Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Pale Blue Eye

By: Louis Bayard
Narrated by: Charles Leggett
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.90

Buy for $17.90

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Soon to be a Netflix film starring Christian Bale, Harry Melling, and Gillian Anderson

“Shockingly clever and devoutly unsentimental . . . reads like a lost classic. Bayard reinvigorates historical fiction.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Seemlessly blends Poe into an engrossing whodunit worthy of its inspiration. ” (USA Today)

An ingenious tale of murder and revenge at West Point, featuring a retired detective and a young cadet named Edgar Allan Poe—from the author of Courting Mr. Lincoln.

When the body of a suicide victim disappears at West Point Military Academy in 1831, only to be discovered hours later missing its heart, the Academy calls on retired detective Gus Landor to investigate. Landor is something of a legend among his peers, noted for an uncanny, Holmesian ability to read people. When Edgar Allan Poe, a new cadet, comes forth with his own cryptic conclusion—that the man Landor is looking for is a poet—Landor is intrigued and enlists Poe as his assistant. Working together, Landor and Poe narrow down the suspects, all the while dealing with their own personal demons.

©2006 Louis Bayard (P)2014 AudioGO
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Featured Article: From Page-to-Screen: January 2023’s Biggest Book Adaptations


Is anyone else overwhelmed by the amount of content hitting screens both big and small? Luckily, you can't really go wrong when one of your favorite listens gets adapted for television or film. Bookworms, film buffs, and couch potatoes alike will delight in these upcoming adaptations of bestselling, fan-favorite books. Whether you like to listen before you watch or save a richer literary experience for post-viewing, you'll want to keep these titles on your radar.

What listeners say about The Pale Blue Eye

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    284
  • 4 Stars
    111
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    310
  • 4 Stars
    57
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    243
  • 4 Stars
    110
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

What a great read!!

A murder mystery in an unlikely place, unlikely time and a very unlikely character!
This book made me wish there would be a series of these. The tiniest bit slow at the start, I was sucked in early on and just loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Loved this book!!

Awesome story!! I love Edgar Allan Poe and Bayard did a fantastic job with his character.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Perfectly done, in every respect.

Usually, the best one can hope for in an audiobook is a narration that doesn’t detract from a good story. In this beautifully crafted book, however, the narrator added to it. He is extraordinary, to the point where someone reading the written version is getting short-changed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Excellent reading of a completely wonderful novel

I am probably not alone in that I hadn't heard of this book until I saw it had been adapted for a movie. After watching the movie (which I also highly recommend) I had to experience the novel. I feel that the Audible narration far exceeds what my imagination could have done with these characters. I'm sure I'll keep this in my library to revisit them all on some distant, cold winter day.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Fantastic story, wonderful reading. 

It’s a wonderful story and a must listen. Especially if you enjoy the English language well employed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Poe Knows

Though at times the story drags on, it grows like a nor’easter and brings shock and solutions at its end. Do read this one and enjoy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Gorgeous use of language

Fantastic voice and narration. Flawless really. The use of language and the beauty of the author’s word choice, dialogue and descriptions could easily be from literature of that era which I realize was his exact intent. Well he nailed it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

The voice made it a beautiful story to listen to.

I liked the entire book, the unexpected ending. The characters were well developed too and I felt I could relate to Landor’s need for revenge.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

One of the best audiobooks I have ever enjoyed!

What made the experience of listening to The Pale Blue Eye the most enjoyable?

Bayard's writing style perfectly captures mid-19th century American diction--reminiscent of the best of Twain and Harte. With just a few seemingly simple changes to cadence, pitch, intonation, Leggett creates vivid and memorable characters.

What other book might you compare The Pale Blue Eye to and why?

Unfortunately, I am unable to recall another book now. But this is a masterfully woven tale of intrigue and mystery, with an unexpected twist at the end. Marvelous!

Which character – as performed by Charles Leggett – was your favorite?

Poe.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What you never knew about Edgar Allan Poe....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

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

Historical fiction at its best!

Besides being so interesting, very imaginative with a great ending. All characters well developed without becoming a boring rendition of personalities.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!