Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

I know the topic of Heyer's audiobooks was touched on a few times in the past, here and there, but I would like to make a kind of poll.

If you have listened to any audiobook of Heyer's novel, let us know if you recommend it. Give it a point (+1) if you liked and recommend it, give it a negative point (-1) if you didn't like it and you discourage listening to it. You can also say (0) that an audiobook was ok, not great, not terrible. I will update the summary from time to time, because it will be an open thread, one can add points at any time.

Please keep a pattern (it will help me to see it and make the summary):

"Title" by [the name of a narrator (who read it)] and the rating

For example:
Frederica by Clifford Norgate +1

You can of course justify, and explain your rating. Only please write in the above pattern in a separate line.

This thread isn't to rate a book, only an audiobook (e.g. a lector, a reader). One can love the book but think that it was read awfully by someone and the other way.

The summary as of 30 August 2025.

Recommended
A Civil Contract ----- Dominic Thorburn ----- 1
April Lady ----- Eve Matthieson ----- 1
Arabella ----- Phyllida Nash ----- 1
Arabella ----- Gemma Whelan ----- 2
Beauvallet ----- Cornelius Garrett ----- 1
Black Sheep ----- Barbara Leigh-Hunt ----- 3
Charity Girl ----- Daniel Philpott ----- 1
Cotillion ----- Owen Findlay ----- 2
Cotillion ----- Phyllida Nash ----- 3
Cousin Kate ----- Christina Cole ----- 1
Death in the Stocks ----- Ulli Berve ----- 1
Devil’s Cub ----- Michael Maloney ----- 1
Duplicate Death ----- Ulli Berve ----- 1
False Colours ----- Phyllida Nash ----- 2
Footsteps in the Dark ----- Ulli Berve ----- 1
Frederica ----- Clifford Norgate ----- 3
Frederica ----- Joe Jameson ----- 1
Friday’s Child ----- Eve Matheson ----- 1
Friday's Child ----- Phyllida Nash ----- 1
Sylvester ----- Matt Addis ----- 1
Sprig Muslin ----- Sian Phillips ----- 2
The Black Moth ----- Julian Rhind-Tutt ----- 1
The Convenient Marriage ----- Caroline Hunt ----- 1
The Corinthian ----- Georgina Sutton ----- 1
The Grand Sophy ----- Sarah Woodward ----- 1
The Foundling ----- Phyllida Nash ----- 1
The Nonesuch ----- James Lailey ----- 1
The Quiet Gentleman ----- Cornelius Garrett ----- 1
The Reluctant Widow ----- Cornelius Garrett ----- 1
The Talisman Ring ----- Phyllida Nash ----- 3
The Toll Gate ----- Daniel Hill ----- 1
The Toll Gate ----- Callum Hughes ----- 1
The Unfinished Clue ----- Ulli Berve ----- 1
The Unknown Ajax ----- Daniel Philpott ----- 2
The Unknown Ajax ----- Thomas Rhind-Tutt ----- 1
These Old Shades ----- Sarah Nichols ----- 1
Venetia ----- Sian Phillips ----- 1
Venetia ----- Phyllida Nash ----- 1

Additionally, the abridged versions:
Venetia ----- Richard Armitage ----- 1
Sylvester ----- Richard Armitage ----- 1
The Convenient Marriage ----- Richard Armitage ----- 1

Advised against
Black Sheep ----- Natalie Simpson
Cousin Kate ----- Jilly Bond
Duplicate Death ----- Matt Addis
Regency Buck ----- June Barrie
These Old Shades ----- Cornelius Garrett

Not bad, but not great
Devil’s Cub ----- Michael Drew
Sylvester ----- Nicholas Rowe
The Nonesuch ----- Eve Matheson
The Unknown Ajax ----- Daniel Philpott

I have listened to numerous GH audiobooks, including all of the mysteries. Some so long ago that I don't remember enough to rate them fairly. In general they all were very well done, both the old versions and the new readers. Cotillion by Phyllida Nash was a stand out. I loved the way she did Freddy without exaggerating his eccentricities. It would have been tempting to play up his simpleness and she resisted. Another one that stands out in the other direction is Cornelius Garrett's slaughter of the Duke of Avon's character in These Old Shades. He did not get him at all. My voice for Avon is the late great Alan Rickman. He was no Alan Rickman. I loved the new Friday's Child read by Owen Findlay. He made the final scenes very romantic. Also like Clifford Norgate's Frederica. Particularly his interpretation of Alverstoke.
So that's my say!

Mela, do you mean people will rate it on the merits of the audio version only? For example, if I thought Cotillion was an excellent book (It's one of my top 3) but I had heard an audio version that disappointed me, I might not recommend it? (I haven't heard any audio version, so just as an example)

Because that sounds like an excellent idea to me.

I have heard people rave about narrators that are not the ones available to me through the library, and it might be worth searching those out and paying for them. However, when I look on the audible site, they are not the ones available either.

I know people enjoy audio books in different ways, and for different reasons but one of my favorite ways is to listen to a book like those by Heyer that I know well, but that has brilliant dialog I enjoy even more by a good voice actor.

Jackie wrote: "Mela, do you mean people will rate it on the merits of the audio version only? For example, if I thought Cotillion was an excellent book (It's one of my top 3) but I had heard an audio version that..."
Same here, Jackie. I usually do only rereads or very leisurely like books to read. Though I am getting past that recently.

Jackie wrote: "Mela, do you mean people will rate it on the merits of the audio version only? For example, if I thought Cotillion was an excellent book (It's one of my top 3) but I had heard an audio version that disappointed me, I might not recommend it?..."

That is exactly what I mean.

This thread isn't to rate a book, only an audiobook (e.g. a lector, a reader). One can love the book but think that it was read awfully by someone. [I am going to add it to my first message.]

Rebekah wrote: "I have listened to numerous GH audiobooks, including all of the mysteries. Some so long ago that I don't remember enough to rate them fairly..."

Can I write down, Rebekah, that your recommendations are:

Cotillion by Phyllida Nash +1
These Old Shades by Cornelius Garrett -1
Friday's Child read by Owen Findlay +1
Frederica by Clifford Norgate +1

Even if you don't remember much, your evaluation can help people to decide.

I’ve listened to all but 2 of the Romances, the two I’ve not listened to yet are one I’ve not read for a while and the second I am trying to find a good narrator. I regularly listen to the audiobooks that I have so will grade the narrators.

Some of my favourite books are not my favourite listens and it is often silly things such as the voice doesn’t sound like my idea of the characters.

I will just add - if anyone is interested in listening to GH audiobooks, there are some read by a dreadful narrator - I don’t have these because fortunately I listen to the sample and read the reviews.

Mela wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "I have listened to numerous GH audiobooks, including all of the mysteries. Some so long ago that I don't remember enough to rate them fairly..."

Can I write down, Rebekah, that you..."

Yes, that's fair.

The only two narrator names I know for sure are Phyllida Nash and Ulli Berve. I love Nash for anything-she has a lovely rich, warm voice, always sounds like she’s suppressing laughter! I know some here don’t like Berve, but I think she’s perfectly suited for Heyer’s mysteries. Several of them have been redone with new narrators, but I’m not a fan. Berve does a great job with all the characters, I think.

I always listen to any Heyer I’m rereading, they’re very entertaining with good actors reading the dialogue.

The Reluctant Widow by Cornelius Garrett +1

Sylvester Matt Addis +2
Unknown Ajax Thomas Judd +2
Black Sheep Natalie Simpson -1
Frederica Joe Jameson +1
April Lady Eve Matthieson +1

Sophie wrote: "Sylvester Matt Addis +2
Unknown Ajax Thomas Judd +2
..."

I understand you loved those audiobooks greatly, but into our table, they just go to the column with recommendations.

Sorry, I didn’t clarify for the table - I don’t have particular titles in mind, but would recommend Phyllida Nash for any Heyer (the only titles I know for sure because I have them in my Audible library:
‘The Foundling’
‘Cotillion’
‘False Colours’
‘Talisman Ring’, all Phyllida Nash +1

For her mysteries:

Unfinished Clue
Footsteps in the Dark
Death in the Stocks
Duplicate Death all by Ulli Berve +1 (she has the perfect voice for the Bright Young Things Heyer created as characters in her Golden Age mysteries. She does a particularly good job with the rather bitchy queen bee types like the mother in Duplicate Death - I have the Matt Addis version because that’s all that is available on Audible u.s., but he’s not as good with women’s voices, so I guess for me, it would be Duplicate Death Berve +1, Addis -1) personal taste, though, others clearly like him.

Devil’s Cub - I have listened to two different audiobooks one narrated by Michael Drew - I didn’t like the voice for Vidal, but otherwise didn’t hate it so score 0 for that one. The second is Michael Maloney which I prefer so +1



The Quiet Gentleman- Cornelius Garrett. +1. Despite the awful voice for the Dowager the remainder is good.

The Unknown Ajax - Daniel Philpott. +1

Cousin Kate - Jilly Bond. I really didn’t like Kate’s voice so -1. I preferred The version by Christina Cole so +1 for that one.

False Colours - Phyllida Nash. +1

Also put me down for Cotillion read by Owen Findlay.

The Convenient Marriage - Caroline Hunt. +1. Despite starting with an awful voice this was fortunately not one of the main characters, so I did enjoy listening.

Black Sheep - Barbara Leigh-Hunt. +1. A rather posh accent which might not be to everyone’s taste, as the story went on I was enjoying it more.

Sprig Muslin. Sian Phillips. +1

Venetia read by Sian Phillips +1

The Nonesuch. - Eve Matheson. 0


Regency Buck. - June Barrie. -1

Frederica - Clifford Norgate +1

The Grand Sophy - Sarah Woodward. +1

Venetia - Phyllida Nash. +1

The Toll Gate - Callum Hughes. +1

The Toll Gate - Daniel Hill. +1

currently I own the version of The Unknown Ajax read by Daniel Philpott and my memory of it is that I would give it a 0 because I don't recall being excited by the dialog as should be happening with a Heyer. However I didn't dislike it.

BUT I am currently unable to make it load on my kindle and wonder if I have lost the ability with changes at Amazon? I see the current audio book offering is read by someone else.

therefore The Unknown Ajax - Daniel Philpott 0

Cotillion - Phyllida Nash. +1

The Talisman Ring Phyllida Nash. +1. This is a book that I dislike for several reasons - not just because Eustacie is so annoying, but the reader does a good job of reading.

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Cotillion - Phyllida Nash. +1

The Talisman Ring Phyllida Nash. +1. This is a book that I dislike for several reasons - not just because Eustacie is so annoying, but the reader does a good job of r..."

The Talisman Ring is my least favourite Heyer novel

Black Sheep read by Barbara Leigh-Hunt +1

Mela wrote: "Black Sheep read by Barbara Leigh-Hunt +1"

Oh, yes, forget that one, I give her a +1!

Charity Girl - Daniel Philpott. +1

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Sprig Muslin. Sian Phillips. +1"

just listening, absolutely agree

The Corinthian - Georgina Sutton. +1

Some strange voices for characters but overall a good listen.

The Black Moth - Julian Rhind Tutt. +1

Overall good except for the voice for Lavinia , but it actually suited my idea of what she was like

Arabella - Phyllida Nash +1
(I ADORE this audiobook and can only find it through my library on Overdrive. I can't find any others narrated by Nash but would snap them up.)

These Old Shades - Sarah Nichols +1

A Civil Contract - Dominic Thorburn +1

Beauvallet - Cornelius Garrett +1

Venetia (abridged) - Richard Armitage +1
Sylvester (abridged) - Richard Armitage +1
The Convenient Marriage (abridged) - Richard Armitage +1
Not a fan of the abridged versions, but Armitage was wonderful

The Nonesuch - James Lailey +1

Friday’s Child - Eve Matheson. +1

Sylvester - Nicholas Rowe. 0
Not enough difference between some of the characters voices so it was sometimes not obvious who was speaking. But a pleasant voice to listen to

I just listened to a couple of samples for Powder and Patch and almost immediately dismissed the first one as the first sentence contained the word “berry-boned” by which I think the narrator meant “be-ribboned”. Can I score these from such a short portion of the book?

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "I just listened to a couple of samples for Powder and Patch and almost immediately dismissed the first one as the first sentence contained the word “berry-boned” by which I think the narrator mean..."

It is your decision. All is subjective, so you can rate as you like. Just write what the lector's name ;-)

My next vote:
Cotillion by Phyllida Nash +1

Arabella by Gemma Whelan +1

Arabella by Gemma Whelan +1

Arabella - Gemma Whelan +1

Venetia - Gemma Whelan +1

The Unknown Ajax by Daniel Philpott +1
The Talisman Ring by Phyllida Nash +1