The Woman Who Knew Too Little
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The Woman Who Knew Too Little
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Narrated by:
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Fiona Macleod
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By:
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Olivia Wearne
About this listen
1948. An unidentified dead man is found on Somerton Beach, Adelaide. Officer Kitty Wheeler yearns to work the case—but the city's women police are typically assigned to more domestic matters. A wryly funny, sharply observed novel about one of Australia's great mysteries, and the life choices available to mid-century women.
December, 1948. Officer Kitty Wheeler is a member of the Women Police, responsible for "upholding the moral virtue" of Adelaide's at times unruly and amorous citizens. Patrolling Somerton beach one night, Kitty and her partner spot a man leaning against the sea wall, apparently drunk. It's late, they're tired, and they leave him to sleep it off...
The man is dead, his identity unknown, and Kitty has missed a career-making opportunity. In the following months, the case of the Somerton Man grips first Adelaide, then Australia, as bizarre clues point towards international espionage, Eastern mysticism or salacious scandal. Kitty, preoccupied with the case, joins the investigation wherever she can, although the men are firmly in charge. Meanwhile, she must decide whether she wants husband and family, or a career—in 1940s Australia, she can't have both. Her boyfriend Peter wants to pop the question, but Kitty is keener on solving the case....
Olivia Wearne has threaded Kitty's story into the real-life 1940s mystery of the Somerton Man. This intriguing, sharply observed and wholly engaging novel explores the life and crimes of a city and its people, few of whom are without their secrets.
©2023 Olivia Wearne (P)2023 HarperCollins PublishersWhat listeners say about The Woman Who Knew Too Little
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jen.
- 20-09-2023
Australian post-war novel with female leads
Interesting as a window to working class Adelaide, South Australia in late 1940’s. Kitty’s challenges as a young police woman in that era make good reading. Lots of varied female characters, which was good. The factual mystery of The Somerton Man is what led me to listen to this. The narrator’s voice performance wasn’t to my taste for this audiobook- Kitty’s and narrators voice sounded a little to sweet and young I thought. Other character’s voices showed appropriate range so I guess performance was as directed, but I found it distracting from the story to have overly sweet voicing most of the time. I will recommend this one to my Mum as she likes reading this era.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-10-2023
Compelling and beautifully performed
A beautifully written, and beautifully performed. This is an easy listen that isn’t *too* Crime-y, and certainly doesn’t wander into the Thriller category, but also has enough history and character building to round it out. Possibly the best audiobook I’ve listened to, for my commuting purposes.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-10-2023
Historically Accurate
I found myself so interested in post war Adelaide. What a time for all. Thanks for this mystery and the follow up report from 2022.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-05-2023
Addictive
Addictive read once you get to know Kitty, the protagonist. i found myself wanting more. While the story revolves around the Somerton Man mystery, the greater mystery unfolds as Kitty finds her place in the world as a career woman in Adelaide after the war. Where will her journey end up?
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- squizmum
- 11-08-2024
Her job takes priority
Enjoyed this story immensely. Set in Adelaide Australia in late 1940s it tells of a young woman who joins the female police section and is pushy enough to get involved with investigation of a man that she and her partner thought was sleeping on the beach but later discovered he was dead. MarriedIt gives a history of life for women at that time. Based on a true crime this is a fictional story and well worth listening to.
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