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Murder on Black Swan Lane

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Murder on Black Swan Lane

By: Andrea Penrose
Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
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About this listen

The Earl of Wrexford possesses a brilliant scientific mind, but boredom and pride lead him to reckless behavior. He does not suffer fools gladly. So when pompous, pious Reverend Josiah Holworthy publicly condemns him for debauchery, Wrexford unsheathes his rapier-sharp wit and strikes back. As their war of words escalates, London's most popular satirical cartoonist, A. J. Quill, skewers them both. But then the clergyman is found slain in a church - his face burned by chemicals, his throat slashed ear to ear - and Wrexford finds himself the chief suspect.

An artist in her own right, Charlotte Sloane has secretly slipped into the persona of her late husband, using his nom de plume, A. J. Quill. When Wrexford discovers her true identity, she fears it will be her undoing. But he has a proposal - use her sources to unveil the clergyman's clandestine involvement in questionable scientific practices and unmask the real murderer. Soon Lord Wrexford and the mysterious Mrs. Sloane plunge into a dangerous shadow world hidden among London's intellectual enclaves to trap a cunning adversary - before they fall victim to the next experiment in villainy.

©2017 Andrea DaRif (P)2017 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
Amateur Sleuths Fiction Historical International Mystery & Crime Mystery Regency Regency Romance Romance Detective Witty England Murder Mystery
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What listeners say about Murder on Black Swan Lane

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

"...on Black Swan Lane"

A decent enough story, if rather over long and repetitive, and sprinkled with misused and mispronounced words, cliches and anachronisms. Although no doubt well and lovingly researched - it's apparent that the author has a great interest in and love for the early 19th century - the writing managed to convey only a hazy and indistinct sense of London during the Regency period ...

And just by the by, I found the heroine's habit of quoting Latin to herself really annoying ! But perhaps that's just me ?! However the habit is irritating enough to put me off reading the second volume ... at least for the foreseeable future ... Vita brevior I'm afraid ...

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

Mediocre

Ok for doing the ironing or making jam - something a bit mind numbing - tedious people doing dastardly things - nicely read. But so badly written; repetitive, clichéd, anachronistic (mano a mano) - posh people supported by feisty woman and golden-hearted urchins. Not for me.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Compelling Characters

First the positive. Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook. Some pretty well imagined & described characters led into an imaginative story. However, it is crying out for a good, thorough edit.
One particularly irksome trait is the overly used references to hell, the devil, and other evil entities, aside from a marked flippancy in regard to the realms of the demonic, it is so very repetitive. It appears every other paragraph. There are other instances of repetition. The term “blunt” being one example.
As much as these flaws did take away from my enjoyment, I shall look out for more in the series. I think there is more to get from this series, and the narration was very good.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Nice story performed well

Good concept performed well. Lacked a little polish but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking for more in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Highly recommended

I enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to! Once I got to know the characters and got used to the narrator, who was excellent, the story was believable and interesting. Will definitely look for more from this author .

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

An alternative look at Regency London

I was impressed by this alternative view of Regency London. The characters were interesting, varied, devious and atypical.

At parts I thought that the story dragged and also wondered if the author was trying to channel Sherlock Holmes in her portrayal of Wrexford or if that was just the narrator’s interpretation. The story took too long to be told (for me) and I was not sufficiently enough engaged to pursue the other titles in the series.

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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 can only give my opinion, not everyone will agree with it, of course.

For me, this had everything from the period it was set in to the story and narration.

Characters were relatable and 'alive'.

I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

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

very enjoyable

The whole package works well for me. Worth a listen, remind me of a Sherlock Holmes, all be it not the same.

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

Enjoyable listen

Liked the story .narrator was good once you have become used to it . Will look for more .

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

pedestrian

I just wish that American authors who set a story in England would do a course in British English before starting out. The story itself was not terribly original or surprising but then it was in the Plus catalogue so I suppose 'beggars can't be CHOOSERS'.

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1 person found this helpful