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  • The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

  • Written by: Garth Nix
  • Narrated by: Marisa Calin
  • Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)

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The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

Written by: Garth Nix
Narrated by: Marisa Calin
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Publisher's Summary

A girl's quest to find her father leads her to an extended family of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World of England when it intrudes on the modern world. From the best-selling master of teen fantasy, Garth Nix.

In a slightly alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father, a man she has never met. Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to help her, but Susan doesn't get time to ask Frank any questions before he is turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin.

Merlin is a young left-handed bookseller (one of the fighting ones), who with the right-handed booksellers (the intellectual ones) are an extended family of magical beings who police the mythic and legendary Old World when it intrudes on the modern world, in addition to running several bookshops.

Susan's search for her father begins with her mother's possibly misremembered or misspelt surnames, a reading room ticket, and a silver cigarette case engraved with something that might be a coat of arms.

Merlin has a quest of his own, to find the Old World entity who used ordinary criminals to kill his mother. As he and his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, tread in the path of a botched or covered-up police investigation from years past, they find this quest strangely overlaps with Susan's. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out, as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New.

©2020 Garth Nix (P)2020 Listening Library

What listeners say about The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

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  • Overall
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Well-paced adventure in a well-crafted world

Garth Nix is back in full strength, bringing the reader into a world so much like our own and yet magically different. The characters in this book are likeable and fun, and if the story follows a certain pattern, it is never boring.

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Magical fun

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The magic combines with folklore and a dash of Doctor Who (in the sense of things appearing normal until they are not) to create an exciting romp through the UK. There is also a good dose of humour, which had me laughing out load in places, plus some genuine creepiness too. The narrator does a good job making the many characters sound unique. I am looking forward to the sequel, which will be available shortly, so I can see what the characters will get up to next.

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