Written by Michelle Morgan & read by Anne Dover.
The Battered Body beneath the floor is a wonderfully engaging listen. Michelle’s writing is captivating and thrilling without unnecessary gore. Whilst dealing with gruesome topics, she handles the darkest and most desultory crimes of the Victorian era with a tact and grace that is not often seen in modern novels, where the aim seems to be often to shock and jar the audience.
At times reminiscent of the wonderful Dame Agatha Christie, Michelle transports you to a location and leads you happily along the way, sparking curiosity and intrigue, but gently cushioning you from the visceral and potentially harrowing fine detail that accompanies any murder mystery. She doesn’t shy away from discussing severed heads when the occasion demands it, but the slightly clinical nature of the depictions insulate the listener.
Anne’s narration adds to the conversational, safe, descriptions, and you’re left with the feeling that she is looking after you, like an aunt would, to ensure you have full understanding but without sensationalism. I listen to audiobooks before bed and, occasionally, have had to turn off a particularly disturbing one to avoid a disturbed night. This was absolutely not the case with The Battered Body. I would recommend it for anyone with an interest in historical mysteries and a disinclination towards the overly gory.
The topics are incredibly wide ranging from love gone awry, to acting mishaps. And an enjoyable listen for a winter evening, or a cold commute. The only negative I can possibly find is the occasional shoddy attempt at an accent.
All in all, 8/10 for anyone who wants the intrigue without the horror!