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The House on Vesper Sands

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The House on Vesper Sands

By: Paraic O'Donnell
Narrated by: Charles Armstrong
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Summary

 Richly atmospheric and deliciously eerie, The House on Vesper Sands is a gothic mystery set in Victorian London - best read while the night deepens and lamplight flickers . . .
'Dickens is whirling enviously in his grave' Irish Times
'Clever and funny and exquisitely disturbing' Joanna Cannon
'Spine-tinglingly spooky' Red

In Victorian London, poor women are vanishing, and rumours abound of a shadowy gang known as the Spiriters.

While Gideon Bliss sets out in search of his lost love, a seamstress jumps to her death with a mysterious message stitched into her own skin. Nearby, her aristocratic employer makes an abrupt exit from a gala ball, with society columnist Octavia Hillingdon in pursuit.

And on the sullen Kent shore, as the darkness gathers, secrets lie hidden at the house on Vesper Sands.©2017 Paraic O'Donnell Historical Historical Fiction Horror Mystery Romance Traditional Detectives Victorian Scary Fiction Detective Suspense
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Critic reviews

A gloriously unorthodox confection, part Wilkie Collins, part Conan Doyle, with a generous handful of police procedural and a splash of Stella Gibbons's Cold Comfort Farm. Both disquietingly eerie and impossible to read without laughing out loud ... A cracking good read.
The House on Vesper Sands is tremendously good - and tremendously good fun
The most vivid and compelling portrait of late Victorian London since The Crimson Petal and the White (Sarah Perry, author of THE ESSEX SERPENT)
Clever and funny and exquisitely disturbing, an utter joy (Joanna Cannon)
Charles Dickens is whirling enviously in his grave ... Brilliantly written, compelling and satisfying in so many ways. It demands to be read by a fire on a cold winter evening (but make sure the doors are locked before you begin). I only wish it had been twice as long.
Witty, immersive, chock full of atmosphere and setting (hello Victorian London), three-dimensional characters, an addictive plot and snappy dialogue, The House On Vesper Sands has everything you want it in a novel. If you're stuck for a book to buy this Christmas, then this could well be it.
Like the love child of Dickens and Conan Doyle, but funnier than both (Liz Nugent, author of LYING IN WAIT)
I'm not completely sure what the word 'rollicking' means, but I can personally guarantee that The House on Vesper Sands is a rollicking good read. For a novel about grief, estrangement, and the literal stealing of vulnerable young women's souls, this book is a lot more fun than it has any right to be. Paraic O'Donnell's sheer love of his characters is exuberant and infectious; the dialogue crackles with verve and wit, and the plotting is as intricately satisfying as a heavy pocket watch. The setting may be Victorian , but in modern parlance this novel is an absolute banger (Jon McGregor, author of RESERVOIR 13)
A hugely entertaining read, spry of pace, funny, beautifully descriptive and satisfyingly sinister. A perfect book to read by winter candlelight
A compelling, darkly funny portrait of late Victorian London, and focuses on crimes with a supernatural flavour
An immersive and darkly entertaining story of love, loss and lies set in a vividly realised Victorian London
A mash-up of Victoria Gothic and fantasy, this is huge fun
All stars
Most relevant
I Really enjoyed this book. gentle and easy. i would live to hear more from Inspector Cutter. what a great character he is.

very enjoyable.

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Brilliantly narrated (I’m reading as well as listening) I’ve had this book on my TBR since it was published and somehow it got left behind & I’m only just reading it. I have however preordered the next in the series and definitely won’t be forgetting that one.
Some wonderful humour & great use of language. There wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy about book. Can’t wait for the next one.

One Of The Best Narrators I’ve Heard

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That's a one word review. Loved every second of the story, the narration and the pace.

Perfect!

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Really enjoyed listening to this book. Loved the charactors. Having listened to a number of Victorian detective stories, this has a charm which many do not. while detailing living conditions etc of the era it did so in a way that highlighted the unpleasantness without the nauseating language of other authoes. Excellent narration Hope there are more from this author. Highly recommend.

Highly Recommend

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Please May we have him in a series, Paraic. He deserves it, he is such a great character. I came to love his nasal tone of voice, his sardonic expressions and his strength of character. I thought it was an interesting story with some good historical insights, the language surprisingly up to date at times. Enough gothic flavour to be familiar but not too much to be sensational. A good read all in all

Three cheers for Inspector Cutter

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