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The Piper

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The Piper

By: Lynn Hightower
Narrated by: Xe Sands
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About this listen

When Olivia James receives a phone call just after midnight, she recognizes her brother's voice. But there's a problem: Her brother has been dead for the past nine weeks. Moving back to her old childhood home in Tennessee - the place where her brother has just died - her young daughter, Teddy, seems troubled, telling her mother that she's being visited by a menacing ghost. When another tragic death occurs and her daughter disappears, Olivia must confront the demonic force that has cursed her family.

©2012 Lynn Hightower (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC Horror Thriller & Suspense Scary Suspense

Critic reviews

"...genuinely frightening..." ( Booklist)
All stars
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I found the story good. but what let this down badly for me was the narrated Xe sands her voice just grated through my head and I found it very hard to keep listening she has a very high Gravel voice. Who ever it is man or woman she uses the same tone so it is hard to know who is speaking which is a shame because it is really good. If they change the narrated I would consider getting this book again but for me now I would never listen to this one

Good story

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When I first listened to this story I was a little disappointed by the narrator ,she was a little fast and I found myself getting anxious, but as the story unfolds I forgot about the narrator!
This was a very creepy horror story, because the the killer was around but never seen and I think that makes the story a lot more creepy, its spooky and sad too, never thought it would twist and turn like it did highly recommend this story.

The Piper

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Let me first begin by saying that I did actually really enjoy the story itself. I was hooked from start to finish. However, what let it down in my eyes is Xe Sands' narration. I've listened to a few books narrated by her and, however much I try, I just find her incredibly irritating; don't get me started on her British or (Heaven forbid!) her attempt at a Scottish accent. It had me snorting every time that character came 'on'...

I have nothing against the timbre of her voice, the gravelly-quality can be a bit grating at times, but once you're into the story you're able to overlook that. What bugs me is that almost every single female character in the book sounded the same. Her child voices are always really 'whiney' and annoying (even thought the character itself mightn't be) Olivia's interactions with Amelia I found almost stressful because I was craning my neck to hear which one was speaking and when.

Her narration aside though, if you aren't bothered by not being entirely sure which woman is which, this story is great. I loved the ending, I thought it was emotive and sweet, given the material which came before it. If you're interested in human psychology, mourning loved ones, old houses and detectives definitely give this one a go.

Good, enjoyable story, let down by narrator

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