River of Darkness

By: Rennie Airth

Narrated by: Christopher Kay

In 1921, the bloodied bodies of Colonel Fletcher, his wife and two staff are found in a manor house in Surrey. The police have put the murders down to a violent robbery, but Detective Inspector Madden from Scotland Yard has his own suspicions. In the meantime the killer is plotting his second strike.

©1999 Rennie Airth (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLC

A Delightful New Series!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely yes! I would recommend it for anyone who loves mysteries, complex characters, and a powerful story.

What other book might you compare River of Darkness to and why?

I love mysteries and suspenseful books like Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Charles Todd, and Louise Penny, but have read all of those. This was an amazing find and I wish there were more in Airth's series!

What about Christopher Kay’s performance did you like?

I thought it was varied and that he captured a great range of emotion throughout the book, especially for some of the darker moments.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I broke it up since I'm in grad school but it became harder and harder to turn it off!!

Any additional comments?

This is a wonderful mystery and anyone who likes Agatha Christie, Charles Todd, or Louise Penny will love this new series and the depth of these captivating characters. I also hope that Audible makes the 2nd and 3rd books in the series quickly, since only the 1st and 4th have been recorded so far!

I like a little romance with my mystery!

I like a little romance with my mystery! Seriously, And there is even a bit of sex! I really have enjoyed the Ian Rutledge books, but he could use a bit of romance in his damaged life, too. Look at the good it has done John Madden. As Americans, we don't appreciate the horror the British suffered in WWI. I learned a lot from the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series. Anyway, this was a good procedural historical novel. The narration was great. I highly recommend this book in it's audio version.

This Mystery Does Not Sacrifice Story

River of Darkness exceeded my expectations. I thought I was buying a detective yarn, where a brilliant detective would be paired against a wily and diabolical killer, chasing clue after clue until finally piecing together the mystery. And make no mistake, those elements are strong throughout the book, but at the same time, RoD offers quite a bit more.

Like all the best stories, this is really about living people, not murders. This is somewhat ironic, given that when we first meet him, the protagonist is a man in many respects already dead. Set just a few years after WWI, the echoes of that terrible conflict are still very much present in the world of "River." It seems to stain combatants and non-combatants alike, men and women both.

Despite the grisly subject matter and the sense of ennui that seems to surround so many of the characters when we first meet them, this is ultimately a positive, redemptive book.

Had me on the edge of my seat, by the end.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, good integration on some of the early forensic advancements made by the Scotland Yard.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, once it got going. It was a bit of a slow start but there was enough to keep me wanting to turn it on. Once it got going, about 1/4 way through, I was loving the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really enjoyed where the narration came from the killer. I would have really enjoyed hearing more of his story and was disappointed how we didn't hear much about his family and upbringing in detail until the very end.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really, it's not that kind of story but I was very invested in the main characters.

Super

Can't wait to hear more from the author and the narrator. Listened to the whole book in two days. Nothing else accomplished. Can't wait to hear more from both.