An Absolute Scandal: A Novel Audiobook, by Penny Vincenzi Play Audiobook Sample

An Absolute Scandal: A Novel Audiobook

An Absolute Scandal: A Novel Audiobook, by Penny Vincenzi Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Rosalyn Landor Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 23.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 17.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: May 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781415949191

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

509

Longest Chapter Length:

05:48 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

25 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

04:08 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

4

Other Audiobooks Written by Penny Vincenzi: > View All...

Publisher Description

Penny Vincenzi, master of the contemporary blockbuster, returns with a moving, engaging portrait of people coping with a notorious financial disaster and its unpredictable emotional repercussions. Set during the boom-and-bust years of the 1980s, An Absolute Scandal follows the lives of a group of people drawn together by their mutual monetary woes when the great financial institution Lloyd's undergoes a devastating downturn. For Nigel Cowper, this means the destruction of his family business; his wife, Lucinda, is willing to do everything she can to help him—except give up her irresistible lover. The powerful, charismatic banker Simon Beaumont and his wife, a highly successful advertising executive, lose everything they worked so hard to acquire; but the ultimate tragedy is something that neither one could have anticipated. The well-to-do are not the only ones suffering: a self-sufficient widow is suddenly deep in debt; a single mother struggles to maintain a comfortable home for her children; and a schoolmaster and his frustrated wife find that financial problems deepen the cracks in their troubled marriage. As their lives begin a downward spiral, these characters intersect in ways they never saw coming. Written in what has become her signature style of both wit and candor, Penny Vincenzi draws back the curtain and offers an inside view of the greed and social power plays that occur behind the closed doors of upper-crust society . . . where money isn’t everything. Sometimes, it’s the only thing.

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"I'm a big fan of Vincenzi and this one wasn't bad! I was skeptical about reading a novel/drama about the financial markets but the characters were likeable and even though it was 400+ pages, I breezed through it. Would definitely recommend it, as well as her others. "

— Melissa (4 out of 5 stars)

An Absolute Scandal Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.48780487804878 out of 53.48780487804878 out of 53.48780487804878 out of 53.48780487804878 out of 53.48780487804878 out of 5 (3.49)
5 Stars: 10
4 Stars: 12
3 Stars: 10
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Lots of characters so I'm glad for the cast list at the start of the book but really moves along well. "

    — Reba, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Too long and too much. "

    — Bill, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I love Penny Vincenzi. Excelloent escape reading. She makes you feel right at home in Britain. "

    — Jeanne, 2/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Great summer read! We have spent a fair amount of time in England, and have heard about the Lloyd's of London travesty--this helps and I will google to learn more. "

    — Ellie, 2/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Extremely long .. yet worth every paper cut , it taught me patience and the value of the company of books , shared a crazy year with this book in my bag all the time , i practically lived 2 lives , the real world & penny's world "

    — Omnia, 2/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " My very favorite from all the Penny Vincenzi books! "

    — Adriana, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I've always enjoyed her books-very easy reading ! And they're usually tremendous value for money as they're HUGE books !! "

    — Lynda, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Okay, but not as good as her other books "

    — Bess, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Why oh why did I insist on finishing this book? Nothing much happens -- certainly nothing unexpected -- and every time I closed the book, I was surprised at how many pages I had left to slog through. Vincenzi's book has been publicized as a "summer" book, and put with "chick lit," but light beach reading it is not. Well, unless financial disaster, people with way more money than you, and working mother diatribes are your idea of beach reading. "

    — Stephanie, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This book was ok...nothing spectacular, and even a bit cumbersome at times. Wouldn't recommend it. "

    — Jenny, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Interesting could be the word. Definitely compelling, otherwise I wouldn't have read such a big book in such short time, though the subject is not compelling for me (finance and so forth). "

    — Flavia, 1/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 3.5 Again I really like her style and character development. I just wish she could tell the story with fewer pages. "

    — Linda, 1/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I felt this book kind of waffled on then dribbled out at the end. I mean, what happened to the court case that was such a big part of the first half? She's written better. "

    — Kate, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " It got me through a 23-hour train ride. "

    — Lucy, 12/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Her trilogy still holds out as her best books. That may also be because I read them first. This had a different plot but similar themes- surprise death, many affairs. I still enjoyed it and will continue to read her others. "

    — Tina, 11/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I'm a big fan of Vincenzi and this one wasn't bad! I was skeptical about reading a novel/drama about the financial markets but the characters were likeable and even though it was 400+ pages, I breezed through it. Would definitely recommend it, as well as her others. "

    — Melissa, 10/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " took a little while to get into, but once I did I could not put it down. "

    — Sgitt2214, 10/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " bloody long but god it was good, appropriate that I read it just after the 2008 crash "

    — Ange, 8/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " In a word this book is too long by about 300 pages, i'm used to her longer stories but i'm usually kept captivated (sheer abandon for example) i only finished this to tie up the loose ends and not because it was a 'page turner'. Its a shame! only read this if you have a spare month!!! "

    — Gemma, 7/5/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A fun read for the train, but not my favorite Vincenzi. "

    — Alison, 5/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really enjoy Penny Vincenzi's books. But as always, she has so many characters. I always have to go back to the front of the book where thankfully she has listed all of them out...But other than that, a great book! "

    — Paige, 1/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " was an ok book..not actually my kind of reading but good enough now onto another "

    — susan, 12/8/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not the best Vincenzi...a little slow at the beginning, but its still a good story. "

    — Kristy, 11/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Funny and easy to read "

    — Sue, 7/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " How the meltdown at Lloyds affected families. Very realistic. "

    — Max, 5/4/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Amazing novel. I read in within a week. I was hooked with at the beginning. A definately must read. "

    — Lissa, 9/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another great story from a great story-teller. As usual, a BIG read. I don't know how she does it. She must be exhausted by the time she's finished writing. "

    — A.J., 9/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another great story from a great story-teller. As usual, a BIG read. I don't know how she does it. She must be exhausted by the time she's finished writing. "

    — A.J., 5/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book kept my interest all the way through. I could not wait to find out the end. The characters and events are quite interesting and even captivating. I only gave it a 3, however, because I didn't really like the way it ended. "

    — Dianne, 4/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " bloody long but god it was good, appropriate that I read it just after the 2008 crash "

    — Ange, 4/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really enjoy Penny Vincenzi's books. But as always, she has so many characters. I always have to go back to the front of the book where thankfully she has listed all of them out...But other than that, a great book! "

    — Paige, 4/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " omg. it was and absolute scandal trying to read this alright! lol! i mean there were so many things going on i was just like "wait..... huh slow down" but i the end i was in tears! but i loved how Blue and Lucinda ended up together. "

    — Manu, 4/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Set in the last days of England's Thatcher era, story of the fall of several rich families who invested in Lloyds parallels recent economic conditions in US. Very readable, soap opera style pacing. "

    — Mom, 3/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " was an ok book..not actually my kind of reading but good enough now onto another "

    — Susan, 3/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I picked this up off a friends bookshelf when I didnt know what to read and My gosh I was hooked. Penny's writing style was so easy to read and relate to I really enjoyed this novel! Very interesting plot and chaacters too, Worth the time I think. "

    — Eliza, 2/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I tried to get into this book as I had read another of Penny Vincenzi's books and remembered enjoying it, but when it took me a week to read 100 pages, and I found myself glancing around the room in boredom whenever I finally gave up. "

    — Nicole, 2/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Too long and too much. "

    — William, 2/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Am re-reading this - have to re-read my Vincenzis every so often! Good escapism, don't need to think about it, just wallow and enjoy! "

    — Jennifer, 1/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Penny Vincenzi is a great author- never has written a bad book, in my opinion. I LOVE long family sagas and this one was great! "

    — Andrea, 12/15/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This is the book that never ends. I could not believe how long it took the last 200 pages to pass. It's a shame too since I really was enjoying the first 400 or so. "

    — Lauren, 7/29/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " some parts of it did drag on but loved it :D "

    — Siddy, 5/19/2010

About Penny Vincenzi

Penny Vincenzi is the international bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including Sheer Abandon, An Absolute Scandal, The Best of Times, and the highly successful Lytton family trilogy. Before becoming a full-time novelist, she worked as a journalist for Vogue, Tattler, and Cosmopolitan, among other publications. She was also the first fashion editor at Nova, a seminal woman’s magazine of the 1960s, known as Britain’s “style bible.” Penny has four daughters and divides her time between London and South Wales.

About Rosalyn Landor

Rosalyn Landor is an English-born television, theater, and multiple-award-winning audiobook narrator. Her television credits include Love in a Cold Climate, Rumpole of the Bailey, Sherlock Holmes, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She has won numerous Audie awards and AudioFile magazine Earphones awards.