Bushranger of the Skies Audiobook By Arthur W. Upfield cover art

Bushranger of the Skies

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Bushranger of the Skies

By: Arthur W. Upfield
Narrated by: Peter Hosking
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An extraordinary case for Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte opens when a police car is bombed from the air on a lonely outback road by a mysterious pilot who plans to conquer a nation. The trail through the Land of Burning Water tests Bony's endurance to the limit and takes the detective as close to death as he has ever been.©1940 William Upfield (P)1999 Bolinda Publishing Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction

Editorial reviews

In Arthur Upfield’s page-turning Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte mystery, originally published in 1940, the sinister Rex McPherson, a biracial Aboriginal pilot hell-bent on establishing his own empire, quite literally drops a bomb on an unsuspecting Queensland police officer and in the process nearly takes the life of Bony, our embattled hero who purses the bushranger on a perilous quest through the land of Burning Water.

Peter Hosking’s robust Australian lilt and lively performance elevates this quintessentially Australian tale that is as much thrilling mystery as it is an interesting snapshot of racial relations at the time in the sun-scorched Outback.

Critic reviews

"Written and set in rural Australia in the 1930s, Bushranger features Upfield's serial detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, whose task it is to stop murderous pilot Rex MacPherson from taking over his father's ranch. As Bonaparte dodges bombs and treks through miles of scrub, he is both helped and hindered by rival Aborigine tribes. Hosking has the requisite Aussie accent and the ability to differentiate characters as he narrates the story from dramatic opening to satisfying conclusion. Only the Aborigine pidgin seems demeaning in these politically correct times. Upfield admired the native Australians, but his condescending views led him to be banned from school curricula. Ironically, both the hero and villain here are half-castes." (AudioFile Magazine)
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Cleverly written. Insight into Australian history. Loved it to the end. Can’t wait to start the next one.

Awesome

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Enjoyed listening to this while exercising on my treadmill.

Bushranger of the Skies

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Would you consider the audio edition of Bushranger of the Skies to be better than the print version?

Not the best story in the fleet, but still worthy of a listen. Twists and turns to make it engaging.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bushranger of the Skies?

not one, just hearing all the wonderful accents and words. And of course the numerous cups of tea to be had.

Bravo Bony!

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Narration: Usual excellent narration, although I do wish he would pronounce "Scot" correctly, not Scotch.

Story: Now fifth of his stories to which I have listened. Plots are formulaic but still fun.

Recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit about Aussie history and language.

Another Entertaining Bony Mystery

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Love all the bony series.... And Peter Hosking is a great Narrater
. . . F f f

Love all the bony series

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The combination of a great and riveting storyline with a tremendous performance by Peter Hosking...incredible. Don't start this book if you think you will listen yourself to sleep, you'll be on the edge of your bed once the momentum of the tale takes you over. Really wonderful.

A Page Turner, Upfield at his best

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Far and away the most gripping novel, THE most enthralling opening, addictive action in the middle and a nerve-wracking end.

Check out also "The Mountains have a Secret"

The Best Bonaparte Novel

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The characters and their history led to a very interesting story and unexpected conclusion that made the story so special.

The plot

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'Bushranger of the Skies'. This is the 8th book in the series by Arthur W. Upfield, and I have enjoy and delighted in each of them … before this book. The lack of stars are not due to the writing by the author who is on form, nor to the reading of the book by Peter Hosking, who is superb as usual. The lack of stars are due to the plot. It is unforgivably terrible. In order to advance the story in the direction the author wished it to go, he has the hero of his books, the redoubtable and brilliant Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte to be more stupid than the stupid and bumbling Inspector Clouseau of Pink Panther fame. Not only that, but the beautiful damsel in distress, who is given brains as well as beauty when we are introduced to her, proceeds to prove herself as stupid and naive as the simplest fool ever introduced to us in literature and in real life – and valiantly refuses to change. And Inspector Bonaparte by accepting her weak and idiotic arguments, allows her to be kidnapped … which the reader could see coming a mile off. Far, far too contrived. Pathetic. Some of the stars are admittedly taken off because of the shear disappointment that such transparent and amateurish manipulations were used. 'Till now, this was a great series and thoroughly enjoyable.

I am disappointed

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