The Sound and the Furry

By: Spencer Quinn

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

When Chet and Bernie happen upon a prison work crew that includes Frenchie Boutette, an old criminal pal they sent up the river, getting a new case is the last thing they expect. But Frenchie, who comes from an old Louisiana family full of black sheep, needs help finding his one law-abiding relative, his brother Ralph, a reclusive inventor who has gone missing with his houseboat. Though he's tempted to take another job (with a big payday) in Alaska, Bernie decides to set course for the bayous of Louisiana, a trip that will introduce Chet to a world of sights, smells, and tastes that are like nothing he's ever encountered. Out in bayou country, Chet and Bernie meet the no-good Boutette family and their ancient enemies, the maybe-even-worse Robideaus, and at first it seems as if Ralph's disappearance is connected to a dispute over a load of stolen shrimp. But when Chet uncovers a buried clue, the investigation heads in a dangerous new direction involving the oil business and an impending environmental catastrophe. The more Chet and Bernie discover about Ralph, the more treacherous the job becomes, and soon they're fighting not only Big Oil, but also shadowy black ops figures, a violent biker gang from back home, and Iko- a legendary bayou gator with a seemingly insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, deep under the Gulf, the pressure just keeps building.

With top-notch suspense, humor, and genuine insight into the ways our canine companions think and behave-all set against a rollicking new Louisiana backdrop. The Sound and the Furry will make you howl in delight.

©2013 Spencer Quinn (P)2013 Recorded Books

Chet and Bernie are back!

If you could sum up The Sound and the Furry in three words, what would they be?

Dog's-Eye-View Mystery

What other book might you compare The Sound and the Furry to and why?

Spencer Quinn's other Chet and Bernie mysteries

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

Jim Frangione does the perfect voice for Chet! Definitely brings the doggie high-jinks to life ("A lot of barking started up in the room. Oh, was that me?"

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it was a fun listen

Any additional comments?

This is a great series! If you are looking for a mystery story to make your day go by faster, from a unique perspective (especially if you're a dog person) this book won't disappoint.

Chet is my hero!

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Chet, bound and weighted down by a fishing net, swims for his life the long night through, only to face - won't say what he faces, too much of a spoiler, but the whole sequence was so touching and thrilling that I made my husband listen to it out of context. I think it's my favorite scene so far in the series.

Any additional comments?

Wish I could be as completely in the moment, joyfully alive, positive, self-assured, deeply loving, ferociously brave and utterly loyal as Chet is. Every one of these books makes me want to try to be a better, happier dog - uh, person. And also makes me laugh my tail off.

Chet=read!

This is the 6th book in the series. Not counting the short stories. I enjoy listening just to hear it from Chet's point of view. I would listen to any of Quinn's books as he has a talent for understanding dogs.

I can't seem to pin point my reasoning for the 3 star story. Perhaps there wasn't enough "mystery" or maybe I think Quinn can and has done a lot better.

Either way its worth the credit for me as Chet's views just make me smile.

Still tip-top!

Maybe I am just very familiar with the characters, but I laughed out loud and also shed some tears with this one. This time Bernie and Chet head to New Orleans and have their first encounters with humidity, bayous, boats, and gators. The client and his family are hilarious, and superbly voiced by Jim Frangione, the plot is plausible, the bad guys are possible. The best character is Mami (Mommy), who elicits your respect despite her (mostly) idiot criminal family. From their names to their conversation, they are a hoot.

Again, the humor falls just short of slap-stick, and so is not cloying. Chet's optimism and love of everything, and short memory ring so very truly doggy, you can't help but want to head to the nearest animal shelter. But there'll never be another Chet. These are people you wish would step out of the book and come calling. I will be sure to stock the bourbon and Slim Jims!

Another Great Chet & Bernie Mystery

I'm always in the mood for Chet & Bernie Mysteries, because Chet is the best narrator going!

Seemed to take too long to get there

The Sound and the Furry was a bit confusing. I suppose it was meant to be.

This time, Chet and Bernie get involved with the Boutette family from Louisianna. They have previously sent one of the members, one they know as Frenchie, to jail. Frenchie sends his wife, a woman who appears much too beautiful for the likes of him, to hire them to find his youngest brother, Ralph, who seems to have disappeared somewhere around New Orleans.

The Boutettes are mostly a family of criminals, except for Ralph who is reported to be a highly intelligent inventor. It appears on the face of it that he is several times as intelligent as all three of his brothers put together. Bernie accepts the mission, for which Frenchie’s wife pays in cash that smells like shrimp (Chet, of course, notices that right away). They journey to New Orleans, but they spend most of their time in the bayou country where the Boutettes and their sworn enemies, the Robideaus (who seem to be just as criminal but manage to have one of their members as sheriff and several others in law enforcement, have been battling it out for years.

At first, the problem seems to be something about a load of stolen shrimp, which the Robideaus seem to be involved in, although I can’t figure out how.

Chet finds Ralph’s glasses on an island Ralph likes to visit, which seems to indicate he has been kidnapped – or worse. Later Chet has a long long long encounter with an alligator named Iko. I’m surprised he survives this. He wouldn’t have except he keeps hearing Bernie’s voice in his head telling him to “keep churning” – he is tangled in some sort of net, so can’t swim properly. But despite the odds he finally manages to get free of the net and Iko too.

Bernie almost loses Suzie, whom he has invited for the nearest adjacent holiday thinking they will finish the case much earlier than they actually do. She walks into the cabin where they are staying and sees Frenchie’s wife making breakfast for Bernie while wearing a very small bathing suit.

But all the stupid criminal stuff going on turns out to be just a distraction from the real reason for Ralph’s abduction, which has to do with irregularities in the operations of a large oil drilling company that is about to open a new platform.

It's all good

What made the experience of listening to The Sound and the Furry the most enjoyable?

Chet's voice, in the sense of the author's "voice" is lovable. The story is a page turner and the balance of suspense and comedy is perfect. Quinn has a terrific way of telling you one thing through his narrator, but showing you quite another. The characters are not just boring beautiful people types that so much popular fiction is littered with. They have depth and humor -- even if the humor is goofy. Quinn is a master story teller, has got his dialogue down, does something innovative with the Sam Spade genre, and Jim Frangione has the voice and intonation that you just KNOW Chet has.

In this story, Chet and Bernie leave Arizona for Louisiana. The one thing that struck me as not quite perfect is that I don't think Frangione had the Louisiana accents right, but maybe he wasn't supposed to.

What did you like best about this story?

Chet's voice.

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

I've only heard him read Chet's stories and they are all top notch.

If you could rename The Sound and the Furry, what would you call it?

This would be sacrilege. Don't even think it.

Any additional comments?

Chet's puppy needs to come into play in the next book. I know he's peripheral now, but bring him to the forefront.

Entertaining

I’m a sucker for dog tales. Well written from dog’s perspective.

However irritated by the highly flawed premise that not getting paid for one’s work is smart. And low score for the performance. Continually pawning personal and meaningful possessions is not an endearing or impressive trait.

Finally why don’t narrators/performers actually learn some basics about the accent/dialect their supposed to be using? It’s like fingers on a chalkboard when they repeatedly mispronounce words. Ugh!

Chet is a joy!

His voice is so convincing and he loves his Bernie so much!! So much fun.

Excellent adventure in a new locale

Perfect combination of classic Chet and Bernie elements set in a new, interesting location.