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  • A Shadow on the Lens

  • By: Sam Hurcom
  • Narrated by: John Telfer
  • Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (53 ratings)

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A Shadow on the Lens

By: Sam Hurcom
Narrated by: John Telfer
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Summary

The Postmaster looked over my shoulder. As I turned to look I saw a flicker of movement from across the street. I felt unseen eyes peer at me.

He walked away without another word. I watched as he climbed onto his bicycle and sped away down the street. I turned back and looked over my shoulder.

Someone had been watching us.

1904. Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, is called to the sleepy and remote Welsh village of Dinas Powys, several miles down the coast from the thriving port of Cardiff. A young girl by the name of Betsan Tilny has been found murdered in the woodland - her body bound and horribly burnt. But the crime scene appears to have been staged, and worse still: the locals are reluctant to help.

As the strange case unfolds, Thomas senses a growing presence watching him, and try as he may, the villagers seem intent on keeping their secret. Then one night, in the grip of a fever, he develops the photographic plates from the crime scene in a makeshift darkroom in the cellar of his lodgings. There, he finds a face dimly visible in the photographs; a face hovering around the body of the dead girl - the face of Betsan Tilny.

©2019 Sam Hurcom (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group
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What listeners say about A Shadow on the Lens

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

very enjoyable

I bought this one on a bit of a whim.
It's a book that does try to answer all questions by the end but the actual summary feels a bit... rushed and like it doesn't make sense with the rest of the story. It may be that it is supposed to feel that way due to the nature of the story itself so it can leave it open to interpretation while questioning the leads belief. The main character is just hugely dislikeable with a ridiculous ego which does add to being able to question the outcome. What I will say is the twists were a bit obvious from the get go, you can already see and tell what's going on from the start and there are hints throughout which are pretty heavy handed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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give it a listen

loved it, great book. the narration helped bring it to life. helped me imagine what was going on

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic book

Really enjoyed the book. Twists and turns everywhere. Will admit I didn't work it out till the end

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not a nice character

I'd read another review on this story that the main character was not very nice and ignored it because good books and good stories often have conflicting characters. But, I completely understand now - I cannot continue to listen only a couple of chapters in - I don't know if it is the way it is read or whether the author intended him to be quite so mean spirited but either way, that's not for me. Perhaps he softens later on or we find out why he is so awful but I'd rather not listen for that long.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dear God!

Life is too short to waste on this book!

I bought this as it had such good reviews, but the main character is a total idiot and unpleasant and none of the other characters had any depth. He blunders through the investigation in an arrogant manner,. His ability to solve the crime was greatly aided by coincidences and accident!

I found the 9 hour monologue drawn out and boring.

I really regret wasting a credit as I had such high hopes of this author. I really don't understand where all the glowing reviews came from.


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7 people found this helpful