Blue Monday

A Frieda Klein Novel, Book 1

By: Nicci French

Narrated by: Beth Chalmers

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Blue Monday, the first in a fantastic new series from the masters of psychological thrillers, Nicci French. Read by the actress Beth Chalmers.

Monday, the lowest point of the week. A day of dark impulses. A day to snatch a child from the streets...

The abduction of five-year-old Matthew Farraday provokes national outcry and a desperate police hunt. And when his face is splashed over the newspapers, psychotherapist Frieda Klein is left troubled: one of her patients has been relating dreams in which he has a hunger for a child. A child he can describe in perfect detail, a child the spitting image of Matthew.

Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson doesn't take Frieda's concerns seriously until a link emerges with an unsolved abduction twenty years ago and he summons Frieda to interview the victim's sister, hoping she can stir hidden memories. Before long, Frieda is at the centre of the race to track the kidnapper. But her race isn't physical. She must chase down the darkest paths of a psychopath's mind to find the answers to Matthew Farraday's whereabouts. And sometimes the mind is the deadliest place to lose yourself.

©2011 Nicci French (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"This heart-stoppingly good tale sets the bar high for the next seven books - we can't wait to read them!" ( Good Housekeeping)

"A brilliantly crafted new crime series." ( Daily Mirror)

"Frieda.... is a strong creation, sympathetic but withholding and with hints of hidden facets." (Barry Forshaw, Daily Express)

A gripping book, expertly read

What did you love best about Blue Monday?

Everything. The characters, how the story flows and unfolds, and the disfunctionality of Frieda's circle.

Who was your favorite character and why?

A toss-up between Frieda and Joseph. Frieda because she is so unrelenting in her work, and Joseph because he just knows what needs to be done and gets to it, from food to ceilings and paint colours.

What about Beth Chalmers’s performance did you like?

The earnestness and range of voices, and her accents are not bad either.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me want to drive the long way around.

Any additional comments?

I cannot wait for the next instalment.

**Stunning! Brilliant! Fabulous All Round!**

The best audiobook I've listened to in a long time. The storyline has twists and turns and depth to it. We are given the background scenery in brief, not describing it at length so as to be able to make the book bigger as alot of authors seem to do. Fast moving. Strong characters.

Beth Chalmers is a brilliant narrator. Each character is unique. I'm not so much a fan of women narrators as they are either dry or overdo it. Beth is spot on and carries us smoothly and does credit to this already thrilling story.

Make sure you follow this one up with Tuesdays Gone. I'm half way through it and it's turning out to be just as good.

Oustanding performance and great heroine!

I LOVED Frieda! Finally a long list of books to read about a strong female character who doesn’t take shit from anyone! And the performance by Beth Chalmers was amazing! On to the next book!!!

very well descibed story and background

Where does Blue Monday rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

third in my list

Would you be willing to try another book from Nicci French? Why or why not?

I'm already listening to the second book (Tuesday gone)

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked all the scenes when Frida Klein had therapy sessions with Alan