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The Orphanmaster Audiobook
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(3.01) - 858 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From a debut novelist, a gripping historical thriller and rousing love story set in seventeenth-century Manhattan
It’s 1663 in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, now present-day southern Manhattan. Orphan children are going missing, and among those looking into the mysterious state of affairs are a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old trader, Blandine von Couvering, herself an orphan, and a dashing British spy named Edward Drummond.
Suspects abound, including the governor’s wealthy nephew, a green-eyed aristocrat with decadent tastes; an Algonquin trapper who may be possessed by a demon that turns people into cannibals; and the colony’s own corrupt and conflicted orphanmaster. Both the search for the killer and Edward and Blandine’s newfound romance are endangered, however, when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is sentenced to hang for espionage. Meanwhile, war looms as the English king plans to wrest control of the colony.
Jean Zimmerman brings New Amsterdam and its surrounding wilderness alive for modern-day readers with exacting period detail. Lively, fast paced, and full of colorful characters, The Orphanmaster is a dramatic page-turner that will appeal to fans of Hilary Mantel and Geraldine Brooks.
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"This was my first foray into audiobooks. I got a new job and my commute is 40-60 minutes each way depending on traffic and this book kept me engaged the whole way. In fact, I even brought it in and listened to it on my laptop towards the end, just because I couldn't wait the 8 hours to find out what would happen next! I will say that the way animals, children and minorities were treated at the time is appalling and I was pretty sickened by some of the details (beyond the disappearance and murder of the orphan children)."
— Kristen (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The Orphanmaster is a sweeping novel of great and precise imaginative intelligence; it’s also the most entertaining and believable historical novel I’ve read in years. Jean Zimmerman is a debut novelist who already writes like an old master. Read any page of The Orphanmaster and you’ll become an instant fan.”
— Darin Strauss, author of Half a Life and Chang and Eng -
“Jean Zimmerman’s seventeenth-century New Amsterdam teems with enough intrigue, lust, and madness to give our twenty-first-century Big Apple a run for its money. And money is what drives this book—liberating, corrupting, forming the only bulwark against a terrifying, chaotic New World. Zimmerman’s wit and humanity shine light in a dark woods, creating an uncommonly rich debut.”
— Sheri Holman, author of The Dress Lodger -
“Here’s American history turned inside out, animated by Jean Zimmerman’s prodigious imagination. Monsters lurk in the shadows, chaos presses in, legends come alive, and one adventure leads with irresistible force to the next. The Orphanmaster is a breathtaking achievement.”
— Joanna Scott, author of Arrogance and Various Antidotes -
“Absorbing period fiction with the requisite colorful characters of the era.”
— New York Daily News
The Orphanmaster Listener Reviews
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" This book isn't worth the time it takes to read it. For a historical novel the verbal and conceptual anachronisms are too distracting. The author likes to tell rather than show. For example, I paraphrase, but this is essentially what is written, 'Eventhought they would rather die than admit it both loved their little brother fiercely.' I might just skip to the end to see what happens to everyone. "
— Sara, 2/16/2014 -
" Eh. I gave up and skipped to the last chapter to find out. "
— Cindy, 2/12/2014 -
" Such a slow start, but eventually picked up. I liked the setting of New Amsterdam and I think historically I learned a lot, but I thought the characters were all a bit trite and there was barely any female-female interaction, just a lot of dudes, and that was pretty boring. "
— Alex, 2/10/2014 -
" Great - a wonderful dive into early America "
— Honour, 1/16/2014 -
" The plot was ok.... could have done a LOT of editing to get the same result. Some inconsistency in language put me off too.... 2-1/2 stars :P "
— Jenn, 1/7/2014 -
" Not what was expected at all, a new era of American History explored which is usually overlooked by me, and more disturbing compared to most of the things I chose to read. The details and richness of research added to one's drive to keep reading to the satisfying conclusion. "
— Jeanne, 1/7/2014 -
" Enjoyed this read it is well written and the story line is well thought out.I very much enjoyed the history details however there is a element of gorry killings. would recommend this to history fiction buffs "
— Debbie, 1/6/2014 -
" It was interesting, but suffered in comparison to The Light Between Oceans which I was also reading during that time. "
— Lynn, 1/6/2014 -
" in the mood for eating orphans? "
— Kras, 12/19/2013 -
" A great read. Attractive characters and a storyline that once you give it some room to unfold it grips and doesn't let go. "
— Scottie, 12/5/2013 -
" Very well done. Great mystery set within wonderful New York history tale. You'll feel smarter after reading this and you'll have fun. "
— Joan, 4/3/2013 -
" 4.5 stars. Although the book is a mystery, it is much more. I really liked that the book took place in New Amsterdam during the 1600s. It was very interesting to learn how the Dutch women were impowered. Very enjoyable book. "
— Sandy, 3/16/2013 -
" An excellent read, despite the fact it deals with a canabalistic serial killer targeting children in the 17th century New World colony of New Amsterdam soon to be called New York. "
— Foggygirl, 11/3/2012 -
" i'd give it 4.5 if i could. ;) "
— Wendy, 10/3/2012 -
" One of the best historical mystery/thrillers I've ever read. (Complete review submitted to Suspense Magazine.) "
— David, 7/29/2012 -
" 2.5 Review to Come.... "
— Holly, 7/11/2012
About Jean Zimmerman
Jean Zimmerman is a New York–based writer who is best known for her novels Savage Girl, The Orphanmaster, and Love, Fiercely: A Gilded Age Romance. She graduated from Columbia University School of the Arts, earning an MFA in writing. She lives with her family in Westchester County, New York.
About George Guidall
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.