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  • The Lost Abbot

  • The Nineteenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew
  • By: Susanna Gregory
  • Narrated by: Andrew Wincott
  • Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (187 ratings)

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The Lost Abbot

By: Susanna Gregory
Narrated by: Andrew Wincott
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Summary

Matthew Bartholomew doesn't want to travel to Peterborough in the summer of 1358, but his friendship with the lovely Julitta Holm has caused a scandal in Cambridge, so he has no choice. He is one of a party of Bishop's Commissioners, charged to discover what happened to Peterborough's abbot, who went for a ride one day and has not been seen since. When the Commissioners arrive, they find the town in turmoil.

A feisty rabble-rouser is encouraging the poor to rise up against their overlords, the abbey is at war with a powerful goldsmith and his army of mercenaries, and there are bitter rivalries between competing shrines. One shrine is dedicated to Lawrence de Oxforde, a vicious felon who was executed for his crimes, but who has been venerated after miracles started occurring at his grave. However, it is not long before murder rears its head, and its first victim is Joan, the woman in charge of Oxforde's tomb...

©2013 Susannah Gregory (P)2013 Hachette Audio
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What listeners say about The Lost Abbot

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting Tale

I first read the previous the previous reviews and so I listened to the sample first and I found I really enjoyed listening to this Narrator.
This was an interesting tale in a different Abbey and new charactors, however the main charactors still shone through. It did really draw attention that not all religous people are devote or remotely Godly.
People are all just people at the end of the day.
The author did make it amusing at times escially when one of the monks said they had travelled hundreds of miles to the ends of the world and was corrected by Mat saying they has only travelled 40 miles to another county.

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

Brilliant reading of a brilliant book

I loved the book and the recording is great quality. Not sure the voice of Brother Michael is right though!

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3 people found this helpful

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

Further Awakening and Possibilities

There is a distinct feeling from this novel of an increased momentum and the real possibilities of change. It is there right from the ‘Prologue’. This is much valued. Set in Peterborough, the plot is authentically Susanna Gregory and the high number of characters, deaths and a very busy unravelling. The audiobook is well read by Andrew Wincott, though his reading does tend to make things sound more serious and grounded than the regular audio-book performer, David Thorpe. You wonder whether there is any sense in those commissioning audio-books as to whether they ever act as editors/directors shaping the way they would like their readers to perform the work. It would be a great help if they did.

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

Confusing

Susanna Gregory’s books are always convoluted and David Thorpe as a narrator simplifies because he makes each character distinct, unfortunately this narrator makes every character sound the same so the plot becomes difficult to follow. Please bring back David Thorpe.

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4 people found this helpful

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

sadly not the same reader

I really enjoy Susan Gregory's books but I wish there was some consistency as the whole thing about listening to stories for me is to be able to picture in your mind your characters. If only those filling in for a reader would listen to the books that had gone before and match the nuances then I wouldn't be so disappointed when they change over. I find the reader in this case really changes the characters and that ruins the whole thing as far as I'm concerned.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Entertaining and Escapist reading.

These books should be renamed Medieval Midsomer Murders! I do enjoy them , although Matthew and Michael's ability to escape and evade murder is becoming increasingly unbelievable. I was a bit disappointed with the narrator, as I was so used to the previous one who had narrated most of the others. A little criticism is the repeated use of "ergo" and "slunk" , and perhaps the frequent "let's go over what we know" !

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2 people found this helpful

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

An entertaining mystery

What made the experience of listening to The Lost Abbot the most enjoyable?

Susanna Gregory's amusing and descriptive style of writing.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Lost Abbot?

The climax at the end of the story where the reader/listener discovers who was really the bad guy!

What about Andrew Wincott’s performance did you like?

He reads well and in a manner entirely suited to the story and the author's style of writing.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I'm afraid I have no idea!

Any additional comments?

Susanna Gregory isn't for everyone; my husband finds her books too full of tiny details but they make me laugh out loud, especially when she attributes various comical opinions to Matthew Bartholomew and I can just picture the look on his face at the antics of his colleagues.

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6 people found this helpful

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

disconcerting

it is disconcerting to have a different narrator - takes longer to recognise who is who.

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1 person found this helpful

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

This held my interest

I was interested to find out the whys and wherefores of the Abbott who had gone missing, but I really didn't enjoy the unpleasant goings on, the terrible greed and selfishness of all the religious people. Maybe it WAS like that, if it was, I am surprised that any religion still has followers..

I cannot say that I enjoyed the book though the story was OK.

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

Oh Susanna the new narrated has ruined your wonderful plot

I always look forward with relish to a new Mathew Bartholomew, the shock went it started lasted the full read. Sorry but he has destroyed the comic banter that David Thorpe acts out

Please re-record

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