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The Swift and the Harrier

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The Swift and the Harrier

By: Minette Walters
Narrated by: Emma Gregory
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About this listen

Dorset, 1642.

When bloody civil war breaks out between the king and Parliament, families and communities across England are riven by different allegiances.

A rare few choose neutrality.

One such is Jayne Swift, a Dorset physician from a royalist family, who offers her services to both sides in the conflict. Through her dedication to treating the sick and wounded, regardless of belief, Jayne becomes a witness to the brutality of war and the devastation it wreaks.

Yet her recurring companion at every event is a man she should despise because he embraces civil war as the means to an end. She knows him as William Harrier but is ignorant about every other aspect of his life. His past is a mystery and his future uncertain.

©2021 Minette Walters (P)2022 W F Howes
Historical Fiction Fiction War Civil War
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Critic reviews

"The Swift and the Harrier is a sweeping tale of adventure and loss, sacrifice and love, with a unique and unforgettable heroine at its heart. Both gripping and fascinating. The civil war in Dorset is evoked brilliantly, the characters are real and intriguing and the love story tender." (Elizabeth Buchan)

"I loved every moment of this brilliantly evocative saga of struggle, love and danger set against the horrors of civil war." (S W Perry, best-selling author of the Jackdaw Mysteries)

What listeners say about The Swift and the Harrier

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Exceptional story

Great story well written and read. Loved it and will probably listen again and again

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3 people found this helpful

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Loved this book

Haven't read anything by this author that I haven't liked & this is no exception.
Storyline is engaging all the way through and the narration is excellent. One of those books you want to keep listening and at the same time don't want ti to end.
Highly recommended

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3 people found this helpful

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The rich flavour of the story

I haven't enjoyed an audiobook so much for a long time. Very well read and kept you listening. I enjoyed the history and the fact it was told from the point of view of a female physician

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Excellent book and story

Minette Walters is an author new to me. Be sure I shall seek and search for more. I really enjoyed the story, but know that the suffering in the English Civil war was terrible A part of our history full of turmoil, bigots and people true to their beliefs. A great book. I would recommend this book again and again.

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2 people found this helpful

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Enthralling and atmospheric

Strong characters combined with turbulent political times provide a fascinating immersion into life and the defence of beliefs during The civil war.

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1 person found this helpful

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Loved this book!

The one thing I’d say is at the beginning there is a grisly description of people being hung drawn and quartered - which I’m not sure was entirely necessary. Realising , I skipped it and don’t feel this harmed what was then a very good story…. Didn’t want it to end.

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6 people found this helpful

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Most enjoyable historical drama

Excellently read, well written drama. Loved learning more about the civil war and the conflicts around that time…

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A brilliant listen

I loved it. A fantastic narrator, which brought to life a cracking story about such a significant period of our history.

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Brilliant

Story is good narrator is excellent I would recommend this for history and romance readers

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Loved this book listened to it twice!

Interesting historical detail and strangely contemporary. Very well read and great atmosphere created by the story line.

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1 person found this helpful