So confusing, unlike the previous three

The way the story is set out does not work at all in an audio format. The first time they time jumped with no warning I assumed I'd accidentally fast forwarded to another chapter and spent ages trying to work out where I should be in the recording. The random jumps were very confusing and with the ending being what it was I felt the whole thing was amazingly anticlimactic. Because of this, having heard the murderer's confession I didn't realise it was actually real until the book had almost finished. It's a shame as the basis of the story is as good as the other books.

4 people found this helpful

disappointing and confusing

What would have made Fear in the Sunlight: Josephine Tey Series, Book 4 better?

Fewer characters, a less confusing plot.

Has Fear in the Sunlight: Josephine Tey Series, Book 4 put you off other books in this genre?

No

What aspect of Sandra Duncan’s performance might you have changed?

It was OK but not brilliant.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Deep disappointment. I had enjoyed Nicola Upson's other Tey books but this one was so confusing I found it really hard to know what was going on. If I'd had a physical book I could have flipped back to see who was who and what was what, but with a huge cast of characters, many of whom seemed quite implausibly related, I just couldn't work it all out. What a shame.

4 people found this helpful

Highly disappointing

What disappointed you about Fear in the Sunlight: Josephine Tey Series, Book 4?

Unfortunately this is a series of sexual romps thinly disguised as a crime thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the series feeling they were well written and portraying a favourite author of mine in a unique way.
My misgivings started with book 3 as crime investigation started coming second to personal relationships, in this book the crime is barely an after thought. The plot is good but is totally ruined by the excessive relating of various sexual activities.
The whole book feels like a short story padded out by an author who seems to want her heroine to reflect her own opinions and desires.

I have the next in series to listen to but frankly I am thinking of returning it unread as I cannot bear the thought of listening to another self indulgent sex novel.

Keep the Josephine Tey series as a detective set first and foremost and write another genre for the highly personal relationships.

What will your next listen be?

Cormoran Strike

What about Sandra Duncan’s performance did you like?

Excellent narration and good distinction between characters, believable accents

What character would you cut from Fear in the Sunlight: Josephine Tey Series, Book 4?

Marta & Lydia

3 people found this helpful

Not as good as the others

I've had others of this series and enjoyed them, but I really didn't enjoy this one at all. In particular, I found it unnecessarily gory. The reader was, as always, excellent. I shall not obtain/read any others by this author.

1 person found this helpful

Tortuous plot lines finally defeat listener

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

A patient person whose written notes and diagrams attempting to make sense of the connections/ secrets/names/ illnesses/addictions..all of these factors and more..were better drafted than mine. I am still looking at the diagram and trying to work out how the last lines of the novel are possible in the light of my diagrams, faux films, faux letters...it's too much.

Would you ever listen to anything by Nicola Upson again?

Sorry. I give up. I had persisted even though chatty, exclaiming dialogue is very tedious, especially in an audible only medium. The novelty has utterly worn off.

Would you be willing to try another one of Sandra Duncan’s performances?

No. Enough. Everything in this novel seemed to hinge on being able to follow the dialogue, as characterised by this actor because that is all the earnest listener has to try and draw some accurate conclusions. Scottish, Welsh, American, class differences...all the accents required in this production were out of this actor's range.

What character would you cut from Fear in the Sunlight: Josephine Tey Series, Book 4?

David Lascelles, Jack Spence, Mr Franks,Mr Turnbull's alter ego, Astrid Lake ( where did she go?,) Branwyn and her Mum and her caretaker, her son, her Aunt, ..my list could go on. Actually..come to think of it, perhaps I would have approved of the movie in the novel..the one made by the faux Mr Hitchcock, not the other faux movie..you see what I mean?
A yes..and jettison the porn star nun.

Any additional comments?

How difficult the balance is between providing a compelling, complex but satisfying listen with only a few too easy to spot resolutions presented by an authoritative, fine writer. This novel did not achieve a much wished for balance.

2 people found this helpful

Not confusing if you ignore chapters and dates

Despite reviews, I did not find this book confusing if you ignore chapters and dates at the start of each chapter as I think this is what’s confusing in Audio format. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The narrator as ALWAYS was brilliant!! And her Alfred Hitchcock was SO believable!! I just love Ronnie and Lettuce and wish they featured more as they’re so funny!! For me the main star of the show is Archie and to be honest I just wish Josephine and Marta would be dropped now....they just seem to have whole chapters about them thrown into a great book for no reason and to be honest it detracts from the book rather than adds. Please Ms Upson, have the confidence in your great writing, without needing to add this whole imagined side to Miss Tey’s life that has no factual merit!!

A bit bitty

Rather like other readers, as an audiobook it had too many bit part players and that made it rather hard too keep up. Good performance

An interesting expansion

At the start of this I harboured a hope that we might do without Josephine Tey altogether. It wasn’t to be. I didn’t mind though because for once the most self absorbed woman in literature was not the whole focus of this plot driven episode featuring Alfred Hitchcock. Even the police man stopped mooning and got to have sex for once!

Unable to open

There seems to some fault. I can’t open to read. It started out ok but I am not into the gratuitous sex scenes.

Still very good but ......

I enjoyed this book and the narrator was excellent, but I found the story a bit hard to follow in places and not quite as compelling as the previous books. I like the characters very much, but some of my favourite characters didn't play a very big part in this book. I found it rather sad to know that one important character was dead, but I can't criticise the author for that it's just a case of real life getting in the way.

I would recommend this author without hesitation, I have enjoyed this series of books very much.