merrilhope

Wonderful performance

Revisado: 03-25-23

I love this series, largely because of the wonderful narration by Sam Dewhurst-Phillips who brings the characters to life - and what characters they are! Amusing, entertaining, and utterly credible. However, I am sorry to say that I didn't enjoy this latest episode as much as previous books, mostly because of the way that Inspector Swift is becoming more and more irritable, impatient and insufferably bossy especially to Lennox, frequently over reacting to situations. What may have started out as a character quirk is rapidly becoming a considerable source of irritation to me as the listener, and as one of the main characters, this is significant in its impact upon my enjoyment of the book. This intolerance of almost everyone but most especially Lennox, who he continually orders about - his only 'authority' to dictate their actions being their friendship - started in the previous book where I hoped it was temporary due to the stress that Swift was living through in adapting to his new life post retirement from the police and his worry about the brewery that is such an important undercurrent in the story, However, it has persisted and if anything worsened in this latest story. Swift is in danger of becoming a caricature of himself, a cliche of over reaction and predictable irritableness. I hope that the author does not continue this trend with this character and that Swift can revert to his previous self - the man that Florence fell in love with - a gentlemanly professional detective with Scotland Yard (retired) and good friend.

Although I was annoyed by what Swift said, or rather, how he said it, the butler still raises a smile regularly, as do Mr Tubs and Foggy - and the narrator saves the day by completely immersing me in his telling of yet another Lennox and Swift story that is skillfully woven making good entertainment. In the final few chapters Swift takes more of a back seat and calms down enabling Lennox to lead and succeed in solving this 'whodunnit'. The epilogue brings us all back to normality, with a chuckle and a yearning for the next installment.

Sam Dewhurst-Phillips is easily one of the absolute best voice actors on Audible - his performance and range of voices defies belief - sounds like a whole cast, incredibly talented and skilled, he makes listening an absolute joy enabling me to become so involved and invested in the characters and plot in a post WWI world setting that I sometimes forget for a while that it isn't real :)

The story unfolds well, and was absorbing, and I am full of admiration for how skillful Karen Baugh Menuhin is as a story writer evident by the very fact that I am so concerned about the personality of one of the main characters in this series. Inspite of my misgivings about what is happening to Inspector Swift, I am still giving this 5 stars for its overall grand entertainment for 8+ hours that is absorbing, satisfying and a jolly good yarn.

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very interesting and informative

Revisado: 06-29-22

Really enjoyed learning by listening to this knowledgeable and interesting discourse on a range of period related socio economic aspects of Jane Austen's work.

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hmm

Revisado: 06-20-22

great narration but silly story line and even sillier resolution , definitely not the best in the series

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best one imo

Revisado: 06-14-22

Good story line well told and excellent narration, most enjoyable one in the series imo

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ruined by narration

Revisado: 03-19-22

As others have said, the narration is terrible. Miss Chiaromonte can't do English accents of any class, (her London cockney was excruciating) or American voices either - and both are required. She mispronounces words (eg; in 'the sun shone'. shone is said as "shown" !! there are quite a few other errors too) and cannot do a convincing male voice at all which ruins the story. Book 4 was also very poorly done. I can't continue with this narrator for book 6 which is a shame because I liked the first three books (different narrator) very much. Hoping Audible will record again with a better narrator - there are so many talented voice actors on Audible - Mia Chiaromonte isn't one of them. Sorry.

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oh dear

Revisado: 03-17-22

For this fourth book in the series they have changed the narrator, and I'm sorry to say, it is not a good choice. Ms Chiaromonte makes pronunciation errors, and her male voices and accents are, in particular, I'm sorry to say, dreadful. This seriously detracted from my enjoyment of the story and I'm not sure I want to bother with the rest of the series that she narrates. Such a shame. I'm am sure that there are other books where she'd do a good job, her female voices are ok and her natural voice is engaging - but this book with English (London) and Scottish characters needed a proficient mimic of those accents to carry it off. The story itself is just what you would expect in the series - light hearted and engaging - if you can tolerate the poor narration.

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Disappointing

Revisado: 08-01-14

What could Anne Emery have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

make "Normi" less irritating and annoying and generally have a smaller role in this story. She is supposed to be 8 years old but her behaviour is much younger than that and I don't understand why she features so heavily in this supposedly murder mystery book. It isn't like she develops in any notable way...

What about Christian Rummel’s performance did you like?

what's not to like? he is a hugely talented 'voice actor' making all the characters come alive, even to the point of being annoying! (see above comment!!)

What character would you cut from Cecilian Vespers: A Collins-Burke Mystery, Book 4?

Normi

Any additional comments?

too much additional stuff about Catholicism and even music - and even the private life of Collins all of which is to plump out what is in the end, a very thin storyline. I liked one and two in the series, wasn't so sure with the third and now with the fourth may go no further with Burke and Collins. The characters don't really develop, they keep making the same mistakes and I find that I don't really care what happens to Collins and his 'family' as he seems incapable of learning from his mistakes.

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another star

Revisado: 05-17-14

Would you consider the audio edition of Guardian to be better than the print version?

Yes I am sure because of the stunning characterisation by Christian Rummel whose narration is up there with the best.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Guardian?

that would be a spoiler to the story.

What about Christian Rummel’s performance did you like?

He is a true 'voice actor' and I totally forget that I am just listening to one man telling the story.

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

No. It was just as I expected it to be - an excellent, gripping story.

Any additional comments?

Jack Campbell's character, 'Black Jack' Geary, could give a few Leadership seminars in business and management courses. Throughout the whole series he is the leader we all would like to be !

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torture

Revisado: 05-17-14

What disappointed you about First to Kill?

After the prologue, which is a graphic description of a man dying after being tortured, the first few minutes of chapter one turned out to be different man, same level of graphic violence, at which point I just stopped play.

What was most disappointing about Andrew Peterson’s story?

Not being able to get past chapter one! That I couldn't get on with it as I think the story telling is probably very good

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

Dick Hill is an awesome narrator and the main reason I selected this book. He brings the story and characters alive, which may have been why the violence disturbed me so much !!

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from First to Kill?

well, the prologue, for a start!! (ha ha)

Any additional comments?

I am sure, from the way the story is crafted from the get-go, that I am missing a really suspenseful edge of seat page turning thriller - if only I could get past the gory beginning, but I read and listen for pleasure, and this wasn't it. sorry.

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A winning combination...

Revisado: 10-28-13

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

The third in the series, i was very excited to see this book released and was not disappointed. I would recommend this sequel wholeheartedly. Gripping, well crafted, superbly performed -

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

This is the third Grimnoir book I have listened to, all narrated by Bronson Pinchot. As with the previous two, I totally forget that it is just one man reading - he sounds like a complete cast of actors. His characterisation, voice, inflection ... one of my favourite narrators on Audible. I wish there were more novels narrated by him. What talent.

Any additional comments?

As with the first two Grimnoir books, I didn't want this one to end. I resisted the temptation to go back to the beginning immediately - but it won't be long before I listen again. Audible books at their very best.

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