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Ascension
- an absolutely gripping BBC Two Between the Covers Book Club pick
- Narrated by: James Langton
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
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Ascension
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Summary
A BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club Pick 2021.
Three friends from a mission many years ago reconnect when one of them dies in mysterious circumstances on remote Ascension Island. Rory Bannatyne had been tasked with tapping a new transatlantic data cable, but a day before he was due to return home, he is found hanged. When Kathryn Taylor, on the South Atlantic MI5 desk, begs ex-spy Elliot Kane to go over and investigate, he can't say no, but it's an uneasy reintroduction to the intelligence game.
Entirely isolated from the world, the disappearance of a young girl on the island at the same time as Rory's death means local tensions are high. Elliot needs to discover what happened to her as well as to Rory. But the island contains more secrets than even the government knows, and it's not going to give them up without a fight.
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Critic reviews
"Oliver Harris' Ascension is a stunner. What a pleasure it is to read a book with a powerful story, an unusual and fully realised setting, a convincing hero, all written in a style of luminous clarity." (Philip Pullman)
"A fascinating tale of modern espionage in a unique setting." (Irish Independent)
What listeners say about Ascension
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hugo Sedgwick
- 17-07-21
Excellent
Fantastic stuff. Oliver Harris' books are generally excellent, and this is no exception. Enjoy.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- w martin
- 28-03-23
Ascension
Certainly not as good as the first novel. It seemed to speak to the audience as if they knew nothing about MI6 or the world of espionage and often stated the obvious, something I haven’t experienced in previous Harris novels, having now read at least five. Didn’t like the narrators style or pace and listened at 1.1, which made it tolerable. Nevertheless it was enjoyable and worth listening to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. Curtis
- 25-05-22
What a find!
I literally downloaded this book because I like the cover and because I love spy novels. What a fantastic book! Gripping, well read and such a good story full of twists. Really enjoyed it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marcus Paine
- 08-01-23
Exciting and well written spy thriller
Excellent second Elliott Kane novel. Pacy and well plotted. X x x x x x x
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- May
- 06-01-22
Fascinating and very informative
I really enjoyed this book. I found the history of Ascension Island fascinating and the fictional tale surrounding it was gripping and well written. Highly recommended for those who like a thriller rooted in the security services.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- J. Funnell
- 16-05-22
Enjoyable listen
Enjoyed the story although I thought the ending was slightly predictable and rushed. The narrator was clear but his reading was rather emotionless even when he was trying to convey the characters speech. Hence only giving the book 4 stars.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rod Hughes
- 23-02-24
Absorbing and exciting listening
A gripping spy story with a captivating ending. Beautifully written text - tight prose and plenty of background to Kane’s world. Another excellent listening experience .
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dorset Bob
- 17-03-22
Good book!
I kind of wanted to go to Ascension after hearing this. Good spy thriller. Narration excellent.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 14-06-22
good spy novel
The first Elliot Kent book was much better but this one was good too. the ending is a bit simple
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Alan R
- 28-07-21
Thoroughly enjoyable
A real romp! Spies and murder and missing children, a heady mix. I've been a fan of Oliver Harris since reading The Hollow Man, this does not disappoint.
Well researched, interesting for that reason alone.
The plot is stretched a little at the end, however the entertainment lading up to that point more than compensates.
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