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The Constant Gardener

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: John le Carré
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Publisher's summary

Frightening, heartbreaking, and exquisitely calibrated, The Constant Gardener opens with the gruesome murder of the young and beautiful Tessa Quayle near northern Kenya's Lake Turkana - the birthplace of mankind. Her putative African lover and traveling companion, a doctor with one of the aid agencies, has vanished from the scene of the crime. Tessa's much older husband, Justin, a career diplomat at the British High Commission in Nairobi, sets out on a personal odyssey in pursuit of the killers.

Tragedy elevates Justin Quayle, amateur gardener and ineffectual bureaucrat, seemingly oblivious to his wife's cause, when he wakes to his own resources and the extraordinary courage of the woman he barely had time to love.

©2001 David Cornewell, All Rights Reserved (P)2001 Hodder Headline Audiobooks, All Rights Reserved
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Critic reviews

"Elegant style, rich characterization, and Graham Greenish exploration of moral ambiguity. [John le Carré's] sonorous voice and nuanced delivery perfectly complement his authorial personality." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Constant Gardener

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

The Constant Gardener

I found this book hard to follow on audio. I don't know if it seemed random since it was an abridged version, or not, but I constantly felt like I was missing something.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A great story, well read

John LeCarre writes great characters and it is a real treat to hear him give distinct voices to each of them. This story grabs you right from the start and doesn't let up until it ends. Highly recommended!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Ever the master,

Mr le Carre continues to be the high watermark of espionage/spy drama. His narration adds a depth and texture to his characters that only the author could.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

good topical modern day fiction

LeCarre gets every voice right when he reads his book. A political/activist/travelog thriller.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good but not great Le Carre

A good yarn - comparable to The Russia House. Le Carre paints an intriguing picture of Africa and of the abuse of the third world by the west and by the big pharmacutical companies. I found the ending a tad disappointing.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

This book dragged on too much for me. I was also disappointed with LeCarre's narration. He seemed to revel in his own words versus tell a good story.

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