• Devil's Steps

  • An Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte Mystery
  • By: Arthur Upfield
  • Narrated by: Peter Hosking
  • Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (85 ratings)

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Devil's Steps  By  cover art

Devil's Steps

By: Arthur Upfield
Narrated by: Peter Hosking
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Editorial reviews

Peter Hosking’s husky Australian rasp transports the listener to Melbourne in this installment of Arthur Upfield’s classic Napoleon Bonaparte series, which finds Bony far from his familiar outback terrain as he travels to a mountain resort on the trail of a postwar spy who meets a mysterious and unexpected demise.

Peter Hosking’s dynamic performance lends this quintessentially Australian detective series a sense of authenticity, capturing the essence of Upfield’s lean, hard-boiled prose as well the spirit of an eccentric cast of cigarette smoking, whiskey-swilling coastal denizens in this gripping mystery.

Publisher's summary

Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte leaves his familiar outback environment for Melbourne and a nearby mountain resort on special assignment for Military Intelligence.

Although out of his element among city people, Bony displays his characteristic skills to interpret some puzzling clues and catch a murderer - providing the ingredients for another fascinating Arthur Upfield mystery.

©1982 Arthur Upfield (P)2009 Bolinda Publishing

What listeners say about Devil's Steps

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Grand Story

Upfield spins a grand tale and Peter Hosking is Boney. If you enjoy a good mystery you can't go wrong with this one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Classic Mystery

Upfield's classic detective, Napoleon Bonaparte, belongs in the same league as Holmes, Marple, Poirot, and Dalgliesh. Please give us more Bony!

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2 people found this helpful

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

One of the Best Mystery Series Ever

Would you listen to Devil's Steps again? Why?

Yes. It is an excellent classic mystery story. The unique setting of Austrailia in the 1940's creates a delicious atmosphere. The atmosphere is authentic since Arthur Upfield wrote the book in 1946. Detective Napoleon Bonaparte is such a wonderful character. Half Abroigine

What other book might you compare Devil's Steps to and why?

Almost any Agatha Christie

Which scene was your favorite?

When the

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It was the developement of the characters, not just one moment

Any additional comments?

Great read.

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1 person found this helpful

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

This is a favourite Arthur Upfield story

Peter Hosking reads these Bony books so well.. I have listened to this a few times now since purchasing. Often with books a single read or listen is enough. There are some that capture something a bit more than the story and narration. For me this is one. Set in Victoria and not the outback / post WW2 perhaps. There is something quite sinister about the books set in Victoria.

The wonderful image I have of large footprints burned into manicured grass A bit of blood and guts and 1950's 'noir'. Bony being arrogant and charming and dressed to kill, and outwitting the crims is a little different to some of his other guises in other books.

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

One of his best.

Narration: As usual, excellent.

Story: Kept me guessing.

Highly recommended.

Writing: Love the elegant prose and word selection.

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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

Great story great narration

loved it. I'm a big fan of Arthur upfield. read near all his bony stories. especially love his description of the Australian outback.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • A
  • 06-25-12

enjoyable aussie whodunnit

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

set in Australia post WW2 Bony, with his half aboriginal heritage, is unique in the detective arena.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bony - always so smooth

Have you listened to any of Peter Hosking’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, many. He has an unusual style that suits these books, sounding slightly old-fashioned in his speech, but as the books are slightly old-fashioned, it works well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not in its unabridged version-too long!

Any additional comments?

Arthur Upfield is very precise in his descriptions, which can be wordy at times, but he gets away with it. His Outback mysteries, especially, have vivid portrayals of life and the desert country, for rich and poor, black and white. Even so, they are still a cracking good whodunnit.

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1 person found this helpful