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When Eight Bells Toll

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When Eight Bells Toll

By: Alistair MacLean
Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver
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About this listen

From the acclaimed master of action and suspense. The all time classic

Millions of pounds in gold bullion are being pirated in the Irish Sea. Investigations by the British Secret Service, and a sixth sense, have bought Philip Calvert to a bleak, lonely bay in the Western Highlands. But the sleepy atmosphere of Torbay is deceptive. The place is the focal point of many mysterious disappearances. Even the unimaginative Highland Police Sergeant seems to be acting a part. But why?

This story is Alistair MacLean at his enthralling best. It has all the edge-of-the-seat suspense and dry humour that millions of readers have devoured for years.

©1966 Devoran Trustees Ltd (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers Action & Adventure Classics Crime Thrillers Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Police Procedural Sea Adventures Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Adventure Highlander

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Critic reviews

  • ‘Keeps up its high-wire tension all the way. Not to be missed’ Guardian
  • ‘A cracker-jack opening. Insistently readable’ Evening Standard
  • ‘Breathless action…and a sterling plot’
    Financial Times

‘Almost perfect MacLean’ Lee Child
All stars
Most relevant  
I read this years ago and enjoyed it even more listening - the narrator has the perfect voice for this wonderful now vintage story.

Perfect narrator

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Love the story and background information , the ideas and Scuba dialog is great , good characters..!

Story amazing

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Clear and precise narration of a thoroughly enjoyable spy novel, the adventure is partially based at sea and you can feel the damp cold dark waters within every sentence. Cannot praise this enough and will seek out more books in this series and any other books read by this narrator.

Thoroughly enjoyable spy thriller

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Story detail adhered to excellently, but narration is haughty and condescending, unlike Macleans original.

No warmth from this hero.

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Clever plot that was woven together well with many twists and turns that kept you guessing.

Great story.

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Ive been reading Alastair Maclean since I was a teenager this book. This book has always been one of my favourite books of his so to find it as an audio book has been a delight. It was hugely enjoyable. I devoured it in 3 listenings.

I love this book.

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This has always been one of my favourite Alistair Maclean books. I have read it a dozen times and, in my head, have used accents and dialects that I thought suited the characters. Now I have listened to someone else's interpretation and, to be honest, am disappointed. I missed the little gems of humour that I always found made this book special, but the narrator seems to have played these down. To me, he also seemed to narrate too "loudly" when I have always "read" the lead character especially to be softer spoken. I doubt I will listen to it again, it will be one of the occasions when a book in the hand is better by far.

When Eight Bells Toll

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A fantastic listen, thoroughly entertaining and in my opinion the best from the master of thriller novels

Brilliant

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Loved this book for years. Delighted when I discovered it was a talking book.
Accents are very disconcerting and spoiled my enjoyment

Great story - awful accents

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The story is OK, but I didn't enjoy some of the verbal sparring. It's of its time, and society has moved on. The plot is believable and moves at a decent pace.
The narration is poor. I felt like the story was being told from the other side of a busy main road. With the narrator shouting at me. His attempt at character voices and accents is comical.
I enjoyed Ice Station Zebra much more.
I'll give MacLean a rest for a while after this book.

Spoilt by poor narrator.

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