The String Diaries Audiobook By Stephen Lloyd Jones cover art

The String Diaries

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The String Diaries

By: Stephen Lloyd Jones
Narrated by: Gemma Whelan
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A family is hunted by a centuries-old monster: a man with a relentless obsession who can take on any identity.

The String Diaries opens with Hannah frantically driving through the night -- her daughter asleep in the back, her husband bleeding out in the seat beside her. In the trunk of the car rests a cache of diaries dating back 200 years, tied and retied with strings through generations. The diaries carry the rules for survival that have been handed down from mother to daughter since the 19th century. But how can Hannah escape an enemy with the ability to look and sound like the people she loves?

Stephen Lloyd Jones's debut novel is a sweeping thriller that extends from the present day, to Oxford in the 1970s, to Hungary at the turn of the 19th century, all tracing back to a man from an ancient royal family with a consuming passion -- a boy who can change his shape, insert himself into the intimate lives of his victims, and destroy them.

If Hannah fails to end the chase now, her daughter is next in line. Only Hannah can decide how much she is willing to sacrifice to finally put a centuries-old curse to rest. Suspense Mystery Horror Scary Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Action & Adventure Detective Women's Fiction Women Sleuths

Critic reviews

"I loved this book."—Marcus Sakey, author of Brilliance
"Reading The String Diaries made me feel, in the best sense, like a child again. Nothing was more important than the fate of Stephen Lloyd Jones's courageous and very human heroine Hannah Wilde. Meals went uncooked, bills went unpaid, as I waited to find out if she would win freedom for herself and her daughter against the forces of darkness. I was scared, enthralled and amazed by this stunning debut."—Margot Livesey, author of the New York Times bestselling The Flight of Gemma Hardy and Eva Moves the Furniture
"This novel is a breakneck chase down a long and winding road with the devil sitting beside you in the car."—Ben Loory, author of Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day
"With The String Diaries, Stephen Lloyd Jones has created a new mythology of the monstrous to rival Stoker's or Shelley's. Grounded in the real world and populated by characters we believe in, this is a book of magic for the doubtful, a fantastic tale for skeptics, at once transporting and convincing."—Andrew Pyper, author of The Demonologist
"I have never read a book with such frenzied impatience. The String Diaries is unputdownable. Stephen Lloyd Jones has written a debut novel as frightening and layered as Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian and as clever and riveting as Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code."—Benjamin Percy, author of Red Moon, The Wilding and Refresh, Refresh
Compelling Storyline • Unique Twist • Excellent Accents • Likeable Villains • Exciting Plot • Paranoia-inducing Tale

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Read the actual book instead of the audiobook. I’m hardly creeped out by such noises like a lot of people are, but GOOD LORD, the constant swallowing and spit sounds are distracting and some are just plain gross. We all make those noises, so it’s less the narrator and more the lack of proper editing. The story is fantastic, suspenseful and speaks of Wales and Hungary and different times in history. Extremely interesting, but get the actual book!

Swallowing sounds are extremely distracting

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The audiobook for The String Diaries was phenomenal. The voice actor totally nailed the numerous accents, pacing, and tension of the book. This experience was everything I loved from first reading a physical copy seven years ago made even better by the performance. It was a paranoia inducing tale of obsession centering on a family that has been pursued for over a hundred years by the demented shape shifter Jakab, who can take on the appearance of anyone he chooses. There were aspects of the book that reminded me of the movie The Thing, in that anyone could potentially be the villain. It was hard to put this one down. It's not for the squeamish as there's some gore, but if you can stomach the blood, there's a lot to love here.

Great paranoid story

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I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or if it was going to be a waste of credit, turns out it wasn’t!
The story was super good. I really liked all the characters, even the evil ones, when you can make a villain like-able then you’re doing something right.
The performance was amazing, I just love Gemma’s voice! She’s an amazing narrator!

Loved it!

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I love everything about this book as well as the next book in the series and i am sure i will too love any future ones. “AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

My go to book

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Pulled me in and I couldn't stop listening. Yet I didn't want it to end! Looking forward to reading more from this creative author.

THIS BOOK!

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