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Banality of evil

Revisado: 11-02-24

Such a well written book that really brings home the horror of so many deaths and abuses of power. I knew the story but page after page had something shocking. And so very, very sad for so many people.

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Entertaining recounting of crimes

Revisado: 01-13-18

What made the experience of listening to Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals the most enjoyable?

The speaker is great, both in her reading and in the her ability to grab your interest.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have liked more information on how the forensic evidence was discovered, analyzed and how it affected the investigations and subsequent trials. A lot of the stories were just rehashes of various crimes without more forensic information than you would get from pulp fiction.

What does Professor Elizabeth A. Murray bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think she clearly knows her subject and finds something fresh in every re-examination of the facts.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, but I will say it’s an engrossing listen and would make a great road trip listen!

Any additional comments?

I bet Professor Murray would do a great job of a somewhat more in-depth discussion of various forensic tools, how they’ve evolved and how they change investigations.

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History in a conversational form

Revisado: 10-25-17

This is as thorough and clear presentation on the history of the 14th century pandemic of the plague that you can hope for. The lecturer discusses her material in a well organized fashion but it’s as if she’s talking to you one on one. As long as it is, I look forward to listening to it again!

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Wish it was another 19 hours long!

Revisado: 06-10-14

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The story brings home what a horrible disease smallpox was and the dangers faced by those who wanted to prevent the disease with inoculation. But it reads like a thriller -- you can't wait to find out what happened to this person or how that situation was resolved.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Speckled Monster?

The entire story of Zabdeal Boylston was entrancing. I had never heard of him, although I grew up near Boston. He comes alive in this book, not as a colonist, not as a historical character, but as a family man and conscientious doctor who has to fight on multiple fronts to do what he believes is right.

Which scene was your favorite?

No one scene sticks out. But I had never realized, as someone who received a routine vaccination as a baby, what a miracle it was that I was safe from what had been a common and devastating scourge. The descriptions of how people actually suffered and died from smallpox changes an abstract idea into a horrible, painful reality for so many generations of people.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Zabdeal Boylston's family's experience with the pox was absolutely wrenching.

Any additional comments?

I don't remember when I have enjoyed listening to a book so much. And the fact that, after 19 odd hours, I was disappointed to have it end -- well, I'm seriously considering going back to the beginning and listening again!

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Great performances, enhance story

Revisado: 01-10-12

This is a sweet story with interesting characters although there were terribly dark parts when the Nazis actively entered into the plot. It somehow didn't convey the terror and claustrophobic sensation that "Island at War" on Masterpiece Theatre did, possibly because it was placed AFTER the central events had unfolded rather than while they were actually happening. Listening to the book was, for me, more enjoyable than reading it, as the characters were so strongly brought to life by the narrators. Wanting to find out what happened to the various personalities kept me going through some of the more tedious parts. Whoever played "Dawsey" grabbed me right at the beginning and kept me going through the whole book.

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Great audible presentation...

Revisado: 12-05-11

Would you listen to Persuasion again? Why?

If I wanted to listen to Persuasion again, I would definitely listen to this version again. The narrator is superb and the book is my favorite Austen novel. I do thing that some books are better read than listened to, and this is one, but as an audiobook, this version is perfect!

What did you like best about this story?

I just love the older, less attractive heroine getting her chance at last. It's a romantic story and there are always those arch little remarks Austen chucks here and there that you read and then go

Which character ??? as performed by Nadia May ??? was your favorite?

I never thought of them as separate roles, but different people speaking at any given time. You lose sight of the fact that it's one narrator inhabiting all the characters as they're all such individuals.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it's more a cozy, comfortable pleasure than a rock-your-world type book. It's a perfect book for a long, boring drive or a quiet listen when you want to sit and knit and drink a cup of tea.

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Clear and tender recounting

Revisado: 12-26-09

This book has two faces: the first is a clear, comprehensive discussion of the infamous Circus Fire that struck Hartford in the 1940's; the second is a sensitive accounting of the victims, living and dead, who experienced such a terrifying few minutes, without being maudlin or sensationalist. I must say, I didn't expect the book to be so compelling -- I've just downloaded it to listen to it again.

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Truth and heartache

Revisado: 04-19-09

This book should become the definitive retelling of the Columbine tragedy, and a classic true crime story as is Helter Skelter or The Executioner's Song. Its recounts what happened, how it happened and its effects on the victims and their families. It brings home the loss of each individual and how terrible the shootings really were.

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Great story, great narrator

Revisado: 03-10-08

An unexpected delight! It seemed like an ordinary mystery-with-cats. But within the first few pages, you and the author have become co-conspirators in the enjoyment of a well-written, intelligent mystery read by a perfectly-matched narrator. It's set in Cambridge, MA (okay, Cambridgeport, an entirely different place than Cambridge, despite being part of the same city), primarily in the garage-band club scene, with cat-rescue being another thread in the story. The characters are well-drawn, the plot not predictable and all the subplots satisfactorily tied up at the end. The writing itself (apart from the plots and character crafting) is a pleasure to read, and the narrator enhances it beautifully.

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One of Elizabeth Peters' best!

Revisado: 01-19-07

This is an older work of Elizabeth Peters (she of the Amelia Peabody mysteries) but remains one of her best. It's a well-written romance with overtones of the supernatural and one of the funniest books she's ever written, although that doesn't dilute the spookiness of the scarier scenes. There are characters you'll like and characters you'll cheerfully detest. I heartily recommend this for any circumstances, but especially for long drives when you want to stay awake -- you can't stop listening because you want to know what happens, although other drivers may wonder why you're laughing like a loon when you're alone in your car!

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