An Instance of the Fingerpost cover art

An Instance of the Fingerpost

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

An Instance of the Fingerpost

By: Iain Pears
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong, Roger May, Christopher Oxford, David McAlister
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Set in Oxford in the 1660s – a time and place of great intellectual, scientific, religious and political ferment – this remarkable novel centres around a young woman, Sarah Blundy, who stands accused of the murder of Robert Grove, a fellow of New College. Four witnesses describe the events surrounding his death: Marco da Cola, a Venetian Catholic intent on claiming credit for the invention of blood transfusion; Jack Prescott, the son of a supposed traitor to the Royalist cause, determined to vindicate his father; John Wallis, chief cryptographer to both Cromwell and Charles 1l a mathematician, theologican and inveterate plotter; and Anthony Wood, the famous Oxford antiquary. Each one tells their version of what happened but only one reveals the extraordinary truth.

©1997 Iain Pears (P)2011 Isis Publishing Ltd
Crime Fiction Historical Fiction Mystery Suspense Fiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Queen's Head cover art
The Scarlet Papers cover art
Deception cover art
The Mystified Magistrate cover art
Hyperion cover art
The Face of a Stranger cover art
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen cover art
Dance Hall of the Dead cover art
The Idiot [Blackstone] cover art
The Dispatcher cover art
The Betrothed cover art
The First Horseman cover art
Global Crisis cover art
Bethlehem Road cover art
The Serpent and the Pearl cover art
Providence Lost cover art

What listeners say about An Instance of the Fingerpost

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    130
  • 4 Stars
    49
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    126
  • 4 Stars
    36
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    113
  • 4 Stars
    37
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well researched, written, narrated

An excellent story, filled with historical detail and great atmosphere. As an audiobook (brilliantly narrated), it requires much concentration to keep track of the many events and characters. Relieved to have finally reached the end. Emphatically illustrates the vital importance of separating religion and state.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Really enjoyed it. You a great read and very well performed. Very well done Audible👍

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent throughout

I first read this in 1997, when recommended by someone from Oxford. I enjoyed it, but truthfully I had forgotten most of the plot by the time I listened to this audiobook. Loved it. The story is inventive and well-narrated in four different voices. I never lost interest and I was swept along by the performances. I was trained as an historian and worked as a librarian, and found myself (quietly) shouting 'yes' when points from both disciplines were discussed. (Yes, I know I have no life!!) Great plot, led me to look at other aspects of the period, which I thought I knew well. It's a long listen and complex, but I can recommend it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An instance of the fingerpost

There is very rarely an historic novel that grabs. This is mine. From start to finish. All either real or feasible for the time in history and brilliantly narrated. There are some books I love but can't listen to the narrator, this was perfect! I would recommend to anyone because there is something from all the characters that would appeal.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

An amazing story told in a very ingenious way. It has definitely inspired me to read more from this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A new road to follow

At first I found the modern prose style confusing but when I got used to thoroughly enjoyed the story at all levels. I have bought another book by this writer which I am saving for my Christmas read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

For those who love history combined with detective fiction, this book is a jewel. Loved it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Nice twists in the story.

Enjoyed the story. Good narration and liked the sneaky twists and turns . . .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favourites.

A nice gentleman gave me a copy of this book some 20 years ago and it has remained one of my favourite novels that I have ever read. it has mystery, intrigue, politics, murder and much much more. It really is a tour de force.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Strange but quite compelling

This was not what I was expecting at all - although I was mildly disappointed at first, it grew on me! My history is far from good so I do not know if the historical facts were indeed accurate, but as the story progressed there were several twists and turns that I did not see coming - and that does not happen very often!



A good storyline that became more appealing as it progressed - worth reading especially if you want something a little different from the normal murder mystery.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful