    [Contains Mature Themes] A body is found at the end of a path leading to three houses. The police, known in Ireland as “the Guards,” have little experience with serious crime in West Cork, and the victim - a French woman with a holiday home in the area - is a mysterious figure to locals. That night, as news of the murder makes its way through the community, everyone begins to question if they were ever truly safe.
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    27 mins
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  • Ep. 3: Sophie Bouniol

    Ep. 3: Sophie Bouniol
    Feb 7 2018
    [Contains Mature Themes] Born Sophie Bouniol, the well-connected French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier was 39 when she was murdered. In a place where no one could remember the last time a murder occurred, locals speculated that the killer must be an outsider. Rumours about Sophie and her love life, fueled by tabloids, flourished. But her quieter, more bookish side was reflected in the simple, white house she kept in West Cork, and known to those who loved her most.
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    36 mins
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Most relevant

Where does West Cork rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

West Cork is extremely well compiled. The flow of the story is seamless and the clarity is outstanding. One of the most enjoyable audiobooks I've listened to so far.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ian Bailey was the standout for me. His eccentric personality and deflective nature was as arrogant as it was bemusing.

What does the narrator bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The dual narration of this story played a considerable part in me enjoying the story as much as I did. Both narrators delivery were complimentary to each other and gave you a true feeling of the emotion involved which I personally wouldn't have experienced from the book alone.

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

One could not help but feel for the family of the Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The anguish and frustration of the event and the legal proceedings would be unimaginable.

Any additional comments?

Exceptional audiobook.

Addictive listening and flawless narrated

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This is as close to the whole picture as we are ever going to get. I grew up in Cork. When Sophie was murdered I was eight. I'd heard about it in snippets of details for decades, from media or comments from adults. To get the fleshed out story in all its uncomfortable detail was eye opening, enthralling and petrifying. It felt eerily familiar yet utterly foreign from the peaceful, welcome West Cork I've experienced.

Essential listening

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What made the experience of listening to West Cork the most enjoyable?

This podcast goes into more detail than what was covered in the general media over the last twenty years and poses some questions which were never answered before and gives us more insight into Ian Bailey, Marie Farrell and the locals in Schull all of whom are interviewed on the podcast. If you have followed this case of the last twenty years this is a must listen.

Gives more insight into the main protagonists

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Totally gripping story. This is my second time listening to it. Couldn't put it down.

From Southern France

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Maybe my headline is already a spoiler, but I have found this audio series absolutely fascinating, compelling even. Living in Ireland, I have been familiar with the case from the day the news announced Sophie Toscan du Plantier's death all those years back. The series goes through all the details with a fine comb, letting people speak for themselves, including the prime suspect, and succeeds in providing more than just a gruesome crime story. This is a documentary that delves into the demographic background, painting a picture of a very specific (and special) place in Ireland. It's also a piece on immigration, assimilation and xenophobia, as well as a criticism of bureaucracy, regulation and jurisdiction that provides wider insights on problems generally inherent in Ireland. The investigation by the authors is thoughtful and always trying to stay neutral, with no attempt at trying to overtly sway the listeners to any particular assumption or judgment of the prime movers in this story. The various players are fascinating to listen to, and kudos to them for taking part in this documentary. The authors were a pleasure to listen to; the quality of the storytelling was so good that I found it difficult to take breaks at all - it was just too compelling. I would love to hear more from them.
As for my own conclusion: Spoiler alert - I went into the series convinced that there was a clear culprit. After listening to West Cork, I am not so sure anymore.

The Fascination of Inconclusiveness

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absolutely loved it, I was fascinated by the story.
l didn't realize until the fourth episode that it's a true unresolved tale.
the narrative is unbiased and true to the story.
well worth downloading

great listen

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I absolutely loved it! Enthralling. Great setting and narration , intriguing characters . Highly recommended.

Brilliant!

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Brought to life by the involvement of so many of the protagonists in the affair. Brilliantly researched and edited which keeps the suspense and interest levels high throughout from start to finish.

Superb investigative journalism

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As harrowing as it was to listen to it utterly drew me in - the authors / narrators tell the story in a way that is never prurient or sensationalist - it’s deeply sensitive and the victim - this beautiful and talented young woman is always kept in full view - it’s a story that needs to be told and listened to

Riveting

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Well narrated and complex tale. Possible movie material!! Certainly opens up the possibility of a garda cold case review.

Riveting

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