Frustrating characters

I stuck with this though I was tempted to shout at the irritating characters and their dillydallying about and mega self absorption . I also was tempted to shout at the narration a few times- horrid cockney accent and then the narration fell into happy clappy tweeness .
It filled a gap for me as sort of a bland background ramble as I grappled with my cross stitch!!

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Another Example of Excellence

Started slow, didn’t think I would get to chapter 3. I’m so pleased I stayed with it as the book was full of exciting small plots. Not madly keen on the reader, took a while, her voice was not right for Francesca.

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2 hrs in & very confused!!!

when I find a book I like I tend to read them all consecutively, sadly I don't think the writer remembers book two as well as me because alot of details don't match up...Tony calls jake his brother but now he's his friend and how Tony met fran was wrong.
The narrator just does sound right for this book either, I can't even listen anymore her voice just drones on its distracting.

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1 person found this helpful

Highs and lows this book is a must!

I only listened on audible to it didn't really read it. Big shock at the end. But this book has so many stories in the one book. Got use to the narrator
You won't be disappointed that I promise.

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Brilliant 2 way story.

Luckily , I enjoyed the story so stuck with it. However the narration nearly put me off so many times.
The other books go from all Cockny narration to this wining voice dragging all her words out.
Really loved the story , read the 1st 2 so had to carry on & will continue the last 2 remaining books.
Well done Gillian, great author.

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1 person found this helpful

Too long but enjoyable enough

This book is double the length of the first books and dragged on because of this. The story could have been told in half the time. The narrator has changed from book to book and Tony’s accent went from being this East End London gangster in book 2 to a posh aristocratic accent in book 3. The story was enjoyable enough but I’ll take a break before listening to the 4th one.

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Nauseating portrayal of women

The story was OK, but the female character was portrayed as the classic pathetic female, whilst good old Tony was the hero. Threats to kill and violence were laughed off as nothing - he's just a loveable rougue with an "Italian temper". I felt like it painted women in a really bad light and really minimised the issue of violence against women. That said, it trivialised (sexual) violence in general when her assault was also laughed off and joked about. I understand that this was set a while ago when maybe this sort of thing was more acceptable and women were doormats, but I still felt that it needed much more care in it's portrayal of domestic violence and blame. I was shocked to see the author was female, tbh.

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Great read and follow on of a good story but the narrator made it sound like a nagging

I like the story but the narrator made it sound like Miss Marples day out. The main character Julie moans and moans and is so soppy, you wouldn’t want her as a friend, let alone lover. Tony comes across as weak and pathetic simply by the readers intonation. I had lost the will to live simply by the droaning of her voice. Thank god the remaining series is read by others. If not for the narration a good read with lots of sub plots.

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Good story line

I enjoyed this book but the narrator nearly made me give up. she has no idea of the right tone, the right pitch,

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It took a while…

It took a while to get the gist of the story. There were some gritty interesting bits but the narrators voice did not capture or reflect the characters. The story droned on & in some parts made no sense

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