peterf

Start with The Sands of Windee

Revisado: 01-01-22

The Napoleon Bonaparte mysteries are a hidden gem, particularly the first dozen or so. Per advice from other reviewers, I started the series with book #2, The Sands of Windee. Came back much later to The Barrakee Mystery, and while it is entertaining, and in parts compelling, Bony plays a minor tile in the story. Come back to it later as I did if you care to, but jump into the series at book 2 where the story centers on Bony and Aboriginal culture as the primary focus.

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Best Inspector Bonaparte yet!

Revisado: 11-07-20

I've enjoyed this series immensely, both story and narration. The Bone is Pointed is, by far, my favorite so far. It delves deeply into Aboriginal culture, and also touches on racial prejudice and its consequences. Much earlier 20th century fiction unabashedly reflects the attitudes of the time towards women and people of color, and it can be jarring and unpleasant to read today. This book acknowledges the immorality of that contemporary racial prejudice and its devastating effects on the Aboriginal population, much as Dorothy L Sayers does with misogyny in some of the Lord Peter Wimsey stories.

As an aside of interest, Barcoo disease is caused by cyanobacterial poisoning (blue-green algae in water) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1454012/

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A superb book, narrated to perfection.

Revisado: 02-10-18

I'm a Dickens fan, read most all he wrote decades ago. Decided to revisit Two Cities for driving entertainment, and I am utterly awestruck all over again at Dickens' ability to capture every nuance of reality, both physical and emotional, in his scenes. The scene of Manette at his cobblers bench in the garret is one of the most vivid ever written in the English language.

The experience of Dickens via audio book is made perfect by Vance's narration. It is an absolutely masterful performance in every way. And performance is the operative word- his voicing, cadence, and emotional interpretation are spot on. What an total pleasure in every respect. I have no patience for the narration of many audio books, and in fact have returned more than one because the reader is lackluster or even terrible. I am even further ruined now because this is simply the best I have heard.

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