Play Audiobook Sample
A Field of Darkness Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.01) - 898 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
![Murder on the Orient Express [Movie Tie-in]: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Audibook, by](https://media.audiobookstore.com/c/e/ce2a/ce2a-square-240.jpg)
Publisher Description
Madeline Dare, a tough-talking, shotgun-toting ex-debutante, is not your average detective. Then again, not much about her life is what she expected. Born of old money into high society, she married into a Syracuse farming family and a bottom-of-the-food-chain job writing puff pieces for the local newspaper. Her emotional barometer these days ranges from dry irony to whining exasperation.
Then Madeline discovers mysterious circumstances linking her favorite cousin to a twenty-year-old murder case, and suddenly her roots are a serious matter again—deadly serious. Unwilling to turn her evidence over to the authorities before figuring some things out herself, she will embark on an ill-prepared and harrowing investigation into the real dark side of her world.
Download and start listening now!
"I chose this book for one reason. It's set in Syracuse, NY, my hometown where I went to H.S. and where my family still lives. It's kind of fun to hear her driving down Erie Blvd or diss'ing Syracuse as in the "rust belt". A good murder mystery and great characters. "
— Jennifer (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Consistently delights. The author’s sharp social commentary on everything from the idle rich to the environment adds to the pleasure.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Read’s plot crackles and pops, but her characters steal the show. This is sure to be loved by fans of comic mysteries, but don’t be surprised if Tom Wolfe readers are equally smitten by Read’s venomously witty portrait of a fallen WASP.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“Huber portrays the main character’s ‘attitude’ perfectly, reading with a wry wit and self-deprecating humor. Her voices match each individual’s background, from Dare’s husband’s farm family to her own family’s upper-crust snobbishness. Older teens and adults with a taste for a combination of mystery and humor will find both in this well-narrated novel.”
— Kliatt -
“A Field of Darkness is sheer joy, complete with cutting prose and gleefully off-kilter pop culture references.”
— Bookreporter.com
Awards
-
A 2007 Audie Award Finalist
-
A 2007 Anthony Award Finalist for Best First Novel
-
A 2007 Macavity Award Finalist for Best First Mystery
-
Finalist for the 2007 Barry Award for Best First Novel
-
A 2007 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee for Best First Novel
A Field of Darkness Listener Reviews
-
" a book club selection through the local library "
— Rebecca, 2/13/2014 -
" This kept me guessing about who did it. It was a great story and set in a part of the country I have lived in. That always makes a good story for me since I can visualize the places. "
— Judithosc, 2/11/2014 -
" When would something happen other than lengthy descriptions of things that maybe would be relevant one day? "
— Bill, 1/31/2014 -
" Cornelia Read is a delight to read. Her imagination and wit are so engaging, they could make even a lame story fun, but she's also a fine storyteller. Her books fit loosely into the mystery genre, and they've also been called debutante noir. "
— Ken, 1/31/2014 -
" This book was my commuter audio, so the narration is everything. The narrator, Hillary Huber, must not have read the book before her terrible reading - pauses in the wrong places, flat and lacking life and her voice was monotone too often. Now, the book itself. For as much as I listened, I didn't find the story gripping or engaging. It didn't suck me in so that I'd want to drive around the block, just to listen longer. It was, well, boring. "
— Sally, 1/29/2014 -
" A good mystery book.... kind of edgy, hip dialoge. It was fun. "
— Debbie, 1/15/2014 -
" I liked this. Good writing. Compelling and likable lead character. Good story. "
— Stacie, 12/23/2013 -
" It is a mystery but quite different. I really enjoyed it. "
— Candy, 12/21/2013 -
" The first I've read by Cornelia Read, and her debut. She is clearly a competent writer and I hope I'll find future outings more to my liking. For A Field of Darkness (terrific cover, by the way) I couldn't get into why it was so important for Madeline Dare to give a hoot about why/how the Rose girls were killed...never rang true for me. Having said that, I like Read's style and hope her promise as a crime fiction writer is realized. "
— Scott, 12/21/2013 -
" Audio. Good suspense. "
— Duana, 12/20/2013 -
" Excellent mystery/crime novel, but mostly Read is just a good writer. Read this for the writing. One of my top 3 of 2006. "
— Heather, 12/4/2013 -
" If you are looking for the kind of book that begs to be read as slowly as possible, allowing you to savor the brilliance behind the craft of fine writing, run to the bookstore. When you're done, there are two more of her books to keep you happy. "
— Karen, 11/3/2013 -
" light... very, very light reading "
— Ginger, 8/3/2013 -
" There was a bit of the stereotype to the villain and denoument of this story. I can usually appreciate a crusty young woman, but Madeline was a bit too crusty and I don't really care for her husband. Super drama at the end, even a car chase! "
— patience, 4/17/2013 -
" First of the series....i've already read the last two books in reverse order so I know that this one is going to be awesome....even though I think I already know what is going to happen it's worth it!! "
— Christen, 2/16/2013 -
" A thoroughly absorbing book by a thoroughly brilliant author. Get this one now. "
— Dwight, 1/18/2013 -
" I liked her book "Crazy School" better. This one was slow in spots. Still good, though. "
— Nancy, 2/6/2012 -
" Interesting read about an affluent East Coast family and their black sheep relative. The books starts slow but keep reading. "
— Shu, 2/1/2012 -
" One of the better suspense/thriller novels I've read. "
— Mallory, 5/25/2011 -
" I enjoyed this book. The first 50 or so pages were great - really fun writing. The middle got a bit sloggy with her family, and I got tired of hearing how much she loved Dean. But there was much to like and I'd read her next. "
— Miriam, 4/22/2011 -
" I read her books in reverse order and this is the first one. You can tell as her books get progressively stronger. Very good story teller "
— Caroline, 1/28/2011 -
" A book on CD read by Hillary Huber–a good voice for the foul mouthed Madeline Dare. This is the prequel to Crazy School and focuses on Madeleine’s family background, and includes her deliciously supportive, long suffering husband.<br/> "
— Beth, 1/25/2011 -
" I expected better from the book review - the end was too predictable "
— Julie, 1/11/2011 -
" Pretty entertaining and easy book--interesting story, good characters. I did feel like the story was too neat and clean, and sort of ridiculous, but overall it was an enjoyable book. I'd recommend it for a quick, easy read. "
— Brenan, 9/13/2010 -
" It was neat to read a book that takes place in a location that you know well. "
— Scott, 9/1/2010 -
" There was a bit of the stereotype to the villain and denoument of this story. I can usually appreciate a crusty young woman, but Madeline was a bit too crusty and I don't really care for her husband. Super drama at the end, even a car chase! "
— pw, 7/12/2010
About Cornelia Read
Cornelia Read is the author of Valley of Ashes, Invisible Boy, and The Crazy School. Read’s first novel, A Field of Darkness, was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel. She lives in Berkeley, California.
About Hillary Huber
Elisa Medhus, MD, is an accomplished physician who has practiced internal medicine for more than thirty years. She is also the award-winning author of Raising Children Who Think for Themselves, Raising Everyday Heroes, and Hearing Is Believing.