• Silent Voices

  • A Vera Stanhope Mystery
  • By: Ann Cleeves
  • Narrated by: Charlie Hardwick
  • Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,663 ratings)

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Silent Voices  By  cover art

Silent Voices

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Charlie Hardwick
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Publisher's summary

When Inspector Vera Stanhope finds the body of a woman in the sauna room of her local gym, she wonders briefly if, for once in her life, she's uncovered a simple death from natural causes. But a closer inspection reveals bruises around the victim's throat, and Vera quickly realizes she has a murder on her hands.

Silent Voices will thrill fans of Ann Cleeves's best-selling Shetland Island mysteries as well as traditional mystery lovers looking for a new smart police procedural with emotional heft.

©2011 Ann Cleeves (P)2011 Soundings

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What listeners say about Silent Voices

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Long Live Vera

I first "discovered" Vera Stanhope on TV. The extraordinary actress Brenda Blethyn brings her completely to life. Anxious to see if the books were as good, I was glad to see that Audible features one of her adventures - I certainly am hoping for more!

Vera is a dedicated, persistent investigator. She's also a loner, inept in social situations; a poor dresser; and a woman with demons from her past. Sound familiar? Well, she may not be the only such character in mystery fiction, but she is one of the most interesting.

"Silent Voices" follows a very complicated path to a very complicated conclusion. Maybe a bit too complicated - but Vera and her team make it well worth the journey.

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39 people found this helpful

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

Vera enemy better in print(voice)!

I love watching Vera on TV. Ann Cleves magnificent novel about Vera is a reading (listening) treat beyond all. I never write reviews, I decided to write this one in hopes of convincing you to listen to this wonderful performance. I also hope that the rest of the Vera books are eventually recorded. And if that's the case, Please give the job of narration to Charlie Hardwick
!

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34 people found this helpful

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

Great plot, even better narration.

North east accents are hard to do, the narrator nails the accent, the turns of phrase and local idioms. This is one canny book pet.

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25 people found this helpful

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

I will look for more Cleeves

A very enjoyable read/listen. I had enjoyed the Shetland mysteries and decided to try one from another series. I love Vera! She's not an antihero, but she is certainly a non-traditional heroine. What fun to read about a real person, one with brains to spare, but also with real foibles.

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22 people found this helpful

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

Was a realistic plot for a police story.

What made the experience of listening to Silent Voices the most enjoyable?

The narrator had the ability to sound like many different characters while maintaining the voice throughout the book. The character that may have had a line or two once or twice in the book, was performed with the same unique accent and timbre that the first protrayal employed. This was true for male or female characters. This skill made the story easy to follow and far more interesting to listen to. Well done Ms. Hardwick. You have added quality to an already well-written and interesting book. I will even listen again in a year or two.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Silent Voices?

I liked it all. The police are shown to investigate in the way they actually do investigate. Ask questions, search records, interview all sorts of people and rarely tear around in cars or on motorbikes in every chapter.

What does Charlie Hardwick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I covered that in the Step 3.

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

Yes, the story was straight forward and different enough to catch my interest. No, irritating flashbacks every chapter. The performance and the prose made the book enjoyable to listen to and easy to follow characters.

Any additional comments?

Thoroughly enjoyed it and I am looking forward to Anne Cleeves other Vera books being produced for audible.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Another good one

This author has yet to disappoint. The accent makes listening a bit tedious but overall very god story. Keep me guessing to very end.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

Excellent story, perfect narration. You envision the characters from the TV series, but it does not get in the way of the story. More please.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Vera is My New Hero! Loved This One!

I totally agree with another reviewer who shouted, "Long Live Vera!!" Vera Stanhope, an overweight, middle-aged, somewhat unpolished Scottish chief detective has won my heart with her intellect and savvy. This police procedural is just about perfect in every way -- great characters, an amazing plot filled with numerous twists and turns, and terrific narration. I would buy the entire series if Audible carried it -- but it appears they only have a few of Ann Cleeves great "Vera Stanhope" books. A really great listen!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Listen!

loved this book. I finished the Shetland series and wanted another by this author. Was worried that it wasn't the first one in the series but it didn't matter at all. Female narrators usually have a hard time with male voices but this woman was fantastic. I had no issues at all with the accent, she was wonderful. The mystery was compelling from beginning to end. Stayed up till midnight because I had to find out how it ended. Please pleased but the earlier books onto audible.

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9 people found this helpful

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

Great listen

Vera is a complex and brilliant detective with all the complexes of a large lumbering woman. Fascinating plot and characters.

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8 people found this helpful