Until Proven Guilty

J. P. Beaumont Series, Book 1

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: Gene Engene

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Lurking in the dark corners of J. P. Beaumont's bizarre case was not just a demented mind obsessed with murder, but secrets so deadly that even a street-tough cop could die guessing.

Check out more of J. P. Beaumont's mysteries.

©1992 J. A. Jance (P)2011 Books in Motion

OK book, sub par narrative

liked the story enough to stick it out until the end, but did not grab me to the end. I had a hard time with the narrator. I heard more of what sounded like rubbing fingers together or rubbing paper and mouth noises that was distracting.

Grabs your interest from the first chapter!

I've been slow to discover and listen to this author. Now, I must catch up! I loved this book because it held my interest from start to the end. I was concerned that it wasn't very long (8+ hours), but it was perfect. And, I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator.

Confusion

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, but only because it is the beginning and useful introduction to a number of much better J.P. Beaumont stories

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Only a very limited space for the crime with many unsolved questions while the main caracter's privat life got the most of the story.

Which character – as performed by Gene Engene – was your favorite?

J.P. was well performed.

Was Until Proven Guilty worth the listening time?

Yes, because it is important for the next J.P. story.

Any additional comments?

Too many lose ends in the crime matter but O.K. as an itroduction to J.P. Beaumont series.

Read the book don’t listen to it!

The story was ok but the narrator was terrible! I think I would have given more stars if read the book instead. It was really hard to get through.

Love theses books’

Love the character. Keeps you on the edge of yoũr seat. Can’t wait to read mire

Good start to a series

Typical first of a series book where you learn the main character's background but also had what could have been a more interesting murder mystery. Some of the book was devoted to solving the crime, the murder of a child and an interesting look into a cult, but a lot of it was on the developing relationship of Beaumont and Corley and didn't delve too much into the crime and how it happened.

The narrator was okay, but you could occasionally hear background noises like the turning of a page or what sounded like clothes rustling. There was also occasions where the sound changed as if he moved further away from the mic but it wasn't too distracting.

Don't appreciate the language or sex

The overall story was very good. I don't appreciate the language or the sex. It isn't needed!! Disappointed.

Good story, poor performance.

I would have enjoyed the story so much more if it hadn't been for the performance. Gene Engene's voice seems to vacillate between an over exaggerated impersonation of a grouchy old man and a cartoonish parody of a woman or an absurd combination of the two. I absolutely understand that the job of a voiceover actor is not a simple one. He or she is expected to convincingly portray multiple characters and make them recognizably distinct and authentic. All the while the actor is supposed to give voice to the story and seamlessly carry the readers from first to last page. That being said, many performers I have heard here on audible do a beautiful job without annoying me with their performance. Unfortunately Gene Engene is not one of them. All due respect to Mr. Engene. Maybe in a different type of a story his performance would work. In this one, for me, it didn't.
A few words about the story itself - it's actually quite good. I wouldn't have gotten through it if it wasn't good. We start with the death of a little girl. A seasoned detective follows his gut and experience through an investigation full of twists and turns. The characters are engaging and believable, if a little unimaginative. I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series, but for those who like the performance, or read in text and not audible format - this might be a good series.

Loving the story, but ...

I'm a huge fan of the JP Beaumont stories, however, the narrator was a bit rough for my taste. My vision of Beau and his voice doesn't match. Everyone in the story sounds like grizzled old western-sty!e cops; without the twang. Can't place the slight accent, but it is not Seattle-ites. (My home town!) I don't see buying another audio book if he's still reading for ythe author.

Started out interesting but turned unrealistic.

Plot was very good til the mysterious woman appeared....then it got bazaar. So sorry.