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Northanger Abbey Audiobook
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Publisher Description
Internationally best-selling crime writer Val McDermid has riveted millions of readers worldwide with her acutely suspenseful, psychologically complex, seamlessly plotted thrillers. In Northanger Abbey, she delivers her own, witty, updated take on Austen's classic novel about a young woman whose visit to the stately home of a well-to-do acquaintance stirs her most macabre imaginings, with an extra frisson of suspense that only McDermid could provide. Cat Morland is ready to grow up. A homeschooled minister's daughter in the quaint, sheltered Piddle Valley in Dorset, she loses herself in novels and is sure there is a glamorous adventure awaiting her beyond the valley's narrow horizon. So imagine her delight when the Allens, neighbors and friends of her parents, invite her to attend the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh as their guest. With a sunny personality, tickets every night and a few key wardrobe additions courtesy of Susie Allen, Cat quickly begins to take Edinburgh by storm and is taken into the bosom of the Thorpe family, particularly by eldest daughter Bella. And then there's the handsome Henry Tilney, an up-and-coming lawyer whose family home is the beautiful and forbidding Northanger Abbey. Cat is entranced by Henry and his charming sister Eleanor, but she can't help wondering if everything about them is as perfect as it seems. Or has she just been reading too many novels? A delectable, note-perfect modern update of the Jane Austen classic, Northanger Abbey tells a timeless story of innocence amid cynicism, the exquisite angst of young love, and the value of friendship.
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“Following Austen’s story line but diverging in distinctive ways of her own, McDermid captures the naïvete of the protagonist of Austen’s prose…Rife with conflicts of love, gossip, misunderstandings, and updates on social media, it is an accessible and enjoyable read, especially rewarding for young readers as a gateway into appreciating the classics.”
— Publishers Weekly
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“There’s an archness and precision to McDermid’s prose that beautifully echoes Austen’s own…McDermid makes it very much her own, although any skeletons in the cupboards remain strictly metaphorical.”
— New York Times -
“Long before our modern-day crime author draws a final, canny ace from her tartan sleeve, you’ll have succumbed to the delights of Northanger à la McDermid.”
— Boston Globe -
“Austen’s most gothic-toned story is well modernized by McDermid, who demonstrates her fondness for the sometimes foolish heroine in witty asides. The updates are clever and creative…McDermid’s descriptions of scenery and settings are excellent, and overall this Austen experiment is a success.”
— Library Journal -
“McDermid’s brilliant update of the characters’ outlooks, philosophies, and attitudes within a modern context makes this a reimagined delight for Austen fans.”
— Booklist -
“[This audiobook reveals] Liz Pearce’s enthusiasm and talent with a variety of accents…Pearce’s best effort is her portrayal of Bella Thorpe, whose nasal, high-pitched voice and habit of drawing out her words soooo often are perfect for her unlikable character.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A New York Times Editor’s Choice
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About Val McDermid
Val McDermid is an author whose bestselling novels have won the Los Angeles Times Book of the Year Award, and the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger and Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding achievement. She is also a multiple finalist for the Edgar Award, including for the true crime nominee Forensics. Her novels have been translated into forty languages and have sold over 16 million copies. Visit her online at ValMcDermid.com.
About Liz Pearce
Liz Pearce, audio narrator and actress, has performed on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, in London’s West End, in national and International tours, and at countless regional theaters across the country. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music with a BFA degree in musical theater.