Book description
'Satisfyingly violent'The Times, Best Crime Fiction of 2025 So Far'Sprightly and elegantly written mystery'The Daily Telegraph'A marvellous literary thriller' Clare Chase'A clever and refreshing take on the mystery novel' Jo SilvaIn post-war Oxford, secrets lie behind every door.In 1947, with rationing still biting and the black market thriving, university don C.S. 'Jack' Lewis finds himself pulled into a mystery straight from one of his friend Dorothy Sayers' novels. Susan Temple, his brightest student, has hidden herself away at Rake Hall - a hostel for unmarried, outcast mothers - and hasn't been heard from since.With no experience beyond catching the occasional student plagiarist, Lewis is hardly a detective. But when Susan's absence continues to haunt him, he teams up with her concerned friend Lucy and together they delve into the disturbing rumours of a nasty racket at Rake Hall. Can Lewis's nose for the truth separate fact from fiction?In The Mystery at Rake Hall, Maureen Paton - whose mother lived at the real-life Rake Hall while pregnant with Maureen - brilliantly recreates a post-war Oxford world, as well as imagining an alternative life for one of its most famous residents.RAVE READER REVIEWS'An homage to post war Oxford ... an entertaining read with a mystery to solve''Blends historical authenticity with a compelling "whodunit"''Very easy to read, a page-turner and a real sense of Oxford''I loved this mystery .. the author brought to life the time beautifully ... I cannot wait to see what she offers for her second book but this one will be hard to top''A famous real-life writer solving a mystery ... I really enjoyed it'
The Dude
ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to spread the joy of captivating stories with friends. Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks.
Mantis Queen
The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files! This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Duchess
ListenBook's easy sharing options make it a breeze to introduce friends to my favorite audiobooks. Sharing is caring! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand that transforms even the noisiest environments into cozy listening spaces.
MindfulMingle
ListenBook's unlimited length of audiobooks with the Pro version is a fantastic value for avid listeners. Adjusting the tone of the voice is an innovative feature that allows for a personalized listening experience. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Mud Pie Man
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Suicide Crusher
ListenBook's absence of synchronization requirements adds to its convenience and flexibility. With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story. I’ve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best.
Goatee Shield
This app has made me realize that there's always time for a good book. ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze. Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to a whole new level. ListenBook’s CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience.
DreamWeaver
The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. Binaural audio processing on ListenBook is a thoughtful addition that keeps my ears comfortable during extended listening sessions. ListenBook has made me fall in love with my audio content all over again – it's a must-have. Download options are abundant, from WiFi to iTunes. It's all about convenience with this app. Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience!
Divine Quasar
This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks hassle-free. Audiobooks made convenient – this app's functionality is a true gift.
Red Pepper
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a unique feature that adds a personal touch to my listening. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design and user-friendly interface. ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. ListenBook has taken my audio content to new heights, making every moment more meaningful. ListenBook’s interface is beautiful and functional. It’s my favorite app for audiobooks.
LifeRobber
This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy – it's eye-opening. ListenBook has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Cosmic Presence
This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. 🏃♂️📚 Running through chapters, literally! This app keeps me motivated on the track. 🏃♂️📖 Looping playback is an invaluable study tool. It helps me absorb complex information effortlessly. The app is lightweight and doesn’t drain my battery. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t feel strongly about it one way or another.
Mother Hen
ListenBook Pro is totally worth it. Unlimited audiobook length – I'm in! I love the ability to change the font size. It makes reading the titles so easy.
Metal Lady
Thanks to this app, I can enjoy the world of literature without missing a beat in my fast-paced life. 🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀 Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
Joker's Grin
ListenBook's commitment to providing a high-quality audiobook experience is truly commendable. The layout is not only beautiful but also intuitive. Controls are easy to access. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Kamikaze Grandma
Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off – no more searching for my spot! ListenBook's audio filters are a valuable tool for customizing my audiobook playback to perfection.
Nola
I've become a more empathetic listener and reader, thanks to the power of audiobooks. Book Groups on ListenBook make it easy to categorize and access my audiobooks. I'm amazed at this app's ability to transport me to different worlds through stories. 🎉 My audiobook haven – this app is like a door to endless adventures and knowledge! 📚🔑 The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night.
California Goddess
I'm exploring new genres and authors I wouldn't have considered otherwise. With this app, I can enjoy my favorite stories while traveling, making my journeys more delightful. This app has made multitasking a breeze – I can 'read' while I work! The app is so responsive. It never lags or freezes.
Manimal
Who needs traditional books when you have this app? It's a game-changer. Finally, an app that lets me enjoy audiobooks without worrying about file formats!
Hidden Tree
ListenBook's seamless audio player has turned my listening sessions into moments of pure delight. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce listening fatigue. Great feature! Noise reduction and tone changing enhance the listening experience. Love it! I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience