Dark Matter Audiobook By Philip Kerr cover art

Dark Matter

A Novel

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Dark Matter

By: Philip Kerr
Narrated by: John Lee
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In 1696, Christopher Ellis, a young, hot-tempered gentleman, is sent to the Tower of London, but not as a prisoner. A sudden twist of fate has led him there to assist the renowned scientist Sir Isaac Newton, who as Warden of the Royal Mint has accepted an appointment to hunt down counterfeiters who threaten to topple the shaky, war-weakened economy. Armed with Newton’s superior intellect and Ellis’s skill with a sword, the new partners seem primed to solve the case. But when their investigation leads them to a mysterious coded message on a corpse hidden in the Lion Tower, they realize that something more sinister is afoot. In the heat of their pursuit, Newton and Ellis’s suspicions become all too real as the body count rises and the duo uncovers a menacing far-reaching plot that might lead to the collapse of the government—and cost them their very lives. An extraordinary, suspense-filled, and richly satisfying tale, Dark Matter is an engrossing mystery infused with the volatile mix of politics, science, and religion that characterized life in seventeenth-century London. Mystery England Historical Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction War
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Critic reviews

Praise for Philip Kerr
“[A] sly and serious writer.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Kerr has the talent to convey the big idea and to take you
places you have never been.”
—The Washington Post Book World

“A brilliantly innovative thriller writer.”
—Salman Rushdie

“[Kerr] makes the brain cells as well as the hairs on
the back of the neck tingle.”
—GQ magazine

“One of the best crime novelists in the world.”
—The Globe and Mail (London)
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Would have been 4 stars for excellent narration of a pretty good story, but the CD instructions and repeated lines were distracting...this is the first time I have run into this on Audible.

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Fascinating development of the story line. A book that was hard to turn off. Excellent narrator - one of the most talented I've heard.

A great rival to Sherlock Holmes

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I enjoyed this book's premise. Dealing with the true story of Sir Isaac Newton's role as the head of the Royal Mint- Mr. Kerr wove Newton's religious, political and scientific persona into an interesting mystery plot accompanied by a diverting young side kick named Ellis. There are many truths in this novel but it is fiction. I found the sexual scenes mostly amusing and thought they probably fit in with the crude backsteet London of that time. 3 stars are for the ending which went on too long for my taste. It should have been wrapped up at least 2 chapters earlier. Love Philip Kerr. Read Bernie Gunther books. Love, love John Lee - He is good at everything he does (audibly that is).

Unusal plot device.

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I listened to this novel for two reasons: First, I thoroughly enjoyed Kerr's stories about Bernie Gunther, the Sam Spade of Nazi Germany. And second, John Lee has to be my favorite narrator. His performance here is pitch perfect.

The title "Dark Matter" was well chosen. But beware: this is detective noire set in 17th century London. If you're looking to understand the historical Isaac Newton, look elsewhere. Kerr's Newton seems altogether more modern in may ways than is my understanding of the man.

That said, I like a murder myster with a twist. And that's what you get here.

Newton Noire

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I have read nearly of Kerr’s character series and do not mind their somewhat nihilistic views of life, but Kerr’s one-sided preaching in Dark Matter crossed the line and spoiled the book for me. The narrator is fabulous.

Too much specious theology.

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