Great book!

This book really hooked me. Initially I found this book a little slow and hard to get going but it's interesting and well written and performed very well by the author. I'll definitely be downloading more of his audio books!

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Excellent story and so different from anyone else!

Where does The Physics of the Dead rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As a story, this easily book ranks 5 stars, the narration by the author is first class and draws you into this weird world of the afterlife where things are familiar but then very different, the title of the book is indeed a clue to the subject that the characters are dealing with.

What other book might you compare The Physics of the Dead to, and why?

I couldn't compare this book with any other, however the author at the end of the audio book does share where he originated the idea from... but that's for you to discover by buying the book.

What about Luke Smitherd’s performance did you like?

Luke can not only write a good story, but he knows how to tell it too... I found him to be an excellent narrator and of course who better than the guy who created this strange world and the characters within it?

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

The book has humour, pathos, tragedy and redemption and does create emotional reactions within the listener. Ultimately it has a good ending which leaves one feeling happy the way it finally turns out. Luke also being British, makes references to things that certain people will easily relate to, that's another of his writing talents... he connects with the reader and it's another way of tuning into similar people and creating a rapport yet he does it so effortlessly without it getting in the way of other readers enjoyment... little easter eggs of the mind, so to speak, there to be discovered and to amuse.

Any additional comments?

I would have much preferred to listen to this on my own "cheapo" mp3 player or on a cd in the car, but audible files contain DRM which meant access was severely restricting for me as I could only listen on my PC. That's an issue that I have with audible in general but that's just Amazon doing it's piracy protection thing. I would however, highly recommend Luke Smitherd to anyone and he has fast become one of my all time favourite authors and is up there with Stephen King. He will become a household name, and I look forward to his future books. I don't know about you... but it's great when I find a new writer or a band, or artist that I just know will always deliver great stuff for many years to come...

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A Great Read

What made the experience of listening to The Physics of the Dead the most enjoyable?

I always worry when an author narrates his own book as the delivery can make or break the enjoyment but Luke Smitherd has an easy and relaxed manner which comes across very well and made the book very enjoyable to listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

This story is a great supernatural mystery with the author drawing out the suspense and always making you want to listen (or read!) on to the next chapter. It also covers the relationships between the characters in a lot of detail but is never boring.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scene between The Beast and Bowler was my favourite as the book builds towards its final climax. The character of the Beast, his mannerisms along with an overriding sense of threat and menace is expertly conveyed.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The relationship between Bowler and his wife, and Hart and his are bittersweet and tinged with more than a bit of sadness and show us how there are points in our lives when we can see we need to make choices which will lead in totally different directions and change us forever. I'm not particularly sentimental but did find these areas of the story quite moving.

Any additional comments?

The book wraps up nicely but I think I'd have liked to explore more the physics of the foyer and examined the character of The Beast as they are so well realised and intriguing.

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One of his best

So like every other one of Luke Smithered's books I have read this one is definitely worth a go. second only to the Stone Man In my mind. Great little mystery and characters that feel real and genuine. Both sad and hopeful at the same time. great stuff.

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brilliant

amazing book read brilliantly! twists and turns throughout and keeps you thinking. favorite book this year

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Interesting concept - a bit "cloud atlas"

Second book written and narrated and written by this author that I have listened to. He reads well - although sometimes more voice inflection would be nice to differentiate the characters. The story and concept is as interesting as the Stone Man and pretty off the wall. It doesn't make any judgments as to the characters' actions and there are no religious overtones to speak of. If you like narratives that jump back and forth between present and past to support character development - a tool often used but still effective - then this is a book for you. Comparable level of invention and interest to the Stone Man.

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Its got everything

I don't write many reviews as its difficult to describe what a book does to you, but here goes:
What a clever, disturbing but eventually uplifting book.
The characters are very real and their development is very believable.
There are different strings to the story which flesh out the characters personalities and show how they get to the end.
Perhaps it's because he wrote the book and knows the characters so well is the reason that the narrator can really convey their emotions so clearly, but I think reading the book oneself would be just as insightful.

Give it a go, you won't be dissapointed.

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Great story as per usual for Luke Smitherd

And if you enjoyed this book then wait till you read his others as he only gets better the more he writes.

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A good listen.

Over all good. A little slow to start with but builds nicely to good ending. Well read as always by Luke.

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Innovative

A truly unique story, captivating and definitely the audiobook equivalent of a page turner. Highly recommended.

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