Good but not great.

I know I should not compare this to other of the authors books, but it's just not as good. However, it is very well written with good characters. Maybe it's because the other series of books are just so good that this series feels a little lacking. it's still an enjoyable listen and well read.

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A struggle.

I hate writing a bad review especially for this author but this was painful. Far far too long. I lost interest too many times but wanted to stick it out to the end. Which became a test of endurance even with the additional speed to it.

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1 person found this helpful

Fabulous!!!!

Brilliant. Listened to it non stop. From a walk to a gentle trot it gallops to its incredible conclusion making you gasp for breath at the end and sit down exhausted afterwards feeling in need of a Ruby drink. Story and narration superb.

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Another absolute riot

The characters are what drive these novels but the plot is a lovely high farce.

The denouement is predictably convoluted but keeps us on our toes right to the end.

I love Gerund’s character best but he is less featured in this. Luckily, Friendless is a noble substitute, and of course his inamorata, Old Queenie.

Emma Gregory is fantastic as always.

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Excellent story so well told

You're in for a treat if you haven't encountered the Violet Thorn mystery stories. Happy days. Enjoy.

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Brilliant!

I’m not going to summarise ‘The Montford Maniac’ because of spoilers. Suffice to say the mystery of a disappeared lover in ‘The Horror of Haglin House’ is carried over and resolved in typically grim, hilarious, shocking, spectacular fashion. Too many highlightsto list here, but I swear the scene where Violet takes her wounded friend to the doctor for emergency treatment will never leave me.

I was among the grumbling masses when it turned out ‘The Horror of Haglin House’ would not be the fourth Betty Church book, and I suspect disappointment clouded my initial reaction to Lady Violet and her supporting cast. So maybe it’s partly a difference in expectations and partly a familiarity with the characters that made this sequel so damned enjoyable for me. What M.R.C. Kasasian is doing is unique. His books deserve to be up there with the likes of the Goons, the Pythons, Douglas Adams, Pratchett, The League of Gentlemen, and Jasper Fforde. Coupled with Emma Gregory’s sublime narration these are audiobooks to be treasured.

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Irritating and not enjoyable, had to return

Loved the other Kasasian character books but found this so irritating i had to return it. The characters are so unlikable and frustrating. Conversations with Friendless are dull in the extreme as he misunderstands every conversation: "could you hold Queenie's head", "course i could" then proceeds to do nothing until its rephrased as "will you hold...". When every conversation follows this pattern, the story quickly becomes boring and interminable. Equally the interactions with Ruby are consistently unpleasant and predictable. Im afraid i wont be buying any more of this series.

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