An Unpardonable Crime

By: Andrew Taylor

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Edgar Allan Poe is an American boy in England, a child standing on the edge of mysteries. In 1819, two Americans arrive in London. Soon afterward a bank collapses. A man is found horribly mutilated on a building site and an heiress flirts with her inferiors. All the while, Poe's young schoolmaster struggles to understand what is happening before he and his loved ones are destroyed. But the truth, like the youthful Poe himself, has its origins in the New World as well as the Old, in a bitter episode of corruption during the War of 1812.

With settings ranging from the coal-scented urban jungle of late Regency London to the stark winter landscapes of a rural Gloucestershire, An Unpardonable Crime is a multi-layered literary murder mystery, a historical novel, and a love story. In addition to shedding fascinating light on Edgar Allan Poe, the book is a fast-paced suspenseful tale, filled with shocking revelations.

©2004 Andrew Taylor

Critic reviews

"Taylor does an excellent job in portraying early 19th-century London and writes in a clear, consistent period style...." (Publishers Weekly)
"Taylor is a major thriller talent."(Time Out London)
"A remarkable thriller, elegantly written...a work of superlative fiction." (Denver Post)

Eerie

Eerie... engrossing... enticing... extraordinary. Those are just a few words that adequately describe this great book. Great narrator and great characters go well with the excellent plot.

Great listen intriguing story

This was my second audiobook and got me hooked. The story has so many twists and turns and is very well written.

Entertaining, easy listen!

Simon Vance gives yet another stellar performance in An Unpardonable Crime. Set in 1819, this story chronicles fictional events in the childhood of one Edgar Allen Poe, as experienced by schoolmaster Thomas Shield. Featuring several grisly murders, a love interest, and plenty of intrigue, this was one quick-paced audiobook that I just couldn't hit the pause button on.

An Enjoyable Book

The book features a cast of well developed character and does a great job of establishing the period in which it is set. The reader was excellent and made listening a pleasure. Similarly, the story was easy to listen to and had a nice flow to it. I wouldn't recommend it for a first time listener because of its length, but if you're used to the audiobook format, go for it.

A nice listen.

I especially enjoyed this book. I would not call myself a sophisticated reader (listener), so I won’t be so bold as to say it is a superb literary work, but for the long commute to the office, this worked for me. It was made all the more enjoyable by the narrator. Simon Vance is terrific. His ability to provide a distinguishable voice for each character and be consistent throughout the reading helps to place the listener in the scene. Only 4 stars because I reserve 5 for my absolute favorite - the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, also read by Vance.