Dark, dreamy and strange

A strange and dreamy world in which space and time are transposed and intertwined. A mystery involving impossible murders, a teenage runaway and her rich family. This book managed to balance itself just right - inexplicable enough to be fascinating, but coherent enough to make a wonderful story. Full or fantastic poetic prose and vivid descriptions of the grey and dark edges of this weird and wonderful world.

The narrator was perfectly cast - his gravelly voice, full of understated emotion and quiet intensity fits perfectly with the story.

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Slow but hugely absorbing

This was a fascinating listen. A really absorbing story although very a very slow burn. The world in which the story is set is, quite frankly, ridiculous if you consider it in the harsh light (geddit?) of day but within the story it completely comes to life and both the setting and characters are totally believable and sympathetic.

I like Toby Longworth and he's does another good job on this book.

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2 people found this helpful

Weird

Basically a hard boiled noir detective story with a weird fantasy wrapping. Too weird for me at times and didn’t really care for any of the characters.

Narration was good.

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convoluted but little story

I bought this because it had some rave revues but it was not for me. The 'story' went on and on but nothing really seamed to happen. A rather depressing journey to nowhere.

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1 person found this helpful

Compelling, despite it's flaws

Maybe it's because the wonderfully lyrical passages drive the story forward as much as the plot. It is Jeff Noon after all. In Virt the idea of colliding worlds feet both rational and dreamlike without conflict. Here, by contrast, there are concepts not elaborated on that jar against the storey. Timelines, in their myriad forms, create the basis for day zone. That and the ever present artificial day secluded from the real world, and from time itself. All time is made, and everywhere has it's own time. The time crash, chronostasis, seem like not fully formed notions. Luckily there is more to this work than a clever idea, and in many ways I would far rather read this book than one based on a smart and detailed understanding of physics at the expense of a good story with a fulfilling ending. Its just a shame that he didn't take the time to really explore his ideas before committing them to the world and the psyche of his readers.

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Great story, appalling narrator

The story is fab, really imaginative and gripping, full of twists and turns. I didn’t know where this was going to go, which I liked!It’s a huge shame that it was let down by very poor narration. The man sounded like a sat nav, with little inflection or expression.

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Trys to hard. Poorly realised world.

Didn't like this at all. World makes no sense. No sort of explanation or believability. There's willing suspension of disbelief and then there's a half baked world of timelines that make no sense as a plot device. Writing style seems like its trying too hard and childish. I really wanted to like this. I really did. I'm a fan of the genre and like cliches. But sadly not good.

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1 person found this helpful