The Malefactor

By: E. Phillips Oppenheim

Narrated by: John Bolen

Sir Wingrave Seton allowed himself to be imprisoned for nine years rather than betraying a lady's honor. He seeks revenge by acquiring immense wealth for the sole purpose of destroying the lives of others. A lonely Boston housewife, a young stockbroker and an orphaned daughter of a church organist all seem to be headed for life disasters; just in time a mysterious benefactor saves each of them.

Seton ultimately sets his sights on the woman who conspired to betray him with her husband. He takes great pleasure in watching them suffer the pain he inflicts upon them. But a new young lover slowly starts to thaw the Malefactor's icy heart, prompting him to abandon his misanthropic plans. Is it too late?

©2002 Tantor Media, Inc. (P)2002 Tantor Media, Inc.

New Ears Please.

The Malefactor, is an intriguing story that I almost didn't get to hear the end of. John Bolen has almost destroyed the only E. Phillips Oppenheim story on Audible's current list. I found it painful to listen to, especially his attempts at any female voice (which all sounded the same), and at one point had resolved to turn it off and buy the text instead as my own imagination could hardly have been worse. My two stars rating are both for the story, - about a man wrongly sent to prison for ten years to save the honour of the woman he loved. Once his sentence is served, he emerges a different creature, sworn to create as much hurt and wreak as much destruction on society as he has suffered in his life to date. Can human nature really be so permanently warped by injustice, or is healing possible for Sir Wingrave Seaton? My advice is to find a good copy of the book, read it, and enjoy finding out. Hopefully more Oppenheim titles are added to Audible one day, but please find a better narrator, - it shouldn't be hard!