Tangerine

By: Christine Mangan

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik, Erin Mallon

The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the accident at Bennington, the two friends - once inseparable roommates - haven't spoken in over a year. But there Lucy was, trying to make things right and return to their old rhythms. Perhaps Alice should be happy. She has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy - always fearless and independent - helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country.

But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice - she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice's husband, John, goes missing, and Alice starts to question everything around her: her relationship with her enigmatic friend, her decision to ever come to Tangier, and her very own state of mind.

Tangerine is a sharp dagger of an audiobook - a debut so tightly wound, so replete with exotic imagery and charm, so full of precise details and extraordinary craftsmanship, it will leave you absolutely breathless.

Optioned for film by George Clooney's Smokehouse Pictures, with Scarlett Johansson to star.

©2018 Christine Mangan (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Narrators Barrie Kreinik and Erin Mallon deliver performances to savor.... As well as vivid portraits of the two women, both actors deliver convincing secondary characters, all wrapped in the exotic scents and sounds of Tangier." (AudioFile)

Listened to it all but disliked it immensely

There is not a single likable character in this book. You really wanted to root for Alice but she was so pathetic and pitiful you just could not.... have some backbone Alice.

For me the ending was a huge disappointment.

Hopeless

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who enjoys reading about the relentless manipulation of a vapid unlikable victim.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Glimpse

What about Barrie Kreinik and Erin Mallon ’s performance did you like?

The performances were skilled.

What character would you cut from Tangerine?

Alice and Lucy

Disappointed

I expected a lot more due to the “press” this title received on audible before it was even available. The story was frustrating and unsatisfying. The characters had potential to be really rich and interesting, but their development and back stories fell really flat.

Disappointed

While the narrators were good, the story was predictable and boring. I really wanted this debut to be good; too bad.

Great Summer Read

I got this after a recommendation from a friend. I wasn't sure about the story, but it's a slow moving thriller with an ending that I didn't expect.

Not worth listening

Poorly written: pathetic story. overly dramatic! I cannot advise anyone to waste their time with it as I did!

Enjoyable read

Great setting. Good twists and turns. Nice retro read reminiscent of Graham Greene and Patricia Highsmith.

Dynamic reading telling performance

This book was phenomenal and artfully descriptive. The author used subtlety and suspense in creative ways to slowly build the sense of the characters and reveal hidden sinister and naive elements in the protagonists. While the narration was just as charismatic and enjoyable as the writing, i was annoyed that I could determine the main antagonist from the voice chosen by the narrator for one of the characters. She used a dark, calculating, dry voice whenever the character was saying something that related to her deceptions. The voice acting helped me pick up on the antagonist earlier than i think i was supposed to or otherwise would have if the words were read with simpler voices that didn’t give as much away. on text it likely would have taken me longer to suspect the main antagonist and i felt like i’d been robbed of the discovery in some ways. There were a few themes not central to the plot that the author did not seem to take any stances on , but beyond these things I was thoroughly satisfied with the story. Good to read, good to listen too.

Thumbs Down

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Greatly disliked this book. Hated the ending, and didn't like any of the characters. Couldn't wait for it to be over. I never review books but I had to write down my displeasure.

Would you ever listen to anything by Christine Mangan again?

Questionable.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Narration was okay.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

NO!!!

Any additional comments?

There were no likable characters.

A Waste of a Promising Setting & Set-up

This book sounded so promising, but it's really just two uninteresting characters taking turns recounting the same clumsy scenes and uninspired steps. Nothing develops, but there are a few mysteries kept in flashbacks that are not at all worth the slog. With so little going on, it's an easy book to follow after the first chapter or so.