Eoin

A so-so detective in a well-plotted book. I guess the protagonist is portrayed as a normal human being, complete (maybe replete?) with flaws. I think the way the investigation progresses may be more realistic than others in the genre too.

However, Wallander's flaws are too numerous to render it enjoyable - and I like to escape when reading fiction. Others have mentioned this already.

My major gripe is with the language used within the book. Is it a feature of the Swedish language, or is it a poor translation - or, indeed, is Mankell simply an average writer? I would suggest against the first, as I have heard the Stigg Larsson trilogy and that was well-written. My point is that there is NO vernacular or slang throughout the book. When someone in the force in alluded to, they're always called a "Policeman", or "Police Officer" (the latter for gender-neutrality). It really grates after a while. This makes for poor characterisations, and reduces sympathy for the characters - they're all rather wooden.

The narrator is subpar too - but not the worst I have heard. He has few voice characterisations, so everyone sounds incredibly similar.

This was my first, and sadly it will be my last Henning Mankell novel. Gimme James Lee Burke any day of the week.

This was recommended to me by someone to whom I'll be returning for more advice! It's a darkly humorous take of fraternal assassins in the old west, and chronicles their journey to their latest quarry in gold-rush California. Sometimes strange, but not in an inaccessible way - think more Coen Brothers than David Lynch.

William Hope's modes of speech are superbly evocative; and should be award-winning if there is any justice. Just a brilliant listen.

I'd recently stopped reading fantasy, but this was recommended to me. I grudgingly accepted, and was more than pleasantly surprised. The story moves along at a superb pace, and Paul Hoffman's characterisations are sublime.

Definitely give this a go!

I really liked this... one of my favourite so far this year. I especially like the scenes that take place in 1962 - they're believable and humorous. The narrator is especially excellent for these phases. The main character is wonderfully sympathetic (if that's your thing!), and it's all very easy on the ears.

I had only two quibbles... the book seems rushed towards the end, and perhaps a little overwrought. Secondly, I've given Edoardo a 5-star review for his reading, but beware a wince-inducing Irish accent in the earlier parts. Fortunately, it's only in it for a while.

All-in-all, though, a definite recommendation - well worth the full purchase, not just a credit!

Many people, even fans, would suggest that Burke too often rips off himself. This is evident here, but he is such a masterful writer of character and dialogue that, despite the recurring themes, I didn't want to stop listenting; particularly in the second half.

Patton's narration, as always, makes it compulsive listening. If you've never listened to/read Burke, maybe choose something else (his previous one, Feast Day of Fools, although a sequel, is an amazing book - it can be read stand-alone with no problems).

This volume adds strongly to Burke's canon, without introducing something especially new. Absolutely a must for fans at least.

This book defeated me, I am ashamed to say. I do most of my audio listening whilst driving, but this requires you too pay too much attention, and thus, while driving you lose important plot points, for two reasons:

1) There is a lot of tech within the book, and diluted time due to near-light speed travel on ships, and there is a lot of scene-shifting within chapters, which leads me to...

2) Other reviewers have alluded to it already, but it was a bad move not to have some sort of pause or audio-cue when scene-shifting between chapters. What happens is that John Lee (whose other stuff is ok, in my opinion), moves between scenes without taking a breath and you completely lose where you are whilst driving.

Shame I have to give it up, it's supposed to be a classic series. But them's the breaks.

I could have sworn this book was written by a woman, but there you go! Amor Towles channels Wharton from time to time in this very-well written period piece. Some may consider it a little slow-moving, but please stick with it: the second half moves a little better than the first.

Rebecca Lowman gives a fine performance too. All-in-all, a welcome addition to my Library and well worth a credit.

This is one of the best, and most fun, spy-series on Audible. Barbara Rosenblat is an wonderful reader, whose male characters are always believable. They are pretty much a product of their time, but Gilman always has sympathy for the regular natives of the oppressed countries Mrs. Pollifax visits.

Start with this and move on to the whole series - there is perhaps one so-so book in it, but the rest are all great!

Lovely story, well read and with a goodly amount of humour - well-researched too.

Lorelei King, as always, is an absolute champion - I just love her voice characterisations. Really lovely stuff :)

I'll start by saying I'm not into the romance side of things, but nevertheless I enjoyed Book 1 of this series. Unfortunately, it would seem that Ms. Roth was paid for X-thousand words, and by golly she was going to deliver them.

The dialogue is circular and repetitive (which renders once-likeable characters as now extremely annoying), and there are continuity issues. It would seem that the editor, if indeed one was employed, has done poor job with the continuity and pacing of this book.

Sadly, I don't think I'll be listening to the 3rd.

This is a tale with great ideas, and reasonably well-written, but lacks pace. Most of the characters are not particularly likeable, and the performance is average; little more. I feel that it would have been better off as a short story.