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  • The Women Who Ran Away

  • And the secrets that followed them . . .
  • By: Sheila O'Flanagan
  • Narrated by: Shelley Atkinson
  • Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (75 ratings)

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The Women Who Ran Away cover art

The Women Who Ran Away

By: Sheila O'Flanagan
Narrated by: Shelley Atkinson
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Publisher's Summary

In Sheila O'Flanagan's stunning new novel, two women face up to shocking truths about the men they've loved - and start to make their own decisions about what to do next....

Deira isn't the kind of woman to steal a car. Or drive to France alone with no plan. But then, Deira didn't expect to be single. Or to suddenly realise that that the only way she can get the one thing she wants most is to start breaking every rule she lives by. 

Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn't really want to be on it but she's following his instructions, as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then - finally - she'll be able to let him go. 

Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Grace and Deira find that it's easier to share secrets with a stranger, especially in the shimmering sunny countryside of Spain and France. But they soon find that there's no escaping the truth, whether you're running away from it or racing towards it.... 

©2020 Sheila O'Flanagan (P)2020 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Critic Reviews

"One of my favourite authors." (Marian Keyes)

What listeners say about The Women Who Ran Away

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable characters on an intriguing journey

Cleverly told through the eyes of the main characters this story takes us through France, Spain, life and loves. Very well narrated too.

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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

A great listen

Great to listen to. I thought the narrator did a great job. I found it a great distraction but it did make me want to run away too!

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

Nice story but narrator needs work

I liked the fluffy airy story. It was good enough but not one of the author’s best works. Narrator was a bit awkward to listen to.

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

Narration could do with some smoothing out, story was great tho!

The narration was disjointed quite often, which jumbled the inflection and took focus away from the story line. The story however was worth pushing thru the narration production issues. A lovely story with two strong female characters who realise their strength and independence aren’t dependent on needing a guy to save them. Loved it!

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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

good read

I enjoyed this story very much very entertaining and read well. worth a read

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

Nice story

I enjoyed this, was a nice easy listen. One of my favourite authors, so much better than her previous book. The would have enjoyed a more detailed ending or even an epilogue.

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

story great, narration difficult to listen to

always a great storyline from this author. I really struggled with the narration. I will purchase the book and read it myself as I felt the narration detracted from enjoyment of the book itself.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A great holiday read

Although I initially struggled to get into this book, by chapter 4 or 5 I was hooked.
I loved the premise behind both Grace and Diera's stories and why they were embarking on their individual journeys. Shelley Atkinson is a fine narrator although it sometimes took me a beat to catch up when she switched scenes from one character to the next in what seemed like the same sentence.

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

poor naration

not her usual standard the over use of the word SAID was very annoying story was ok

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

Terrible narration and / or editing

The narration, not specifically the narrator but probably more the editing and producing, is terrible! I think they have prerecorded phrases like "....., laughed Tillie." "...., said Grace." "...., remarked Tillie." because they are louder, out of sync with the sentence they follow and very distracting from the story. I would be pretty unimpressed if I were the author!

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