Alex Lee has narrated 16 audiobooks on Listento.it by 8 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.2★ across 6 ratings. The most-rated is The Kiss of the Concubine.
The Kiss of the Concubine
Summary
January 28, 1547. It is almost midnight, and the cream of English nobility hold their breath as King Henry VIII prepares to face his God. As the royal physicians wring their hands and Archbishop Cranmer gallops through the frigid night, two dispossessed princesses pray for their father's soul, and a boy, soon to be king, snivels into his velvet sleeve.
Time slows, and dread settles around the royal bed, the candles dip, and something stirs in the darkness...something, or someone, has come to tell the king it is time to pay his dues.
The Kiss of the Concubine is the story of Anne Boleyn, the second of Henry VIII's queens.
©2013 Judith Arnopp (P)2018 Judith Arnopp
A Cruise to Murder
Summary
Looking for a good clean murder mystery? Meet Rachel Prince, a newly qualified police constable trying to hold it together after being ditched by her fiancé. Rachel's best friend, Sarah, suggests that she needs a break and what better way to relax than a Mediterranean cruise? Sarah works as a nurse on the cruise ship and they plan to enjoy all the luxuries of cruising. At least they would do if Sarah ever got any time away from the medical centre. Rachel makes friends with a bereaved, elderly woman and an attractive Italian but it's not long before she is convinced that something sinister is going on. There is mystery and threat surrounding Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe. Who is the secretive Carlos and what is he up to? Rachel finds herself in the centre of a mystery that could cost her her life, or worse still, her heart. Has her broken engagement clouded her judgement? Events unfold that cause her to question her sanity and when one of the passengers meets with a tragic accident, the tension grows. Rachel tries her best to relax and enjoy her holiday with her friend, but there seems to be danger around every corner. Is Marjorie in danger? Can Rachel solve the mystery even when she is in danger herself?
©2018 Dawn Brookes (P)2018 Dawn Brookes
Murder at the Manor: A 1920s Cozy Mystery
Summary
Downton Abbey...with murder and intrigue! Evelyn Christie has resigned herself to another long, boring weekend at Hessleham Hall, the home of her husband, Tommy's, family. However, it turns out to be anything but dull when his uncle, the Earl of Northmoor, is shockingly murdered! Evelyn must use all of her sleuthing knowledge, gained whilst she was a member of the Police force during the war, to find out who the murderer is before the bungling local police force decide the Earl was bumped off so Tommy could inherit his title. If you enjoy the glamour of bygone eras like 1920s Downton Abbey and gentle, cozy mysteries set in the English countryside, then you will love this new series.
©2020 Joanne Louise Catherine Coles (P)2020 Joanne Louise Catherine Coles
Murder at the Village Fete
Summary
Downton Abbey crossed with Murder, She Wrote...set in a Yorkshire village! Evelyn Christie, the new Lady Northmoor, is looking forward to hosting the local village fete in the grounds of Hessleham Hall. However, the last thing she expects to see on the morning of the fete is the local Member of Parliament face down in the stream at the edge of the lawn! Evelyn and her husband, Tommy, are again called into action to find the dastardly murderer before he strikes again! If you enjoy the glamour of bygone eras like 1920s Downton Abbey and gently, cozy mysteries set in the English countryside, then you will love this new series.
©2020 Catherine Coles (P)2021 Catherine Coles
The First Queen of England
Summary
Before Anne Boleyn stole the heart of a king and demanded marriage, another woman strove to wed an already-married King of England. This is the story of Elfrida, who would become the first crowned Queen of England. England is united under Edgar, but 20 years of uncertainty and a dwindling royal nursery have left the royal family vulnerable to extinction. Edgar, a king at only 15 years old, has an acknowledged daughter and wife, but the dying Ealdorman, Aethelwald, has commanded his wife to seek out the King, now in his early 20s. True to her husband's wishes, Elfrida pursues the king, nervous of her husband's intentions, but trusting them all the same. When the king tries to make her his concubine, Elfrida refuses and withdraws from the court, only to find herself dreaming of the king, desiring his touch and his presence. When the king seeks her out once more, she willingly follows him back to his court and finds herself plunged into a world of politics and self-interest where her future happiness rests not only on the king loving her but also on the goodwill of others with much to play for at the king's court. Bringing alive the characters of 10th-century England: its young king, Edgar; its ealdormen, Brythnoth, Æthelwine, and Úlfhere; the great reforming religious figures of Archbishop Dunstan, Bishop Æthelwold and Oswald and the great women of the period, Lady Elfrida, Lady Æthelflaed and Lady Wulfthryn, The First Queen of England evokes 10th-century England at its most enigmatic, shining a welcome light on England's first crowned queen, a woman who would go on to accomplish much, but who must first steal the heart of an amorous king and earn her place at court, and overcome the obstacle of the outcome of not only the king's second marriage, but also his first.
©2017 M J Porter (P)2017 M J Porter
The Velveteen Daughter: A Novel
Summary
The Velveteen Daughter reveals for the first time the true story of two remarkable women: Margery Williams Bianco, the author of one of the most beloved children's books of all time, The Velveteen Rabbit, and her daughter Pamela, a world-renowned child prodigy artist whose fame at one time greatly eclipses her mother's. But celebrity at such an early age exacts a great toll. Pamela's dreams elude her as she struggles with severe depressions, an overbearing father, an obsessive love affair, and a spectacularly misguided marriage. Throughout, her life raft is her mother. The glamorous art world of Europe and New York in the early 20th century and a supporting cast of luminaries - Eugene O'Neill and his wife Agnes (Margery's niece), Pablo Picasso, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and Richard Hughes, author of A High Wind in Jamaica - provide a vivid backdrop to the Biancos' story. From the beginning, the novel will captivate listeners with its multifaceted - and resonates with its multifaceted - illuminating observations on art, family, and the consequences of genius touched by madness.
©2017 Laurel Davis Huber (P)2018 Laurel Davis Huber
Killer Cruise
Summary
The latest Rachel Prince mystery by Dawn Brookes. A body in the water. A plethora of suspects. Rachel Prince must be on another cruise! Plus, by popular demand, Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe returns.... The crew aboard the fictional Coral Queen find themselves stretched to the limit by the antics of a queen tribute act, a troublesome stag party, and a group of excitable female cheerleaders. Rachel is accompanying Lady Marjorie on a cruise around the Baltics. The older woman is hoping for a mystery while Rachel seeks peace and quiet. PC Rachel Prince, cruise ship sleuth, can't believe it when a man dies under suspicious circumstances. The probable homicide occurs shortly after an unpleasant encounter with a Freddie Mercury look-alike. Rachel and Marjorie find themselves absorbed by the man's untimely death and surrounded by suspicious characters with ample motive for killing the unpopular victim. The Chief of Security wavers between involving Rachel in the investigation and keeping her away from it. Sarah, Rachel's best friend and cruise ship nurse, is keen to keep her out of harm's way, but it's a case of the irresistible force meets the immovable object when there's a mystery to be solved. Rachel is spurred on by the incorrigible Marjorie who is keen on interfering and testing her own sleuthing skills. Chief Waverley and Sarah are fighting a losing battle and become more and more exasperated by Rachel's involvement. In addition to this, they both have problems of their own. As the dead man appeared to have more enemies than friends, this mystery tests Rachel to the limit. She finds herself in danger as she tries to keep Lady Marjorie safe while solving the crime. Join the crew and passengers aboard the Coral Queen for another exciting adventure at sea!
©2019 Dawn Brookes (P)2019 Dawn Brookes
Where Lemons Bloom
Summary
When Eve Anderson meets Adamo de Leone on a ship bound for Europe, she has no idea of the dark secret that will endanger both their lives. She accompanies him to his home on Italy's Amalfi Coast to open an inn left to him by his grandfather. But then she learns he spent five years in prison for a crime he claims he didn't commit. Could the man she loves be responsible for embezzling eighty million dollars from the investment firm he once owned? Adamo wants to hold Eve at arm's length until he can clear his proud family name. But when there is an attempt on his life and Eve is terrorized by a gun-bearing thug, he realizes how much he wants her, and he must accept whatever help he can get to uncover the well-hidden trail of a six-year-old crime.
©2015 Lois Choksy (P)2017 Lois Choksy
A Christmas Cruise Murder
Summary
Rachel Prince is back.... Rachel's plans to spend Christmas with her fiancé are in tatters after he is called to Italy at short notice. Rather than spend Christmas with her parents, Rachel decides to take a last-minute Canary Island cruise. Sarah, cruise ship nurse and Rachel's best friend, is only too pleased to have her along, as Sarah's parents are taking their first cruise. With her mother keen for her to settle down, she is glad of the moral support. During a coach journey to the port of Southampton, Rachel meets a petulant maître d'. That evening, the same maître d' is found dead, seemingly a victim of a tragic accident. Rachel can't resist snooping, once she suspects an element of foul play. Was it a fatal accident or murder? Chief security officer Jack Waverley finds himself confused and upset when his wife is implicated. Suspects are not in short supply as secrets are uncovered, providing opportunity and motive. The killer has an eye on Rachel. Can she find out who is responsible before she ends up as another victim?
©2019 Dawn Brookes (P)2020 Dawn Brookes
Deadly Cruise
Summary
Just when you thought it was safe to cruise again.... PC Rachel Prince returns to cruising after giving evidence in a difficult trial. She wants to recharge her batteries and reevaluate her future after receiving threats from the man she helped put away. Taking Queen cruises up on their offer of a free luxury cruise aboard the Coral Queen, she opts for a sailing to New York. Rachel's best friend and cruise nurse, Sarah is also returning to the ship to start a new nine-month contract so the timing is perfect. Almost immediately, Rachel meets a cruise tour leader who invites her to join him and his Russian group for some of their planned activities. These activities should help pass the time during the sea days. A crew member is found dead in his cabin - could this be another mystery brewing? Rachel's eagle eye spots some curious goings on among the Russian tour group that she finds enticing. Chief Security Officer Waverley wants Rachel to leave things alone - will she listen? Sarah has problems of her own as conflict develops in the medical team when a new nurse is brought in at short notice. Rachel can't resist doing a bit of snooping, but will she get to the bottom of a mysterious death and untangle this complex case before they reach New York?
©2018 Dawn Brookes (P)2019 Dawn Brookes
Murderous Cruise Habit
Summary
Murder in the Caribbean.... Rachel Prince once again joins the Coral Queen for the holiday of a lifetime with her octogenarian friend Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe and her parents. One day into the voyage and a nun who is part of an exclusive religious party collapses. It's not long before the death is seen as suspicious. The chief of security, Jack Waverley, is flummoxed by the case and asks Rachel to assist. All is not what it seems with this religious order and the woman's dying words are a cause for concern. When the FBI board the cruise liner, Rachel is told to stay out of it. Will she listen? Marjorie is as keen as ever to do a little sleuthing of her own. Can Rachel keep her friend safe while uncovering the mystery? In the most dangerous challenge to date, Rachel must keep her wits about her to find out what is at stake and discover who is responsible for the nun's murder.
©2020 Dawn Brookes (P)2020 Dawn Brookes
Dying to Cruise
Summary
The only thing worse than getting stuck aboard a cruise ship with a murderer, is discovering that your ex is on board, too... When you spurn a cold-blooded killer, vengeance will someday follow. Rachel thinks she is living the dream. Taking a cruise around Australia and New Zealand as a guest lecturer and meeting up again with her best friend, cruise ship nurse, Sarah. The scene is set for the holiday of a lifetime! Rachel Prince is drawn to investigate when the leader of a bucket list tour party is discovered in the library on the first day of her antipodean cruise. Can this seemingly harmless group of elderly people have a killer among them? Difficulties abound for everyone when an interim chief of security causes countless problems and appears to take an intense dislike of Sarah. Not trusting the new chief to get to the bottom of the murder, Rachel investigates on her own, soon discovering that the dead woman from the bucket list tour party had been receiving anonymous threatening emails. To make matters infinitely worse, Rachel's ex turns up on board, and things start to go horribly wrong. The cruise ship sleuth needs to work fast to find out if one of the gentle elders on the bucket list tour is a murderer while avoiding her ex like the plague.
©2019 Dawn Brookes (P)2020 Dawn Brookes
Jessica's Promise
Summary
An absolutely gripping and emotional pause resister
"You wouldn't trust a stranger with your wallet. Or your house keys. So why your little girl, the most precious thing you have?"
Teresa’s heart stops when she enters her daughter’s bedroom to find that her sweet, trusting little girl is gone.
Teresa can’t bear to think who would snatch a terrified three-year-old from her mother in the middle of the night, but all the signs point to someone close to home. Hasn’t Jessica’s stepfather been acting a little oddly? Or is it, as Teresa is beginning to fear, something to do with Angie, her daughter’s babysitter who lives next door...?
Gentle, retired Angie - she must be lonely, with only her memories to keep her company in that big, old house. And she’s always had a special connection with Jessica...was trusting Angie with her precious daughter the biggest mistake of Teresa’s life?
What do we really know about those who watch our children? Jessica’s Promise is a compelling domestic drama for fans of Jodi Picoult, Lisa Wingate, and Kerry Fisher.
©2018 Jill Childs (P)2018 Bookouture
A Song of Sixpence
Summary
In the years after Bosworth, a small boy is ripped from his rightful place as future king of England. Years later, when he reappears to take back his throne, his sister, Elizabeth, now queen to the invading king, Henry Tudor, is torn between family loyalty and duty.
As the final struggle between the houses of York and Lancaster is played out, Elizabeth is torn by conflicting loyalty, terror, and unexpected love.
Set at the court of Henry VII, A Song of Sixpence offers a new perspective on the early years of Tudor rule. Elizabeth of York, often viewed as a meek and uninspiring queen, emerges as a resilient woman whose strengths lie in endurance rather than resistance.
©2015 Judith Arnopp (P)2018 Judith Arnopp
The Heretic Wind
Summary
Adored by her parents and pampered by the court, the infant Princess Mary’s life changes suddenly and drastically when her father’s eye is taken by the enigmatic Anne Boleyn. Mary stands firm against her father’s determination to destroy both her mother’s reputation and the Catholic church. It is a battle that will last throughout both her father’s and her brother’s reign, until she is almost broken by persecution. When King Edward falls ill and dies, Mary expects to be crowned queen. But she has reckoned without John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, who before Mary can act, usurps her crown and places it on the head of her Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey. Furious and determined not to be beaten, Mary musters a vast army at Framlingham Castle; a force so strong that Jane Grey’s supporters crumble in the face of it, and Mary is at last crowned queen of England. But her troubles are only just beginning. Rebellion and heresy take their toll both on Mary’s health, and on the English people. Suspecting she is fatally ill, and desperate to save her people from heresy, Mary steps up her campaign to compel her subjects to turn back to the Catholic faith. All who resist will face punishment for heresy in the flames of the Smithfield fires.
©2020 Judith Arnopp (P)2020 Judith Arnopp
On Wheels, on Foot, and on Crutches
Summary
The mere thought of traversing any part of the African continent in a Land Rover with only two other companions is a daunting proposition...that is until the Indiana Jones element within Penny Lees kicked in one day and announced that she was to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Notwithstanding the various irritations whilst travelling through rural France, the Pyrenees, and Southern Europe, these paled into insignificance when faced with the climatic and cultural hurdles encountered in Africa. Everything has its price, they say.... Price is dependent on how much money you have...especially when out of food in the middle of the Sahara. From the author's diary entries, this enthralling epic plotting Penny Lees' journey offers the listener a clear picture of the problems that can be encountered. Nevertheless, complimenting this are the colorful and variegated landscapes along with equally colorful and different ethnic people.
©2016 Olympia Publishers (P)2019 Olympia Publishers