Airs Above the Ground

The suspenseful, romantic story that will sweep you off your feet

By: Mary Stewart

Narrated by: Antonia Whillans

The original writer of romantic suspense, Mary Stewart leads her readers on a thrilling journey across mid-century Europe in this tale of adventure and deception, sure to be loved by fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym.

Vanessa March's husband, Lewis, is meant to be on a business trip in Stockholm - so why does he briefly appear in newsreel footage of a fire at a circus in Vienna, with his arm around another woman? Vanessa flies to Austria to find her husband, inadvertently becoming involved in a mystery that spans three countries...and the famous dancing stallions of the Spanish Riding School.

The moonlight flooded the meadow, blanching all colours to its own ghostly silver. The pines were very black. As the stallion rose in the last magnificent rear of the levande, the moonlight poured over him bleaching his hide so that for perhaps five or six seconds he was no longer an old broken-down piebald but a haute école stallion of the oldest line in Europe.

©1965 Mary Stewart (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Old Book, Still Good

Having grown up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys in the 1950s and then moving into Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, how had I never heard of Mary Stewart before? I enjoyed this book quite a bit until the too-lengthy denouement toward the end. it would have been better broken up just a bit.

However, the story is intriguing and educational about the Lipizzaner horses. I will read more Stewart.

The narrator is quite good, but I felt that she mispronounced several words. One obvious one was saying that someone took a bow and pronouncing it like a bow one ties or holds to shoot an arrow. With that overlooked, she did a good job.

Vintage Mary Stewart with special appeal to horse lovers

A very pleasant story, just enough suspense, with a lovely descriptions of Austrian countryside and loving descriptions of the Lippizaner horses. I found the narrator’s tone to be rather flat, with no appreciable difference between one character and another, although she was very easy to understand.

A Classic of Building Suspense

If you love a story with animals, slowly building mystery and suspense, this one has it all. Spies, a circus, horses, tragedy, an intrepid lady veterinarian, and an adventure loving teenage boy on a quest in Austria. If you're anything like me and tend to cry for happy, sad, and/or beautiful you'll want to keep the kleenex within easy reach. This is by far one of my most beloved books and I am overjoyed to now be able to read in ebook or listen to it in audiobook as I feel the urge. Mary Stewart has little competition for good, clean mystery and adventure for teenagers on up to seniors who grew up reading her books.

Dated but still excellent

This one runs on characters more than action, although the ending more than satisfies in that department. Written in different times, so don’t expect modern reactions to every situation.

great book, average reader

competent but understated reading, and more differentiation of voices would be good. book is lovely despite being a bit dated in spots.

Great Period Mystery!

This was published in 1965, and is a fascinating look at the time period! Mary Stewart sets it in Austria, and includes elements of both a circus and the famous Lippizaner horses. There a number of sections of high tension, as well as mystery.
I liked the narrator, and found her easy to understand.

Good story about a little known subject

I liked the narrative and the accuracy of the horses involved in the circus potion and the Spanish Riding School portion. I like the well written characters and the little surprises along the way.

Great!

I have read this book three to four times! Mary Stewart is a marvelous writer now mostly out of print. Find her if you can!!

A very enjoyable read and listen

This book is my second by Mary Stewart, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked that Vanessa was able to listen to her husband’s explanation without assuming the worst (though she did suspect it for a time). They did have communication and trust which shows when that first day they meet in Vienna. I loved how Timothy’s character developed from a sulking school boy to someone much more likable and responsible. I’d like to read about him in a subsequent book to see what path he pursued after the events of this book. However, I don’t think Mary Stewart wrote sequels or even books with overlapping characters. I am looking forward to reading another of her books.
The narrator did a very good job. Her voice fit that of the protagonist’s well, and given the first person
viewpoint in which the book is written, that is the most important factor. She did well with the male voices, as well.

Another great one with an equestrian side

The story was very pleasant and, as always, I love the authors manner of speaking. The equestrian side story was majestic and beautiful. I was very glad to listen to this novel particularly, even amongst the 10 or so I have already heard from Mary Stewart.