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The Orphan Choir
Written by Sophie Hannah
Narrated by Rebecca Shelbourn-Timm
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Louise has no reason left to stay in the city. She can't see her son, Joseph, who is away at boarding school, where he performs in a prestigious boys' choir. Her troublesome neighbor has begun blasting choral music at all hours of the night - and to make matters worse, she's the only one who can hear it. Hoping to find some peace, Louise convinces her husband to buy a country house in an idyllic community called Swallowfield. But it seems that the haunting melodies have followed her there. Growing desperate, she begins to worry about her mental health. Against the pleas and growing disquiet of her husband, Louise starts to suspect that this sinister choir is not only real but a warning.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
The Orphan Choir
Written by Sophie Hannah
Narrated by Rebecca Shelbourn-Timm
Description
Louise has no reason left to stay in the city. She can't see her son, Joseph, who is away at boarding school, where he performs in a prestigious boys' choir. Her troublesome neighbor has begun blasting choral music at all hours of the night - and to make matters worse, she's the only one who can hear it. Hoping to find some peace, Louise convinces her husband to buy a country house in an idyllic community called Swallowfield. But it seems that the haunting melodies have followed her there. Growing desperate, she begins to worry about her mental health. Against the pleas and growing disquiet of her husband, Louise starts to suspect that this sinister choir is not only real but a warning.
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Reviews
I'm an addict for Hannah's Zailer-Waterhouse series (c'mon, Sophie, it's been 3 years since the last one), but her standalones, not so much. This one moves right along in its tale of a family whose seven year old son has been sent to boarding school to be a chorister in an renowned church program. Louise, the mother, is completely heartbroken without her son, and schemes to take him back. Her husband is somewhat sympathetic but becomes alarmed at her odd behavior, which starts with a battle with a next-door neighbor about loud music, and continues with the family's purchase of a second home in a suspiciously overly quiet gated community in the country. There are hints along the way that Louise's mania may be justified, as in so many, many mysteries where this overused trope prevails. The ending works but is not wholly unexpected.
Rating: 4The sad and harrowing tale of a mother struggling to cope with her son's absence at boarding school, combined with an on-going battle with a noisy neighbour. Deeply disturbing & excellently written. My kind of horror story.
Rating: 5Louise is desperately missing her son Joseph who boards at school as he is in a choir. She not coping very well and to top it all off she has a neighbour who plays loud music.I have to say that this book surprised me. I really was quite enjoying it. I thought at times it was a little unbelievable especially how quickly the environmental health lady paid at visit, but then all will be revealed. I'm not sure if this book was scary enough to be classed as a horror and I didn't really find it scary. I was enjoying the book as it explored how Louise wasn't coping and the actions she decided to take.However it was a quirky little book which overall I did enjoy. The ending wasn't for me as I couldn't really accept the book as a horror read.
Rating: 4And to think it went right along as a perfectly normal sort of mother/child situational problem---until...it wasn't! The audio was absolutely terrific---read by Rebecca Shelburne-Timm. Write in the first person of the mother with terrific dialogue, this made for wonderful listening.
Rating: 5