
The Black Tower
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Narrated by:
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Simon Vance
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By:
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Louis Bayard
About this listen
After the execution of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, and the death of their son, the Dauphin, the Bourbon monarchy has at last been restored.
Dr. Hector Carpentier leads a very quiet life, until he meets legendary police officer Vidocq, who has used his mastery of disguise and surveillance and his extensive knowledge of the Parisian underworld to capture some of the most notorious and elusive criminals. Now, with the help of Carpentier, Vidocq may prove that the Dauphin lives, which could change the course of history.
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Headstrong and beautiful, the young housemaid Sally Jupp is put rudely in her place, strangled in her bed behind a bolted door. Coolly brilliant policeman Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard must find her killer among a houseful of suspects, most of whom had very good reason to wish her ill. Cover Her Face is P. D. James' electric debut novel, an ingeniously plotted mystery that immediately placed her among the masters of suspense.
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OK but...
- By NoelleJ on 11-14-14
By: P. D. James
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Precipice
- A Novel
- By: Robert Harris
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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In London, twenty-six-year-old Venetia Stanley—aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless—is part of a fast group of upper-crust bohemians and socialites known as “The Coterie.” She’s also engaged in a clandestine love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.
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outstanding in every way
- By Rosalind Britton on 10-10-24
By: Robert Harris
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Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
- A Magical Cats Mystery
- By: Sofie Kelly
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there's something more to these felines. When murder interrupts Mayville's Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect.
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Promising "Cozy" Series
- By Chalis on 07-11-14
By: Sofie Kelly
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The House in the Woods
- Atticus Priest, Book 1
- By: Mark Dawson
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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On Christmas Eve, DCI Mackenzie Jones is called to a shooting at a remote farmhouse. Ralph Mallender believes his father lies dead inside. When three more bodies are discovered, it's clear a festive family gathering has turned into a gruesome tragedy. At first it seems like an open and shut case: a murder suicide committed by Ralph's volatile brother Cameron. Then new evidence makes Mack suspect the man who reported the crime is in fact the perpetrator. But Mack isn't the only one with a stake in the case.
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Pure reading enjoyment
- By VA Barnhill - Author on 06-10-20
By: Mark Dawson
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Remember Me Tomorrow
- A Novel
- By: Farah Heron
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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East House is the oldest and least desirable dorm on campus, but it has a draw for lonely university freshman Aleeza Kassam: Jay Hoque, the hot and broody student who vanished from East House five months ago without a trace. It’s irresistible to an aspiring investigative journalist like Aleeza. But when she starts receiving texts from Jay, the mystery takes an unexpected turn. To put it mildly.
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Great story, diminished by author's style
- By Denise Thibodeaux on 12-31-24
By: Farah Heron
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A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons
- By: Kate Khavari
- Narrated by: Jodie Harris
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh is the first woman to hold the position at University College of London. When she attends a dinner party for the school, she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon. What she doesn’t expect is for Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, and evidence quickly mounts.
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Clean cozy mystery
- By dubois940 on 08-21-22
By: Kate Khavari
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The Second Sleep
- A novel
- By: Robert Harris
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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1468. A young priest, Christopher Fairfax, arrives in a remote Exmoor village to conduct the funeral of his predecessor. The land around is strewn with ancient artifacts - coins, fragments of glass, human bones - which the old parson used to collect. Did his obsession with the past lead to his death? Fairfax becomes determined to discover the truth. Over the course of the next six days, everything he believes - about himself, his faith, and the history of his world - will be tested to destruction.
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This IS different...
- By Robin on 11-27-19
By: Robert Harris
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A Tide of Black Steel
- By: Anthony Ryan
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 19 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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The land of Ascarlia, a fabled realm of bloodied steel and epic sagas, has been ruled by the Sister Queens for centuries. No one has dared question their rule. Until now. Whispers speak of longships of mysterious tattooed warriors, sailing under the banners of a murderous cult of oath-breakers long thought extinct. A tide of black steel that threatens to vanquish all in its path. Thera of the Blackspear, favored servant of the Sister Queens, is ordered to uncover the truth. As Thera sails north, her reviled brother, Felnir, sets out on his own adventure.
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Worth the read, but not the listen.
- By Anonymous User on 11-26-24
By: Anthony Ryan
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Diavola
- By: Jennifer Thorne
- Narrated by: Andi Arndt
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Jennifer Thorne skewers all-too-familiar family dynamics in this sly, wickedly funny vacation-Gothic. Beautifully unhinged and deeply satisfying, Diavola is a sharp twist on the classic haunted house story, exploring loneliness, belonging, and the seemingly inescapable bonds of family mythology.
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Witty, Original, VERY satisfying ending
- By Andrea S on 04-26-24
By: Jennifer Thorne
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Hell Divers
- Hell Divers Series, Book 1
- By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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More than two centuries after World War III poisoned the planet, the final bastion of humanity lives on massive airships circling the globe in search of a habitable area to call home. Aging and outdated, most of the ships plummeted back to Earth long ago. The only thing keeping the two surviving lifeboats in the sky are Hell Divers - men and women who risk their lives by skydiving to the surface to scavenge for parts the ships desperately need.
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A little cliche action hero-y but damn good story anyway
- By Jillian Noone on 09-04-19
What listeners say about The Black Tower
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Dubi
- 12-31-13
Neither History Nor Mystery
This historical novel needs more historical context -- lots more. I cannot imagine following the story were I not a student of the French Revolution back in college. Even so, I would have loved to be reminded of details I have long since forgotten. I recall Robespierre, Marat, the Jacobins, the Conciergerie, the Temple, and what Thermidor is, but how would someone who didn't study them know these names or places or months of the year, dropped on a regular basis, never explained by the author?
The story takes place during the Restoration, harking back to the Reign of Terror. How is a casual reader supposed to know the context of those eras, how France progressed from the Revolution to the Terror to Napoleon and then the Restoration? With several other key events in between. The casual reader could gloss over the lack of background if the characters and the mystery that drive the story are compelling enough, but alas, they are not -- but I can't support that assertion without spoilers.
Suffice it to say that some reveals come way too early and others arrive late in the game, inconsequential or out of the blue. The cardinal sin of mystery writing is to not give the reader a chance to anticipate those reveals or have a vested interest in them, especially the identity of the murderer, as well as other twists. This book is most definitely guilty of committing that sin several times over. This is supposed to be a historical mystery, and neither the history nor mystery are there.
The narrator was good, but this is a novel written by an American about the French -- so why an English accent? It is cliche to use British accents for non-English speakers speaking in English in a book or movie. Yes, I know Simon Vance is English, so that is his accent. But he's an actor, he could do any accent, or else another actor should have been hired. If accents were going to be used here, why not French? Switching to a lower-class English accent for lower-class French characters is just nasty. On top of that, the character Vidocq, in real life, was not of the lower classes, so why give him a Cockney accent?
I was quite surprised to learn about halfway through the novel that Vidocq, a central character, was a real person. The book didn't clue me in -- it occurred to me to check, and not only was he real, but he is considered the father of modern detective and police techniques. That casts his character in a totally different light. I'm shocked that the author would not make an effort to let readers know. In fact, that is true of a number of characters -- if you don't know in advance who is historical and who is fictional, then, well, you don't know -- how exactly does that work in a piece of historical fiction? I still don't know which of the Barons and Marquis and such were real or fictional, nor am I inclined at this juncture to try to find out.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Skeptical consumer
- 02-11-14
GREAT read
Would you consider the audio edition of The Black Tower to be better than the print version?
Yes, Simon Vance is extraordinary in his performance. I felt as though I was watching a play.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Black Tower?
I don't wish to spoil it for the reader.
What does Simon Vance bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
see above. He is fantastic. I've 'read' dozens of books now over the years, if not hundred or so and can put Vance in a category with George Guidall.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Have to think about that
Any additional comments?
If you enjoy period mysteries, you'll love this book.
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4 people found this helpful
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- PK
- 04-05-10
Great Listen!
I couldn't wait to get home and settle in my chair and listen. The characters are surprising and the history is fascinating. The narration was excellent.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amanda
- 02-02-11
Love this book!
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Beautifully drawn characters in a believable, yet tense story in a place that is described so fully that you're fully immersed and actually there. Topped of with a narration by Simon Vance, who is, as always, perfect.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Texie
- 02-01-18
Simon Vance is amazing
Where does The Black Tower rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It is a very compelling book and well written. Simon Vance's audio performance is extraordinary. The story is quite sad in some places so be warned.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, this definitely wanted to finish it as soon as the story began moving.
Any additional comments?
It is a very interesting book with an interesting twist on history. It does recall the horrors of the French Revolution which were all too sad for the Royal family.
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1 person found this helpful
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- ugonna
- 09-07-17
excellent book. The narrator did so well.
excellent book. The narrator was brilliant.
Historical facts very informative. length of novel satisfactory. great.
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- TravisD
- 02-28-13
Really, Really Well-Done
Loved this and couldn't stop listening. So well-researched and written. Buy, read, and be amazed as the story unfolds.
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11 people found this helpful
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- Kathy
- 01-21-15
Before there was Sherlock Holmes, there was Vidocq
Who was real! And whose life inspired writers like Victor Hugo, Honore de Balzac, Herman Melville, and (apparently) Edgar Allan Poe.
"The Black Tower" is a wonderful fictional account of Vidocq and the mystery surrounding the last Dauphin set in early restoration Paris. And Louis Bayard's rendering of the tale would do credit to Alexandre Dumas. The writing is beautiful and detailed, yet the story never drags. And Simon Vance's narration brilliantly brings the characters to life.
If you're into historical fiction or mystery, this is the perfect audiobook to take your mind off of boring chores like housecleaning or to help pass the time on a long trip. I look forward to reading/listening to more of Bayard's novels.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Erick Porter
- 04-21-18
Complex and Interesting
Great reading by Simon Vance of a story filled with great characters and characterization. I’m certain I will reread this book after a short break.
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- Russ
- 09-13-17
A cross between the Man in the Iron Mask & Holmes
A fun period piece that really feels period. Some of the best reading I have heard from Simon Vance
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