Robert

A Disaster

Revisado: 02-19-21

I am an ardent Rutledge fan. I have all the books in the series. Every year I listen to the previous novels that are "performed" by Simon Prebble., while I wait for the next one. Most of them I have listened to more than 5 times. Simon is one of the top five narrators in the business and is considered a "performer." When I began to listen to this novel I couldn't believe how poorly it had been narrated. No chance it was a performance and in my mind not even a narration. Just a poor read. If they don't get Simon Prebble back or someone that is a "performer" I will no longer listen to any new "Rutledge Murder Mysteries.

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This Inspector Rutledge audio is outstanding!

Revisado: 02-20-16

The latest Inspector Rutledge novel with Simon Prebble's narration is outstanding!

As most audio book readers (listeners) realize, there are not many good writers of "police procedural" novels and even fewer of the very important good narrations.

The Inspector Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd (pen name for the mother-and-son writing team of Charles and Caroline Todd) is unique for the police procedural genre. The entry in Wekipedia says it best -"The books deal with the cases of Inspector Ian Rutledge, a veteran of the European campaigns who is attempting to pick up the pieces of his Scotland Yard career." In my opinion they are not the typical "who done it" story lines, but more of a what it was like to be a Scotland Yard detective in post World War I Britain tasked with assignments of assisting local police to confirm their suspicions and finding himself having to prove who didn't do it. This latest novel, "No Shred of Evidence", a perfect example.

As with all the novels in this series, Rutledge has to work without benefit of forensics. He must rely on information gleaned from others the most difficult of which is the local aristocracy, who at that time looked down on "the police" and were loathed to cooperate in any investigation that might create any scandal. That and his gut feel, which is expressed in the form of the voice of Hamish Macbeth, a corporal that he was required to execute during the battle of the Somme. A duty that has haunted him ever since.

The first nine novels in the series were narrated by Samuel Gillies. I would rate his narration at 4 stars. For the next nine novels, Simon Prebble took over. His narration goes beyond the typical narrator's reading and is what I consider to be a 5 star performance. Prebble's talent and skill puts him in a class with very few other audio book narrators. As I listen to Prebble's performance, I actually feel transported to the scenes and actions in the novel and become a bystander.

For me, the plot really becomes secondary and it's the details of the scenes, penned by Charles Todd and Prebble's performance that make it all so very entertaining. The two worst words being "The End."

Although in my review of "Proof of Guilt" (#15 in the series) I rated it the best of a great series, I now think that this latest novel "No Shred of Evidence" (#18) is the very best. Having listened to all 18 at least twice, picking the best is not easy.

This series is very chronological, so from that point of view the reader (listener) should probably start with #1 "A Test of Wills", although the Todd team wrote a pre-quel "A Fine Summer's Day" that was released 01/06/15 (#17). It is about Inspector Rutledge before he went off to war in 1914. That novel was narrated by Steven Crossley, which is the only one in the series that he narrated. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Prebble returned to perform the narration of this current release.

Incidentally, Prebble has narrated over 500 books since "retiring", in 1990, to the US from an acting and narration career in Britain and in 2010 he was awarded the coveted Audie.

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Another great Johnathon Quinn "cleaner" story

Revisado: 07-29-14

After the the #4 novel in the Johnathan Quinn series I wondered where Brett Battles could go next. Not to worry. Battles has Quinn's sidekick Nate take up the slack until Quinn can recover from his loss of anonymity and get back on the case.

I don't consider #4.1 to be next. Too bad Battles didn't begin the series with that novel "Becoming Quinn."

To my pleasant surprise, Battles brings back Peter and a lot of the story line is flash back to a case that Quinn had hoped would never come up again. As with all the Quinn novels, Battles takes you right up to the last few minutes wondering how Quinn is going to come out on top.

I only gave Scott Brick a 4 for his narration since I feel he failed to create the sense of excitement that these Quinn novels produce. At least they are exciting to me.

I only spend one hour a day listening to Audible books (my only source of audio books) and I find myself really looking forward to listening to the Quinn novels and dreading the "The End" of each one.

If you haven't listened to any of novels in the series, begin with either #4.1 or #1 and try not to rush through them faster than Battles can write them.

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Unique among the investigative crime novels.

Revisado: 06-23-14

Where does Breaking Point rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Since this series is so different from the other crime investigation and police procedural novels that I favor, is very difficult to rank. It really stands by itself. Stands out really.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Breaking Point?

When Joe Picket rescued the stranded men from the raging forest fire.

What about David Chandler’s performance did you like?

I've listened to most of the novels in this series and to me Chandler has become Joe Picket.

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

The last few minutes, when Picket reveals what really happened that awful day in the Wyoming mountains.

Any additional comments?

When I was heard about this series, I thought Joe Picket was a forest ranger (fire look-out type) and it did not seem to be very interesting. But I was told I would probably like the novels. they were different than the usual crime fare. So I listened to "Cold Wind" (#11). Boy was I mistaken. Joe Picket is a game warden that is a first class detective and police officer. Now I wish that I had started in the beginning. The series is very chronological and I'm not sure I'll be able to go back and start at the beginning. C.J. Box keeps writing a new one and I don't have time to listen to any older ones.

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Best of a great series. A more than once listen.

Revisado: 06-23-14

What made the experience of listening to Proof of Guilt the most enjoyable?

The usual pleasant flow of Rutledge's investigation is combined with a really baffling mystery.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the author Todd disguised the real perpetrators to every one except Rutledge (and finally the reader).

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Given a choice - Read the book or have Simon Prebble read it to you is a no-brainer.

I listened to Prebble read this book to me twice. It may have been better the second time.

Prebble is in a class with only one other narrator (in my opinion). That would be George Guidall. Since Rutledge is British, Prebble is the better of the two for narration of this series.The earlier books are narrated by Samuel Gillies and he does a good job, but he is no Prebble.

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

When Rutledge suspected that the real perpetrators were not as his superior insisted, but he had no way to prove it and his only recourse was to put himself in real danger so the killer would reveal himself.

Any additional comments?

This is #15 in the series and it's the best one. But to really appreciate this series one should begin with the first in the series. They are all above average and the listener (reader) will have a good time by starting at #1 and going through the list. Unfortunately there is a gap (6,7,8 & 9) are not available from Audible.

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Finally, another Banks novel + Simon Prebble

Revisado: 04-25-14

What made the experience of listening to Children of the Revolution the most enjoyable?

It was narrated by Simon Prebble. I think I'd listen to Prebble read his grocery list.

What did you like best about this story?

It revealed how much the "influential" people in society can effect police investigations. Not a subject that everyone is pleased to see appear in print.Actually what I really liked best was that is was read by Simon Prebble and it was the next Inspector Banks novel in the series. I've read or even better, when given the chance, listened to them all. Listening to them is much better than reading them.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

Every word. Simon Prebble is on my A list of narrators and if it wasn't for George Guidall, he would be #1

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

I don't listen to police procedural novels to be moved. Just the opposite. I listen to them to be entertained and the Inspector Banks series is one of the few being published.

Any additional comments?

Some of the reviews I read (on Amazon) were not very kind. And they were from fans of the Inspector Banks series. Comments like - "Dragged on...I've always enjoyed Peter Robinson's books but this is not one of his best." and "Having read all of the Inspector Banks books, I found this one to be dreary and dull..." Don't believe it. IMHO, no better nor worse than all the others, although Prebble's narration makes it better than those narrated by James Langton.If one looks at all the reviews of all of the Banks series novels words like "not his best" "dull" "slow moving" appear quite often. After all those comments, readers continue to read and listen. Peter Robinson didn't become #1 internationally bestselling author by writing dull and slow moving novels (22 by latest count).

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One of the best of a great series

Revisado: 01-10-14

If you could sum up Foreign Correspondent in three words, what would they be?

All Time Great!

What other book might you compare Foreign Correspondent to and why?

The other eight in Alan Furst's first nine in the series that were narrated by George Guidall.

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Many, many times over the years. Been a recorded book listener for almost 20 years. George Guidall is one of the all time great narrators and I consider his performance of the Furst's novels to be a highlight of his career. I've actually read a couple of the Furst novels in this series and they rate a 4. George elevates them to a 6. It saddens me that he stopped narrating Furst's novels. The subsequent recorded novels were, at best, a 2. A case, that is all too common, of the narrator ruining the novel.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A story of real resistance spies in World War II. They were scared, tired and bored most of the time.

Any additional comments?

The saddest part of the book and narration is "The End"I've listened to all the first 9 novels in the series at least 3 times and a few like "The Foreign Correspondent" 5 times.

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One of Nine Alan Furst/George Guidall Masterpieces

Revisado: 11-12-12

What did you love best about Kingdom of Shadows?

George Guidall's masterful interpretation and narration of a well written espionage story. George didn't just "read" the novel. With voice inflection, pauses, etc. he told me the story and made me feel that I was a participant/observer of the protagonist.

What other book might you compare Kingdom of Shadows to and why?

I would compare it to the other 8 Allan Furst/George Guidall books. I have been a recorded book listener for over 20 years and these Furst/Guidall novels are the best I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I have listened to each many times over the years and used to wait with great anticipation for the next novel to be released. Then they changed narrators and that was the end of that. Couldn't even finish the tenth one (The Spies Of Warsaw).

Any additional comments?

I would compare Furst's writing with John LaCarre' For me Furst is more enjoyable as he just tells a "story" whereas LeCarre' includes a "message", usually critizing SIS.

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Another in Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series

Revisado: 03-05-12

What made the experience of listening to Another Man's Moccasins the most enjoyable?

What drew me to begin listing to Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series was the narrator, George Guidall. I'd probably pay to listen to Guidall read his grocery list, not to imply that Craig Johnson's books are like

Would you be willing to try another book from Craig Johnson? Why or why not?

I've read all the books in he series except

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I am a dyed in the wool Guidall fan and have listened to him for years. In my opinion he is the very best narrator one can find amongst all the recoded books narrators. I've recommended him to many others over the years, some who had never listened to a recorded book and all were

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I don't read/listen to any books in that manner. I put aside 1 hour each day for audio books. The ones I've listened to over the years (I've been a recorded book listener for over 20 years) are so good I don't want them to end so I try to stretch them out.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to George Guidall read all of the Alan Furst novels that he narrated (nine) and in my opinion George Guidall's narration takes the novels from a 3 star rating to a 5+ rating. In this case (Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire) the novel itself (plot) is at best a 3 star, but Guidall turns it into a 4.

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