Another Masterton Goodie

Time of new settlers in America when witchcraft was rife. A story of a young girl with knowledge of apothecary turns detective as unusual deaths begin to happen in her village. This was a good story as are all of Graham Mastertons. I'm not really into to female narrators as they can't do all the voices especially male but Emma Gregory really does this book justice. Listened to it all in one go. Recommend this book with supernatual overtones.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

brilliant!!

loved this book as I had read the coven first so it was nice to get the whole thing in perspective.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

One slight flaw !

The title rather gave it away. The story was tense and thrilling. Informative as well the narrator was wonderful and moved seamlessly around the characters.
I’m now going to book 2 - yep I’m hooked. Highly recommend

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Gripping historical thriller

Beatrice's story is riveting from the outset and maintains the momentum to the very end.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Formulaic...until chapter 8...when I quit

Classic Cinderella with cookie cutter characters. Perhaps after chpter 8 it improved. Poor but talented orphan, bilked out of her inheritance and turned into the house servant by superior, shrew relatives etc. I am 66 and will die. I don't have time for the unexceptional

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Warning, contains gruesome detail and graphic rape

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend this book. I wish there had been a warning at the beginning about how much torture and murder was in it and the rape was very graphic. The writer was very gifted at creating such a very clear picture but I really didn't want those horrible images lodged so bluntly in my head.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The author was really clever at bringing the novel to life, you could see the images he created very clearly as though you were watching a movie. It's an unusual and creative storyline, it's unlikely you would have read something identical before. It has many components including detective work, religion, unexpected outcomes in various places throughout the story (which I did appreciate because it was often in the smaller parts/details of the novel rather than the overall outcome of the storyline direction).

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I didn't enjoy the audiobook because it was too gory/violent/unpleasant and I really wished I had been warned of the content as I wouldn't have purchased it but in fairness to the author it was well written and the narrator read it well.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

Listener beware.

I love Emma Gregory's voice and was looking for a new book narrated by her. This sounded interesting and, despite long chapters set in London which were just the introduction to the main body of the novel, I enjoyed it very much - right up to the appalling rape scene. The attack is described in graphic, anatomical terms, which was hard enough to listen to as 'entertainment', but I could not believe my ears when the victim was described as aroused despite also being described as terrified and in considerable pain. The whole episode struck me as nothing more than some cliched male fantasy of what rape is like for a woman, an impression borne out by the fact that no attempt was made to comment on the emotional after effects nor did the rape seem to serve any purpose of plot except that the woman is pregnant at the end of the book and unsure whether the rapist or her husband is the father. I listened to the end of the book but was disturbed enough by this horrible scene that I will not buy the next book in the series. I have read & listened to many, many crime fiction books, modern and classic and accept that violence is part and parcel of the genre but I cannot listen to yet another writer using rape as a sex scene intended only to titivate.

Emma Gregory only gets 4 stars here because, although her voice is as wonderful as ever to listen to, she does the worst Welsh accent I have ever heard!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

flawless

superbly written and expertly executed by the narrator.
slightly overly graphic around adult scenes as always but an amazing listen as always

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A very different setting for a thriller

Would you consider the audio edition of Scarlet Widow to be better than the print version?

I don't know as I have never seen a print version

What was one of the most memorable moments of Scarlet Widow?

I do not want to answer this question for a thriller or it will spoil it for subsequent readers but there are numerous memorable moments, some for more gruesome reasons than others.

What about Emma Gregory’s performance did you like?

Emma has a nice voice to listen to which is always a bonus. Her ability to make each characters voice unique was good and I enjoyed her narration greatly.

Any additional comments?

This is a fabulous thriller, although it is a little gruesome in places as are many of this author's novels. At several points throughout the story I was positive I had predicted the outcome, but I have to admit, I hadn't got it right until very near the end.

An unusual setting in that it moves from England in the 1700's to America and maintains the historical references essential to the time. In fact the historical setting really adds to the story and makes it unique with the main character's personality very much being one sculpted from her life experiences during her childhood in England and then her life as a married woman in a small religious town in New Hampshire.

If you like thrillers but want something a little different then this could be a good listen for you.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

Interesting book

Graham Masterton always writes interesting stories . Loved Widow Scarlett top read. Recommend it to your readers.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful