The Evil Guest


Read by Cate Barratt

(4.2 stars; 90 reviews)

Le Fanu’s inimitable style continues with The Evil Guest, a murder mystery fraught with dark imagery and mysterious characters. An unwanted guest visiting a dreary and isolated home is murdered; the thriller leads the reader down countless ‘dead’ ends before revealing the identity of the guilty party. (Introduction by Cathy Barratt) (4 hr 18 min)

Chapters

01 (Beginning ... "Dear Madame, how happy -- how very happy you make me.") 22:11 Read by Cate Barratt
02 (Had Ithuriel touched with his spear, ... "Thank you ma'am -- God bless you,… 18:35 Read by Cate Barratt
03 (Mrs. Marston rang the bell ... yet mighty things were involved in the alter… 17:30 Read by Cate Barratt
04 (There was a deeper gloom than usual ... "which you fear to tell me of.") 18:09 Read by Cate Barratt
05 ("My looks! Why, curse it" ... "will, I fear, affect him most deplorably.") 17:25 Read by Cate Barratt
06 (The young man kissed her tenderly ... they were summoned together to prosec… 18:11 Read by Cate Barratt
07 (There remained still to be examined ... glance at ther companion, but did n… 17:54 Read by Cate Barratt
08 ("Mr. Marston still persists" ... "J. Danvers") 16:45 Read by Cate Barratt
09 ("He regards it as a merciful interposition" ... continued to sob and weep.) 19:34 Read by Cate Barratt
10 (The party were suddenly recalled ... wondering, and weeping.) 17:36 Read by Cate Barratt
11 (Two or three days passed, ... bleak and bitter enough they were.) 19:24 Read by Cate Barratt
12 (Some weeks passed away, ... among them in a horrid dream.) 13:04 Read by Cate Barratt
13 (Time passed on: ... "from which you would save him.") 12:01 Read by Cate Barratt
14 ("I am, myself, that patient," ... "What further happened you already know.") 16:33 Read by Cate Barratt
15 (Charles listened with breathless attention ... End.) 14:04 Read by Cate Barratt

Reviews

not my favorite


(3 stars)

The book has a predictable ending and is pretty much all sad. The reader is decent but she does have a way of reading that sounds as if every sentence is a question. her reading was very fast and I almost quit the book after the first couple chapters but after awhile I got used to it

murder mystery


(5 stars)

Thank you librivox and Cate. I know you. I have other books on cd that you have read. You're like an old friend. This author's style is much like Mary Higgens Clark famous mystery writer of the 20, 21st century. Excellent!!! I'm looking for more by him. I'm partial to the 18, 19th century. its gentler somehow...

Kind of a sad story


(4 stars)

I really can't add too much to the summary without giving away the plot twists. The story points you in many directions. The end is a bit unsatisfying, a few threads are left hanging IMHO, but it is overall a good mystery. The reader is excellent, and the quality of the recordings is excellent.

Tragic story, Decent Reading


(3.5 stars)

Not my favorite Le Fanu story, but still a fan. It has a very sad, twisted plot. The reader was good as well as the recording quality. If anything, she read a little too fast for me. Probably just my slow brain though. ;) *Note: I could not do what she has done so well to expand the availability of these wonderful books, so I really have no right to criticize tiny preferences in how something is read. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful and worthwhile historical effort.


(5 stars)

A classic Gothic tale. Fans of the genre will be able to predict the broad outcome of many of the narrative strands, but it is still an engaging story in its details. I liked the narration once I got used to the fast pace of the reader, and I'll definitely listen to other books she's read.

I kept waiting for something to happen.


(3 stars)

The reader has a pleasant, clear sounding voice which kept me listening to the story, but I wouldn't recommend the story.

In a word...Verbose


(3 stars)

This was tiresome to get through, though Cate Barratt makes all her narrative work better, for her efforts.


(0.5 stars)

Reader is way too fast. Couldn’t get through the first chapter. It’s a shame because the story seems quite good.