Audio Reviews

One of Ian Fleming’s most notable Bond novels, and one of the worst film adaptations of the series, the story of Sir Hugo Drax and his apocalyptic Moonraker missile program is revisited in this spirited reading by Simon Vance. With his classical yet smooth British dialect, Vance is more reminiscent of Timothy Dalton than any other Bond actor. His delivery is strong and commanding; Bond has never been more debonair than he is here. Vance creates compelling and realistic characters aside from the protagonist, leading to a thrilling listen that will captivate fans of the genre and newcomers alike as the film never could. A Penguin paperback. (Jan.)

Originally published in 1939, this Hubbard tale takes listeners to the South Seas, where Billy Newman has purchased his own island at a bargain rate. Unfortunately, the island is dominated by natives who believe he is the source of their ill will. His only choice is to sacrifice a woman to their god or await their wrath against him. Read by a large cast, the story features brilliant performances by Karen Black, Jim Meskimen, Noelle North, R.F. Daley and Christina Huntington. The recording is chock-full of background sound effects that create an almost theatrical atmosphere and also features a rousing musical score. Two of Hubbard’s other short stories—“The Room” and “He Didn’t Like Cats”—also get full-cast treatments in this package. A Galaxy paperback. (Dec.)

The latest addition to the fantastic Stories from the Golden Age series of vintage L. Ron Hubbard pulp tales, this full-cast recording takes listeners to 1930s Europe. A man who is the spitting image of the Prince of Aldoria finds himself in over his head with Nazis and Communists. Read by a small cast, most notably Michal Yurchak, the story leaps off the page. Filled with realistic sound effects, comical and over-the-top characters and a classic film noir atmosphere, this inspired and well-polished entertainment will immerse listeners. A Galaxy paperback. (Dec.)

With a concept and characters created by Jeffery Deaver, 15 writers were assigned one chapter apiece to produce a unified novel. The result is a suspenseful, action-packed international thriller filled with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Harry Middleton, retired hunter of war criminals, now leads the quiet life of a musicologist. Into his hands falls a heretofore unknown manuscript by Chopin, perhaps part of a cache of treasures looted by the Nazis. An attempt on his life and a string of bodies reaching from Europe to the U.S. proves that there is more than just musical notes on the Chopin pages. On the run, Middleton must decipher a secret hidden within the Chopin masterpiece, a secret that could sound the death knell for thousands. Alfred Molina’s excellent reading matches the novel’s breakneck pacing, while he smoothly portrays numerous characters of diverse ethnicity and gender. He impressively navigates his way through the writers’ multifarious writing styles and intricate plotting, bringing an overall consistency to the story. (Nov.)

In a world of continual war between the East and the West, and dwindling oil supplies, John Ramsey has been hired to root out the spy aboard a small submarine. But as the submarine crew attempts to steal underwater oil supplies from the East, Ramsey’s determination to discover the spy is subverted by continual red herrings and a variety of psychological and biological effects that renders Ramsey and the rest of the crew physically and emotionally vulnerable. This 1956 novel was Herbert’s first published work, and it shows his early interest in clashing cerebral and physical backdrops and individuals as actors of larger epic and ideological battles. As usual, Scott Brick serves as a great narrator, using his emphasis and rhythm to elicit the stress and doubt among the crew with good vocal characterizations. His narrative voice complements Herbert’s prose to emphasize the claustrophobic elements of the submarine. A Tor paperback. (Nov.)

This new tale in Card’s ever-expanding Enderverse tackles Ender in the months following his saving Earth and his eventual exile by those he saved. As he reconciles his act of “xenocide,” Ender re-establishes his relationship with his sister, Valentine, while also trying to create stability on a newly established colony planet. While Ender finds himself with many potential enemies, they pale in comparison to his own inner antagonist. Though Stefan Rudnicki dominates much of the text, additional cast members embody different narrative voices within the story. Rudnicki performs well; his knack for sliding between prose and voices, both male and female, is aurally hypnotic. His deep, resonating voice skillfully employs timing and emphasis to elicit great emotion from the text. Card reads the afterword, in which he explains that though this book contradicts Enderverse continuity, this still remains the “real story.” A Tor hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 29). (Nov.)

This isn’t your father’s Mike Hammer. More like your grandfather’s. Though he’s now a self-admitted “member of AARP,” Hammer remains as tough as a boiled owl as he sleuths a series of murders involving the femur of the original giant Goliath, a collectible more valuable than even the Maltese Falcon and considerably more political, thanks to its significance to factions in the Middle East. As Mike hammers terrorists, extremists and slinky seductresses, almost every sentence refers to his senior citizenship, but this audio renders such reminders unnecessary. Stacy Keach, arguably the private eye’s best interpreter, has been aging along with him. His well-trained voice carries the perfect combination of unwithered age, strength and determination. According to Collins’s afterword, though three more incomplete manuscripts exist, the late Spillane had planned Goliath to be his hero’s chronological farewell. And a fine send-off it is, reflecting back to the very first, I, the Jury, with Keach adding a poignancy that even a tough guy like Spillane would have appreciated. A Harcourt/Penzler hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 25). (Nov.)

Lamb’s third novel tackles the Columbine high school shooting head on as he places his fictional protagonists into the horrific events of April 1999. Caelum and his wife, Maureen, move to Colorado for teaching jobs at Columbine not long before the shootings. As the events unfold, Maureen finds herself in harms way but luckily survives, only to be haunted by the occurrence. Narrator George Guidall reads with an earnest, familiar voice. He draws listeners into this fascinating tale with nothing more than raw emotion and honesty; rarely does such a straightforward performance tap into the human psyche so effectively. A HarperCollins hardcover. (Nov.)

Taylor’s third book in his popular Irish Country series gives listeners an earful of some of the most colorful and eccentric characters to ever warm a stool in an Ulster County pub. John Keating’s wonderful sing-song Irish brogue breathes life and seasonal warmth into this cast of reprobates from the little village of Balleybucklebo. As the Christmas season approaches, two doctors deal with quirky patients and love interests with charismatic charm and humor. Particularly enjoyable is Keating’s characterization of the awkwardly sinister patient-poaching interloper, the gawky Dr. Fitzpatrick. There is enough charm and seasonal warmth in this package to replicate the spirit of the holidays. A Forge hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 18). (Nov.)

King’s latest anthology reminds readers that while his many works contains supernatural elements, his true skill as a writer lies in his ability to tap into the minds of his characters and, more importantly, his readers. The story topics are scattered, but most have that signature King style that blurs the line between fiction and reality. His most effective story, “N,” is a tale about obsession and compulsion that will make even the mellowest listeners a bit paranoid. Part of the beauty of this tale is the use of multiple narrators for different points of view. Using a different narrator for each story works well. (Ron McLarty’s Stationary Bike and Mare Winningham’s The Gingerbread Girl were previously produced and released as solo efforts.) King reads the introduction, one story and the end notes about each story. While not necessarily of the same caliber as his co-narrators (including Jill Eikenberry, Holter Graham, George Guidall, Denis O’Hare and Karen Ziemba), his ability as a narrator has improved significantly over the years. A Scribner hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 1). (Nov.)

Wildly imaginative Maguire returns with this highly anticipated third installment of his popular Wicked Years saga. Maguire continues to poke fun at the classic The Wizard of Oz, this time offering the story of Brrr, the Cowardly Lion. Brrr agrees to act as a lackey for the emperor of Oz rather than serve an unfair jail sentence in a land where talking animals are being oppressed. Narrator John McDonough has a tough task bringing such an otherworldly tale to life, but he triumphantly succeeds. He delivers a stunning reading that displays his range as a performer and captures listeners’ hearts and minds. McDonough’s reading is flawless; he never uses phony voices or forced emotions to create unusual and unique characters. The result is an unforgettable book for listeners young and old. A Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 1). (Nov.)

Some authors make mediocre readers, but Nobel Prize–winning Toni Morrison is certainly not among them. Her husky voice, lyrical rhythms and precise timing—especially of pauses within sentences or even phrases—give clarity and poignancy to her vivid metaphors and elegant prose. Set in the 1680s, this story tells of multiple forms of love and of slavery. Florens is a slave girl whose mother urges her sale to Jacob, a decent man, to save her from a rapist master. Florens feels abandoned and is finally betrayed by the lover she worships. Morrison holds the listener completely in thrall through her narrative, her characters, her language and her own fine reading. An enlightening interview with the author appears at the end. A Knopf hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 15). (Nov.)

With fists swinging, Spillane’s iconic private eye is back in two exciting original dramatizations. In the first, a lost love of Hammer’s is gruesomely murdered, embroiling him in a dangerous case involving a corporate conspiracy and a missing oil tanker. The second case finds Hammer dealing with a terrorist threat that rivals September 11. Throughout both of these well-produced adventures, guns boom, windows crash and cars roar, while colorful characters—including Hammer’s always loyal secretary, Velda—are portrayed by talented actors. But it’s Keach’s calm, stalwart and true performance of Mike Hammer that holds these stories together. Keach’s deep resonant voice and his perfect timing with a quip or a threat combine to keep the listener enthralled, even when the writing sags a bit. Keach also provides the atmospheric music played during the recording. (Nov.)

Bond fans may initially be disappointed to find that the title story has absolutely nothing in common with the recent Daniel Craig movie, save the title. “Quantum” was an experimental piece Fleming wrote for Cosmopolitan in 1959 and has no elements of a secret agent or espionage yarn at all. This complete collection of 007 stories is made especially captivating by the talents of Simon Vance, whose cool, subdued and slightly removed narration is spot on, recalling Sean Connery’s interpretation of the role. So arresting is Vance’s performance that the listener can easily forgive his occasional “accent amnesia” in which a Cuban villain sounds somewhat Transylvanian and a soft-spoken, wife-beating American millionaire who’s described as sounding like Humphrey Bogart sounds like Bogie only to a very forgiving ear. But Vance’s wonderful characters beg our forgiveness, for their dark hearts and his telling of the riveting tales come through as keenly as a well-aimed shot from a Walther PPK. A Penguin paperback. (Nov.)

This stunning debut novel tells a truly inspired and unforgettable tale of two young children, Everly and K.C., who live and work on a sugar farm in Cuba during an uprising led by the Castro brothers. Filled with rich imagery, loathsome characters and unyielding passion, Kushner’s plot and prose are refreshing and original. Lloyd James’s spirited reading captures every aspect of Kushner’s story; he can easily tug at listeners’ heartstrings and guide them on a remarkable journey. James reads with wisdom and confidence, never second-guessing his delivery or interpretation of the work. A Scribner hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 17). (Nov.)

In this latest installment of McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series, Robert Ian Mackenzie portrays Bertie as the overly intelligent and articulate six-year-old that he is meant to be, but when Bertie is among his classmates Tofu, Hiawatha, Larch and Olive, Mackenzie is hard-pressed to individualize the children’s voices. A similar problem arises as more and more women are added to the cast. Now that Domenica and Antonia are neighbors, their voices are almost as similar as their flats. Miss Harmony, Bertie’s teacher, could be Antonia’s twin sister. While Mackenzie has clearly run out of new voices, he does better with his male characters, especially with Angus’s basso and Matthew’s hesitant voice that matches his timid demeanor. Mackenzie keeps this enjoyable, lighthearted romp moving along quickly. An Anchor paperback (Reviews, June 30). (Nov.)

In horror master Koontz’s latest nightmarish thriller, a man is stalked by the woman who donated the heart that saved his perfect life. Soon, ominous signs begin to appear: a box of candy hearts, a heart pendant and finally, a message that cites her claim. Malcolm Hillgartner’s straightforward reading lacks the raw emotion needed to excite the imagination of most listeners, excepting Koontz’s most diehard fans. Hillgartner’s stern voice does not come close to sounding like a 30-something Internet entrepreneur. With little connection between the words and the voice of the narrator, the result is lackluster and uninspired. A Bantam hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 27). (Nov.)

With reminders of tainted Tylenol, the Beltway snipers, anthrax-laced envelopes and the hooded Unabomber, Kava creates an atmosphere of queasy suspense that reaches the ultimate in discomfort with a nasty madman unleashing the superdeadly Ebola Zaire virus (the so-called “slate cleaner”) on a blissful populace, including FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell. Tanya Eby Sirois takes all the terror in stride, narrating the thriller in a measured, levelheaded manner rather than trying to embellish the already chill-inducing prose with dramatic flourishes. It’s a good narration choice, suiting the no-nonsense mood of series heroine O’Dell whom Kava places in isolated jeopardy from the jump by infecting her with the virus. And it also fits the determined approach employed by O’Dell’s uninfected partner, R.J. Tully, as he performs the novel’s heavy work of sifting through the clues, grilling suspects and searching for the mystery maniac. A Mira hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 25). (Oct.)

It’s not Linda Emond’s fault that most of Lippman’s women who kill are white, middle-class and between the aged 30–40. Almost all live in the corridor between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and eradicate men who have it coming to them. No wonder they tend to speak alike. The talented Emond strives with some success to individualize these murderers’ first-person narratives. In the short story “My Baby Walks the Streets of Baltimore,” Emond, who has previously read Lippman’s Another Thing to Fall, performs Tess Monaghan as the crisp and efficient detective she is meant to be. While Francois Battiste is given comparatively little to do, he shines in his reading of “Pony Girl” as the too-smooth and confident man-on-the-make who is no match for two beautiful Mardi Gras celebrants. This collection is both entertaining and forgettable, but Lippman fans will not be disappointed by these talented performances. A Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 25). (Oct.)

The large cast does justice to Shreve’s engrossing novel. For once, the high school students—including Brian Kennedy as Silas, Eve Bianco as Noelle, Joshua Swanson as Rob, and Jill Apple as Sienna—sound genuinely young. Ellen Archer teases out all the meaning and emotion she can from the relatively small part of Anna, Silas’s mother. Robert Petkoff is less persuasive as Mike, the headmaster of the school, Anna’s eventual lover, and a pivotal figure in the dramatic events that unfold at Avery Academy. He sounds dispassionate and factual, but Shreve makes it clear that Mike is egotistical and rash. Photos and credits of all the cast members on the last disk are a welcome bonus as most of the performers deserve attention after their riveting narratives and fine ensemble work. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 11). (Oct.)

Browne begins her recording warning listeners, “I hope you are not looking to, like, learn a bunch of facts.” This “sort of handbook and memoir for the hot and flashy” is a laugh-out-loud guided tour for listeners who are ready to embrace their upcoming geezerdom. Browne is a relaxed narrator with a soft purr of a voice; she doesn’t have to do any vocal mugging to elicit peels of laughter from listeners. Because she writes her books exactly as she speaks, she’s the perfect narrator, with expert deadpan comedic timing. Some of the most hilarious passages have Browne getting sidetracked from her original thought and finding herself swept down memory lane (like using a restroom without touching anything). Browne advises “live every day like you’ve got all day tomorrow to apologize” and “failure to frolic is a major cause of regret later in life, so if you’re behind on it, catch up!” New listeners will want to catch up on Browne’s backlist. A Simon & Schuster hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 20). (Jan.)

In this firsthand account of a Delta Force operative involved in the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the months following September 11 up through the Battle of Tora Bora, the pseudonymous Fury explains how and why bin Laden was able to escape because of poor decisions and the shaky alliance between the U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan. While the arguments for the failure to capture bin Laden are interesting, Fury’s account of his training and the Delta Force exploits prove more compelling, giving readers insight into the range of skill and expertise of this elite military group. David Drummond proves a curious choice since he doesn’t have a commanding and authoritative voice that one may expect from a text written from a military perspective, yet his firm yet nonchalant tone works well with Fury’s prose, revealing an agreeable personality. However, Drummond’s voice doesn’t elicit the sense of danger that some of the more chaotic scenes require. A St. Martin’s Press hardcover. (Nov.)

Grogan provides heartfelt and evocative narration to his touching coming-of-age memoir. His speaking style may not necessarily convey polish, but his friendly lilt and natural enunciation perfectly fits the essence of the autobiographical material. Grogan’s vivid anecdotes of Catholic schoolboy mischief—from chugging communion wine to covertly purchasing cigarettes from a bowling alley vending machine complete with old-fashioned pull-knobs and the clank of coinage—come to life with wistful charm. The angst never descends into trite clichés, as Grogan reflects on honest family disagreements with respect and understanding. As the laughter of youth gives way to the weighty matters of adulthood, Grogan remains in full command as a master storyteller. His recollections of his dad’s valiant struggle with leukemia and their fateful dialogue about faith and fatherhood are especially memorable. The musical interludes at the start and end of each disk set the nostalgic tone without descending into heavy-handed orchestration. A Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 1). (Nov.)

Simon Vance does a fine job reading this unusually detailed and thoughtful true crime investigation into a notorious child murder case in 1860 London. At the time, there were only eight detectives working in England. Scotland Yard’s top man was Insp. Jonathan Whicher, and he headed the investigation. Intertwined with the tale of detection in its infancy is a fascinating examination of the role played by this case and its inspector in the creation of the detective novel genre by the likes of Wilkie Collins, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Occasionally, the large number of characters that listeners must sort through can become confusing. HighBridge helpfully provides a printed who’s who inside the CD box. Vance’s perfect diction and agile acting skills are always a pleasure for listeners, and Summerscale’s achievement is a must for anyone who loves detective stories, but this audio requires exceptional concentration. A Walker hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 11, 2007). (Nov.)

Comedian and Howard Stern Show regular Lange sheds light on his troubled and heartbreaking past in this hilarious and brutally honest memoir. Even though much of his memoir addresses serious topics—such as his father’s slow death after becoming a quadriplegic in a horrific accident; his own issues with weight and drug addiction; his troubled relationships with family and friends—Lange never fails to poke fun at himself and, most important, at the randomness of life itself. Read by a small cast of exuberant personalities including the Rev. Bob Levy, Gary Dell’abate, Jim Florentine and, of course, Lange himself, the recording is one of the funniest and most touching readings audio fans are likely to hear all year. While there is plenty of crude humor, there is a bright upside to the tales presented and a terrific message for those facing adversity in their own life. A Spiegel & Grau hardcover. (Nov.)

Always outspoken (and so-called “Dr.”), Denis Leary returns with this hilarious look at sucking; why we suck, how not to suck and how to help others who suck become suck free. Pulling no punches, Leary storms his way through everything from skinny jeans being for skinny people to vegetarians, and never fails to make listeners laugh out loud. Reading in his trademark self-deprecating and hard-nosed manner, Leary plows through his book at such a strong and commanding speed that listeners will think his well-polished rants are off-the-cuff. Leary is almost performing stand-up; his tone is so unrelenting and unabashed that listeners will beg for more. A Viking hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 15). (Nov.)

Rice’s long-awaited spiritual memoir details growing up Catholic in New Orleans in the 1940s and ’50s, her 38-year absence from the Church as an adult and her slow but steady return to faith in the late 1990s. Kirsten Potter has a beautifully modulated voice, but seems too young for the autobiographical musings of Rice, who was born more than a generation earlier. It would also have been lovely if the audio version offered musical chanting and singing of the Latin cadences Rice discusses in the memoir as being so instrumental in forming her faith, instead of just spoken recitations of them. However, the audio does offer a welcome bonus: more than 20 minutes of an intimate interview with Rice, conducted by a friend who is a Catholic priest. She discusses her childhood faith, love of Saint Francis and new desire to write a Christian fantasy series. A Knopf hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 15). (Oct.)

Vowell’s account of the post-Mayflower Puritans of New England and their influence on contemporary American culture over the centuries is thoroughly enjoyable in print. But hearing her ironic but passionate little-girl voice making history accessible and providing humorous and often trenchant present-day asides, as she did on NPR’s This American Life, is even better. In addition to fleshing out history with extensive quotes from journals and other documents of the time, Vowell has assembled a sizable cast of co-readers, including Eric Bogosian, Peter Dinklage, Jill Clayburgh, Campbell Scott and Dermot Mulroney. Some narrators feel like stunt casting, although there’s a lovely cameo by Catherine Keener, whose calm, self-contained voice is perfect for Anne Hutchinson on trial. Vowell and company (aided by Michael Giacchino’s musical score) make for pleasurable listening. A Riverhead hardcover (Reviews, July 28). (Oct.)