Chains of Folly
A Magdalene la Batarde Mystery, Book 4
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Narrated by:
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Susan Duerden
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By:
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Roberta Gellis
About this listen
That Nelda Roundheels had been murdered would have been of little interest to anyone - except that her body turned up in the bishop of Winchester's bedchamber with a letter to the bishop, from the king's most important enemy, rolled up in her breastband. The bishop and his knight, Sir Bellamy of Itchen, realize immediately that the purpose of putting the body in Winchester's bedchamber is to embarrass and discredit the bishop. And the reason for this attack on Winchester is his calling of a convocation to chastise the king for acting high-handedly against the bishop of Salisbury. Had the king himself ordered this outrage? Had the king's favorite, Waleran de Meulan, ordered it? Unfortunately the answer is not so simple to find; there are many other noblemen who want the king's favor and might attack Winchester to get it.
To save Winchester's reputation it is urgently necessary to discover who killed the woman and who placed her in Winchester's bedchamber. Bell, to his mingled joy and distress, is ordered to ask Magdalene la Batarde, whoremistress of the Old Priory Guesthouse, once his lover but now estranged, to help him solve the mystery.
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- By Britgrrl on 02-08-19
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Grave Mercy
- His Fair Assassin, Book 1
- By: Robin LaFevers
- Narrated by: Rachel Frawley
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
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Good premise, poorly executed
- By Vanessa on 06-28-23
By: Robin LaFevers
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Highland Gladiator
- Scots and Swords, Book 1
- By: Kathryn Le Veque
- Narrated by: Brad Wills
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Truth. Justice. Revenge. Behind these stands The Scotsman's Sword. When Lor Careston's quiet Highland village was attacked and burned, he felt helpless against the raiders who destroyed his home. Seeking revenge, but lacking the fighting skills he needs to execute his mission, he sets out to find the Ludus Caledonia - a mysterious fight guild that turns men into warriors. Lor trains hard, proves himself in the ring, and earns a place with the very clan that decimated his home, having decided to set his plan for revenge in motion from inside the clan.
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Wonderful!
- By Virginia on 08-31-20
By: Kathryn Le Veque
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Wolfblade
- Hythryn Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Jennifer Fallon
- Narrated by: Maggie Mash
- Length: 25 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Marla Wolfblade of Hythria is determined to restore her family's great name, but conspirators surround her: The Sorcerers' Collective, the Patriots - even members of her own family. She must make sure her son Damin lives to be old enough to restore the Wolfblade name to its former glory. Elezaar the Dwarf is a small man with big secrets - but that doesn't matter to Marla Wolfblade. Her brother is the High Prince of Hythria, and, in this fiercely patriarchal society, her fate will be decided on his whim.
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An epic political drama
- By Katherine on 07-19-14
By: Jennifer Fallon
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The Counterfeit Madam
- Gil Cunningham Mysteries
- By: Pat McIntosh
- Narrated by: Andrew Watson
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Gil Cunningham had hoped that the first time he set foot in the brothel on the Drygate it would also be his last, but by the time all was settled he felt quite at home within its artfully painted chambers. The bawdy house, along with the neighbouring property and two more in Strathblane, are all part of a deal offered to Gil and his wife Alys by the forceful Dame Isabella.
By: Pat McIntosh
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Servant of Death
- Bradecote and Catchpoll
- By: Sarah Hawkswood
- Narrated by: Matt Addis
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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The much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar in the attitude of a penitent. Everyone who had contact with him had reason to dislike him, but who had reason to kill him? The Sheriff of Worcestershire's thief taker, wily Serjeant Catchpoll, and his new and unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, have to find the answer. And as the walls of the abbey close in on the suspects, the killer strikes again....
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Medieval armchair mystery
- By Marie on 08-12-17
By: Sarah Hawkswood
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The Fourth Crow
- Gil Cunningham Mysteries
- By: Pat McIntosh
- Narrated by: Andrew Watson
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Tied to St Mungo's Cross by the cathedral to be cured of her madness overnight by the saint, the young woman is found in the morning beaten and strangled, still tied to the cross. But is she who she seems to be? And who would flout the saint's protection like this? Gil Cunningham must trace the dead woman and find her enemies, track down the thieves and murderers and identify the watchers in the shadows, particularly the elusive fourth person who holds the secret of what happened that night. Questioning cathedral staff and apprentice boys, pilgrims and tradesmen, he uncovers only more puzzles.
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Scots for real.
- By JBatte on 10-20-22
By: Pat McIntosh
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The Crown
- By: Nancy Bilyeau
- Narrated by: Nicola Barber
- Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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In this debut historical thriller, an aristocratic young nun must find a legendary crown in order to save her father’s life and preserve all she holds dear. When novitiate nun Joanna Stafford learns her rebel cousin is condemned by King Henry VIII to be burned at the stake, she makes the decision to break the sacred rule of enclosure and flee her Dominican order in Dartford to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, Sir Richard Stafford, is sent to the Tower of London.
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Torture
- By S. Wells on 03-24-13
By: Nancy Bilyeau
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Stardust of Yesterday
- Haunting Hearts Series
- By: Lynn Kurland
- Narrated by: Ilyana Kadushin
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Genevieve Buchanan inherited a castle—and a ghost to go along with it. But Kendrick de Piaget was no typical ghost. He was a handsome and infuriatingly arrogant 13th-century knight. At first, he wanted to frighten Genevieve, though she was more charmed than scared by his ghostly tricks. But when his thoughts turned to wooing her instead, Genevieve had to face her greatest fear: falling in love.
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One of my favorites
- By Nancy on 06-09-10
By: Lynn Kurland
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The Alchemist's Apprentice
- By: Dave Duncan
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine
- Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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When the Council of 10 takes the seer Nostradamus into custody, suspecting him of poisoning a friend of the prince, his young apprentice must unravel a web of magic and murder if he is to have any future of his own.
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Excellent Book.
- By DoktorK on 07-12-08
By: Dave Duncan
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The Widow's Kiss
- By: Jane Feather
- Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Lady Guinevere Mallory has been married four times in 12 years, and each of her husbands has died mysteriously. Adept in the laws of property, she has secured the land of each of her late spouses, vastly increasing her personal wealth. After the death of her fourth husband, this trend raises some eyebrows at the royal court, and Hugh of Beaucaire is sent to investigate these puzzling events.
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Not bad, but veeerryyy ssslllooowwww narration.
- By I like to shop on 08-31-18
By: Jane Feather
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Knight of Desire: All The King's Men Series, Book 1
- By: Margaret Mallory
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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His surcoat still bloody from battle, William FitzAlan comes to claim the strategic borderlands granted to him by the king. One last prize awaits him at the castle gates: the lovely Lady Catherine Rayburn. Catherine risked everything to spy for the crown. Her reward? Her lands are declared forfeit and she is given this choice: marry FitzAlan or be taken to the Tower. Catherine agrees to give her handsome new husband her body, but she's keeping secrets, and dare not give him her heart.
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Stong Heroine.
- By 🌸DARA on 12-07-13
By: Margaret Mallory
What listeners say about Chains of Folly
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- S. Williams
- 11-29-14
Great book. A real shame about the narrator.
Would you consider the audio edition of Chains of Folly to be better than the print version?
Sadly, no, the print edition is much better. This is a wonderful story - much more involving that the first three books. (As hard as that is to believe! The first three were amazing!) The narrator made this recording painful.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Chains of Folly?
I would have to re-read the book. Thinking back at the recording I've just finished, I keep grinding my teeth at the painful "personality" the reader tried to give the characters, and can't get past them. I think perhaps the early battle scene where Bel protects the Bishop?
What didn’t you like about Susan Duerden’s performance?
Her narration was sing-song. Her characterizations were massively irritating. The Bishop always snarled. Bel always hissed and drawled. Magdalene sounded continuously air-headed. Diot sounded like a back alley tough. Although everyone was "speaking" French, one character had an affected French accent. Right up until the narrator forgot who was talking, then the wrong painful "voice" said the next line which didn't belong to them.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
A lighthearted bit of slap and tickle is a lot of fun - right up until someone steals the state secrets.
Any additional comments?
Re-Record? Please?
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8 people found this helpful
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- tzinnamon
- 02-08-17
Superb
One of the best of Roberta Gellis' books. A very interesting, tangled tale of medieval intrigue. The characters ring true to the period to my best knowledge. I wish she had lived to write more of Magdalene's story. Highly recommended.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Sharon Wright
- 10-28-13
Story engaging; Performance Horrible!!!
Where does Chains of Folly rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
In terms of the story, among the better ones. I have long enjoyed this series. But the performance was terrible! The only reason I listened to the end was because I am a Roberta Gellis fan.
What didn’t you like about Susan Duerden’s performance?
Characterization of different voices, different genders. At points I actually muted because I simply could not stand her reading and characterizations.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Don't employ Susan Duerden!
Any additional comments?
I will NOT ever listen to another book by this reader....
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5 people found this helpful
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- Susan P Hogan
- 02-07-23
Brings good closure
The ending was quite satisfactory, bringing the two main characters to a state of acceptance with their situation. The detectival story seemed better worked out, characters better realized. But I’m afraid the narrator’s performance grated on my ears with breathiness and nasality (sometimes both together). I could only listen for short bits before I was so irritated I couldn’t focus on the story.
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- cedric
- 11-21-13
Another whodunnit in medieval London
If you could sum up Chains of Folly in three words, what would they be?
murder mystrery or practical joke?
Who was your favorite character and why?
Sir Bellamy was my favorite character because I enjoy watching him struggle to reconcile his desire for Magdaline with the knowledge of how she supports herself.
What about Susan Duerden’s performance did you like?
Actually, not much. her main virtue is her authentic middle class British accent. Her delivery was monotonous. She has a narrow range of emotions to bring to her narration.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Join Magdalene la Batarde in medieval London and solve another whodunnit.
Any additional comments?
Ms. Gellis needs to widen the scope of her research on this historical period so that she can offer a fuller view of medieval life. She spends too much time on the aquisition of meals and expalining the legal and spiritual status of prostitutes in this period of history. Her books are short enough that I feel her editor could easily eliminate several references with no detriment to the storyline. Adding more details and vignettes about court, family and relgious life would be welcome additions to her narrative. If she could add a little more accurate historic detail (e.g. the lute is a rennaisance instrument a few centuries to the future), she could bring medieval London to life.
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- greengal
- 03-12-13
Still worth the listen.
I do love Roberta Gellis, so I bought this despite the negative review about the narration. It's not Susan Duerden's best, but I found that it improved as it went along and I did enjoy it.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Sarah Jenkinson
- 05-21-15
I miss Nadia May's reading
Good story but this narrator is too sing-song-y for my taste. Every sentence seems to have the same rhythm, the same inflection. It's soporific and makes it very hard to follow the actual story line.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Joy
- 06-09-13
Deserves more credit than it's getting
I grabbed CHAINS OF FOLLY as soon as I saw it was available, in spite of the beating the new reader was taking from listeners. The Magdalene la Batarde series is a delight for medieval mystery lovers, and CHAINS OF FOLLY is no exception. I wish Gellis had continued the series after this.
It is the rare reader who can produce both male and female voices faithfully, and this reader's voice is especially high. She shouldn't even try to sound male. The more successful strategy is to create the character by temperament, not timbre. However, her comprehension of the author's intention seems superior.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Coresten
- 09-20-17
The Narrator is Awful
The story is fine, especially if you are familiar with Roberta Gellis's other Magdalene stories. But the narrator! Oh, the narrator! She places the same emphasis on every sentence, thereby ruining the cadence of the story. Everything is said with a breathless disbelief that makes something simple such as "set the bread on the table" sound like she's calling a horse race. It's awful.
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1 person found this helpful
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- myztrybuff
- 07-31-16
Narration spoiled the enjoyment of the book
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
I would not. The narration was very poor and detracted from the story.
What did you like best about this story?
The mystery was well crafted and the outcome was not immediately evident. I am tiring of the angst filled relationship between the Bell and Magdalene. The series is becoming a bit too much of a romance for my tastes.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
She has very little range in her characterizations. Magdalene sounds breathy and simpering rather than the strong, confident character that is written. Also, she and Diot sound so much alike it is difficult to tell them apart. Although written as childlike, her Ella is a caricature of a little girl voice and it is actually disturbing to listen to her delight in her profession. The Bishop of Winchester sounds like Snidely Whiplash. Suffice it to say, I will not listen to any more books with this narrator.
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2 people found this helpful