It was ok

Although there were weaknesses in the plot toward the end, the story was good. The narrator’s voice, admittedly, aggravated me by the end of the story

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Excellent!

Really enjoyed this. Easy to listen to, great narration and engaging story . And bonus it’s free!

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Ghostly

This is the second book that I have listened to by Wendy Webb. She doesn't disappoint you as she weaves her ghostly tales with interesting characters and haunting locations. There are lots of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your listening ear. The narrator was excellent and kept you wanting to finish in one session.

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80% Setting

This is a fairly good Ghost Story - ostensibly about a woman unexpectedly inheriting a fortune from a mother long thought dead and learning about repressed memories, unexpected duplicity, child murder, witchcraft, and malevolent spirits.. but on a more basic level it's simply a reasonably clever tale of the paranormal with *a distinctly gothic feel*. Wendy Webb accomplishes that sense by setting the story in the modern-day North American equivalent of the foggy English moors.. isolated Grand Manitou Island. The Great Lakes community is rainy, cold, lonely, and bleak; cars are outlawed (the creepy unfriendly denizens travel by horse & carriage); there is no internet or cell service; and the island is essentially shut down for the winter.. businesses are closed & shuttered and residents are markedly suspicious of any unknown visitors - strikingly distrustful and hostile.
The writing is competent, but Webb exhibits some deficiencies: the plot itself is predictable, the "spooky" occurences are ho-hum, and the characters are generally uninteresting. Fortunately, the marvellously-described environs generate a satisfyingly dark atmosphere. Even though I frequently needed to set aside reservations with the narrative, I was constantly aware that things on this island were nowhere near "normal". 'The Tale Of Halcyon Crane' is somewhat pedestrian but undeniably enjoyable.

Cassandra Campbell turns in one of the best audiobook performances I have heard in a long time. Her diction, timbre, and cadence are exemplary (and her pacing is spot-on), but her reading tone is by far the best parameter: it's a peerless example of the style needed for a story like this. She has a great grasp of volume modulation (expressing panic loudly, but whispering rapidly through scary scenes); the fear in Campbell's characters is palpable (great voice-acting); and she actually sings the creepy little song a dead child chants in the text (her committment to the story is remarkable).

I choose to ignore the last quarter of this book. It descends into the silly & clichéd after a brilliant set-up and establishment of a potentially terror-inducing environment. The book is a little disappointing by the time the climax comes and goes, but I am grateful to Audible for offering this 8/10 star audiobook for Free with my membership.. I likely wouldn't have spent a Credit on it.. and it's very much worth a listen. Don't hesitate to download it.

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1 person found this helpful

Hauntingly excellent

I love a good ghost story, and this one did not disappoint! performance was great as well

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great ghost story

This was agreat ghost story. I was wondering all the time what was going to happen next. The story had a good twist in the epilog.

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not for me

Started out ok, but really fizzled in the end. This is one that doesn't stand up to a second read.

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