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When Isabel Dalhousie sees a man fall from a balcony after a concert, she feels obliged to find out why he plummeted--was he pushed, did he jump, did he simply fall? As she says, "I was the last person that young man saw--don't you think that the last person you see on this earth owes you something?" Davina Porter creates a wonderful range of Scottish accents and delivers a... Read More
[Editor’s Note: The following is a combined review with QUEEN OF SCOTS.]--In the national portrait gallery in Edinburgh, there once was a crudely painted portrait of Mary Queen of Scots. From one angle, one beheld a vision of a lovely woman; from the other the flesh peeled away and left only a grisly skeleton. That is the compelling dichotomy that has bewitched centuries of... Read More
As Book Two of The Keepers saga opens, young Nell has earned the right to become the successor wizard. But when Lady Fidelia reveals a shattering secret, Nell is catapulted into yet another quest. Astride her demi-dragon, Minna, Nell befriends an imp, searches for her long-lost brother, and discovers some of the wisdom an adult wizard needs. Davina Porter narrates the... Read More
Young Nell is a princess in a kingdom whose imperial wizard no longer has the strength to maintain the balance between good and evil. Although her father is amused by the little bits of magic she has mastered, he doesn’t view her, a girl, as a serious contender to succeed him. But when boy after boy fails in trying out to become the wizard’s apprentice, Nell decides to take... Read More
Davina Porter has done most, if not all, of Perry's Victorian-era mysteries, so her superb performance of this one comes as no surprise. She is convincing as male or female of any social stratum--and one's place in society was of utmost importance in those days. Here, Charlotte Pitt, wife of Inspector Thomas Pitt, pushes at the limits of the behavior of a dutiful wife as she... Read More
Maria Worth organizes a group of wealthy singles for a matchmaking weekend in Lochdubh, Scotland. Her partner, Peta Gore, isn't supposed to be there but appears, unannounced and unwanted. Peta is grossly overweight, a vulgarian who shovels in food, slurping, sucking, and generally disgusting everyone nearby. Maria fears her careful plans will be ruined. Instead, the guests draw... Read More
In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, Elizabeth I was a formidable queen at a time when the rule of a world power by a woman was unusual and not overwhelmingly popular. Although Elizabeth stated many times that she refused to marry, issues of possible marital alliances and succession dominated affairs of state and foreign relations for much of her long reign.... Read More
Perry's Inspector Pitt novels are steeped in a meticulous, if somewhat grim, Victorian atmosphere. In this society, aristocratic parents can flat out refuse to answer police questions when their son's naked, violated body turns up in a London sewer. The frustration felt by the investigating detective as he is thwarted at every turn, not the least by his own superiors,... Read More
Davina Porter brings her wonderful delivery to this timeless classic, written in 1829. Her presentation is perfect for both creatures. As the story unwinds, the wily, persuasive spider and the stupid, vain fly come alive as we hear each creature's resolve strengthen or weaken. The story is followed by some clever, funny, and very contemporary remarks regarding life's lessons.... Read More
Poor Hamish Macbeth. He’s got a miserable cold, and his mother has just called to say he can’t come home for Christmas. When the gorgeous Jane Wetherby invites him to spend the holiday at her Scottish island health farm to figure out who is trying to kill her, he agrees to come. The odd assortment of guests includes Heather Todd, an insufferable snob, and it is she, in fact,... Read More
A haughty young noble and a street swindler find their way to God and each other in the years following WWI. Allison MacNeil, ever mindful of class distinction, can't help her attraction to the handsome stranger who helps her fix her car. And he can't help but be warmed by her family's devotion to Christ and each other. Davina Porter gives each character in this Scottish saga a... Read More
Hamish Macbeth needs a holiday. However, his economical choice in the north of Scotland turns out to be quite hellish and includes a murder--which, as a visiting constable with considerable intuition, he must help to solve. Davina Porter sparkles as she liltingly regales us with Beaton's keen descriptions of people and places. She would appear to be the perfect instrument for... Read More
Seasoned time-traveler Claire Randall Fraser has decided to remain in eighteenth-century North Carolina with her Scottish husband, James, and their daughter and grandchildren. Knowing how the American Revolution turns out can't prevent the difficulties and violence associated with colonial life. Davina Porter carries the story with a vibrancy and consistency that keep the... Read More
This vast novel of Victorian adventure, which won the 2000 Whitbread Award, is told by a rotation of first-person voices. The main characters include a piratical captain smuggling stolen goods and other contraband from hither to yon, the English passengers he has been forced to take in order to finance his voyage, and various inhabitants of present-day Tasmania, both European... Read More
Oh, what a sly, darkly funny, and strange story Dame Muriel Spark has concocted in this slender novel. In 1974, British Lord Lucan disappeared from England after purportedly murdering his children's nanny in an attempt to kill his wife. This much is fact. Now the fiction: In 1994, European psychiatrist Hildegard Wolf is intrigued by two new patients, who both claim to be Lord... Read More
This novel has an interesting premise--the reader is taken on Arctic explorations past and present, and on an occasional side trip with polar bears in between. The modern-day explorers are driven to find out more about a 150-year old tragedy at sea, and the reader gets a look into the lives of both sets of adventurers. With a crisp, efficient storytelling style, Davina Porter... Read More
Village Constable Hamish Macbeth has suspects aplenty when a trouble making wealthy newcomer dies under suspicious circumstances. Hamish sorts the truth from the lies while maintaining his reputation as a lazy local bobby with no ambition. In truth, Hamish is as capable as Davina Porter's narration is entertaining. Porter captures Hamish's laconic charm as vividly as she... Read More
Go back to the second century A.D., when Rome influences all and the "old" religions are struggling to keep their foothold in Britain. The Priestess, who is from the royal House of Avalon, that mysterious island shrouded in mists and magic, marries Flavius Valerius Constantius, who becomes a Roman Emperor, and she becomes the mother of Constantine. As we learn about Roman... Read More
Descriptions of the primrose hillsides and breathtaking pastures of northern Scotland form the backdrop for this predictable love story between a beautiful heiress and rogue distant cousin. The romantic setting encourages the young couple to fall in love and learn about God's love for them. Davina Porter handles the material expertly. She sounds just like Roma Downey, of... Read More
Perry turns over some rocks, or in this case tombstones, in Victorian England, and at least one slimy individual crawls out. It seems corpses are being disinterred and posed all over London. It's up to Inspector Thomas Pitt to investigate. Davina Porter gives a faultless performance; not a word of the text goes unappreciated. As the gulf between rich and poor is made clear in... Read More
The delightful English accent of Davina Porter brings life and intimacy to this story of Perdita, a young woman who grows vegetables in the English countryside to sell to area restaurants. Her simple life becomes complicated when she learns that her disagreeable former husband has become the new chef in one of those restaurants. Fforde's romantic tale takes various twists and... Read More
If you can accept a newly crowned Queen Elizabeth I as an amateur sleuth, you may enjoy this well-researched Elizabethan murder mystery. Commendably, Davina Porter almost succeeds at making the dignified Elizabeth, with her imperious voice, a believable detective. Lesser characters are also depicted well. This is a satisfying listening experience many will enjoy. D.L.G. ©... Read More
Prince Raphael has a problem--he became king when his father died, in keeping with the ancient laws, but to wear the crown and truly call the kingdom his own, he must find and marry a woman who is his equal in beauty, wealth, and wisdom, a virtually impossible task as far as he’s concerned. As Prince Raphael, narrator Davina Porter oozes arrogance and contempt for others. Her... Read More
Anne Perry has an uncanny way of immersing listeners in the world of Victorian London in her two historical mystery series. Here, Charlotte and Thomas Pitt get involved in a series of perplexing crimes amidst the upper crust of society on Paragon Walk. Charlotte’s better-married sister lives on the Walk and must accept her brother-in-law’s assignment to the crime scene. Davina... Read More
Ending her engagement and finding work on a hotel boat, Julia Fairfax makes a fresh start. Knowing she’s barely qualified but aspiring to new adventure, Julia pursues the unique career of cooking and canalling. Narrator Davina Porter voices Julia's whimsical vitality as she navigates English canals and copes with guests and co-workers. Listening to Julia's antics becomes... Read More
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