Masterful

So detailed and credible all the more so given the author’s past employment. Thoroughly recommend. Riveting.

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Leading lady

Enjoyed the story. Narrator had some unbelievable accents to differentiate the characters, some rather grating. But overall was good and kept the intrigue going throughout.

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Almost flawless reading of an almost flawless book

Traditionally female narrators have been disliked by audio book fans. Maggie Mash should put an end to that. She is almost flawless. The one tiny niggle is that she reads a little slowly for my liking. Her cast of voices however is wide and consistent with every character firmly rooted in place and time. Men sound like men and women like women. Which is not true of all narrators.

Americans sound realistically American not just American-ish same for Israelis etc etc . Regional British accents are pulled off well as are Scottish accents. None of which fall in to parody. Although again some people might find it a little slow especially in the last act where things start warming up.

All this is important because the plot of Dead Line is complex and international. A bad reader could have spoiled what is an intricate and engaging book. I found the world of office politics and the blending of professional spy life and personal life very convincing. Although I would have been happy with an (even more) low key ending.
If you like Len Deightons Berlin game you will like this.

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5 people found this helpful

Not The Best Written Thriller

In 2004 Stella Rimington published her first novel, "At Risk". I vaguely remembered enjoying it and hadn't heard much from her until I saw "Dead Line" on Audible. Both books are part of the "Liz Caryle" series - the first and fourth respectively. Unfortunately "Dead Line" was sadly lacking the qualities of a classic thriller. The first part of the two part download kept my interest. However, with over 3 hours left of the second part I found myself getting a bit restless and just wanting things to speed up and end. By this stage the plot ceased to be gripping and any twists were simple and minor. I also sometimes have problems with thrillers written by women and this author falls into the trap of others by describing the emotions and love-life of the main (female character) in such a way that may appeal to some woman but not to some men such as myself. Overall an fairly enjoyable enough thriller that ultimately fails to deliver the punches that so many other authors can do. After "Dead Line" I'm reluctant to continue reading any more of the "Liz Caryle" series.

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4 people found this helpful

My first Stella Rimmington book and not disappointed

Leaves you wondering how much of this is actually fiction? A good straightforward novel with a good plot.

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Slow Start but worth it.

This was one of those books you struggle to settle with initially I think the reason for this could lie in the fact you are introduced to large number of characters very quickly and establishing who is the central one is frustrating.
I did listen to the first 30mins and gave up until much later, when i have to say it was well worth going back to. Its well written well narrated and reveals itself as a very high quality piece of work which you would expect from such a renowned author.

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1 person found this helpful

Good story, awful narration

I’m not given to writing reviews normally, but the narration on this otherwise fairly enjoyable story by Stella Rimmington was to put it mildly appalling. The male voices without exception were ponderous, slow, tedious and frankly excruciating. I put up with the narration because I was otherwise enjoying the story, but I won’t be listening to any more, certainly not by this narrator. I’m really sorry Maggie Mash, but for my money you need to listen more to the way that men really speak and inject more reality into your interpretations.

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1 person found this helpful

A great story ruined by terrible narration

DON'T BUY THIS audio version, buy the real book! It's a great yarn, gripping and authentic, but the narration in this audiobook is shockingly bad. Voices and accents are comic-book pastiche and cartoon-like (think fake Scots or Southern American drawl, like cheap bubble gum, or a Carry-On film East London taxi driver - terrible!) and delivered in such a ponderous and heavy-handed manner. Who produces this stuff?!

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Dead Line

Highly recommend. Mature, intelligent and believable plot. Well written and great research. Will definitely read further books by this author.

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Stella Remington novel - Dead Line

This was the first book I had read by this author. I can’t say it grabbed me and I did not like the narrator’s voice or her various accents.

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