The Woodcutter Audiobook By Reginald Hill cover art

The Woodcutter

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The Woodcutter

By: Reginald Hill
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Wolf Hadda's life was a fairytale - successful businessman and adored husband. But a knock on the door one morning ends it all. Universally reviled, thrown into prison, Wolf retreats into silence. Seven years later Wolf begins to talk to the prison psychiatrist and receives parole to return home. But there's a mysterious period in Wolf's past when he was known as the Woodcutter. Now the Woodcutter is back, looking for truth and revenge...

©2010 Reginald Hill (P)2010 WF Howes Ltd Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting
Intricate Plot • Compelling Revenge Story • Excellent Narration • Complex Protagonist • Unexpected Twists
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I loved this! Yes its long, yes it takes a long time to get into but so so worth the wait. The second half of the novel is a rollercoaster ride of twists, turns and amazement. I found myself yelling out loud in public in shock when I didn't see things coming.

I'm a big fan of criminal psychology so I really loved the early parts of the book but this might not be everyones cup of tea.

But defiantly stick it out to the end; you won't be disappointed.

Amazing, a rare gem of a novel

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I loved this book. Did not give it 5-stars because I rarely do (and there were some holes), but actually considered doing it. The story was complicated and preposterous -- think Dickens in a bit of a hurry -- but you really fell for the characters. The reader was perfect. I was sad when it came to an end.

"Should be 4 1/2 stars"

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There's a good bit of satisfaction derived from an exceptionally told revenge story. This book definitely falls into that category with several added elements that make it a stand-out from other books of this genre. It's part spy novel, part mystery, part revenge fantasy come to life, and part love story.
This book is well-written and fast-paced and the narration is wonderful.
I did not give it 5 stars because there is a component of this story (the main character's relationship with his psychiatrist) that I found disturbing. I'll leave it at that as I don't want to spoil any part of the book for other readers.
Overall it's a good book and worth the credit.

Best Served Cold

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Hill has created a fascinating character in Wolf and Jonathan Keeble does a wonderful job in portraying him. The story, pacing, and well fleshed-out supporting cast make this book a winner. I'd love to see Wolf in another adventure.

Loved the characters, story, and reader

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I cannot say that I enjoyed the book. It is not gripping or particularly well-written. The performance is fine, but the actor, whose voice is very well suited to the character, cannot save the lukewarm story. There is a fair amount of chasing, killing, climbing the cliffs, chopping off hands, and other thriller elements; and yet they utterly fail to excite the reader. I would've given up listening after the first couple of hours, but this was the only audiobook available to me this month and I really need something to listen to while I jog, so I finished it. I'm sorry to say the rest was just as bland as the beginning.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It's not possible to write a spoiler because nothing remotely surprising happens in the second half of the book. First half is not particularly inventive either, but at least the reader is still getting to know the characters so he is not completely bored. I've fallen asleep listening to this book more often than with any other audiobook ever before.

I was not impressed

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After reading other reviews, I was expecting a better story to carry me through so many hours of listening. It was not to be. The plot was predictable and flat. Nothing new here. The narrator's performance with his variety of voices was well-done, and the author's character development made me care enough about Wolf to hope he got his justice, but I just cannot recommend this book to others. It is unlikely that I will read another Hill novel.

Not a Thriller

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Smart writing. Smart characters. Intruiging. Engaging. This is not a "background" book. You have to pay attention and it moves along at a nice pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to finding more from this author.

Reminded me of the Count of Monte Cristo

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Where does The Woodcutter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in the top 25%, and I listen to a lot of audiobooks.

What other book might you compare The Woodcutter to and why?

I'm not sure there's anything quite the same as this; it has the psychological insights and character details of an Elizabeth George mystery, an interesting antihero, a hint of mythology - all while giving an excellent shout-out to Alexandre Dumas. It was also really, really fun.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Keeble – was your favorite?

Wolf was a standout, but really the narrator was good with all the characters and their voices. A pitch-perfect performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yup.

Any additional comments?

If you came here looking for a truly compelling suspense/mystery/thriller and have discerning tastes, you have found your book. This was my first Reginald Hill book, and it won't be the last. Wonderful stuff!

Revenge! Murder! Suspense!

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Great reader great Writer
Very satisfying well spent credit
Highly recommend
Keeble is top tier narrator !!

Well told

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The story itself is interesting if not compelling. I definitely enjoyed it and found the slower pacing refreshing. But it wasn't the best story I've read. The narrator is amazing though- his character voices were all outstanding and realistic with wonderful accents and not annoying at all.

Best narration ever!

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