"McGee #2 - Doesn't Try Harder"
While this is another bang-up reading performance by Petkoff, the story suffers a bit in comparison to the first McGee outing, The Deep Blue Good-By. Unrealistic in spots, it seems more of a pot-boiler.
Still, these are worth reading in order...and Petkoff will keep it moving for you.
"Short Of The First Down..."
I'm afraid I have throw my lot in with Melinda and Brad here among reviewers. Bought because I'm a big Petkoff fan...didn't finish it, unfortunately.
Even speaking as a fan of football (tho' professional), there was indeed way too much of it and not enough to keep the thing moving for me.
I may dig in and force my way through the rest at some point, but my queue is too backed up to not move along to something more compelling.
"A Must - Read 'em All!"
Gripping doesn't even begin to describe this second installment of the Butcher's Boy trilogy.
If Michael Kramer's fantastic narration helps you connect the similarities between the BB and Richard Stark's mysterious, unflappable, single-minded protagonist Parker - then so be it. It's a worthy successor.
Can't recommend these books to thriller fans highly enough!
"The Only Problem?"
It's not long enough! Leonard's tales of Carl Webster never are. a great read from Josh Clark as well. Highly recommended.
"A Little Off The Beaten Path..."
Connelly does Supernatural? OK, I'll bite. Walks some well-traveled narrative roads, but Connelly keeps it moving and Collins sells it well...
"Crime Fans? Snap This One Up!"
I initially grabbed this one out of sheer fandom for the reader Michael Kramer, who was SO good on Richard Stark (Westlake)'s 'Parker' series. He doesn't disappoint here. The story too is worthy of it's accolades. In fact, it is not dissimilar to the Westlake books: a solitary (anti) hero on a relentless mission against those who wronged him. Except the focus here is not on a caper, but a hitman (and the addition of a third party - Waring from Justice Dept). Now to find out if the other 2 'Butcher' novels are available via audiobook.
"A Terrific Re-Boot For This Series"
If you thought you enjoyed the 80's series of audiobooks featuring Darren McGavin as reader (and I did), get ready to have your socks blown off by Robert Petkoff's version! Travis McGee, as read by Petkoff, trades in McGavin's world weary, semi-bemused approach for a much more grim, hardboiled style. He really holds you til the last "page".
Can't wait to dig in to the rest of the series. Highly recommended.
"Served With Too Much Ham"
Chase's great noir-ish crime novel gets a mediocre treatment here.
Jeff Harding's narrative voice is fine (despite some strange pronunciations, like DYE-van, STALAG-tites and "rum" for "room"), but -- and I'm not sure if it was the Director or Harding's choice - the colloquialisms of 1939 crime writing communicate the hard-boiled period sufficiently without the character voice readings sounding variously like Edward G. Robinson, The Dead End Kids or Ma Kettle.
This corny presentation serves to do the one thing you never want in an audiobook - provide a distraction from a great genre story.
Can't recommend this one.
"Forget The Movie"
A stunning presentation. Not having read the novel, I was astonished at how much deeper Ed's character is than the desperately miscast Jon Voight in the movie. I shouldn't have been, I guess -- don't we all know the book is always better than the movie?
Well, in this case, Will Patton's performance trumps BOTH, in my opinion. One of those you're-already-home-in-the-driveway-but-don't-want-to-turn-it-off audiobooks.
My highest recommendation.
"Hits The Spot"
For those of us who can't get enough Bosch...only complaint is that it's too short! Includes a preview of his next, The Drop - which I can't wait for.