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  • The Chemistry of Death

  • Dr David Hunter, Book 1
  • By: Simon Beckett
  • Narrated by: Greg Wise
  • Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (152 ratings)
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The Chemistry of Death

By: Simon Beckett
Narrated by: Greg Wise
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Summary

Shortlisted for Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the year, 2008.

When the bizarrely mutilated and long-dead body of a young woman is found in a ditch in Manham, an isolated and insular village in the Norfolk marshlands, it isn't just the fact that she had been a friend that disturbs Dr. David Hunter. He was once a high-profile forensic anthropologist and all too familiar with the different faces of death, until a devastating personal tragedy made him turn his back on his former life and career.

Now hidden away as a country doctor, Hunter's past is a secret he hopes will remain buried. So when he's asked by the police to use his arcane skills to help track down the killer, he's reluctant to become involved, knowing this will only stir up the painful memories he's been trying so hard to forget.

Then another young woman disappears, and Manham is plunged into a fog of fear and paranoia that threatens to tear it apart. And no one seems exempt from suspicion as the twisted killings continue. And as the once peaceful community is riven by fear and mistrust, David Hunter realises it will take all his knowledge and expertise if the killer is to be stopped. But not even he is prepared for the terrible cost that will exact, or the awful price that failure threatens to bring.

©2006 Simon Beckett (P)2006 Random House Audiobooks

What listeners say about The Chemistry of Death

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Better second time around.

I am rereading the David Hunter series - and this is a good start, well read and fast moving - but it is the abridged version. Looking forward to Written in Bone next.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

guessing.

Well that was a twist at the end .... loved it...now for the next one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

missing titles in series

very good series of books I've read in hardback, but I've noticed not all titles available on audible. very disappointed. would love to have them

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic series...

I've read the whole series a couple of times now but decided to buy them on Audible in the hope that I could one day tempt by book hating, severely dyslexic husband to give them a chance. We have literally just listened to the whole book from start to finish and he's now completely hooked and told me to quickly download the 2nd one! Well done Simon, you've achieved miracles!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good first book in the series

Good narration and a great story. Characters believable and the story flowed easily from beginning to end.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good story boring narrator

Please don't be put off by my marks.
The series about David Hunter is great.... when read by on of the best narrators.. Johnathon Keeble. It is such a shame because I have listened to most of the others in the series and suddenly found that I had missed this one. If this had been the first David Hunter I had listened to I might not have bothered with the rest
Please give the ones rerad by JK they are a really good story and listen
If Simon Beckett reads this ...Insist on JK reading your books..

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good listen - but not his best

Having listened to two of the latter books in the series I decided to buy the rest and begin the series in the right order.
Unfortunately I didn't notice that this is an abridged version and so loses the gradual build up of a plot I enjoyed in the previous listens. Because of the truncation the outcome becomes fairly predictable early on but still offers a couple of twists along the way. All told still a reasonable listen although I have to say that Greg Wise is at times somewhat wooden and monotone in his performance. If this was the first by this author that I had listened to it probably would have been the last and I would have missed two quite excellent sequels I enjoyed immensely.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

my fav author

now I can listen on the go! always a pleasure to submerge myself back into Dr hunters world. Simon Beckett is in a league of his own

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great narration

Greg Wise’s interpretation on an already good story made it impossible to stop listening at any time. Thank you for a job really well done.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent story

fantastic story line with a unexpected twist.
Well researched and narrated.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

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