Shrines of Gaiety - Kate Atkinson

Written by Kate Atkinson
Read by Jason Watkins
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Publisher: Books on Tape
Release date: September 27, 2022
Duration: 16:06:3

1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time.

The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho’s gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost.

With her unique Dickensian flair, Kate Atkinson gives us a window in a vanished world. Slyly funny, brilliantly observant, and ingeniously plotted, Shrines of Gaiety showcases the myriad talents that have made Atkinson one of the most lauded writers of our time.

“Jason Watkins dazzles listeners with his performance of this historical fiction set in London during the Roaring Twenties. The queen of Soho nightlife, Nellie Coker, is released from prison at the same time that a series of girls goes missing. Now she must defend her empire from enemies who would like nothing more than to see her ruined. As we meet the many players in this mystery, Watkins demonstrates his range, flawlessly performing the various accents of dozens of characters. He also captures the mood of the novel, creating an atmosphere both humorous and sinister, which is perfect for glamorous 1920s London.”— AudioFile

Don’t expect much “gaiety”, this is Kate Atkinson.