Butterfly Hunter

By: Julie Bozza

Narrated by: Ray Cross

It started as a simple assignment for Aussie bush guide Dave Taylor - escort a lone Englishman in quest of an unknown species of butterfly. However Nicholas Goring is no ordinary tourist, his search is far from straightforward, and it's starting to look as if the butterflies don't want to be found. As Dave teaches Nicholas everything he needs to survive in the Outback he discovers that he too has quite a bit to learn - and that very often the best way to locate something really important is just not to want to find it....

©2012 Julie Bozza (P)2015 Julie Bozza

Sublime

I read this story when it was first published and I believe I used the word 'gorgeous' numerous times... for good reason. I also wished I could rate it 10 stars. It is an all time favorite story of mine. A story of self discovery - intertwined with a spectacluar setting, a dash of mysticism and strong, yet vulnerable characters.

It would seem impossible for this audio version to be able to surpass such praise, but it does. The beautifully written characters of Davey and Nicholas are brought to life in a lovely, softly accented English by narrator Ray Cross. Stunning work. His delivery is stellar: understated, clear, and brimming with emotion, yet never overdone. Davey and Nicholas' appreciation of the beauty of the land, their reverence for the indigenous legends, their frank conversations, their emerging love - is nakedly evident. Seriously, I could weep for the perfection of this narration. I adored every last word, and will be listening again.

Narration lets this down

Let me start with saying that I love the book! It's a beautifully told love story about an English lepidopterist visiting Australia. So far, so good. I listen to audiobooks all the time, and I have found many gems, particularly in the mm romance genre. This isn't one of them.

Because there are so many great performances out there, our level of expectation has grown. I expect a good narrator to put his heart and soul into it, with superb technical finesse, and a high level of acting experience. Compare N.R. Walker's audiobooks as to how it should be done.

The worst aspect for me was the fact that the narrator has a lovely, soft Dublin 4 accent. Beautiful, but entirely unsuited to voice an English aristocrat and an Australian outback man. There was no connection at all between the narrator's voice and the book. It would've made just as much sense to read it with a German accent, that is, none at all.

Sorry, Ray, you're the wrong man to read this. Also, please invest in a better microphone.

Superior narration for a favorite story

I have enjoyed reading and re-reading this story of an Aussie and an Englishman for about a year now, and was delighted to find an audible version available. The narration is superb, it well matches the pace and cadence of the written story, from beginning to end. I highly recommend this audible version.

Couldn't finish it - awful narration

I can't judge the story really. It seemed like it had potential. So I gave it three stars.

However, the narration was so poor, I couldn't listen for a whole hour, let alone the whole book. A story set in Australia, with an English aristocrat as one MC. So who would you cast but an Irishman? The strange casting is not the narrator's fault, of course. At least he doesn't try to do accents for the dialogue. On the other hand, he doesn't try to do much at all. The book is narrated in a lifeless monotone, and also delivered in a voice that suggests it was recorded in home late at night and he didn't want to disturb anyone.

It's a shame, I was looking forward to it.