Jack of Diamonds
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Jack of Diamonds
Buy Now for £16.99
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Narrated by:
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Humphrey Bower
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By:
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Bryce Courtenay
About this listen
If poker was an addiction then music was an overwhelming obsession; one could never replace the other in my life.
During the Great Depression there was little hope for a boy born into the slums of Cabbagetown, Toronto. But Jack Spayd is offered a ticket out in the form of a Hohner harmonica, won by his brutal drunken father in a late-night card game. Jack makes music as a way of escaping his surroundings, and his talent leads him to a jazz club and, eventually, to the jazz piano.
Jack is a virtuoso and hits the road, enchanting audiences in Canada, wartime Europe and Las Vegas, where he is caught up in the world of elite poker and falls under the spell of his boss, the enigmatic Bridgett Fuller. Vegas is a hard town ruled by the Mafia, but Jack prospers, until his luck turns bad and he falls foul of the Mob. Forced to run for his life from Vegas, he must also leave the woman he adores. His adventuring takes him to the far reaches of Africa, to a rare and valuable bird that may seal his fate - and to the love of a very different woman.
Set across three continents, Jack of Diamonds is a spellbinding story of chance, music, corruption and love.
©2012 Bryce Courtenay. Copyright Christine Courtenay 2013. (P)2012 Bolinda PublishingListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Jack of Diamonds
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Neil
- 28-07-15
A Really good listen, Excellent and lovely ending
Would you listen to Jack of Diamonds again? Why?
Yes, it was a magical story, really well read
What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?
He did really well with the accents and female voices, a great reader
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No really, it was just a good listen
Any additional comments?
Recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joykie Burger
- 26-09-13
Another Masterpiece!!
Bryce Courtenay is the master of fiction as far as I'm concerned. I have yet to find a book I don't enjoy thoroughly! The brilliance of Humphrey Bower had me living in the story and feeling everything Jack felt. I laughed with him and cried with him, how many writers can say they inspire people to that extent? I wait with huge anticipation for each and every one of Bryce's new books. What a perfect pair they make.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- AGB
- 03-05-23
Bryce Courtney sets very high standards…
Bryce Courtney is a legendary author who’s written some exceptionally good books, The Power of One (of course), Tandia and Jessica are all brilliant.
Jack of Diamonds doesn’t reach this heights but is a solid read. The main characters are all well crafted as is the storyline and the narrator did a fine job.
If you’ve already read the titles mentioned, then this one is a worthy next read.
The epilogue is poignant and emotional.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lareine
- 13-12-20
Great storyline
I loved this book. Well written and well narrated, apart from a couple of annoying mispronunciations of South African words, same as his previous books. I just shout at the narrator and carry on.
Such a shame we won’t get any more wonderful Bryce Courtenay books. I’m glad he rounded off Jack’s story though.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- R. A. P. Shannon
- 30-11-22
Refreshingly good.
Not quite the power of one but still well above average. Interesting story and not too predictable.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ruth
- 19-01-23
For musicians everywhere
Great book didn’t want it to finish am going to look for more titles bravo
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nomadicdragon
- 05-01-23
another great from Bryce
was enthralled by the story from the start and thoroughly engaged by it all the way through. It was read perfectly too
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Clark
- 24-06-15
Engaging story, superb story telling
Would you listen to Jack of Diamonds again? Why?
Yes. Well developed characters and interesting phases of life
What other book might you compare Jack of Diamonds to, and why?
Most of the Jeffrey Archer novels.
Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favourite?
Jack. Humphrey Bower was new to me and his ability to cover accents and genders is quite fantastic.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Nothing strong but it did keep me interested.
Any additional comments?
Introduced me to a new author. I'd definitely read more from this author. Good solid entertainment with well developed characters.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs Wendy Huggins
- 27-05-16
Unbelievably brilliant 👍
Once again a proper story from beginning to end bought together beautifully with the wonderful array of voices from Humphrey Bower. I couldn't put this book down and now it's finished I miss the main characters- Jack, Bridget and chef napoleon Nelson. A must read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- SusanC
- 14-08-13
You just need to keep listening!
I like to get value for money from my audio books and when I saw the length of this one I went for it - over 25 hours. Not my usual read - I'm a cloak and dagger reader. I was nicely surprised that this had a bit of everything. A rags to riches story with a bit of cloak and dagger thrown in and just the taste of a love story to bring a tear. Add to all that some travel from Canada to the UK in WW2, to Las Vegas and then through Africa where you lived the life at the time.
This was more value for money than I could have wished for and I've signed back in now to look for more of Bryce Courtenay.
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3 people found this helpful