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When the Dead Cry Out

By: Hilary Bonner
Narrated by: Annie Aldington
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Summary

One summer day Clara Marshall vanished without trace. A few days later, her children, six-year-old Lorraine and five-year-old Janine, also disappeared and were never seen again. Richard Marshall, Clara's heartbroken husband, claimed he had discovered his wife was having an affair with an Australian backpacker and that she had run away with him, taking the children with her, destroying the family for ever.

That was 27 years ago. John Kelly, veteran journalist, covered the case when he was a trainee reporter and he suspected something far more sinister. Police enquiries discovered no Australian backpacker and the biggest missing persons operation ever mounted in the south of England revealed nothing. Detective Superintendent Karen Meadows has been familiar with case since childhood and she is only too aware that many suspect Marshall of murdering his wife and children. But where are the bodies? And what is the motive? Then extraordinary events reawaken the case and Kelly and Karen become determined to discover what happened to Clara and her children so long ago, and to seek justice for them.

©2003 Hilary Bonner (P)2010 Random House Audiobooks
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What listeners say about When the Dead Cry Out

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

Feel a bit let down

This started off really well and I took every opportunity to listen. About half way through though it lost the plot for me. Felt there were gaping holes in the story and some of the character developments seemed highly improbable. I actually gave up an hour before the end as I'd completely lost interest.

The narrator was excellent.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Narrator

Story so so but with the the narrator excellent. I would recommend mostly because of the narration

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1 person found this helpful

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

Twisting and turning and then some

This is the eight fiction book from Hilary Bonner and wonderfully read by Annie Aldington. I felt the narrative really brought it to life aiding the delivery.
The story begins in 1975 with Clara Marshall and Lorraine and Janine her daughters vanishing. The Devon and Cornwall Police suspect Richard the father of killing his family. Richard is as cool as a cucumber saying nothing except that Clara and the children ran away with an Australian backpacker.
Clara's father Sean MacDonald who was estranged from his daughter particularly pushes this theory having no time or patience for Richard.
John Kelly is the journalist covering the case initially as a trainee and longtime friend of Karen Meadows. He long suspected Richard. Despite digging he found no trace of any backpacker or Clara and her children anywhere at home or abroad.
Karen Meadows a child when the disappearance happened lived in the same street and was aware of the mystery.
Failing to secure evidence to charge the case went into the Cold Case basement.
Fast forward over two decades later divers exploring a sunken Nazi boat find part of a skeleton with a Rolex watch that leads back to Clara.
Karen Matthews is now Detective Superintendent leading the inquiry. She wonders what happened to the children.
Richard is found basically unchanged and 'keeping schtum' living with a much younger woman.
There is a love interest for Karen with a younger married detective.
This is my first read by Hilary Bonner and I so enjoyed it There were so many twists and turns none I saw coming I kept thinking 'Whats next' and so looking forward to it. I would highly recommend this and have just purchased some others in the series to read.



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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Liked the story but poor narrator

Where does When the Dead Cry Out rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is not the best - no real mystery - but the plot and story were good and I did enjoy it!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I didn't have a massive reaction either way. I did enjoy this book.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator's voice spoiled it for me. You could hear her opening and closing her mouth. Also, the way she said the word 'trousers' had me groaning...'trousies' ..and 'tea-chers' instead of 'teachers'...

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No but it was enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

No

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1 person found this helpful

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

Loved this book

I really enjoyed this book I have only recently discovered Hilary Bonner and can't wait to start the next one, plus it was narrated by Annie Aldington my favourite narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Excellent listen

What did you like most about When the Dead Cry Out?

The twists and turns of the plot and the complicated and intertwining relationships between the main character and her colleagues and suspect.

What other book might you compare When the Dead Cry Out to, and why?

Don't know, new to this genre

Have you listened to any of Annie Aldington’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No. She was very good and didn't make the mistake of thinking she had to deepen her voice every time she read a male characters lines. One of my pet hates.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

It's never too late for the past to catch up!

Any additional comments?

An enjoyable listen. A very likeable female detective and believable story all told within the vicinity of Torbay, a very familiar haunt of mine, which added to an audible book I can highly recommend.

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7 people found this helpful

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

loved the story

The story was very good and kept me going back to find out what happened next, the narrator.... not so good as she put pauses where they shouldnt have been which spoiled the book for me.

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

great story telling

loved this book. have read some of Hilarys other books and this did not disappoint.

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

Boring storyline

This was more like a mills & boon than a crime thriller. The story didn't really go anywhere and it turned into a love story. I found it very boring and tiresome

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

How many repetitions of 'boring' in one review?

I only finished this a few days ago, but I've just read the summary of it to remind myself why I disliked it so much - and I could barely remember anything about it. Partly becuase it was so boring and partly because the summary sounds like it's actually going to be interesting.

Boring characters, no police work, no description of any sort of detective work (since there wasn't any). The police seemed to do nothing at all except assume that their suspect had 'done it' and that was enough for them. No evidence throughout the entire book.

All very obvious. Very boring. Certainly not recommended.

The narration was ok, and to be fair, she did well to even stay awake to read it out loud.

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1 person found this helpful