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Preview
  • The Thief Taker

  • The Thief Taker, Book 1
  • By: C. S. Quinn
  • Narrated by: Napoleon Ryan
  • Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (649 ratings)

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The Thief Taker

By: C. S. Quinn
Narrated by: Napoleon Ryan
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Summary

The year is 1665. Black Death ravages London. A killer stalks the streets in a plague doctor’s hood and mask....

When a girl is gruesomely murdered, thief taker Charlie Tuesday reluctantly agrees to take on the case. But the horrific remains tell him this is no isolated death. The killer’s mad appetites are part of a master plan that could destroy London – and reveal the dark secrets of Charlie’s own past.

Now the thief taker must find this murderous mastermind before the plague obliterates the evidence street by street. This terrifying pursuit will take Charlie deep into the black underbelly of old London, where alchemy, witchcraft and blood-spells collide.

In a city drowned in darkness, death could be the most powerful magic of all.

©2014 C.S. Quinn (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved
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What listeners say about The Thief Taker

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

a good listen

I was recommended this as I enjoy the SJ Paris books and although not quite as good the story line was good and the descriptions of London in its darkest of times was good. worth while a listen

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

Marvellous

On first reading I had no expectations as such but as the story unfolded I found I could put it down. This, I must confess, was due to the brilliant narration of the narrator. His narrative skills are marvellous.

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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

Enjoyable

I liked hearing about how London was even if it may not be absolutely accurate it was interesting. I enjoyed the pace and the story.

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

Good but slow

A good story but a bit slow in parts. I missed bits out completely bur still followed the story.

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

Good historical crime story if a bit predictable.

Good historical crime story. Interesting characters, and nice historic details, story was OK but a little bit too predictable at times and just occasionally coincidences became borderline silly but I still think I'll read the next in series.

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

A Great Opening Book.

What made the experience of listening to The Thief Taker the most enjoyable?

A great sense of place, the author really gets the population's panic of being caught in a pandemic plague. I've not listened to any books set in Restoration England before and this was interesting, it showed the uneasy truce between the factions of the Civil Wars.

What other book might you compare The Thief Taker to, and why?

CJ Sansom and SJ Parris. Both series set in historic England. They both feature reluctant detectives. This series is a little less cerebral than the Shardlake or Bruno books. It's more of a thriller and that's not a bad thing. Its a rollicking read!

Have you listened to any of Napoleon Ryan’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, but it was a fine narration.

Any additional comments?

An enjoyable start to a set of mysteries. What seems like a relatively straightforward whodunnit soon becomes a conspiracy thriller with the state of the nation in danger.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Well spoken

I listened intently to this story over two days,very enjoyable,more to come already download ed

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Solid Read/Listen

Set in London in the times of plague, this was always going to be a good listen. The squalor and hardship of the inner city dwellers locked in by checkpoints and unable to escape juxtaposed with the wealthy nobles and their ability to pass freely through the city and escape to the less plague ridden suburbs.

Some gruesome detail and a nice twist on the plague story, this was a highly enjoyable book, narrated well with good pace and some really great characters

Well worth a credit. Would I listen to it again....not sure. Maybe I'd get more of the detail and the intrigue with the benefit of knowing the outcome

As per the title...A Solid Listen

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

superbly written full of excitement and suspense

Quin's story unfolds exceedingly enchanting. Very informative for me to learn ways of 16th century London and multiple odd occupations people uaed to take and the life and wonts women had. Rnjoyed thoroughly. Equal credit must go to Napolean Ryan's appealing and quite engaging voice over. This book wouldn't be as good an experience without Napolean Ryan. Quin & Napolean together take the cake.

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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

What a brilliant book. Have been glued to my earphones every waking minute. Thoroughly enjoyable.

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