The Devil's Steps Audiobook By Arthur W. Upfield cover art

The Devil's Steps

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The Devil's Steps

By: Arthur W. Upfield
Narrated by: Peter Hosking
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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.©1946 Bonaparte Holdings Ltd. (P)1999 Bolinda Publishing Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime

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.

Critic reviews

"Arthur Upfield's thirty-year-old series about Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte of the Australian police is being reissued, and its politically incorrect aspects can be a bit jarring in 2009. Nevertheless, Bony remains a fascinating, if improbable, character, and narrator Peter Hosking has a wonderful time with him and other in the very large cast. Our protagonist is on special assignment at a posh mountain resort. His job is to sniff out who possesses German plans secreted out of Europe after WWII. Murder intervenes. We have every accent to be found in Australia, every social class, and sober and drunk versions of both men and women. Hosking handles it all very well, only occasionally getting carried away by the exuberant opportunity. But over-the-top is as it should be." (AudioFile Magazine)
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Upfield's classic detective, Napoleon Bonaparte, belongs in the same league as Holmes, Marple, Poirot, and Dalgliesh. Please give us more Bony!

A Classic Mystery

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

A Grand Story

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Narration: As usual, excellent.

Story: Kept me guessing.

Highly recommended.

Writing: Love the elegant prose and word selection.

One of his best.

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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.

This is a favourite Arthur Upfield story

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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.

enjoyable aussie whodunnit

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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.

One of the Best Mystery Series Ever

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

Great story great narration

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Take Bony away from the Outback and he becomes just another detective, depending on fortuitous coincidences to solve crimes.

Bony is at his best in the Outback

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