Ben B.

Delightful “Cozy” mystery— don’t listen to critics

Revisado: 07-19-22

I like detective novels, especially series, and I appreciate homey, “cozy” mysteries for when I’m doing household chores or exercise and can’t give 100% attention. The “Agatha Raisin” series had been on my radar but I hadn’t yet sampled it, and I was almost out off by some of the negative reviews that stressed Agatha’s unlikeable personality. I’m so happy that I ignored those, and you should, too. This first book is just delightful, nothing too taxing or brilliant but comfortable and fun and amusing. Just what so wanted.

Honestly, I wonder whether those people who complained about Agatha’s character finished the book or stopped partway through, because part of the author’s point is that Agatha begins the voyage as one kind of person— strong and successful but somewhat unpleasant— and then undergoes changes. She recognizes her own shortcomings, makes an effort to address them, and grows. I suspect that anyone who claims not to like the character after all that either stopped well short if the ending or else, I have to say it, just doesn’t like competent women. Sorry; but that’s the truth. Agatha is no super-sleuth in this book, no Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot, but she’s smart and acerbically witty and open to self-criticism.

In some ways this book reminds me of Lilian Jackson Braun’s “The Cat Who…” series when Jim Qwerillan moves to Moose County. I’m looking forward to more of these so I can find out whether that comparison is apt.

Strong narration by Penelope Keith.

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Steven King’s best (probably)

Revisado: 06-10-21

I’m a big Stephen King fan, and have read or listened to most of his works. Loved The Shining, Salem’s Lot, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Stand, 11/22/63... and many others. Yet The Green Mile might be my favorite, in close contention with The Stand and 11/22/63. It’s so much leaner than the former that that might make it better. It’s leaner than the latter, too, but boy did I love 11/22/63. Let’s just say that The Green Mile is right up there in some elite company. It’s outstanding literature, if anyone was foolish enough to think that King doesn’t produce that. Not with every book of course, but he’s had a pretty amazing run.

Frank Muller gives his usual, outstanding performance as narrator. What a shame that his career was cut so short.

This Audible selection represents two masters at the tops of their game.

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Influential story by a master; holds up just OK

Revisado: 01-22-21

I might be of the few people in my generation that’s never seen the original movie version of Stir of Echoes but I’d heard good things and I very much appreciate Richard Mathewson. Listened to the Audible audiobook and found some interesting things. Yet another piece of the puzzle falls into place re: Matheson’s influence on Stephen King. At first I heard “echoes” of The Dead Zone, and then— perhaps more strongly— Joyland. As sometimes happens with influential books or movies, the original sometimes seems cliched unless one realizes that the reason one has seen those things multiple times already is because the influential book or movie got the ball rolling. That happens at points in SoE. It’s not Matheson’s fault; he came before King and others. But King does some of the things better than Matheson does— both of the above-mentioned books are more enjoyable than SoE— and that does point you a limitation of Matheson. He’s wonderfully imaginative but not always the best at supplying internal monologue or other details the make the ride extra enjoyable.

The narrator was good, quite capable, but has some habits that I found mildly annoying. His voice will dip a rise at slightly inopportune times. Still, a solid job.

In all, I enjoyed SoE and am glad that I filled in that part of my genre knowledge base. It’s not scary, if you’re looking for that, but it’s interesting and for a time there’s suspense. At some points, horror/ghost story veterans may kind of get where it’s going ahead of time. But that’s not the worst thing. Solid Matheson.

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Just OK, kind of men, but at least it's King

Revisado: 03-01-19

I love Stephen King. I have read and/or listened to most of his works. He has brought me more enjoyment than just about any other author-- because if the volume,, even more those who I consider to be much greater artists (Hemingway, Morrison). So I always get his latest works, including this, and sometimes I'm disappointed. as with this.

"Elevation" starts off as a fairly pedestrian fantasy story and gets more and more absurd as it seeks to achieve some sort of meaning. Would have been much better if it could have been ended after, or shortly after, the race. (Those who have listened already will know what I mean.) Enough said.

"Laurie" is a perfectly ordinary, pleasant piece of easy reading/ listening that leaves as much impact as a passing breeze. Maybe future King scholars will find a way to attribute deep philosophical significance to it, but from this fan's vantage it seems like an adequate way to pass a little while, "elevated" by the opportunity to hear Stephen King's friendly voice narrating.

Do I regret the purchase? No. I love Stephen King. But I don't want other fans to approach the purchase uninformed.

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Not Joe Hill's Best Work

Revisado: 08-24-18

I've enjoyed Hill's previous work, but these were just OK. The first was decent, the second pretty good (and good narration by Stephen Lang), the third was so silly that I was glad when it was over, and the fourth was OK but had logical holes (yeah, I know, it was science fiction, but when those stories invoke science they need to do so plausibly). And the fourth sort of joined the big body of work in the larger King family (Stephen, Joe, Owen) of post-apocalyptic road stories, yet without anything particularly new or good to recommend it. Not a bad collection, but disappointing compared with some of Hill's earlier work.

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Long and entertaining, even if fkawed

Revisado: 12-26-17

This wasn't my favorite Scudder; A Long Line of Dead Men was a hard act to follow. But that didn't warrant a full star off. 4.5 would have been about right. There were lot of storylines to keep the reader occupied, and hence value for the buck, even if it didn't always cohere perfectly.

The primary story line was too easy to guess, but the book was only 1/3 over when it was resolved. Block still had other fish to fry. Some of what followed felt like different stories altogether, but that's OK.

Mark Hammer did his usual, droll good job of narration.

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My favorite Scudder to date (probably)

Revisado: 12-07-17

I have listened to the entire Scudder set to this point (plus a few others out of sequence) , and this is my favorite to this point in the series. Unlike the previous entry (The Devil Knows You're Dead), this one has a great plot and a compelling, almost eerie mystery that grabs the reader. I would compare it to other detective novels but that would comprise a spoiler.

Joe Barrett has really grown on me as a narrator, too.

My only complaint is that I didn't want it to end. Block wraps things up pretty quickly, when he could have prolonged the story for quite a while had he wanted to. But that "complaint" just indicates that I was having a good time with the book. Highly recommended.

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Character development w/o much story

Revisado: 11-14-17

Far from my favorite Scudder book, but decent nonetheless. Even without a compelling main storyline Block is able to provide some solid character development for those who've read all (or most) of the earlier Scudder books. This one lacks any thrills or real action, and the main mystery is pretty much of a dud, yet I enjoyed Joe Barrett's narration and certain other elements.

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Another intense entry in Scudder's development

Revisado: 09-17-17

One of the better Scudder books, IMO. Disturbing details abound, but it works well regardless. Good narratjon performance. And we get to see Scudder's personal life evolve further.

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Moving Scudder-- surprisingly strong ending

Revisado: 08-12-17

I had low expectations coming in, because this audiobook's rating wasn't super high. But I left it very satisfied. It's a pretty good story with surprising nuance. Dan Butler as narrator is a mixed bag. He is a bad choice to voice Matt Scudder, through no fault of his own but just because his voice doesn't match what Scudder fans have come to expect.
However, he is so good at at least one other character that on balance it comes off pretty well. It's hard for those of us spoiled by Alan Sklar, whose voice and manner fit Scudder so well. I wish that he had done all of these books. But Butler earns his keep in the end. I for one would love to spend an evening with his version of The Butcher. Recommended.

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