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The Lodger: A Tale of the London Fog Audiobook
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(3.04) - 474 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The basis for Hitchcock's 1927 movie by the same name, as well as a more recent major motion picture from 2009, this award-winning audio of Marie Belloc Lowndes' classic thriller still packs a wallop.
An elderly couple living in Victorian London struggle against despair as their small resources dwindle. When an eccentric and mysterious gentleman answers their advertisement for a lodger, they celebrate. But as women begin dying at the hands of “The Avenger” on the foggy streets of London, they start to suspect something too horrific for words. Could the timing just be mere coincidence?
While neither mentions their suspicions to the other, they each suffer horribly from dread when their beautiful young niece comes to stay with them and is terribly curious about their new lodger.
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"I thought this was a cracking read. Loosely based on Jack the Ripper, it really is more a study in psychological guilt and terror. The ending is rather weak and I suspect that's why it isn't up there with the "greats", but I would recommend it. Meant to read it years ago and should have done!"
— Andrew (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Lorna Raver’s performance is a tour de force. Her dexterity shifting between accents is breathtaking. She creates the precise intensity, uncertainty, or sheer terror called for by each shocking situation. Raver’s performance, combined with Lowndes’s literate, suspenseful plot, makes this must listening. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile -
“Raver’s voice has superb diction and range. She speaks for all characters, except for the lodger, in a strong cockney accent, and she sets the mood from start to finish.”
— Kliatt -
“Her book is a splendid bit of work in the art that creates mystery in literature.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Dealing with not only the psychology of ‘The Avenger’—her version of Jack the Ripper—but also with that of his landlady…Lowndes creates an atmosphere of suspense, fear, and horror.”
— Amazon.com -
“Matchless for excitement and artistry of writing, The Lodger…takes the reader into a tale of almost unbearable suspense.”
— BookCrossing.com
Awards
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
The Lodger Listener Reviews
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" This is a scary fun book to read. There are parts that are a little slow, but it's a fun read. "
— Nicci, 2/20/2014 -
" Possibly the earliest novel inspired by the murders of Jack the Ripper. "
— Keith, 2/7/2014 -
" This book shows how some people will do and/or forgive just about anything that is done to them or going on around them in order to survive. "
— Lara, 1/30/2014 -
" the story of Jack the Ripper from a slightly different perspective: the home where he is staying as a reclusive lodger while the murders are happening about the streets of London "
— Michelle, 1/24/2014 -
" This old story about Jack the Ripper has been made into numerous movies, so it was fun to go back and read how Belloc Lowndes originally imagined her story. Since Jack the Ripper was never arrested, hers is more of a "what-if" type of story. "
— Thing, 12/25/2013 -
" Stupid Hitchcock. "
— Mike, 12/23/2013 -
" An enjoyable and quick read. "
— Kona, 12/14/2013 -
" This needs 10 stars the scariest mystery I have ever read. Loosly based on the Jack The Ripper happenings. "
— Maretta, 11/10/2013 -
" With the premise of this book, I was really expecting more of a "thriller" from it. In my opnion, it really fell flat in that expectation. Was it a mystery? Yes, but barely..again, my opinion only. If I didn't have to read it for several challenges, I probably wouldn't have finished it. "
— Naomi, 10/11/2013 -
" Fairly good story. At times the plot is slow and repetitive. Ending was not quite what I expected. "
— Douglas, 10/2/2013 -
" Fun for a weekend-read. A bit thin on the plot side, but entertaining enough. "
— Maky, 6/16/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book. Not really a suspenseful story but more of a psychological thriller. "
— Colleen, 4/12/2013 -
" I LOVED "The Lodger." It started out slow but by the end the tension is almost unbearable. "
— Darcey, 3/17/2013 -
" On the Mystery Book Group reading list. Classic 1913 novel inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders. "
— Martina, 3/10/2013 -
" I was hooked right away by this Jack the Ripper Redux English mystery. The characters were very engaging and though the ending seemed abrupt I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys British mysteries. It has held up well over time. "
— Judy, 2/6/2013 -
" Interesting....suspenseful, especially considering when it was written. "
— Virginia, 6/10/2012 -
" Enjoyed every page of this, great tale that makes you wonder. What would you do, who would you protect? The ending was a bit soft, but still very good and wasn't predictable. Recommended, especially as a kindle freebie! "
— Megan, 4/7/2012 -
" Really quick and wonderful read. Thinking I might have to look into some of her other stuff. :) "
— Reanna, 7/5/2011 -
" Fairly good story. At times the plot is slow and repetitive. Ending was not quite what I expected. "
— Douglas, 5/9/2011 -
" This was a good book, especially if you're as obsessed with Jack the Ripper as I am. I didn't find it too suspenseful, but I did appreciate the psychological depth that Lowndes gives her characters. "
— Whitney, 4/15/2011 -
" Despite the blurb it could have been better... "
— John, 3/14/2011 -
" Jack the Ripper, fictionalized! Good plane fodder. "
— Torea, 2/28/2011 -
" Loved this! An unexpected treat. It would be a good book club book.... "
— Lindsay, 1/31/2011 -
" Great book, but the ending was a little abrupt. Loved the language and speech patterns of the cockney British "
— Jan, 1/18/2011 -
" This is an older book written in the very early 1900's. It is written by a British author as well. I didn't find it too difficult a read, like some English books. It is about a murderer like Jack the Ripper in London and his lodgings. It was a page turner after a while. I enjoyed it! <br/> "
— Lisa4piano, 1/16/2011 -
" Atmospheric; more psychological than action-oriented. "
— Marya, 12/30/2010 -
" Told from an interesting point of view, that of the suspected murderer’s landlady Mrs. Bunting, The Lodger is an atmospheric psychological thriller inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders. A classic thriller, it has been made into 4 movie versions since its original publication in 1913. "
— Donna, 12/17/2010 -
" Surprisingly good; tense and rather claustrophobic. "
— Karen, 11/19/2010 -
" the story of Jack the Ripper from a slightly different perspective: the home where he is staying as a reclusive lodger while the murders are happening about the streets of London "
— Michelle, 9/4/2010 -
" Great old suspense novel loosely based on Jack the Ripper. "
— Audie, 4/19/2010 -
" I found this book really fascinating and enjoyable even though it was somewhat slow at times. "
— Outi, 3/25/2010
About Marie Belloc Lowndes
Marie Belloc Lowndes (1868–1947) was a prolific English novelist and the sister of the celebrated writer Hilaire Belloc. Her most famous novel, The Lodger, based on the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888, was an immediate bestseller and became the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s first talking motion picture.
About Lorna Raver
Lorna Raver, named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year, has received numerous Audie Award nominations and many AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has appeared on stage in New York, Los Angeles, and regional theaters around the country. Among her many television credits are NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Boston Legal, ER, and Star Trek. She starred in director Sam Raimi’s film Drag Me to Hell.