Ruritanian Rogues: Volumes 1-3

By: Richard Storry

Narrated by: Jake Urry

While an ugly war with its neighbouring realm continues to rage, the insulated members of Ruritania’s upper class laugh and dance their way through their superficial lives. Some people, increasingly disillusioned by the pointless conflict, start to consider how the king might be persuaded - or forced - to end it. Meanwhile, an increasing number of items of great value are going missing from those attending these high society gatherings. At whom will the finger of suspicion point? Who can be trusted? What is the reason behind the unexplained spate of deaths at the Zenda Hotel? Who are the mysterious figures who meet in secret in the nearby caves? And what is the real agenda of the sinister Lord Marek Richter? Discover the answers to these questions, and more, in Ruritanian Rogues.

©2017 Richard Storry (P)2018 Richard Storry

Good book, fantastic reading

I got this book for free for a honest review.

So this was both my first Richard Storry book and my first Jake Urry book. I think the books where good, with a little minus for the middle part, that feels maybe a bit long? But I really really recommend this book, and saying that Jake is the star of this book with all his voices is a saying it all. He is just THAT fantastic, and I can't wait for both of them to make more books, so I can enjoy it.

Absolutely Loved It

I absolutely loved this trilogy! The tales have mystery, suspense, danger, and quite a bit of humor. There is an ongoing war, traitors, and enough political machinations to make your head spin. I couldn't feel too harshly toward the "gentleman thief" who nonetheless does the right things when it really counts and peoples' lives are on the line, and you can't help but feel for his put upon friend/manservant. The stories have plenty of surprising twists, and it was fun to try to figure out what was going on and who the villains were ahead of the reveal in the story. I am eager for the next book to see how the story continues on.

I love Jake Urry's narration! In fact, it was listening to the book sample and his voice that made me get the audiobook. He is fantastic at providing individual and varied voices, and perfectly hits the right notes to express the emotions, attitudes, and humor in the story.

I highly recommend this audiobook to everyone. I will certainly be listening to it again.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Fantastic Trilogy for One Credit!

I received this audiobook free at my request and am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Looming of Vultures, A Nest of Vipers, and A Shroud of Darkness are each great stories in their own right, but when you can get all three for a single credit, what's not to love? Wonderful storytelling and amazing world building. Great narration by Jake Urry was also outstanding!

A Most Likable Gentleman Thief

I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

In a fantastical world full of intrigue and subterfuge, the gentleman thief Rudolph appears to be the most trustworthy of all the nobles. You cannot but like him and, at the same time feel sorry for Wilhelm, his faithful manservant, who tries his best to make an honest person of his wayward master. The storylines on all the books of this trilogy are all intriguing and will keep you guessing almost to the end. The writing is pleasant and the narration truly masterful. What's more, in each book, I found a pletora of secondary characters that made the stories so much more interesting and complex. Definitely a series you don't want to miss...

A richly written story with mystery and humor.

I wasn't too far into "A Looming of Vultures" before I began to imagine this story being translated into a TV program, where it could easily fit into the "Masterpiece Mysteries" series on PBS. (The same is true for the second and third books of the Ruritanian Rogues series, as well.) Humor abounds amongst all three books. The banter between main characters Baron Rudolph von Mayerling (Rudy) and his manservant, Wilhelm (Willy), gives the Rogues series its zest and delightfulness. One might mistake them for an old married couple at times, but these two characters help to create balance between haughty aristocratic life and the darker, more mysterious corners of Strelsau. Before starting the series, I had read just enough of the book's description to pique my interest but was ultimately surprised at how well written and executed the Rogues books were. It wasn't long before I had lost myself completely in the decadent, turn-of-the-century European town of Strelsau, where lies and accusations live alongside thievery and murder. In Strelsau, appearances will deceive you, and you never know who, or what, is in the shadows, lying patiently in wait for the opportunity to strike.

It is Jake Urry's narration that takes this story straight up and out into the stratosphere. With equal parts charm and mystique, Urry provides a warm, natural, and professional performance that truly enhances the written word. There is no other voice that could breath life into Storry's creation quite like Mr. Urry. The same could be said of his narration for books 2 and 3 of the series, as well. Storry and Urry make a decidedly formidable team.

(I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request, and I have voluntarily written this review.)

Excellent

Lots of twists and turns. Intrigue, some humor, a little 'It takes a Thief', a little 'Sherlock Holmes'. and a lot of people who are not what they seem.
The narrator did an excellent job. His voice was pleasant and clear. His characters were so vivid you could just see them in your mind.
All and all a great listen. Will look forward to hearing the next release.
This audio was given to me free, and I voluntarily gave this review.

Amazing Trilogy.

Amazing Trilogy.
I loved the books very much, it took me a little longer to hear them and not because of the length of the books.
Each book in itself is not very long. But the stories were interesting and complex and I loved it very much.
The narrator did a good job.
A great story over all
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Rascals, Rapscallions, and Rogues, Oh My!

Ruritanian Rogues: Volumes 1-3
Author: Richard Storry
Narrator: Jake Urry
Total Listening Time 14 Hrs. 51 Mins.

Disclaimer: "This Audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost, in exchange for an unbiased honest review."

I always like to preface any reviews I give with this information.
I am a 68 year old female who has been an avid reader since I was around 10 or 11 years old.
I read primarily for pleasure.
I have a great many interests and do a lot of research for personal pleasure and knowledge as well.


A Looming of Vultures: Ruritanian Rogues Volume I

What a fun, intriguing, mysterious, and convoluted first book in this cool trilogy of stories!

Rudy, a man who is a titled Baron 'Rudolph Von Mayerling', and is also a thief in his spare time, as well as his manservant Willy (Wilhelm) who does his best to keep Rudy on the straight and narrow road to honesty; are my favorite characters in this first book.
Willy tends to try to use morsels of cakes and other baked goods to tempt Rudy to behave himself.

Ruritania is a country at war with it's neighbor, (Jermania) and while soldiers are out fighting,suffering, and dying; the Lords and Ladies of the realm are in their own little world of dinner parties and have no real clue as to the danger some of those titled men are in.

It is through the sneaking, skulking and breaking in by Rudy, that we find out facts of the sinister plans that are going on.

Rudy seems to have the unlucky ability to break in to homes where no one is supposed to be home
(so he can steal objects), but he finds that indeed there are people home and those people are having secret meetings and planning murder and mahem.

Some of these men are on Rudy's list to lift some of their riches for himself and in the course of breaking and entering, Rudy overhears a plot to assassinate the king.

This wonderful book is so full of plot twists and a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor that I found myself laughing so much because of Rudy and Willy's personalities and conversations.


A Nest of Vipers: Ruritanian Rogues Volume II

This second book in the series hits the ground running and we see an unnamed thief break into an Apothacary's shop (pharmacy), and steal some items. Is this our ruffian Rudy at work; or are other forces playing their hand?

In the midst of the war with Jermania and amidst peace talks, people start dying mysteriously
and more thievery is going on.

This book progresses the story along at a good and interesting pace and we see the more hidden personalities and agendas of some people who want to be the power behind the throne at work, to position the "right" person in the right place.

There is more insight into the nobility and their lives in this second novel and all in all the plots and subplots in this book are very well orchestrated.
Lives are intertwined and complex, and there are people who are in far more danger than they realize.

A Shroud of Darkness: Ruritanian Rogues Volume III

The 3rd book in this series shows us the underbelly of the quest for power, and the ugliness of what people who seek power at any cost, are capable of. The plot thickens and becomes even more complex and there are many tense moments in this book that kept my interest all the way through it.

This book was more serious overall and not as humorous as the first. However we see a people struggling with uncaring and isolated rulers on the one hand, and citizens who are willing to do everything possible to stop a war, even being willing to give up their freedom and very possibly their lives to hopefully stopping a war, on the other.

Of course my favorite Baron is still doing his best,(worst?) to relieve people of their possessions and while Rudy is truly a rapscallion, I believe he is so bored with living a mild and uninspired life he seeks the excitement that outwitting his peers brings him, and of course there is always the attaining of valuable items. He is a very egotistical person, yet he is somehow personable as well.

This is not the last book in this series, so I am left with wondering what happens next!
While this 3rd book doesn't have a "cliffhanger" ending, I really want to get the rest of the audiobooks to find out what happens!

Author Richard Storry is an author whose work I had never seen or heard before now, but he has a singular way of writing that is very appealing to me. Mr Storry's characters are complex and unique beings who have both great attributes and some real negative qualities in their personalities.
I would be tickled to read/listen to more of his work.

Narrator Jake Urry is a voice actor I had never listened to prior to this trilogy of audiobooks and his voice intrigued me so much I looked him up. Imagine my surprise to see this is a young man! He has a very deep and melodious voice and I loved listening to him bring these characters and ruffians to life. I particularly liked the way he portrayed the female character's voices. I have always wondered how one decides to portray the opposite gender in an audiobook. Some men do well with doing feminine voices, and others do the falsetto voice. I don't care for the falsetto voice myself, and feel that Jake Urry's portrayal of the softer sounding voices of the females characters was great. Mr Urry is to my way of thinking a "Storyteller". When I listen to a storyteller, I soon forget that I am listening to one person do all the character's voices and I am caught up in the telling. I would most definitely listen to him again.

I think this book would appeal to people who love history whether it is real, or fictional history. I don't believe it would appeal to the very young since this story line is slow moving and needs to be to fully grasp all the players and plots. It is not your "action" story in that sense of the word.
However if you like your books to have more meat to them, this is definitely the set of books to get.

Better than I thought it would be

Ruritanian Rogues vol 1 - 3
I ended up totally engrossed with the tale.
A little slow at first but it draws you in. The fictional country, history and wonderfully eccentric characters woven into a truly captivating story. Enhanced by a truly atmospheric narration. Jake Urry's tone and delivery are perfect for this tale. And made this a perfect bedtime listen.
I received a free copy of this audio book at my own request and voluntarily left this honest review..

GREAT READ!

I really enjoyed this series! The stories are full of suspense, humor and lots of twists and turns. The narration was great and kept me entertained. The author did a great job with the characters and plot. I love that you get 3 stories all in one book! This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last. I look forward to reading more books in this series. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.