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The King's Spy

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The King's Spy

By: Andrew Swanston
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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About this listen

Summer 1643: England is at war with itself. King Charles I has fled London, his negotiations with Parliament in tatters. The country is consumed by bloodshed. For Thomas Hill, a man of letters quietly running a bookshop in the rural town of Romsey, knowledge of the war is limited to the rumours that reach the local inn.

When a stranger knocks on his door one night and informs him that the king's cryptographer has died, everything changes. Aware of Thomas' background as a mathematician and his expertise in codes and ciphers, the king has summoned him to his court in Oxford.

On arrival Thomas soon discovers that nothing at court is straightforward. There is evidence of a traitor in their midst. Brutal murder follows brutal murder. And when a vital message encrypted with a notoriously unbreakable code is intercepted, he must decipher it to reveal the king's betrayer and prevent the violent death that failure will surely bring.

©2012 Andrew Swanston (P)2015 Isis Publishing Ltd, Random House Audiobooks Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Fiction England Crime Royalty War Murder

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All stars
Most relevant  
a story of early civil war times were a small insignificant person could get swept up in high politics.

An amazing insight into early period spying

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The biggest challenge one faces as to continue with this book, or not, is the narrator. Like the book itself, he is far from being woeful, however, the pauses and intake of breath is infuriating. Some pauses are so long one expects a new chapter to be announced. Again however, he's quite good if you can get passed these failings. The story is good enough to keep going to the end. I've downloaded the next two in the series but it is really up to yourself to take the chance and give it a go! Good luck.

Neither Brilliant Nor Brutal!

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Reminds me somehow of Reade. A good storyline with a double bluff as to who the real villain will turn out to be

Gently compelling

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Good story. The codes sounded complicated but you don't really need to know them but just accept the explanation. The narrator read clearly and well

excellent spy story

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I’m a huge fan of historical fiction but found this to be a very average listen. The characters are weak and the plot is predictable. I’m in awe of anyone who writes any sort of novel but I’m afraid this one left me cold. The Michael Arnold Stryker Chronicles are a much better civil war yarn if you want something from the same period.

Won’t be spying on the others in this series ...

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Always on the look out for another C J Sansom (R.I.P) I gave this one a go. Unsurprisingly, not even close. Too slow to get going and the narrator reads like he's on Jackanory (showing my age there). Gave up half way through as I just couldn't feel engaged in the story or the characters.

Just not compelling enough

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The story is very slow moving and the information about decoding the ciphers excessive. I would not recommend the book.

Slow moving

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I really wanted to like this story. I was only able to finish becouse I had nothing else tempting me. the plot is poor and very predictable. characters are flat and bland.
the poor narrator tries his best. But you an only do some much with a rubbish script I suppose.

I recommend to give this one a miss guys.

very weak story. save credits for something else!

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