• Mister Monday

  • The Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1
  • By: Garth Nix
  • Narrated by: Allan Corduner
  • Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,049 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Mister Monday  By  cover art

Mister Monday

By: Garth Nix
Narrated by: Allan Corduner
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.30

Buy for $15.30

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

On the first day, there was mystery.

Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is, in fact, supposed to die an early death. But then his life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock.

Arthur is safe - but his world is not. Along with the key comes a plague brought by bizarre creatures from another realm. A stranger named Mister Monday, his avenging messengers with bloodstained wings, and an army of dog-faced Fetchers will stop at nothing to get the key back, even if it means destroying Arthur and everything around him.

Desperate, Arthur ventures into a mysterious house - a house that only he can see. It is in this house that Arthur must unravel the secrets of the key - and discover his true fate.

The first audiobook of a spellbinding series by Garth Nix, the author of The Seventh Tower, Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen.

Listen to the rest of the books in The Keys to the Kingdom series.
©2003 Garth Nix (P)2003 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"Exciting and suspenseful." (School Library Journal)
"Corduner's vocal flexibility is the key to this enjoyable audiobook." (AudioFile)

More from the same

What listeners say about Mister Monday

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    671
  • 4 Stars
    250
  • 3 Stars
    88
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    19
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    529
  • 4 Stars
    115
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    483
  • 4 Stars
    138
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    10

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

For 9-12 year olds, excellent

I bought this based on the rating and genre and didn't know that it was a children's book. I was a little disappointed that it was a kid's book, but it's excellent in its category and even a decent read for an adult. Some of the elements of the world he creates I thought were very interesting and vibrant. I wouldn't say it is as good a kid's book for adults as, say, the Harry Potter books, the Hobbit, the Earthsea trilogy, and Podkin of Mars, but I'm considering getting the next book in the series at some point.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Another Great Book by Nix

I bought this book based on my previous reads of the the excellent Sabriel/Abhorsen/Lirael books.(In fact if you like Nix's style but are put off by the 9-12 age of these books, proceed directly to Sabriel which I found to be a better book, if for no other reason than its more mature content.) But on to Mister Monday. I'll skip the summary as you can read that above. The first thing I liked about this book was Corduner's voice. The range of different characters portrayed and the deep throaty tone and timbre of his voice adds quite a lot to the atmosphere of the book. I also really enjoyed the originality of the setting. In a genre dominated by derivative rehashes, a truly original world is refreshing to see when it does come along.(Which isn't nearly as often as I'd like.) The world is for me the most compelling part of the book because of its originality and character. The story kept me listening although my fascination with the world Nix has created will make me buy the next book. I would have given the book 5 stars if it contained more adult themes and content. But all in all a completely entertaining, but light book. Highly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I found this book because I was looking for other reads by Allan Corduner. He is a terrific narrator. I had been hoping to read this series at some point so I was pleased that I could listen to his performance of the book. He reads all the books in the series. I am looking forward to the next one.

You can read the plot summary above. The idea that a "will" can be fragmented into pieces of print or text was an imaginative and original idea.

This is also a very positive "adoption" story. Arthur is is adopted because his parents died in a pandemic. The loving devotion of his adoptive parents and his strong relationships with his siblings were a very happy aspect of the storyline.

Very entertaining listen. Would be good as a family listen on a car trip.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Average book

The thesis behind the book is extremely interesting and the other characters that inhabit the world, especially Leaf, are very vivid. However all that became overshadowed by the constant whining of the main character. Throughout the book all he does is complain. At first it is because he can't breathe then it is because he wants to go home NOW. I got images of a poor version of Veruca Salt (the first Willy Wonka film). Since it was the main character, it became so that I would fast forward through his diatribes to get back to the story. Even with this drawback, I still plan on getting the second book for the storyline. But if Arthur continues his nails on chalkboard complaining, I will stop at book 2.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great series

This is one of the most interesting and creative series I have ever read. Only Garth Nix could come up with this universe. As always Allan Corduner does an excellent job narrating, he is always solid. If you are looking for a tolerably long series to keep you entertained for a week, this is it. The only problem is that the final book hasn't come out yet so you'll just have to wait with the rest of us!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Alice in Wonderland 2000

The three stars goes to the narrator. He was outstanding. The British accent and vocalization was ideal for this book. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the story. While the quest of the story is well defined (get through the seven days of the week), the plot is quite hodge-podge. It is as if the main character was placed in a series of bizarro dilemmas which are far too outlandish for the imagination. Mr. Monday reminds me of a re-worked 21st century version of Alice in Wonderland--without the enchantment.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating

The Keys to the Kingdom Series is truly captivating! I have listened to each installment multiple times. The books are wonderful and the narrator is absolutely perfect. His inflections really bring the characters to life. I highly recommend this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

Lively and Enchanting Read!

i really enjoy this book and the reader! i never get tired of listening.it was funny and sad but it all works out in the end.sort of.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Unmitigated Drivel

If you expect something worthwhile like Sabriel, Abhorsen, or Lireal look elsewhere. This book is imaginative but iredeemably silly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

A Childhood Story Come To Life

It’s almost hard to believe there was a time before the chaos that is now our normal as adults, where we were once children in school merely learning how to pronounce (and spell) chauffeur. It was then, in my fourth grade year of English, where we sat to enjoy individual reading time. I found only this book, the first in the series, on one of the shelves and sat down to read… Oh, how I was transported to a time that no longer exists by listening to this! I love the story, but this man’s voice added so much depth and clarity to the story! Really, if you can, I’m too excited to tell you of it, so open your ears and listen! Just listen, and dream, and imagine. Let it cultivate your curiosity, your creativity, and dare I say show it to the child who fancies stories of magic. This isn’t your average magic book where boys survives evil!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful