Play Audiobook Sample
The Attenbury Emeralds Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.02) - 649 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
The recovery of the magnificent gem in Lord Attenbury's dazzling heirloom launched a shell-shocked young aristocrat on his career as a detective in 1921. Thirty years later, a happily married Lord Peter has just shared the secrets of that mystery with his wife, the detective novelist Harriet Vane. Suddenly, the new Lord Attenbury—grandson of Lord Peter's first client—seeks his help to prove who owns the emeralds. As Harriet and Peter contemplate the changes that the war has wrought on English society—and Peter, who always cherished the liberties of a younger son, faces the unwanted prospect of ending up the Duke of Denver after all.
Download and start listening now!
"OK, 4.5, but the extra .5 is because this was just what I wanted. Spending more time with some of my favorite characters and seeing where their lives led them ... for a fan of Lord Peter and his Harriet, it couldn't get much better. Jill Patton Walsh doesn't seem to hit a single false note in her portrayal of the characters, and if the mystery is only of vague interest, the surrounding events and the effect on the characters kept me glued to the page. I enjoyed the other Wimsey books by Walsh, but I think this is by far my favorite."
— Jeri (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“A pitch-perfect Golden Age mystery; not a pastiche but a gem of a period puzzle that belongs on the shelf beside the Wimsey originals.”
— The Financial Times -
“Fans will be pleased that it is an absolute treat: civilized, intelligent, and spellbinding…Channeling the authority Sayers employed right up to her final book, Walsh shows that she has the full measure of the imperishable Lord Peter and the hyper-intelligent Harriet Vane.”
— Daily Express (London) -
“Walsh successfully re-creates the tone and personalities of the originals and plausibly depicts the main characters later in life. Fans of literate period mysteries will clamor for more.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Small delights include glimpses of the three Wimsey sons, all bright and beautiful, and the loyal Bunter moving with changing mores but steadfast affection.”
— Booklist (starred review)
The Attenbury Emeralds Listener Reviews
-
" This is a terrific continuation of the Lord Peter and Harriet Vane story, revolving around a mystery that spans several generations and further revealing the always interesting Harriet/Peter relationship. Set after the end of WW2, it helps illuminate some of the social changes of the era in Britain but retains the charm (for me, anyway) the charm of the English mystery. Reader Edward Petherbridge is a great successor to Ian Carmichael's many readings of Dorothy Sayer's novels. "
— Rachel, 11/20/2023 -
" I loved this book! Cant wait to read it again! Definitely going into my permanent book rotation. "
— Natalie, 2/16/2014 -
" Very slow. Long. Drawn out. Think I prefer Dorothy Sayers. "
— E, 2/6/2014 -
" Jill Patton Walsh would be the first to say that she is no Dorothy L. Sayers, and she would be right. My love of serial narrative keeps me reading these books even though I sort of dislike them--the banter is not the same. Part of Sayers's charm was that while she loved Peter Wimsey, she didn't like him very much. Walsh likes him too much, and so she never lets him be quite as ridiculous as he ought to be. Anyway, this was probably the best of the lot so far--I really hated Thrones, Dominations, the Sayers book Walsh finished for her. I liked a lot of the second half of this one, although it was really saccharine at times, and I find references like "this could never happen in a novel" IN A NOVEL to be really dumb. But I did enjoy the storyline about what became of Duke's Denver, and I love Harriet. Is mediocre more Harriet better than no more Harriet ever? Hard to say. "
— Charlotte, 2/4/2014 -
" I'm enjoying this. It isn't quite as close to Sayers own work as either 'Thrones, Dominations' or 'A Presumption of Death' but I'm a serious fan of Sayers and still enjoying it, which is the highest recommendation I can give. Not 5 stars because it isn't Quite right. but close! "
— Helen, 1/31/2014 -
" Close to the inimitable Miss Sayers. Very well done. "
— Carla, 1/25/2014 -
" Decent mystery based on the characters from Dorothy Sayers' characters. Focuses on a set of disputed family emeralds and the various legend surrounding them. The main problem with the book was that there were too many characters with similar names, and it was confusing to tell who was who. Also, the book was a little long and slow moving. "
— Diane, 1/5/2014 -
" total treat. "
— Gray, 1/5/2014 -
" Well, not bad, but still not Sayers... "
— Karen, 12/31/2013 -
" Definitely not on a par with Sayers - and not even as consistent as the other two Lord Peter books that J.P.W. worked on (possibly because those were still based on notes of Sayer's). But it's still a good read, lots of familiar, beloved characters and a very good little plot :o) "
— Heidi, 12/18/2013 -
" Thoroughly enjoyed this. Sometimes the continuation of a classic by a new author is jarring but I think Walsh recreated the tone and style of Sayres very well. It was nice to visit old friends. "
— Donna, 11/29/2013 -
" Disappointing. A sort of inferior Moonstone. Only Peter and Harriet's domestic life made it worth reading. "
— Julie, 4/14/2013 -
" This book doesn't hold a candle to the Dorothy L. Sayers books, of course. Comparing them will just leave you disappointed. A decent ho-hum kind of mystery. I enjoyed it more than I would have otherwise because I love Lord Peter. "
— Johanna, 12/2/2012 -
" Read just for another glimpse of Peter and Harriet. Not a bad story. "
— Leslie, 8/1/2012 -
" Walsh is doing a great job continuing the Peter Wimsey books. She stays true to the characters and the feel of the original books. "
— Doanie, 5/1/2012 -
" I enjoyed the book in and of itself as a story. Somehow,though, it didn't have the "bite" of the original series. "
— Sally, 5/3/2011 -
" This book is better than I expected. Most subsequent novels by other authors are poor imitations. This<br/>book is not. Though Lord Peter is not so whimsical in this book it still has a good plot and is good <br/>reading. "
— Phyllis, 5/1/2011 -
" Not where I would have taken this series. I liked her previous one much better. "
— Karen, 4/19/2011 -
" I have always loved the Lord Peter Whimsey novels by Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh is a worthy successor. She has moved the characters forward very believably, her writing has some of Sayers elegance and the mystery hold up. "
— Janet, 4/14/2011 -
" Walsh isn't Sayers but, having said that, this is a very good read and a very complex mystery. I hope she'll keep writing about Peter and Harriet. I enjoyed this tremendously and would really like a sequel. <br/> "
— Carol, 4/6/2011 -
" Very slow. Long. Drawn out. Think I prefer Dorothy Sayers. "
— E, 4/6/2011 -
" Read just for another glimpse of Peter and Harriet. Not a bad story. "
— Leslie, 4/5/2011 -
" I worried if a new Lord Peter Wimsey and his intrepid wife and valet would be a good idea, however, this book with it's double timeline won me over. An older and wiser Lord Peter was wonderful. "
— Lbaker, 3/26/2011 -
" I enjoyed the book in and of itself as a story. Somehow,though, it didn't have the "bite" of the original series. "
— Sally, 3/21/2011
About Jill Paton Walsh
Jill Paton Walsh was born in London and educated at St. Michael’s Convent, North Finchley, and at St. Anne’s College, Oxford. In 1996 she received the CBE for services to literature and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. An award-winning author, she lives in Cambridge with her husband John Rowe Townsend.
About Edward Petherbridge
Edward Petherbridge’s theater experience is extensive. He originated the role of Guildenstern in the original production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and he has been nominated for two Tony Awards, one for Nicholas Nickleby and the other for Strange Interlude. For the latter he also received an Olivier Award. His television and film credits include Gulliver’s Travels, An Awfully Big Adventure, No Strings, and Lord Peter Wimsey.