Cabby Flynn

Slow Horses Backstory

Revisado: 07-15-24

Although this is a standalone story, it provides extensive background for the Slow Horses series, and several of its main characters. Even without that linkage, the story is very entertaining on its own, growing out of the tale of a 1990’s operation in Berlin. After a page-turner opening, the story slows down for a long stretch, before coming to life as that tale unfolds. Very well narrated. Recommended for espionage fans; an absolute must for Slow Horses aficionados.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

The Wildest Longmire Story

Revisado: 06-19-24

I’m a big fan of Craig Johnson’s Sheriff Longmire series, but this is not his best effort. The crazy story begins with an elderly man being yanked off a roof, tethered to a car whose driver doesn’t realize (or does she) that she has her grandfather-in-law in tow, and proceeds to drag him a couple of miles on frozen roads — but he’s no worse for it! The story has all of the small Wyoming town characters we love, and there is an interesting subplot with one of Longmire’s deputies having “bullet fever” and wanting to quit. The old man being dragged is just the first of several implausible action sequences, which include a few very tedious chases. And the criminal enterprise underlying everything is never fully explained. A must for Longmire fans, but if you want to read these books, don’t start with this one. Beautifully narrated by George Guidall as usual.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Nick & Nora In Space

Revisado: 04-10-24

A very intriguing premise: newlyweds’ honeymoon on a cruise to Mars in 2075 disrupted by murders on board. The murders are solved in a way no reader could see coming, and despite relentless thwarting of the couple by the onboard security chief. The bride has very serious physical problems, which crop up with annoying frequency. The story becomes a bit tedious. The sci-fi is low tech but quite interesting. The author reads, and does a reasonable job, except for the security chief’s voice.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

George Pelacanos Tale of Drugs, Basketball and Righteousness in 1986 Washington

Revisado: 04-03-24

#3 of Pelacanos’ DC Quartet, featuring record shop entrepreneur Marcus Clay, and his old friend and co-worker Dimitri Karras, opening a new store in a rough, drug-ridden neighborhood, facing down dealers and trying to save a couple of street kids. Lotsa cocaine in use, with the 1986 NCAA tournament as a backdrop. Some really evil bad guys are the adversaries, and there is a lot of violence. A well-told story, if with a somewhat implausible ending. If you are not familiar with Maryland BB star Len Bias, you must Google him when you get to the last scene, in order to understand what’s happening.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Interesting Processional Killer Premise That Goes Nowhere

Revisado: 02-24-24

Our Korean protagonist is an assassin for hire who’s getting old, and, unbeknownst to her, an old case is catching up with her. An interesting starting point, but the wholly implausible story becomes quite tedious. The book is well read, but the listener never identifies with, much less like, the heroine, whose utterly drab existence is a never ending downer.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

The Most Annoying Podcasters

Revisado: 02-23-24

I’m a big Seinfeld fan, and have seen every episode multiple times. This podcast analyzes each episode, on the 30th anniversary of the date it first aired. Each podcast provides background on the cast, gives production details, and then describes the plot, step by step. The podcasters are very annoying, cackling with laughter at their own observations, making the podcast almost unlistenable. These guys presumably are big fans of the show also, but I was immediately turned off by their inability to remember the movie that Jerry, Elaine and George were going to see when they got stuck in “The Chinese Restaurant” (answer: “Plan 9 From Outer Space”).

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Not Perry’s Best

Revisado: 02-23-24

I am a big fan of Thomas Perry, and have listened to a 9 of his books. They all are intricately plotted procedurals, covering the range of criminal behaviors, with an emphasis on professional killers. This story involves such a killer, being hunted by another professional, hired by the father of one of the killer’s victims. The story ranges all over the U.S., and includes a lot of action, but it loses its way about 2/3 of the way through, and becomes tedious. Well narrated.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Shut-In Disappears; Pentecost & Parker Are On the Case

Revisado: 01-20-24

The latest installment in the mystery series featuring Lillian Pentecost and her Archie Goodwin, Willowjean Parker. Set in post-WW2 NYC, this is another tangled web for them to unravel, with a subplot involving Nazi spies. All well told, and well read, and very satisfyingly resolved.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Wolfram Kandinsky At His Best

Revisado: 12-28-23

This novel is set primarily in 1890’s San Francisco, and Norris beautifully develops the characters, giving them wonderful dialogue. Polk Street and its denizens come alive, and the reader engages with the characters in their simple lives. The story turns dark, however, and there are not a few tediously grim passages. I came to detest McTeague’s wife, Trina, who carried a good bit of the plot in the second half of the book. I think the story loses its way somewhat as it leaves SF, ending up in Death Valley, with a very surprising twist ending.

For me the book was a wonderful treat because it was read the late Wolfram Kandinsky (Daniel Grace), who is the best voicer of characters, male and female, I ever have listened to. Unfortunately, this is the only book of his available on Audible — his masterpiece, from the old Books-on-Tape era, was “Lonesome Dove.” This book was recorded in 1993, so the quality of the audio is not great.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Novel of Climate Change on the Near Future

Revisado: 12-12-23

An amazing book, set in the near future (ca. 2030-2050, about climate change and what can be done about it. This is a novel, and there are a couple of thru story lines with continuing characters. But those stories are interspersed with many highly informative discussions about technical problems, always well and simply explained. The so-called Ministry for the Future is an agency established pursuant to the Paris climate accords, and the head of the agency is the principal protagonist. But there are many interesting characters, with wildly divergent stories, all grounded in climate change problems and how they might be dealt with. I am wary of multi-narrator books, but the 11 readers of this book greatly enhance the listener’s understanding of what’s going on. A slight problem here is that the narrator of the main character is only OK, with many mispronunciations. Highly recommended — despite its length.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña