The Naming of the Birds

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'Some wrong was done long ago. It can never be righted, and it has not been forgotten. Someone remembers it.'

London, 1894. Inspector Henry Cutter is in an unconvivial temper.

Then the murders begin. The first to die is Sir Aneurin Considine, a decorated but long-retired civil servant, is found dead amongst his beloved orchid collection, killed by a wound inflicted with surgical precision.

Soon, other victims suffer similar fates. More men in powerful positions; more murders that are gruesome but immaculately orchestrated. The perpetrator comes and goes like a ghost, leaving only carefully considered traces.

Hot on the tails of this invisible adversary are Inspector Cutter, along with his hapless but endlessly enthusiastic sidekick, Sergeant Gideon Bliss.

But as the pressure mounts, victims will start to look like perpetrators, murderers like truth-tellers, long-hidden failings will come resurface, and not even their very selves are safe from suspicion.

Critics Review

The Naming of the Birds is something very special: meaty, dark, exuberant, full of complicated people doing difficult things in terrible circumstances, and gesturing mutely towards love. I recommend it to both those who love Victorian Gothic, and those who usually run a mile from anything described as that but enjoy having their preconceptions confounded
Jon McGregor
The intrigue of a Conan Doyle, the terror of a Poe and the wit of an Oscar Wilde, all wrapped up in a delicious Victorian detective drama
Mat Osman
Splendid. Brimming with energy, the plot unfolds at a cracking pace. From the unsettling opening scenes to the dizzying acrobatics of the climax, Paraic O'Donnell tells his tale with the same exuberance displayed by his murderer who separates bodies from souls with a quite devastating flair
Diane Setterfield
The return of the deliciously irascible Inspector Henry Cutter, star turn of The House on Vesper Sands
Irish Times, ‘Books to Look Out For in 2025'
A stylish historical thriller from a writer of brio and wit
RTÉ, ‘Fiction Highlights’

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.