The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Audible Dickens Collection

By: Charles Dickens, Lucinda Hawksley

Narrated by: Billy Howle, Lucinda Hawksley

Audible presents an original production of the aptly named The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Charles Dickens’ final, unfinished novel. Following his untimely death at the age of 58, Dickens managed to publish only six of the 12 planned instalments of the story.

Though it has gone on to be one of his more popular titles and the source of inspiration for various television, stage and theatre adaptations, no one knows exactly how Dickens planned to end the mystery. This has lent to development of many different theories, but it now relies on you to provide the answers; can you solve The Mystery of Edwin Drood?

This editions features an exclusive afterword written and narrated by Lucinda Hawksley, who holds the unique position of being one of the world’s leading experts on Dickens, and also his great-great-great granddaughter.

About the book

Upon his coming of age, Edwin Drood is contracted to marry Rosa Bud and thus fulfil his father’s greatest wish: that his son be wed to his best friend’s daughter.

Unbeknownst to his jealous and malicious uncle, John Jasper, who desperately longs for young Rosa, the couple are not romantically inclined and soon decide to break off their engagement. When Edwin suspiciously disappears on a stormy night, he leaves behind him a trail of evidence which looks to incriminate the very people closest to him.

Alone and vulnerable, Rosa fears John Jasper’s looming presence and turns to the high-spirited but hot-tempered Neville Landless, and his kindly twin sister, Helena, for protection.

In this classic whodunit, set in the sinister town of Cloisterham, Dickens paints a disturbing picture of the popular vices of the day, including the many opium dens that John Jasper frequents to live out his drug-fuelled fantasy of marrying Rosa. Would such a man be capable of murdering his own nephew, or could it be Edwin’s closest friends that betrayed his trust?

You tell us....

About the author

With his father incarcerated, Charles Dickens had to abandon his studies at a young age and set to work in a factory so as to support himself. Despite his short-lived education, Dickens went on to write 15 novels, various articles, novellas and short stories. These include Hard Times, Bleak House, Oliver Twist, Barnaby Rudge, Little Dorrit and A Tale of Two Cities. He lectured and led campaigns for children's rights and education and arguably became the ultimate self-made man.

Dickens passed away on 9 June 1870 and was laid to rest at the Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Public Domain (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

Listen all the way to the end

There is a 15 minute afterword written and read by Dickens’ great-great-great granddaughter. It’s worth listening past the end of the book.

So sorry this is unfinished!

I just love how Charles dickens wrote. His use of language… Like slightly easier-reading and less bawdy than Shakespeare.

And this narrator did a great job with all the voices!

Very engaging tale and worth the read even though you only get half of it.

Interesting to think how many more twists and turns could’ve been added until we got to the final who done it, or was it even actually done…?

Loved this. Now obsessed.

Dickens has outdone himself in his final work. I’ve read it twice. And listened to it twice also. I think the narrator’s performance is outstanding!! I may listen a third time. I’ve already ordered a “ completed” version. May get yet another.

loved it

Definitely a great read/listen!
worth every minute
i ended up listening to it twice to thoroughly break it down

Unfinished yet still masterful

Despite not being able to finish before his death, he manages a wonderful mystery. The best part being a true mystery that we will never know the answer to.

Mystery of a mystery

very much enjoyed this last tale from Dickens....just wish we knew the end. Edwin, where are you?

Edwin Drood

This was an ok read.I know it wasn't finished,I found the subject matter not to my liking.Narration was good.

Interesting but Frustrating

The narrator did a wonderful job with this unfinished and final novel by Charles Dickens.