The Book of Hidden Things Audiobook By Francesco Dimitri cover art

The Book of Hidden Things

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The Book of Hidden Things

By: Francesco Dimitri
Narrated by: Andrew Wincott
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From "one of the most significant figures of the last generation of fantasy" comes Francesco Dimitri's debut novel in English, an enthralling and seductive fantasy following four old friends and the secrets they keep.

Four friends have a pact: to meet up on the same day every year in their small hometown in southern Italy. Art, the charismatic leader of the group, has always been adamant about the pact. But this year, he doesn't show up. Searching for him, the friends make a worrying discovery: Art has been farming marijuana, a very dangerous activity in mafia-controlled country. Asking around in town, they hear bizarre and incredible rumours that Art cured a young girl of leukemia. And then, amongst the chaos of his house, they find a curious manuscript written by Art called The Book of Hidden Things, which promises to reveal secrets enchanting as flames, and just as treacherous....

©2018 Francesco Dimitri (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd Fantasy Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Supernatural Thriller & Suspense

Critic reviews

"An affecting fable of friendship, magic and nostalgia." (The Guardian)

"In lesser hands, this blend of detective story, organized crime thriller, and supernatural investigation would feel like a grab bag of plot devices, but Dimitri has created a thrilling spectacle that also manages to point poignantly at the way the landscapes we grow up in shape us in ways even beyond our understanding. A deeply felt look at the idea of home, clothed as a popcornworthy page-turner." (Kirkus Reviews)

"An evocative meditation on friendship, adulthood, and the liminal spaces that lie just outside human perception [...] Dimitri's beautifully written tale, steeped in nostalgia, folklore, and religion, will enthrall and terrify readers." (Publishers Weekly)
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Dimitri is an excellent story teller. Wincott reads in a way that you believe he is each character.

well crafted, great writing

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There were so many thrilling & interesting details introduced throughout this story I was really looking forward to the big reveal at the end... It never came. The mysteries remained mysteries. Talk about frustrating!

So many loose ends

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I greatly enjoyed the ethereal window into Italy. Reminded me much of my time there, and I've been craving the food like crazy since finishing the book. I did enjoy it greatly until about the 75-80% mark. Almost like it was a rushed wrap up to be as cruel and end as fast as possible.

Unfortunately the story went off the rails at the end, there were some parts of foreshadowing it would get dark but not to the point of describing animal cruelty in detail. There was a lot still left unresolved at the end. The narrator was very good, but his 'feminine' voice does distract a bit from the immersion, it was a mostly masculine cast so not that big of a deal.

75% of the story was solid, then it went off the rails.

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It was an okay story, but really should have a trigger warning about animal cruelty

Trigger warning

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The book is set in Italy and for some reason they used an English actor for the narrator. Ruined the authenticity of the story.
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Why the English narrator

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love the narration and descriptions of food and the like. a few of the lines about sexual attraction feel a bit silly, but just as many lines are quite beautiful and compelling, especially in wincott's voice. overall I've really enjoyed this book.

love wincott's voice

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I am an audible reader.
perhaps the story has been lost on translation, but that should not also reflect in the storyteller.

lack of depth and appreciation of the story...?
The narrator/narration lacks substance.

hard to get past the narration !

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a bunch of disconnected concepts strung together lamenting the entitled male midlife crisis experience.

drags and disappoints

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Stopped before I found out what was ever going on. Couldn't stand the unbridled ickiness of the protagonist's unending misogyny and objectification. It's truly gross. Wasted $.

ew?

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