What can I say? To start and end with: Nicola Walker’s narration. And that is worth its 5-stars right there. 

So, I planned on listening to this over the course of the week— you know, get home from work, turn on the audiobook, put on the kettle and really soak in this mystery with a cup of Earl Grey as I detox the day—but, no such luck. I started yesterday afternoon and reluctantly fell asleep only to rise this morning at 6am anxious to finish before the sun is even up. On both counts (writing and narration) a 5-star production with all the pointy jags and fuzzy feels. 

From a private island in South Carolina to the gold-rimmed towers of Dubai, the cosy pubs in the overcast streets of Axley to the blazing sun of St Lucia, this chase is heady and contorted, yet manages to be nostalgic, current, and thought provoking all at the once. Osman puts us into the dark, lush, pained and ridiculous thoughts of each character, transports us to sweaty saunas and stuffy pubs and crisp penthouses in glass towers, and lures us into an unexpected conglomeration of intimate awkward relationships and international criminal rings and murders, solved handily by a retired policeman reluctantly roped in by his feisty daughter-in-law. 

AND THEN OSMAN ENDS IT WITH THAT!! Looking forward to the follow-up…

Now, Mum knows what she’s getting for Christmas, but for this one, and I think it’s about time, I really should get her onto the audiobooks…