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Distant Echoes: Richard III Speaks!
A new, innovative invention. The DNA of a mediaeval king. Put them together and the past comes to life!
Eve works for a software solutions company and they have a new technology that can track a subject's DNA through time. Criminals can incriminate themselves with their own words. Lost children can be found safely. And a five-hundred-year-old mystery can be solved straight from the horse's mouth! Eve's company tracks the notorious and controversial king, Richard III through his life, eavesdropping on his conversations. Will they succeed in solving the enduring mystery of the Princes in the Tower?....
Eve works for a software solutions company and they have a new technology that can track a subject's DNA through time. Criminals can incriminate themselves with their own words. Lost children can be found safely. And a five-hundred-year-old mystery can be solved straight from the horse's mouth! Eve's company tracks the notorious and controversial king, Richard III through his life, eavesdropping on his conversations. Will they succeed in solving the enduring mystery of the Princes in the Tower?....
- GenresHistorical Fiction
459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2019
28 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Joanne R. Larner
16 books37 followersJoanne lives in Rayleigh, Essex, with her husband, John, and two dogs, Jonah, the black Lab cross and Hunter the Miniature Dachshund.
She has worked as an osteopath for over twenty years, but is interested in many subjects and people. Her latest inspiration is Richard III, whom she became interested in when she saw the Channel 4 documentary, 'The King in the Car Park'. She read every book she could find on the King, but became tired of knowing how they would end and finally decided to write her own, a time travel Alternative History called 'Richard Liveth Yet', the 'book she wanted to read'. It eventually became a trilogy and then she wrote a stand-alone novel 'Distant Echoes' - historical with a hint of sci-fi.
She has contributed to several short story anthologies and is editing another of alternative stories about the Wars of the Roses, involving twenty other authors.
She has worked as an osteopath for over twenty years, but is interested in many subjects and people. Her latest inspiration is Richard III, whom she became interested in when she saw the Channel 4 documentary, 'The King in the Car Park'. She read every book she could find on the King, but became tired of knowing how they would end and finally decided to write her own, a time travel Alternative History called 'Richard Liveth Yet', the 'book she wanted to read'. It eventually became a trilogy and then she wrote a stand-alone novel 'Distant Echoes' - historical with a hint of sci-fi.
She has contributed to several short story anthologies and is editing another of alternative stories about the Wars of the Roses, involving twenty other authors.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 30, 2020
Distant Echoes - Richard III speaks! is a mash-up of historical fiction, light sci-fi, fantasy and contemporary romance, about a team who are able to reach back into the past and listen to anyone’s voice - as long as they have a DNA sample from that person. I came across it in an email promotion last year, and liked the originality of the concept, so bought it then, but have taken a while to get to it due to having so many ARCs to read. However I wanted a break from Crime & thrillers, and was up to date with my reviews for once, so picked this out on a whim.
Eve works as a researcher for a technology company who have invented a machine which tracks sound waves from people’s voices at specific points in time by tracking their DNA. Keen to find a famous test subject to drum up publicity, they decide to try and track the infamous last Plantagenet king - who died in 1485 - and solve the mystery of whether he did actually kill his nephews. While most of the team can only hear Richard’s voice, Eve discovers she has a special psychic ability, which allows her to get inside his head and follow scenes from his life as they happened. The more she learns about him, the deeper her hidden feelings for him grow - but will they stop her finding love in the present?
I only read a little sci-fi and fantasy, and occasional HF, so quite liked the mix here (except the romance sub-plot - I could’ve done without that.) I suspect if one of these was your preferred genre, you might be disappointed by this blend - for example the sci-fi concept presented here was so ludicrous that I would’ve preferred a straight fantasy explanation like magic for what they can do. If you like historical fiction and just want to read about Richard, you might find the contemporary story a bit distracting. I confess I almost gave up when Eve starts exploring her mystical powers, but just accepted this as a plot device allowing us to witness Richard’s life from her perspective. Eve was a bit too good to be true, with nearly every man she meets falling for her charms, and it was no surprise who she ends up with.
The court and battle scenes were vividly painted and Larner does a good job of keeping all the historical characters straight, without repeating herself too much (not easy when so many characters have the same names!) I particularly liked the way that every sub-chapter was named after a song, I’ve never seen that before. The writing was good with no mistakes or typos - unusual in a self-published author, and I liked the cover image.
I didn’t know much about Richard (embarrassingly, much of my knowledge of English history comes from Philippa Gregory) but knew that his remains had been found in a Leicester car park, a few years ago, and that there was a modern movement devoted to rehabilitating his reputation, especially regarding the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. The author is a devoted Ricardian, who has written other books about him travelling through time; while I was happy to learn more about him, I didn’t feel the obsessive infatuation he seems to engender in some women! Overall I enjoyed this, despite the reservations mentioned, so 3.5 rounded up for originality.
Eve works as a researcher for a technology company who have invented a machine which tracks sound waves from people’s voices at specific points in time by tracking their DNA. Keen to find a famous test subject to drum up publicity, they decide to try and track the infamous last Plantagenet king - who died in 1485 - and solve the mystery of whether he did actually kill his nephews. While most of the team can only hear Richard’s voice, Eve discovers she has a special psychic ability, which allows her to get inside his head and follow scenes from his life as they happened. The more she learns about him, the deeper her hidden feelings for him grow - but will they stop her finding love in the present?
I only read a little sci-fi and fantasy, and occasional HF, so quite liked the mix here (except the romance sub-plot - I could’ve done without that.) I suspect if one of these was your preferred genre, you might be disappointed by this blend - for example the sci-fi concept presented here was so ludicrous that I would’ve preferred a straight fantasy explanation like magic for what they can do. If you like historical fiction and just want to read about Richard, you might find the contemporary story a bit distracting. I confess I almost gave up when Eve starts exploring her mystical powers, but just accepted this as a plot device allowing us to witness Richard’s life from her perspective. Eve was a bit too good to be true, with nearly every man she meets falling for her charms, and it was no surprise who she ends up with.
The court and battle scenes were vividly painted and Larner does a good job of keeping all the historical characters straight, without repeating herself too much (not easy when so many characters have the same names!) I particularly liked the way that every sub-chapter was named after a song, I’ve never seen that before. The writing was good with no mistakes or typos - unusual in a self-published author, and I liked the cover image.
I didn’t know much about Richard (embarrassingly, much of my knowledge of English history comes from Philippa Gregory) but knew that his remains had been found in a Leicester car park, a few years ago, and that there was a modern movement devoted to rehabilitating his reputation, especially regarding the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. The author is a devoted Ricardian, who has written other books about him travelling through time; while I was happy to learn more about him, I didn’t feel the obsessive infatuation he seems to engender in some women! Overall I enjoyed this, despite the reservations mentioned, so 3.5 rounded up for originality.
November 12, 2019
Mystical, romance, political intrigue all brought together nicely
This novel was fascinating bringing the Middle Ages to life. The hint of time travel was what grabbed my interest, but the further I read the more real it became. I thought King Arthur was going to make an appearance but not so and was not missed. Joanne R Larger has done a nice job of bringing history, romance, political intrigue together.
This novel was fascinating bringing the Middle Ages to life. The hint of time travel was what grabbed my interest, but the further I read the more real it became. I thought King Arthur was going to make an appearance but not so and was not missed. Joanne R Larger has done a nice job of bringing history, romance, political intrigue together.
May 26, 2019
Excellent another converted circadian who has fallen in love with the man
You have made me see Richard in a different light.and now l cannot read enough about him. I am truly hooked.
You have made me see Richard in a different light.and now l cannot read enough about him. I am truly hooked.
August 16, 2019
I enjoyed Distant Echoes very much. I especially liked the devise of hearing Richard speak. The historical bones have taken on some believable flesh. Congratulations Miss Larner. I do recommend this book highly.
February 18, 2020
New slant
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an interesting view of Richard III & hard to put down. I’ve always been interested in Richard III & thought he was severely maligned. As I have scoliosis, I feel especially sympathetic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an interesting view of Richard III & hard to put down. I’ve always been interested in Richard III & thought he was severely maligned. As I have scoliosis, I feel especially sympathetic.
August 14, 2019
Loyalty Binds Me
Another great book from the author so well researched & able to bring my love, Richard to life. Thank you
Another great book from the author so well researched & able to bring my love, Richard to life. Thank you
August 13, 2021
Great book!
It takes a while to get going, but once it does, look out! This story is terrific! The writing is excellent and there are no, believe it or not, errors.
It takes a while to get going, but once it does, look out! This story is terrific! The writing is excellent and there are no, believe it or not, errors.
September 24, 2023
Richard III speaks and says, "Get someone with a brain to tell my story!"
March 31, 2024
A must read for all Ricardians a historical fiction with a splash of sci-fi and fantasy #kindle-unlimited
September 21, 2021
Excellent book detailing ability to use a timeline eye to listen into periods of history. I particularly love the time of Richard The Third so this book was brilliant. It covers various characters, events and true historical facts to show the character and relationships which from old documents and facts stand Richard as a good person of honest and kind character. Obviously the tudors (deliberate small initial - my revenge!) have besmirched his character but if you research there is proof of Richard's good character. A brilliant historical factual book is Richard The Third:The Maligned King by Annette Carson.
February 28, 2019
This is a fun story for people interested in Richard III. A new technology that works with a person's DNA, allows one to track the person by date and you can listen to his voice. A one sided conversation but it can shed light on what Richard was thinking and saying. It is an easy read and it does have a lot of good information about Richard. I would recommend to anyone who likes Richard and science fiction.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews