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Beware the Past Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Joy Ellis (Author), Antony Ferguson (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
See all formats and editions

One terrible case always haunted detective Matt Ballard. Now many years later, the killer seems to be back. And this time he's after Matt.

When Matt Ballard was starting out his career, three boys were murdered in the same area, the remote and bleak Gibbet Fen. When the main suspect was killed in a hit-and-run, the killings stopped. But Matt was not satisfied that the real murderer had been caught.

Over 25 years later, Matt gets a photo in an unmarked envelope. It's of the Gibbet Fen crime scene. And the picture was taken before the murder took place. More photos arrive, relating to the historic murders, as well as intimate pictures of Matt's very secret private life.

Then another murder happens, with some of the hallmarks of the old case. Has the killer returned, or is this just a sick copycat determined to ruin Matt's life and reputation?

Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 6
    Detective Matt Ballard Mystery
  2. Listening Length
    11 hours and 3 minutes
  3. Author
    Joy Ellis
  4. Narrator
    Antony Ferguson
  5. Audible release date
    31 May 2018
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  8. ASIN
    B07D2JJBPY
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
Next slide of product details

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
55,372 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book enthralling and gripping with a gradual buildup. They also describe the characters as believable and the reading experience as fantastic. Readers also describe it as a powerful storyline, page-turning, and fast-paced. They praise the writing style as well-written, fantastic, and unputdownable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
PlotReading experienceWriting styleCharactersEntertainment valueResearch qualityReadabilityScariness level
651 customers mention ‘Plot’607 positive44 negative

Customers find the plot powerful, breathtaking, and brilliant. They also describe the scenes as set and feel like they're right in there. Readers also say the tale never becomes predictable, gripping, and fast paced.

"...Absolutely loved it, brilliant, gripping, and so well written. The pages were on fire I couldn’t wait to get back into the story...." Read more

"...Great story set across today and the early seventies. Ballard is dragged back to his early days as a PC in the Fens...." Read more

"Great storyline, just couldn’t stop reading this book. Holds the interest from beginning to end, and what an end.A cracking read." Read more

"Wow what a book. It’s the most exciting book I’ve read in a long time. So many twists and turns and what a wonderful story...." Read more

592 customers mention ‘Reading experience’571 positive21 negative

Customers find the book a fantastic read with great characters that they soon get to know well.

"...Absolutely loved it, brilliant, gripping, and so well written. The pages were on fire I couldn’t wait to get back into the story...." Read more

"...Great writing, throughly enjoyable" Read more

"I really enjoyed the book and I am really looking forward to reading more,so keep up. the great work,it is such a great gift writing...." Read more

"Very Good read. Struggled to stop reading as I needed to know what happened next. Hope you enjoy it too!" Read more

151 customers mention ‘Writing style’115 positive36 negative

Customers find the writing style brilliant, gripping, and well written. They also appreciate the author's explanation of every last detail and no loose ends. Readers also mention the book is unputdownable and fast paced.

"...Absolutely loved it, brilliant, gripping, and so well written. The pages were on fire I couldn’t wait to get back into the story...." Read more

"...I just had to know if the murderer returned or not? Great writing, throughly enjoyable" Read more

"...Beware the Past is a good novel, well-written, but not one I would rush to recommend because I couldn’t connect with the characters and I guessed..." Read more

"The story line is very good and quite dark at times however the writing lacks...." Read more

124 customers mention ‘Characters’105 positive19 negative

Customers find the characters in the book believable.

"...The characters were believable but I didn’t really care about them or their fate, beyond wanting the good guys to win and the bad guys to lose...." Read more

"...Fabulous characters and a story with more twists and turns than you could shake a stick at...." Read more

"...I loved the characters, Mattie, Liz and David the boss...." Read more

"...engaged in the story from the first page and felt that the characters came to life so that you started to feel the emotions of all concerned...." Read more

71 customers mention ‘Entertainment value’66 positive5 negative

Customers find the book enthralling, suspenseful, and holds them to the end. They also appreciate the build-up, suspence, and different emotions they feel while reading.

"Great storyline, just couldn’t stop reading this book. Holds the interest from beginning to end, and what an end.A cracking read." Read more

"...Despite not being surprised, it did keep me turning the pages and wanting to hurtle through...." Read more

"...I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was fun, exciting, and page turning, I loved (or hated) the characters, the plot was inspired, I couldn’t make up my..." Read more

"...It held me to the end - and WHAT an end it turned out to be. I certainly hadn't expected it to finish the way it did...." Read more

25 customers mention ‘Research quality’25 positive0 negative

Customers find the research quality of the book absolutely mindblowing, well thought through, and exciting. They also appreciate the great descriptive power, determination, and realistic conclusion. Readers also mention that the plot develops logically and has a unique twist to finish.

"Absolutely mindblowing! I just couldn't put it down. I am greatly liking forward to reading the next book in the series." Read more

"...I thought it was very clever." Read more

"A gripping story, with well honed and largely credible characters...." Read more

"...All the usual words like gripping, mind blowing and unputdownable come to mind, but definitely not one to be missed." Read more

48 customers mention ‘Readability’30 positive18 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book. Some find it impossible to put down, while others say it's tedious, slow, and repetitive.

"...Believable characters, chilling findings, lots of ooh and no’s! Couldn’t put down...found myself waking in the early hours and reading more and more...." Read more

"...E a silly read, not too easy to put down." Read more

"...Edge of the seat stuff and no putting the book down! Also a bit of romance. Can’t wait to read the next one in this series-sure it won’t disappoint." Read more

"...He is easy to like and I look forward to the next book." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Scariness level’12 positive11 negative

Customers are mixed about the scariness level of the book. Some mention it has chilling findings, and the final reveal leaves the reader shocked. They also say it's eerie, creepy, and catches the creepy remoteness of the area. However, others say it’s disturbing, unpleasant, and unnecessary.

"...I thought this was very creepy and eerie, and you could feel the tension, as he was being watched, photographed and all the time whoever it is is..." Read more

"...was poorly executed and I found most of the characters shallow or unlikable. I might read the next in the series just to see if things improve...." Read more

"...I was riveted from beginning to end. So atmospheric and menacing. And the author very skilfully lead the reader to suspect just about everyone...." Read more

"...I would not recommend her books - this one is disturbing to say the least...." Read more

Full of joy!
5 out of 5 stars
Full of joy!
Full of joy!I am not usually reading these type of book but this one is worth the time reading it.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

william cameron
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2024
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Can’t believe I had this book on my TBR list and have only now read this. Absolutely loved it, brilliant, gripping, and so well written. The pages were on fire I couldn’t wait to get back into the story. Joy Ellis is such an incredible author. I now know why she has so many 5 star reviews . I will certainly be reading more of her books, that’s for sure.
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Bob Hurley
4.0 out of 5 stars Picture from the Past
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2023
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Enjoyed the first in the series of DCI Matt Ballard. Having read a number of the Nikki Galena books by Joy Ellis thought I would try this. Great story set across today and the early seventies. Ballard is dragged back to his early days as a PC in the Fens. They never successfully caught and punished the murderer of young boys when all of a sudden, a new recent death seems to point Ballard and his team to a reoccurrence. Seems that the murderer has struck again. Ballard and his team are tasked with finding out who killed the young boy. This drives Ballard into a frenzied investigation with a number of unexplained events back when he was that young PC. Couldn't put down the last few chapters. I just had to know if the murderer returned or not? Great writing, throughly enjoyable
One person found this helpful
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TigerLily
5.0 out of 5 stars A real page turner.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 July 2024
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Great storyline, just couldn’t stop reading this book. Holds the interest from beginning to end, and what an end.
A cracking read.
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emily
5.0 out of 5 stars Great readq
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 July 2024
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I really enjoyed the book and I am really looking forward to reading more,so keep up. the great work,it is such a great gift writing. And I am glad I came across yours.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2024
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Wow what a book. It’s the most exciting book I’ve read in a long time. So many twists and turns and what a wonderful story. I would recommend reading it to anyone who likes a good story. One of Joy Ellis’ best boots I’ve read.
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Andrew G.
4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of twists
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 December 2023
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Very Good read. Struggled to stop reading as I needed to know what happened next. Hope you enjoy it too!
One person found this helpful
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Laura Ohrman
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read! Couldn't put it down.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2024
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I love a crime thriller but this one was just great - fast flowing, great story line, thoroughly enjoyed it!
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Keeper of Pages
3.0 out of 5 stars Beware the Past
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 July 2018
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More mystery than thriller, Beware the Past has an ‘old-school’ feel to it, which I loved. I even checked the publication date to see if it was an ‘oldie’ – it’s not, it was published in 2017. But if you love the simpler style of older crime fiction, then this novel may appeal to you. When I use the phrase ‘old-school’ – I mean it in the way that, for example, Law and Order: SVU is ‘old-school’, an older production, yet highly interesting, but noticeably different from new crime shows. Beware the Past is dark in nature, and dark in location – the setting of this novel really adds a sense of desolation and eeriness to the read.

The characters were believable but I didn’t really care about them or their fate, beyond wanting the good guys to win and the bad guys to lose. Usually, I’m a fan of the detective tormented by their past, but here, I felt nothing towards Matt’s turmoil. The characters weren’t over-written, they just didn’t standout, thus the emphasis was the mystery. Ellis writes in a fluid way that means you can breeze through this novel despite the dark content; the chapters are short which allows you to sneak in another, and another, and another, till you decide you might as well go ahead and just finish the book.

The ending to Beware the Past was good, but predictable. It was due to the blurb – “an absolutely breathtaking conclusion” – and the tagline – “…with a huge twist” – that I figured out the ending, this isn’t a spoiler but those phrases made me think of the most outrageous, yet possible ending, and alas that was the ending. As you can see, the phrases give nothing away but I guess, once you read so many crime books, with some of the more straight-forward plots, you’re able to figure it out. There was some originality in the ending that I appreciated, and I think it would work well played out on the screen.

This was my first novel by Ellis and I would certainly read more from her in the future. Beware the Past is a good novel, well-written, but not one I would rush to recommend because I couldn’t connect with the characters and I guessed the ending. However, my favourite thing about this novel, it’s ‘old-school’ vibe.
46 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

steppie
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on 23 May 2024
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This is far and away the best book I have read in years. Fast moving, pulls you right in, and some many interesting plot twist and turns.
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cc
5.0 out of 5 stars What a volatile ride this was!
Reviewed in Canada on 1 February 2024
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I’m thrilled to have found this new-to-me author! As compelling as this story was, I had to speed read through the description of atrocities committed by the bad guy. No spoilers here. It’s just that you need to know that the crimes committed are graphically portrayed but not just for the sake of violence. The weight of the crimes further the story and make the ending all that more satisfying.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and send my thanks to the author for making these books available on KU.
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N R
5.0 out of 5 stars A Chilling Murder Mystery
Reviewed in India on 26 July 2022
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Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Ballard is nearing the end of an illustrious career, when one last case crops up; a child is found cruelly murdered, and all his long- suppressed memories of a serial child killer encountered at the very beginning of his career, re-emerge. Backed by an able and devoted team, he sets off once again on the tracks of the bestial killer, long presumed dead and buried. And this time, it seems as if the killer is zeroing on Matt, himself. Despite his camaraderie at work, Matt is a lonely man with only the memories of his two lost loves to keep him company. Now as the nightmare begins once again, his new found relationship with Sergeant Liz Haynes, which was bringing a semblance of normality into his lackluster existence, is also under threat.
Set in the desolate Fens, a landscape of marshes, overgrown paths and derelict farmhouses, this twisted mystery conjures up an atmosphere of chilly terror, brooding evil and an overriding fear of what will emerge around the next corner. A gripping read.
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Cliente Kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars Chills and thrills
Reviewed in Italy on 9 November 2020
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Five stars for a mystery that delivers right up to the last chapter. In 99% of thrillers I read I always guess who the bad guy is before I've finished half of the book. This novel had me guessing up til the very end.... I was truly shocked at who turned out to be the bad guy! When I find myself thinking about a book all throughout the day, wondering what's going to happen next and thinking of the characters as "real" people I then know that the author has done a great job in creating their story.
Matt has become a "real" person for me with all his idiosyncrasies! I couldn't wait to finish all my daytime chores so I could get back to reading this novel. It brought me straight into the story and it seemed I was living each scene with the DCI. I loved it and I'll be reading more of Ellis' books!
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Jeymi
5.0 out of 5 stars Abstolute Page Turner from Cover to cover
Reviewed in Germany on 20 March 2020
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I could barely put this book down. It’s perfect for those who like to be fully drawn in into a captivating story but keep a sane head at the same time. Two totally unexpected plot twists made me cry out loud - so intense! Perfect!
It might be that my mother tongue isn’t English or maybe it’s the way this book is written: actually a few sentences made me stumble in the beginning and through out the book, but once you start to just read over these sentences this book really takes you up on a big wave of mystery, detective work and romance - and you’ll want to keep riding this wave.
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