Old God's Time cover art

Old God's Time

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Old God's Time

By: Sebastian Barry
Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER

TWICE WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR

Tom Kettle, a retired policeman, and widower, is settling into the quiet of his new home in Dalkey, overlooking the sea. His solitude is interrupted when two former colleagues turn up at his door to ask about a traumatic, decades-old case. A case that Tom never quite came to terms with. And his peace is further disturbed when his new neighbour, a mysterious young mother, asks for his help.

A beautiful, haunting novel, in which nothing is quite as it seems, Old God's Time is an unforgettable exploration of family, loss and love

©2023 Sebastian Barry (P)2023 Faber Audio
Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction United States Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Broadland cover art
Outback cover art
The Snow Killer cover art
The Complete George Smiley Radio Dramas cover art
On Blueberry Hill cover art
Exit Unicorns cover art
My Perfect Daughter cover art
Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow cover art
Hunted cover art
Murder in Tuscany cover art
Into Suez cover art
The Lost Girls of Willowbrook cover art
My Name Is Anton cover art
The Black Mountains cover art
The Wild Inside cover art
Furies cover art

Critic reviews

"His work reminds us how much we need these rare gifts of the natural storyteller." (Tessa Hadley)

"Full of love and heartache, this is an unforgettable novel from one of our finest writers." (Douglas Stuart)

"Shocking, stunning and extraordinarily brave. Barry has once again written a character for the ages." (Liz Nugent)

What listeners say about Old God's Time

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    216
  • 4 Stars
    70
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    21
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    254
  • 4 Stars
    44
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    15
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    189
  • 4 Stars
    74
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    20

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you enjoyed the Secret Scripture

If you enjoyed the Secret Scripture, you will appreciate and enjoy this. Indeed, you will note the many little references to the earlier work. It is not quite a sequel though, more a continuation on several themes. In the sole voice of ex-detective Tom, questions of memory, trauma and coming to terms with an often confused past are explored. The trauma in the Secret Scripture arose out of the civil war, here it is the experience of boys and girls within institutional care and the abuse many of them had to endure. Not an easy read, then, but you will be well rewarded. Once again, Barry's wonderful prose is given life by Stephen Hogan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very sad tale , beautiful language , very moving

could be triggering for some people. very beautifully written . strong characters and very sad. Very moving .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The language. Oh, the language!

Brilliantly read. A mesmerising listen which takes you into your own soul. No wonder this book has won so many awards.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The great emotion in the reading

Such a difficult read, but oh, what a great story. I thought at one point I wasn't going to be able to complete the book, the subject matter being so difficult, but really pleased I did. The story and the reading of it will stay with me for a long time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sublime

Poetic writing covering love, loss, heartache and retribution. Fantastic narration which echoed every emotion and sentiment. Deliberately unclear whether some emotions and memories are real or remembered so listened twice (back-to-back) - and it was just as mesmerising and enjoyable the second time as it was the first.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Initially the style was perplexing but ultimately really moving

Wonderful imagery. Initially I found it difficult to get into the “stream of consciousness” style but worth the effort since it proved to be a deeply moving narrative. Great narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredibly beautiful

Another phenomenal book by Sebastian Barry. He writes so beautifully with such a delicate turn of phrase. I did have to keep stopping to take in all of the story, which was difficult to hear sometimes. What lives he created, vividly told and richly described.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heartbreakingly beautiful

I loved this book. I listened many times even though it is heartbreaking. For the lyrical beauty of its words to its haunting quality of compassion.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An outstanding read

The reader had great sympathy with the subject matter which was sometimes very distressing. An excellent read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Deeply touching, sad tale

Very well narrated.
Very touching story, touching on abuse, the Catholic Church and childhood trauma, but beautifully written.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!