A Death in Summer cover art

A Death in Summer

Quirke, Book 4

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A Death in Summer

By: Benjamin Black
Narrated by: John Keating
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About this listen

A Death in Summer is the fourth entry in the Quirke Mysteries, an enthralling literary crime series set in 1950s Dublin from John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. Now major TV series: Quirke, starring Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon. Read by John Keating.

When newspaper magnate Richard Jewell is found dead at his country estate, clutching a shotgun in his lifeless hands, few see his demise as cause for sorrow. But, before long,– Doctor Quirke and Inspector Hackett realize that – rather than the suspected suicide – ‘Diamond Dick’ has been murdered.

Suspicion soon falls on one of Jewell’s biggest rivals. But Quirke has his eyes elsewhere. With his assistant Sinclair, he gets to know Jewell's beautiful, enigmatic wife Françoise d’Aubigny and his fragile sister Dannie, as well as those who work for the family. And, gradually, it becomes clear that, in this household, everything is not as it seems . . .

A Death in Summer is the fourth Quirke Mystery. Continue the atmospheric, beguiling series with Vengeance.

©2011 Benjamin Black (P)2013 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Police Procedural Thriller & Suspense Fiction Summer Suspense

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All stars
Most relevant  
I’m sure the current narrator would be valuable with a other novels but his storytelling doesn’t serve the series.

Sublime writing

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I enjoyed the first three Quirke books immensely, both for the stories and the narration, which really brought 1950s Dublin to life. However, this has a different narrator, with a very jerky style, who often seems to emphasise the wrong words or phrases. The accents deployed felt wrong too, particularly those assigned to the women. The French accent was pure ‘’allo, allo’! This destroyed any empathy with the characters or the story. I will read the remaining books on Kindle, unless they have a different narrator.

Big disappointment after first three books in series

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

A superb story spoiled by dreadful narration

What did you like best about this story?

Characters are well rounded and the setting, in the 1950s, well evoked

What didn’t you like about John Keating’s performance?

He seemed to be reading a line at a time and therefore pausing in inapposite places. I shall not purchase any further books read by him.

Do you think A Death in Summer needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes, Quirke is a character with lots to give.

Any additional comments?

I shall acquire the remaining Quirke books either as Kindle books or in paper. A pitdy, because with a better narrator, the book could have been great.

Poor narration

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really loving the Quirke series after hearing the same narrator for 3 books It some time to adjust to a different narrator really enjoyed the story all in all I found it to be quite interesting can't wait to read or listen to the remaining 3 books

Fantastic loved it

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I couldn’t tell whether the story was any good, as the narrator made no sense of the words, so it was almost impossible to follow. Bring back Stanley - even if his Caine impression is awful.

Terrible clunky narration

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