Sizzling Cold Case

By: Buddy Ebsen, Darlene Quinn

Narrated by: William E. Fortier

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Sizzling Cold Case is a Barnaby Jones murder mystery written by Buddy Ebsen, who portrayed L.A. sleuth Barnaby Jones in the long-running TV series of the same name. Beautiful starlet Lori London died suddenly some 18 years ago. Though her death was ruled a suicide, neither Barnaby nor Hollywood believed that was the end of the story, and Barnaby would not let the cold case stay closed. When another rising star (a dead ringer for Lori) is cast in the movie version of London's demise with a new, "surprise" ending, on-set accidents, death threats, and burned film canisters make it clear someone doesn't want the truth to be told. In his search for clues, Barnaby discovers a connection between the murderer of Lori London and the man who murdered his own son in cold blood, and must confront his son's killer once more. The story comes to a thrilling conclusion at the Hollywood premiere of The True Story Behind the Legend of Lori London.

©2006 Dorothy Ebsen (P)2016 Dorothy Ebsen

Barnaby Jones Audible Is Great, Viable Nostalgia

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Why I picked the audiobook format for the Barnaby Jones novel was because I already spend all my work life reading, or at a computer screen, writing on either legal pads or computer. “Sizzling Cold Case” was the one Buddy Ebsen book I had not yet owned or read, so learning it was newly available on Audible.com made my day. But, the only thing I knew about the book going in was that it was a Barnaby Jones novel, Buddy’s vision of the next case Barnaby would be working on, which was in fact a cold case. If you loved the TV show, this is a terrific opportunity where nostalgia and a good, solid mystery intersect. If you like Buddy Ebsen, you have to hear this book....or read it, whichever is most convenient for you.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sizzling Cold Case?

The case central to this story is actually one that was the final case detective Hal Jones was working on before he was killed. Barnaby Jones came out of retirement, if viewers/readers recall, in the TV show when Hal was killed, to resume his forensic sleuthing. So, this case, too, finds Barnaby being pulled from retirement back into the fray yet again. It was poignant, not contrived, and very sweet that Buddy Ebsen was willing to write his second-most famous TV character back into action one last time.

Which character – as performed by William E. Fortier – was your favorite?

The book is really 90% Barnaby's voice so unquestionably it was Barnaby Jones' character. Buddy Ebsen portrayed the character on TV for eight seasons and 179 episodes. Far, far beyond a nice gentleman who preferred a glass of cold milk to 'adult beverages,' Barnaby was a detective who could stand with Colombo, Mannix, and the Mission Impossible Team and be believable. Fortier's strength was doing Barnaby's voice. While listening, it was so easy to visualize the old television show “Barnaby Jones” episodes I used to watch that I thought I was right back in the 1970s waiting for the familiar theme by Jerry Goldsmith to come on and open the CBS weekly program. Pretty tough challenge for a 2017 listen, but I wasn't disappointed.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

From the very opening chapter (there are 66 of them) in the book, you’re pulled back into Barnaby’s reminiscence of how his son, Hal, had been murdered, and now a thread from the past introduced a connection to understanding what really happened in what would be Hal’s last case that he was working on before his death.

The reopening of the Lori London case began immediately.Hearing the scene describing a location familiar to everyone who lives in or has toured Los Angeles…the iconic Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. It is there where Barnaby surveils someone putting a single rose on the star of the late actress Lori London, whose life story is central to the theme of the book and whose passing was previously considered a suicide, when Barnaby’s late son, Hal, didn’t believe that for a minute. Barnaby takes up where Hal left off, even though it had been a few years since he’d been active.

Also, watching this event from a different purview is a newly christened detective, Craig Scott, and then the story takes off. A red Ferrari driven by a gentleman who placed a red rose on the sidewalk, stood silently for a moment, and as fast as that car drives away, you’re whisked away on quite the adventure.

Cold cases are always the most interesting of mysteries for any reader to unravel, because you must learn the predicate of the case, then you think through along with the detective about current events and wonder how to deconstruct the case to ultimately find a correct logical solution to the crime that was mis-solved and remained unsolved all this time. This time, there is closure for Hal's death in that his last case is finally resolved and solved, giving the reader closure.

Any additional comments?

On April 2, 2017, when I actually wrote this review first for my blog, it seems appropriate that the review of the audio version of “Sizzling Cold Case” fell on the birthday of the primary author, Buddy Ebsen (born April 2, 1908 in Belleville, Illinois). Most Baby Boomer fans of the legendary entertainer know and revere Ebsen as an accomplished actor in television and movies and some will recall him all the way back to his days as a vaudeville showman. Add in his movie career in early musicals and westerns as well as stage actor among his multifaceted talents. But that’s not all.

Buddy was also an award-winning sailor, designer of catamarans, winner of competitive racing, author, singer, songwriter and painter, who first made his mark in entertainment as a dancer. Collectively, that should qualify for classification of Ebsen as a Renaissance man. So, before I listened to the book I reflected on what I might hope to hear the story be. Any fan of classic television has at the ready a complete list of their favorite shows, their favorite stars and their favorite episodes.

They can readily recall “the one when…” and give great and glorious detail down to the episode director, plus name the weekly TV sponsors. “Barnaby Jones” was one of those shows. Unquestionably, this book, especially a narrated mystery, produced exactly the result I was hoping for...a nice trip down memory lane with an old friend (Barnaby) solving one more case, one that had a strong connection to ones i'd enjoyed via the TV show. That, and it was Buddy's final book, completed by author and longtime family friend, Darlene Quinn, made it like a chance to see one final episode of the series, and have closure, just like The Gilmore Girls "Year in the Life" had 'finished the story' for that show.

Barnaby Jones was, and remains, a thinking person’s detective, armed with an equal dose of charm, sage pondering, and reflective questioning before settling on an answer, and a perpetrator. It’s great television of yesteryear and fulfilling reading/listening present day. Get the book, in whatever format you want it. Case closed.

A great who-dun-it!

What made the experience of listening to Sizzling Cold Case the most enjoyable?

The story kept you spellbound throughout.

What did you like best about this story?

The words painted a great picture. The vocabulary elevated the story.

What about William E. Fortier’s performance did you like?

Great voice. Held my attention all the way through.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The pain Miss London felt when she was told the lie that her baby girl was stillborn and had to endure the mock funeral.

Any additional comments?

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review”.

Sizzling

Sizzling Cold Case by Buddy Ebsen is a novel about Barnaby Jones, the private investigator from TV who is played by Buddy Ebsen. The story is about the cold case of the death of Lori London, ruled as a suicide some 18 years ago. Lori was known by Barnaby and his family, especially his son, who was close friends with Lori and Barnaby and his son never believed that her death was suicide. When a new up and coming starlet is portrayed in a new movie about the true end of Lori London and the things that suddenly start happening to delay the release of the film it becomes apparent that someone does not want the truth to come out. I enjoyed the novel, the way the plot and characters were developed but I did not care for the narration. To me, it sounded like the narrator was reading line by line,and not reading sentences. I also didn’t think the sound effects added anything to the experience.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Nostalgic Retro

What did you love best about Sizzling Cold Case?

Sizzling Cold Case brings back Barnaby Jones, the 1970's - 80, milk drinking TV detective played by Buddy Ebson. As I've aged, I look back fondly on the more "wholesome" shows of my late teens early audulthood of that era.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not edge of my particular seat. It was developed well as a light duty mystery but it wasn't performed to compete with, say, "Chinatown". And it was written primarily by Buddy Ebsen who starred in the TV show and probably knew his character best.

What about William E. Fortier’s performance did you like?

I liked his delivery and his interpretation of the audio book. I picked up some mispronunciation of several common words.

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

Not really. I took ' commercial breaks" about every half hour or so.

Any additional comments?

The overall impression that I took away was that this was well produced, I did not mind the sound effects others mention, for example. The writing had the components that brought a lot of people back each week for six or seven years to watch the show. And the narration work was pleasant enough to make it enjoyable.

Bottom line: I was entertained!

Thanks for the opportunity to listen and offer my opinions on this work!

A review copy was gifted to me at no charge. In return, I am happy to provide an honest review. Also at no charge.

Enjoyable story, nostalgic and entertaining

This was a good story.It reminded me of when I was younger and used to watch the TV series, so I could envision a lot of the scenes in my head.

The writing was clean and authentic.

If you're looking for a good, solid detective story , give this one a try.

I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Where Can I Trade an Audio Credit for the Book?

I’m rating the story/overall as 3 because I feel like the narrator prevented me from enjoying it. He read the book and made no variations among the characters. Within itself, I have no qualms; it bothered me because the dialogues ran together, so it sometimes took a sentence to realize someone else was speaking.
Truly, I picked up this audiobook at least twice a month before I decided to throw my hands up, post a review, and return it. I’m crying uncle.

Headline since audible requires it

Very good story! No offense to the narrator but the book deserves better! I would be curious to know how much was incomplete a few things didn’t seem Barnaby’s style but overall great book.

Comes to Life

Where does Sizzling Cold Case rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the first one

Any additional comments?

I have read the print version of this book and enjoyed the great mystery but hearing Mr. Fortier's performance really brought the book to life for me. It had been years since I read the book and I had forgotten how the mystery was solved and Mr. Fortier really brought the suspense to the story, I didn't want to stop at the end of the chapter so I had to make sure I had plenty of time before I let myself get involved each day.

Reminiscent Listen with Sound Effects

I remember Buddy Ebsen from growing up. Darlene Quinn is a newer author to me, but I have a few of her books. I thought that Willian E. Fortier did a good performance with his narration, but the sound effects (phone ringing, alarm clock, music, etc) took away from the book in my mind. I remember the TV show Barnaby Jones with the bumbling detective and loved it. This book brought back happy memories. I was voluntarily provided with this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, narrator, and or publisher.

Sizzling Cold Case

Sizzling Cold Case
: Buddy Ebsen , Darlene Quinn

I can't say that I was ever a fan of the Barnaby Jones television show, but what drew me to this was that it was written by Buddy Ebsen. Some of the verbiage seemed repetitive but the majority was aimed at listeners who are above the typical murder mystery listener. It was an interesting and suspenseful murder mystery 18 years in the making.




The narration was well done with the exception of mispronounced words. The characters were well portrayed and the special sound effects added to the story. William E. Fortier's voice was fitting for this book.



"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."