Dwayne Alexander Smith! You are a rascal – yes you are! What a book. Once I’d started listening last night, I got this warm feeling all over; I knew it was going to be special. Big problem, in the evenings Mr Melanie likes me to sit with him, he likes us to be ‘together’! But I wanted to listen to The Unkind Hours so I feigned a headache and took myself off to bed. Talk about bedded bliss; Tom Jordan whispering in my ears all night. One of the best nights I’ve ever had in my marital bed, I can tell you! (Too much sharing?). Then today, just as I’m listening to a really pertinent section, the book cuts out because my phone is ringing, (I was listening via my smartphone) and it’s Mr Melanie, phoning to see how I am. What is wrong with the man? Yes I went to bed early the night before with a ‘headache’ but no, I don’t need checking up on the next day, when I’m listening to my book. I told him in no uncertain terms what I thought of all this caring and sharing business and to just leave me alone! And you know what? I’m not even sorry. I’m not because The Unkind Hours is breathtaking. Every time the right indicator starts flashing and you acknowledge that the book’s going to take a right turn, Mr Smith turns left! Nothing happens when you think it’s going to, no one is who you think they are and if night didn’t follow day it would seem perfectly reasonable. This book has reignited my fire for audio books. I adore them but was feeling they were all a bit same old, same old. Then you get The Unkind Hours, rising head and shoulders above anything else I’ve listened to in a long while.

Let’s talk about the narrator, Tom Jordan. That voice, it’s like have melted Galaxy chocolate poured all over you and then licked off by kittens with silken tongues. My knees were weak and wobbly from that voice. I could listen to Mr Jordan all day, every day, (all I need to do is work a bit harder on my plan to abduct him and keep him locked up in my basement. Oh yes, I need to dig out a basement first – so much to do).

This is a bit like the chicken and the egg situation for me. Is the brilliant writing enhanced by the superb narration or is the superb narration enhanced by the brilliant writing? Answers on a postcard to: Mrs I’m Blown Away with How Fantastic The Unkind Hours Is, Tom Jordan Appreciation Lane, Dwayne and Tom #TeamPerfection, UK. Thank you