Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Lying Game: A Novel
- Author: Ruth Ware
- Narrator: Imogen Church
- Length: 13:41:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 25/07/2017
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense, Literary Fiction
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
The moment Imogen Church’s voice first crackled through my headphones, I was transported back to that moonlit night in Oaxaca when Abuela Rosa told us ghost stories by candlelight. There’s that same delicious tension in her narration of Ruth Ware’s “The Lying Game” – the pregnant pauses that make your skin prickle, the subtle vocal shifts between characters that feel like different friends whispering secrets in your ear. This audiobook doesn’t just tell a story; it performs an intricate dance of deception that would make the Salten girls proud.
As someone who’s spent years collecting stories in coastal villages from Cornwall to Kerala, I was immediately drawn to Ware’s evocative portrayal of Salten. The tidal estuary isn’t just a setting – it’s a living, breathing character with its own secrets. Church’s narration captures the salt-tinged air so vividly I could almost taste it, her voice rising and falling like the Reach’s treacherous currents. It reminded me of watching fishermen mend their nets in a Chilean cove while listening to “The Shadow of the Wind”, that same sense of place as a silent conspirator in human drama.
Ware’s exploration of female friendship resonates deeply with my experiences documenting women’s storytelling traditions worldwide. The complex dynamics between Isa, Fatima, Thea and Kate unfold with the layered authenticity of real friendship – the kind where inside jokes become armor and silence speaks volumes. Church masterfully distinguishes each character through subtle vocal textures: Isa’s introspective murmur, Thea’s razor-sharp cadence, Fatima’s measured tones, and Kate’s frayed edges. It’s an audio performance that would make my Oaxacan storytelling mentor nod in approval.
The novel’s structure – oscillating between past and present – gains remarkable clarity in audio format. Church handles these transitions with the precision of a seasoned tour guide, her pacing allowing listeners to fully inhabit both timelines. When describing the girls’ boarding school days, her voice takes on a youthful energy that gradually darkens as their games spiral into danger. It’s a far cry from the cheerful lies travelers tell to protect themselves (“No, your homemade schnapps is delicious!”), evolving into something far more sinister.
What makes this audiobook particularly compelling is how Ware and Church collaborate to exploit the unreliable narrator trope. As a travel writer, I’m well-acquainted with how perspective shapes truth – the same market square can be chaotic or charming depending on who describes it. Church’s delivery makes you question every revelation, her tone walking that fine line between confession and manipulation. There were moments during long drives through the Scottish Highlands when I had to pause the audio just to sit with a particularly jarring revelation.
The atmospheric sound design deserves special mention. While not a full-cast production, the subtle echoes during flashback scenes and the careful modulation of ambient noise create an immersive experience. When describing the crumbling Tide Mill, Church’s voice takes on a hollow quality that makes the setting feel palpably decayed. It’s audio storytelling at its finest – the kind that makes you glance over your shoulder even in broad daylight.
For listeners who enjoyed “Big Little Lies” or “The Secret History”, this audiobook offers a similarly addictive blend of suspense and psychological depth. However, Ware’s distinct voice – part gothic romance, part modern thriller – and Church’s exceptional narration make it stand apart. The 13-hour listening time flies by, though I found myself rewinding certain sections just to savor Church’s delivery of Ware’s most cutting dialogue.
If I have one critique, it’s that some supporting characters could benefit from more distinct vocal signatures. During crowded scenes at the Salten pub, I occasionally lost track of who was speaking. But this minor flaw hardly detracts from what is otherwise a masterclass in suspenseful audio storytelling. The resolution, which I won’t spoil here, lands with devastating impact thanks to Church’s restrained yet emotionally charged performance.
With a traveler’s curiosity and a storyteller’s appreciation,
Marcus Rivera
