Entertaining and Engaging Storyline

When I purchased this book, I didn't expect it to be a good as Rhys Bowen's, Royal Spyness books. I was wrong -- it was better! It isn't the light-hearted fun listen that is expected in the Royal Spyness series.

The characters were believable, engaging and interesting. I felt, as I lived through the history of the period, while listening. Whenever I can vividly picture the characters and the scenery, a book has my full attention. I'm stingy with my 5 star rating. It deserves a solid 4 stars but since it exceeded my expectation, and the narration was excellent, I'm giving it 5 stars.

94 people found this helpful

Fun New Characters

I'm a big fan of the Royal Spyness series. This novel, which may or may not be a stand-alone title, has the same sort of class delineation and intrigue, but in a slightly more serious vein. I enjoyed it, despite its predictability (I anticipated the antagonist from very early on in the story). Bowen's pacing is always fine, the dialogue believable, and the plots intricate enough that you're never bored. The narrator had her hands full with so many characters, and she did a good job of giving each character a distinctive voice, though the upper class accents were a bit over the top, and her tone made the story seem lighter than it would have had I read it.

81 people found this helpful

I see a new series in the works

First of all, I am a huge Rhys Bowen fan. I looked forward to this book with great anticipation.

I listened to the audiobook and immediately got turned off by Gemma Dawson's narration. I hate when an author's work is negatively impacted by a poor narrator. Eventually I came to accept it (other than not finishing what was I to do?) and let the book speak (!) for itself.

I found this got better as it went along. It was a bit too full of cliches for my liking and the uses of "thinking outside the box" seemed out of context for the time period. But it was an enjoyable book and the characters were easy to like. MI5, Bletchley Park, stately homes, war heroes - what's not to like!

As I finished this I was thinking that there are many characters whose stories we need to follow. It seems Rhys has a new series in the works. At least I hope so.

72 people found this helpful

Annoying narration!

Generally, I like Rhys Bowen's books, especially her Evan Evans series. I expect I'll enjoy this one when I read it but I'm returning the audible version. The narrator employs a plummy, pip-pip, upper class voice that just grates on my nerves.

64 people found this helpful

Horrible Narraration

The only thing that kept me from returning this book immediately after beginning it was the fact that I felt I had a duty to see it to completion since other reviewers had commented upon Miss Dawson's narration, and I therefore had indeed been forewarned.
My love for Miss Bowen's Royal series compelled me to give this book a go, however, and her usual narrator for that series was quite enjoyable.
Not. So. This. Book. The over the top "high society" British accent made all characters mere cartoon personalities. No one did NOT have this horrible British affectation of speech, from the Lord and Lady (still exaggerated for even them) to the non-titled, the vicar, even the Germans. What were you thinking, Audible? Words cannot express how this presentation robbed the story of all tension, suspense and joy. And, by the way, although I NEVER guess who the bad guys are in any mystery, I figured this one out by the third chapter.
I think with a different narrator this book may have had a chance. After all, I don't listen to the Royal Spyness series for the mystery but for the pleasure of the story-telling, for the fun of the slight adventure.
It was such a relief to finally complete this book and put myself out of my misery. Sorry, Miss Bowen, this was painful.

55 people found this helpful

A disappointment after reading rave reviews

What disappointed you about In Farleigh Field?

The narrator, the plot, the stiff uninteresting characters, the cliche'd verbage

What was most disappointing about Rhys Bowen’s story?

The writing was so stereotypical. The characters were flat and could have been lifted directly from Downton Abbey. The plot was so very predictable from the start.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She differentiated between female characters only by raising the pitch of her voice. Very boring.

What character would you cut from In Farleigh Field?

None of them were exceptional. Why introduce Mavis as a potential sweetheart for Ben? Why introduce Gumby - just to raise an awareness in a spoiled aristocrat's daughter of another viewpoint??

Any additional comments?

I would not recommend the narrator nor the book to anyone.

47 people found this helpful

Golly! WWII Novel Is Great Mystery

Golly! From the first time the word is uttered, I was hooked. The narrator in the audio book has such a superb grasp of how the aristocracy sounded at least to my American ears that is. I loved this book and it is always a thrill when a Kindle Book of Month turns out to be so fantastic. This story is set at the beginning of WWII, in May 1941 before the allied joined to beat Hitler. In this story you learn that there are spies among us you would not expect and two of them are main characters, Lady Pamela and Ben Cresswell, the Vicar's son. Both are working under cover and the story meshes so well that the reader doesn't expect who is the planted German spy although there are lots of clues that make you suspect several main characters. This was my first book by Bowen but it won't be my last. This is a mystery based on actual facts. The location in Kent is fiction but the location and the events could have happened just as written. It is an excellent story and surprised me with the discovery of who the actual spy was because clues were left that it could be several people. Read it and enjoy. Gemma Dawson is excellent as narrator. The way she says 'Golly' has got to be the best aristocratic snobbery sound yet. Golly!

33 people found this helpful

Good story and good narration!

I notice there are mixed reviews for this story. We're used to hearing Rhys Bowen's charming "Royal Spyness" series--and if you try to compare this book to that, or the Molly Murphy series, you will probably be disappointed. Bowen's talent is making her books all different from each other. And I, for one, greatly enjoyed this book!

This was an interesting story because she used a historic time (World War II) to develop a fairly ambitious plot line with more characters than I typically am able to keep sorted as I listen. Given that this is a mystery, for a less talented writer, that would have been a huge problem. But it all works out very well, because she developed the characters well enough that by the end of the book, they were all very familiar.

The book concerns the age-old dilemma that war brings, when nobody knows completely whom to trust, and in fact, there is true espionage that is occurring throughout this story, but the reader isn't sure who is trustworthy vs disloyal.

I found it a very good listen. The narration was mostly pretty good, and the action moved at a steady pace. I recommend it. Despite it is a spy story about WWII, it is low on violence or sex, and in some ways, more closely resembles a "cozy" mystery. For those looking for more realistic war details, that could be disappointing, but I really think she used a nice touch--conveying the atmosphere of war and all that entails, without making violence a big part of the descriptions.

30 people found this helpful

If you like a great story...,,

This was a wonderful listen. If you like England during WWII this is a book for you. I hope there is a sequel!!

21 people found this helpful

Excellent start of a new series

It took a few chapters to get into the story as is usual for a new series but once I did I was hooked. It is very different from Bowen's Royal Spyness series, more serious although it still has enough light moments. An interesting, historical mystery that keeps you guessing and a nice love interest that leaves you wanting more. I am a big fan of British mysteries and I look forward to more in this series.

16 people found this helpful