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The Oversight

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The Oversight

By: Charlie Fletcher
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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About this listen

Only five still guard the borders between the worlds. Only five hold back what waits on the other side. Once the Oversight, the secret society that polices the lines between the mundane and the magic, counted hundreds of brave souls among its members. Now their number can be tallied on a single hand. When a drunkard brings a screaming girl to the Oversight's London headquarters, it seems their hopes for a new recruit will be fulfilled - but the girl is a trap, her appearance a puzzle the five remaining guardians must solve or lose each other, and their society, for good.

As the borders between the natural and the supernatural begin to break down, brutal murders erupt across the city, the Oversight are torn viciously apart, and their enemies close in for the final blow. This dark Dickensian fantasy spins a tale of witch-hunters, magicians, mirror-walkers, and the unlikeliest of heroes drawn from the depths of British folklore. Meet the Oversight, and remember: when they fall, so do we all.

©2014 Charlie Fletcher (P)2014 Hachette Audio Action & Adventure Classics Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Gothic Historical Horror Literary Fiction Scary Magic Users Paranormal Thought-Provoking Funny England Witchcraft

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Critic reviews

"Exciting, exhilarating, scary and moving in equal measure, The Oversight is a teeming world of dark deeds and dark magics, brilliantly realised. This feels like the start of something amazing" (Mike Carey)
"Fletcher's Victorian London is juicily vivid, and laced with macabre wit. There's a real sense of grim danger, both natural and unnatural, hungrily awaiting the slightest mis-step" (Frances Hardinge)
"A richly atmospheric and intensely readable slice of Victoriana, with a splendidly eerie sense of the way the unearthly lies cheek-by-jowl with the mundane" (Adam Roberts)
"Utterly enthralling: Charles Dickens meets Susanna Clarke" (Lou Morgan)
"Told in a kind of compelling and hypnotic poesie that I just lapped up... I'll certainly be reading the next one” (Cory Doctorow)
“A remarkable combination of British folklore, brisk pacing and wide-ranging imagination” ( Kirkus Reviews)
“Richly atmospheric (the evil lurks in the background of every paragraph), the book should be a big hit with supernatural-fantasy readers ... the second book can't come soon enough” ( Booklist starred review)
“The Oversight is - and let's be clear here - something very special... It's oh so moreish a morsel. I'd read a prequel this evening, a sequel as soon as” (Niall Alexander, Tor.com)
All stars
Most relevant  

Where does The Oversight rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

pretty highly, bought as a daily deal i wasn't expecting much but is was very enjoyable

What other book might you compare The Oversight to, and why?

Miss Peregrines trilogy in some ways

Which character – as performed by Simon Prebble – was your favourite?

Charlie, it was obvious that his role was going to gain momentum

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No but a very enjoyable book that uses bits of history, Napoleon in particular, to add some spice to the storyline. Recommendable

Great Romp

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On the whole, I enjoyed The Oversight. I thought it might be quirkier than it actually is, but it's a work of serious urban fantasy with some interesting twists. My main criticism is that the book is overlong. Some of the really great action was stalled by over-descriptive passages that went on and on. I persevered and I'm glad I did, but I was a bit wrung out by the story by the end and found I had no appetite for Book 2 in the series.

Interesting and compelling

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I have been an avid reader of fantasy, steam punk, mythology from Tolkien to Pratchet. Homer to Brooks. I am delighted to have found in this wonderful story so much new and refreshing. It will definitely be in my personal favorites. Beautifully written carrying you straight to the heart of of things. Engaging characters. Strong interwoven themes, .and a Just beyond reach hint of real menace.

Loved it. New. refreshing. Thoughtful. A classic.

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Any additional comments?

Packed with great characters, both courageous and hideous alike. Fantastic plot lines with a fluid direction. There wasn't a point where I was board with the story, and the narrator made this all the more interesting.

Excellent start to a very good story.

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Main characters spend most of the story telling each other what their job is, for our benefit. There are better ways of getting history/background across. These characters are, therefore not interesting enough to gain my sympathy or interest. I did find enough in it, though, to want to carry on with series. The supporting characters saved the book.

Then I saw who the narrator was "Oh dear", I though "Better listen to a sample". So I did. Let's say I won't be buying any more in this series.

Vanity is a dangerous thing and some family, friends, whoever, have gone and told Charlie he's got a brilliant voice and would be better off doing it himself. Only he can give the characters life, all that utter drivel. But Charlie went and bought the hype.

Very few writers are gifted freely with the kind of finely honed skills, worked hard for, over a career, by performers like Simon Prebble. Charlie Fletcher is not among this few. Thinking you can simply step up to the mic and shine is a massive piece of arrogance.

Well done Charlie, you wrecked your own audio series.

Not Bad, Not Great.

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I got to the end of the book having quite enjoyed it but still feeling somehow let down. I didn’t really click with any of the characters and I’m not sure even if it was an adult or YA book. It had hints of Neal Stephenson (not discouraged by Simon Prebble narrating) and Susanna Clarke.

Still not sure what to make of this.

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Prebble at his very best. Excellent tale, if at times predictable. well worth a read or listen.

not Over-rated. <br /><br />

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I loved this book so bought the second in the series - don't bother!
The second was read by the author who unfortunately ruined it - lacklustre performance compared with the first book and the number of repeat sentences was beyond counting.
I returned it and now don't think I want to bother with the third when it comes out - Shame!

Good start to the series...but!

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Took a little while to get into the story, but worth it in the end

Beautiful prose

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Brilliant, sort of a darker, older version of "The rivers of London " Isaac's will follow this series with great anticipation.

wonderful listen

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