Get a better narrator

I’ve listened to all the stories in this series and they’re extremely good; well written and entertaining. Surely they deserve a better narrator? The first two books had a fairly dull reader but the rest have been read by someone who doesn’t seem to have a grasp of basic English pronunciation. Isn’t there an editor on hand while they’re being recorded? I speeded up his delivery to avoid falling asleep but found myself grinding my teeth at the mispronunciations in exasperation instead.
Give the respect due to this talented author by commissioning a worthy narrator for the rest of the series.

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5 people found this helpful

Another exceptional case.

Yet another convoluted case, solved in no small part, by DS Cross’ tenacious, insightful and unique abilities.
He has become one of my favourite detectives, along with a supporting cast of characters, all bringing their talents to the cause.
Special mention for the narrator, who yet again adds a wonderful tone and pace to the tale.

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent book. Great story line. Can’t wait to read the next one

Excellent story, characters all believable. Loved the twists. Narrator’s voice very easy to listen to.

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The best yet

Tim Sullivan gets better and better with each novel . His insight into human psychology and interaction of personalities is fabulous . I adore each character for for their own merit . Cross of course, Ottey for her patience . Mackenzie for her enthusiasm and Swift for his fan boy zeal . The monk was a story of greed and how indulgence leads to entitlement and how the honesty of one man led to his death , even though he had given himself to Christ . Each novel is uniquely different and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

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DS Cross is awesome!

Narrator is brilliant at depicting a brilliantly complex character. I want to meet DS Cross!

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Better editing needed.

I have come late to these stories and so have been a binge listener. I enjoy the stories especially because they are about thinking and not about tension and improbably staged chases and perils to the main characters. I would say that some of the background is under-researched and I wonder whether, if George had had a sister, she would have been called Victoria but I can cope with this. I am perplexed by the choice of narrator for books 3-6 though. On one hand he does the acting parts very well, though sometimes forgetting to switch characters, but the narration reminds me of the ‘slow reader’ asked to read aloud in class. In some ways it is like listening to Cross, himself but there are too many mispronunciations and misplaced emphases within sentences. We can all slip up in this way but surely the role of the producer or editor is to draw attention to them and correct them. Listening to the stories one after another highlights the problem, of course but, ‘nastur tee um’ for nasturtium, ‘hyper bowl’ for hyperbole and in this one, Benedic Tyne’ for Benedictine throughout the book are just three of many examples.

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1 person found this helpful

Hugely enjoyable

I've just binge read all six D S Cross stories and am now bereft! Quite apart from being clever who dunnits, there's a brilliant group of characters that gently evolve with each case - it's worth reading the books in order to really enjoy them all the more.

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Monastic life, money & murder!

When a Benedictine monk is found brutally beaten, murdered, the question asked by everyone is "Who'd do that to a monk?"; except for DS Cross who ponders "Why do it to a monk?"
The search for the answers, motives, uncovers unrequited monastic love, a disputed book valuation, fraud & whistle blowing that lead to the collapse of an old family bank, revenge for imprisonment, parental ties & millions of missing pounds. While in the background is the peaceful & ordered life of the Abbey that so suits socially awkward Cross while he investigates.
This series hasn't faltered as many police procedurals do but gone from strength to strength with it's character development & compelling storylines that are brilliantly constructed; and there's humour & LOL moments with on the spectrum DS Cross' interactions that never growing tiresome.

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great characters

I enjoyed the story, the setting, the characters and the writing.
The narration was also superb

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I love this series

Another great addition to this series, Fantastic detective story with believable and likable characters. The narrator is brilliant and brings the story to life. Highly recommend.

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