"Still, that was what censorship was for, what?"

Would you consider the audio edition of Winter's Revenge to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version but do believe this would have been more enjoyable had I read rather than listened to this book.

Any additional comments?

This book is a strange mix of components: the obsession of inspector Guy Wordsworth Winter to track down a serial killer whose crimes seem to emulate the horrendous Jack the Ripper murders from the previous century, one current victim possibly being the policeman's own wife; the graphic recounting of the Ripper's own trail of terror in the past; the ongoing social situation of a London population under attack from German air bombardment; and the attitudes and lifestyles of the upper echelons of that same society. A mystery thriller set in the past, itself investigation in parts a decades old crime.

Does it work? Well, the style of writing is certainly closer to that of the 1930s than present day and the somewhat clipped narration of Melanie Fraser further suggests that period, sounding closer to a period B.B.C. reporting than a present day reading. The phraseology used is also often in character for books of the time. Recounting of the chaos caused by intensive bomb destruction also adds colour and verisimilitude to the story.

However, Winter is no Sherlock Holmes as is suggested by the pressor blurb, but rather a withdrawn, near broken man, who bumbles his way to solutions rather than adding there by insightful assessment of the facts. And the whole investigation is further muddied by the schemes and prejudices of the secret service and parts of government at the time, up to and including the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. It is because of the vagaries of a large cast of players and the constant references to the life of spies and returns to the original Ripper case that I would have preferred to read rather than listen to this book. Greater clarity.

Whilst Ms.Fraser"s narration was good, clear and added to the atmosphere of the time in which the story is set, the real mystery for me remains the choice of a female narrator for a book primarily set in a male dominated world of War crisis, where almost all of the main protagonists are male and the dialogue, which constitutes much of the writing, is, consequently, between men. She does a stalwart job and I especially commend her voicing of the very recognisable Winston Churchill. But there are several excellent British male narrators who are capable of endowing the same period feeling whilst bringing additional gravitas to the background story. It would have been less distracting and given a more realistic feeling to the book overall.

With numerous characters pursuing their own agendas and a constant, sometimes repititious reviewing of autopsy reports and such like from the original Ripper murders in all of their gruesome detail, I found this not a straightforward listen but somewhat confusing at times. This said, it was an enjoyable book and my thanks to the rights holder who gifted me a copy via Audiobook Boom. If for no other reason, this is worth hearing to recapture some of the, thankfully now forgotten, attitudes of the British upper classes at the commencement of World War Two.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Enjoyable and atmospheric

I enjoyed this second book in the Guy Winters series. This isn't a substantially new story but a continuation on where things finished in the last book. I would recommend you read the first book in the series first. Melanie Frasers narration is once again like a Rolls Royce purring effortlessly conveying you along the paths of the story. I did miss some of the romantic tension of the first book which gave the book a nice edge. The book mixes London in the Blitz and Jack the Ripper London in its story line. This was mostly done well but on a couple of occasions I found this slightly jarring. All in all a good read. Bring on book three please.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Amazing

I love it when a story starts off with a punch and very quickly I think to myself, "I know exactly who the villain is..." or "I know what's going to happen next..." and in the very next sentence I'm proved 100% wrong.
So many twists and turns but so easy to follow them. Very clever writing by James Philip.
WWII is a reality with nightly bombings of England and Guy being called away in the middle of the night leaving his fiancee and daughter to try and solve the mystery of the Pearl murders (which are continuing) doesn't make him happy. That he can't solve this mystery which mimics the Jack the Ripper ones is driving him nuts and he can't work out what he isn't seeing.
Once again Melanie Fraser has helped make this book extremely entertaining with her excellent rendition of each voice. Both she and James Philip make an awesome and powerful team.
I received a free audiobook from the narrator and this is my unbiased review of the story which I am very happy to recommend.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great!

What made the experience of listening to Winter's Revenge the most enjoyable?

The excellent narration by Melanie Fraser made listening to Winter's Revenge most enjoyable. The story picks up where it left off in book one and it gently unfolds as Guy Winter's hunts the person responsible for his wife's murder. There is some rehashing of events that happened in previous books, slowing the pace of the plot a little bit too much for me, however the twists and turns kept my interest in the story and the suspense towards the end of the book had me on the edge of my seat.

Any additional comments?

I voluntarily received a review copy.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!