No One Goes Alone: A Novel

by Erik Larson Narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, Erik Larson

Overview

From New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson comes his first venture into fiction, an otherworldly tale of intrigue and the impossible that marshals his trademark approach to nonfiction to create something new: a ghost story thoroughly grounded in history.

Pioneering psychologist William James leads an expedition to a remote isle in search of answers after a family inexplicably vanishes. Was the cause rooted in the physical world . . . or were there forces more paranormal and sinister at work? Available only on audio, because as Larson says, ghost stories are best told aloud.

A group of researchers sets sail for the Isle of Dorn in the North Atlantic in 1905 to explore the cause of several mysterious disappearances, most notably a family of four who vanished without a trace after a week-long holiday on the island. Led by Professor James, a prominent member of the Society for Psychical Research, they begin to explore the island's sole cottage and surrounding landscape in search of a logical explanation.

The idyllic setting belies an undercurrent of danger and treachery, with raging storms and unnerving discoveries adding to the sense of menace. As increasingly unexplainable events unfold, the now-stranded investigators are unsure whether they can trust their own eyes, their instincts, one another-or even themselves.

Erik Larson has written a terrifying tale of suspense, underpinned with actual people and events. Created specifically to entertain audio listeners, this eerie blend of the ghostly and the real will keep listeners captivated till the blood-chilling end.

Featuring Erik Larson reading his Notes for a Narrator.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal - Audio

★ 11/01/2021

Crime writer Larson's (The Devil in the White City) first foray into fiction is a historical ghost story available only on audio. In 1905, psychologist William James leads an expedition to the remote North Atlantic Isle of Dorn. James and his Society for Psychical Research are looking for the cause of the island's unexplained disappearances, including a family who might have been lost in a storm, murdered by bandits, or perhaps abducted by some supernatural force. James is based on the real-life "father of American psychology"; the expedition's other members are Larson's own creations, but grounded in historical research. There's Nathaniel Hume (fictional son of the real-life psychic D. D. Hume); Winter, a professional illusionist; Katherine Holbrook, who claims to have met her husband's ghost; and wireless telegraphist Josiah Frost. Unimaginable things happen on the island (the expedition's boat disappears; a blazing fire is mysteriously snuffed; strange tides roil the cove; an expedition member appears in two places simultaneously; a boy and a man in 18th-century dress wash ashore; otherworldly creatures hide in the grasses) as the expedition tries to explain the inexplicable. Julian Rhind-Tutt masterfully narrates and navigates the British and American accents. VERDICT A fine ghost story steeped in Victorian morality and mannerisms.—Cliff Glaviano, formerly at Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH

SEPTEMBER 2021 - AudioFile

Julian Rhind-Tutt performs this ghost story in a style that suits this audio-only production. Set in 1905 on the desolate island of Dorn, off the Cornwall coast, the novel features mostly British characters. The sole exception is American professor William James. The choice to portray James in a flat tone seems inaccurate for the upper-crust man he was. That said, Rhind-Tutt narrates all the Brits well and gives atmosphere to the ghost story. Writer Erik Larson clearly has fun with his first foray into fiction and pays attention to the science of the day, particularly with respect to a character who is an engineer with expertise in radio waves. This suspenseful, engrossing audiobook is packed with surprises, even a romantic twist. A.D.M. 2022 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172487996
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	09/28/2021
Series:	A Random House Audiobook Original
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	513,667

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