The Chemistry of Death: Dr David Hunter, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Abridged

Simon Beckett (Author), Greg Wise (Narrator), Random House AudioBooks (Publisher)

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Shortlisted for Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the year, 2008.

When the bizarrely mutilated and long-dead body of a young woman is found in a ditch in Manham, an isolated and insular village in the Norfolk marshlands, it isn't just the fact that she had been a friend that disturbs Dr. David Hunter. He was once a high-profile forensic anthropologist and all too familiar with the different faces of death, until a devastating personal tragedy made him turn his back on his former life and career.

Now hidden away as a country doctor, Hunter's past is a secret he hopes will remain buried. So when he's asked by the police to use his arcane skills to help track down the killer, he's reluctant to become involved, knowing this will only stir up the painful memories he's been trying so hard to forget.

Then another young woman disappears, and Manham is plunged into a fog of fear and paranoia that threatens to tear it apart. And no one seems exempt from suspicion as the twisted killings continue. And as the once peaceful community is riven by fear and mistrust, David Hunter realises it will take all his knowledge and expertise if the killer is to be stopped. But not even he is prepared for the terrible cost that will exact, or the awful price that failure threatens to bring.

Listening Length

3 hours and 41 minutes
Author

Simon Beckett
Narrator

Greg Wise
Audible release date

7 February 2006
Language

English
Publisher

Random House AudioBooks
ASIN

B00NPB8WLA
Version

Abridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	3 hours and 41 minutes
Author	Simon Beckett
Narrator	Greg Wise
Audible.com.au Release Date	07 February 2006
Publisher	Random House AudioBooks
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Abridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00NPB8WLA
Best Sellers Rank	40,897 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 2,914 in Suspense 9,089 in Suspense Thrillers (Books) 12,929 in Literature & Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

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2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Peter Krohn

Great crime read

Reviewed in Australia on 7 September 2016

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An interesting story. Hard to stop reading. Rich characters. I am looking forward to reading his next book as soon as I download it.

Helpful

Excellent, thrilling read.

Reviewed in Australia on 2 July 2021

I was really excited when I got to the end of this book and discovered that it is book 1 of 6 (so far!) as this is one heck of a thriller!!

Dr David Hunter applies for a job as a country GP, trying to make a fresh start after his wife and daughter are killed. He is less than honest with his new boss though about what his full range of skills are and this fact comes to haunt him in days to come. He gets very involved in a murder investigation which pushes him to his limits and puts those he cares about in danger as well.

The story is a twisty, thrilling tale and there were a couple of semi-sleepless nights when I was trying to just read "one more chapter" before I went to sleep. Very well written indeed.

Can't wait to read the next book!

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MightyPennysworth

A great opening and a solid novel

Reviewed in Australia on 28 October 2015

This novel had one of the most compelling openings I have ever read, which delves into the science of how a body decays. For example, a body digests itself from the inside out, beginning with microbes first, then via larger organisms such as flies. It was fascinating. I was a little disappointed that the novel evolved simply into a race against time later and a whoddunit. I didn't feel the novel really fulfilled the opener, which could have been used more within the plot or perhaps a twist. This would have elevated this crime novel a little above the rest.

That is not to say I didn't enjoy the novel, because I did, and I didn't see some of the twists that came later. A great opening; the rest was simply a solid crime novel that ticked the expected boxes.

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Relax and Read Reviews

WOW, WOW, WOW!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2021

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WOW! WOW! What a book! What a series! I'd been meaning to start reading this series for many years and finally I took the plunge, and let me tell you, I had an inkling this was a good book, but not THIS good! I love books dealing with anthropology and forensic anthropology. Dr David Hunter is a very interesting, clever and fabulous character, and thankfully, for once, he's not a detective or inspector. I found that refreshing in a crime thriller. I fell in love with the author's exceptional writing. The descriptions, both of the setting and of the crime scenes, were so vivid that I could easily imagine myself there either enjoying the beautiful scenery of the area or closing my eyes not to see the horrendous crime scenes. The book kept me intrigued from start to finish, swiping at my kindle with vigour. The ending was simply heart-pounding and terrifying. Fantastic book, fabulous series. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Ron McMillan

Totally implausible ending

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2022

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This wasn't badly written, even if the English-country-village clichés were piled high from day one. The forensic anthropology was seriously overdone - there's a limit to just how much we want to know about larvae and pupae - but despite the author's extensive research on such matters, his knowledge of other matters medical are non-existent. The next cliché box to be ticked was having a diabetic main character whom we knew from the moment her condition was mentioned was destined for a life-threatening diabetic coma (just as we knew for certain that there was no way she would die, never mind the author's hamfisted machinations). If the author had researched the effects of hyperglycemia the overblown episode might have had more credibility, but nowhere does he mention the most awful symptom of seriously high blood sugars, namely an unquenchable thirst that is absolute misery. Too normal, maybe, for overblown fiction?

Then there is the ending. Totally implausible, with one baddy who hadn't previously said a single word but had somehow eluded police scrutiny during a small village serial murder case, and the other baddy being, of course, the most trusted associate of the main character. If those constitute unfair spoilers, I apologise; but you don't deserve to have those two 'twists' inflicted upon you any more than I did.

One person found this helpful

J - loves books, reads books

Well written, terrific read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2021

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3-3.5*
This is a well written book and a terrific read. The first in what is now a six book series with, no doubt, more to come.

David Hunter is a good character in this opening book he has given up his career as an forensic anthropologist to become a G.P. after a personal tragedy finds him unable to carry on.

The book opens with an atmospheric beginning which explains what has happened to David and his new start in the Norfolk village of Manham. Three years later David has his own house, few friends, he has settled in but still feels a bit of an outsider.

When two brothers find a body David’s life starts to change once more. The Police want his help. He gets close to Jenny, a teacher, who lives in the village. He gets more and more tangled up in the investigation.

Helping the police puts added pressure on Henry whose practice David is a G.P. in and where he has been taking on more of the work over the years he has been there. Henry took David on when he decided that, after a tragic car accident were his wife died and he lost the use of his legs, he could no longer cope by himself.

It’s a dark tale of kidnap and murder. David is caught up in the investigation as a G.P., as a forensic pathologist and through his friendship of the victim. There are yet more kidnappings, a seemingly unrelated body, more deaths. As the tension in the village rises it overspills into violence and mistrust. The local vicar is very vocal which isn’t necessarily helpful.

The sense of place is very good in this well written book with some terrific characters, it is dark yet not overtly graphic. It may have one or two moments, possibly because when it was written some of the tools used to supply information and back story now seem a little dated, that irk but it is compelling and a good first book for a series. I would read more of the series and recommend it.

Book: purchased

One person found this helpful

Bec

An absolute pleasure :)......

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2016

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Wow, so I might be a little late to the table as this was released in 2006, however it is superb! By the way, it's currently on special and promoted through Dead Good Reads on all e-book platforms for £1.99, my recommendation is to buy it, now!

So I rarely give 5 stars, particularly to crime/thriller fiction, however this is a beautifully written crime novel. I can understand why this author is popular in Germany and Scandinavia! Usually I rush into chapters because it's all about the action and getting to who the culprit is. However this time I had to consciously stop myself and just take in the beauty of the writing. In one word, its evocative....

"The grass cracked underfoot like broken glass. The early morning frost bleached the colour from the landscape, turning into a monochrome wilderness..
"the blood..smeared her skin in an abstract pattern of cruelty"
"After centuries of self containment, of knowing it could always rely on its own no matter what, Manham could no longer trust itself"

You are literally transported into the local landscape, seeing everything as if you were there. I couldn't help but feel the conjuring of Agatha Christie. This is the quintessential whodunnit in a local country village, with all the personalities, parochialism and politics that go along for the ride - just set in more modern times. Where local sleuthing meets forensic pathology/anthropology. It has all the suspense, twists and turns of an enjoyable thriller, however these are actually understated because it's the strength of the writing that drives the momentum of the story, making this a great read. An absolute pleasure in fact, 5 stars.

11 people found this helpful

S Mc

Village murder most horrid!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2021

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This is the first book that I have read by this author.
I enjoyed the writing and descriptions, it could have been a mini TV crime drama over 4 episodes, I could see the scenery and characters.

I did, however, find the characters slightly stereotypical - mysterious haunted male lead, cantankerous village vicar, uncouth village thug, attractive female newcomer, an adult male still living with his mother, 2 gardeners lurking in the cemetery, a much loved village doctor and the imposing but loyal friend.

The plot was good and I liked that after two of the victims were just found, we heard more about the other victim's captivity and gumption. I did guess that one person was lying throughout and the identity of the killer but not their motive.

I hope the lead character Dr. Hunter will carry on in subsequent books by this author.

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The Chemistry of Death: Dr David Hunter, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Abridged

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