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  • The Grave Tattoo

  • By: Val McDermid
  • Narrated by: Julie Maisey
  • Length: 14 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (694 ratings)

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The Grave Tattoo

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Julie Maisey
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Summary

When torrential summer rains uncover a bizarrely tattooed body on a Lake District hillside, old wives' tales also come swirling to the surface. For centuries Lakelanders have whispered that Fletcher Christian staged the massacre on Pitcairn so that he could return home. And there he told his story to an old friend and schoolmate, William Wordsworth, who turned it into a long narrative poem.

Wordsworth specialist Jane Gresham, herself a native of the Lake District, feels compelled to discover once and for all whether the manuscript ever existed - and whether it still exists today....

©2006 Val McDermid (P)2006 W. F. Howes Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Absorbing modern mystery." ( Times)
"An irresistible combination of contemporary psychological thriller and historical mystery." (Tess Gerritsen)

What listeners say about The Grave Tattoo

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

Brilliant

I enjoyed this book very much, especially where it went back in time to the Mutiny on the Bounty, Wordsworth and other historical figures. This is a book of intrigue, greed and murder and although fiction, it allows your imagination to flow.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Far fetched but nonetheless enjoyable

A well written, though perhaps a little protracted, tale. The historical elements sometimes stretch the imagination but generally hold the narrative together.
The narration is good - though I’m not sure why all the residents of The Lake District have north east accents.
The kind of audio book you might enjoy on holiday or when out for a walk through the fells.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So good

The story held me all the way through.
Written well read easily
It was great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hard to switch off

Thoroughly engrossing. A few hours sleep lost listening to ‘just one more chapter’
Sorry to have finished it.

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

slightly different from usual Val McDermid

Not sure if I was going to enjoy this story but glad I persevered. Narration confused me at times not too sure about accents.
Warmed to characters eventually

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great read

I totally enjoyed this book, both content and the oratory. I found it difficult to put it down from start to finish.

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

A good enough story

Started off a bit slow and rambling but eventually got going and developed. Excellent last quarter. Well narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

As with all Val McDermid’s books I found this captivating from the start, I couldn’t stop listening and was sad to finish

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyable

I thought the jumping back and forward in time was irritating to start with but I soon got into the swing, so don't let that put you off, persevere and you are richly rewarded.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

I absolutely loved every minute lisenìng to this Audio book. it had me in that world. Has to be the best one I have ever . Cannot wait to get more now from Val Mcdermid.

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