• Whodunnit?: Murder in Mystery Manor

  • By: Anthony Zuiker
  • Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
  • Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (2,629 ratings)

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Whodunnit?: Murder in Mystery Manor  By  cover art

Whodunnit?: Murder in Mystery Manor

By: Anthony Zuiker
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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Publisher's summary

A grand estate. Ten unsuspecting guests. A diabolical game of life and death.

A companion to the upcoming show Whodunnit? on ABC.

Ten excited guests arrive at the Westlake Estate, expecting a lavish retreat. They are the winners of a sweepstakes to "Live Like a Billionaire for a Week." But what was supposed to be a promising escape soon turns into a horrific nightmare. Within hours of arrival, the guests sit down for an extravagant dinner. When they pull their party poppers as instructed, a loud chorus of bangs resounds, followed by earsplitting screams as the guest seated at the head of the table bursts into flames and slumps to the floor. The others are told they must solve the crime or be the next victim. The killer, their diabolical host, is hiding among the frightened guests. Is the murderer the well-toned trophy wife, the retired deputy sheriff, the stoned college dropout, or perhaps the sweet, homely grandmother? The killer toys with them, inviting the guests to explore the lavish estate, from the stables to the hedge maze, in an effort to uncover the gory details of how the murderer pulled off such a gruesome murder. Alliances are forged carefully and information is shared warily, since none of the remaining guests knows whom to trust. The next to die a hideous death will be the one with the least accurate solution to the latest murder. In the end, only three guests will remain: the winner, the loser, and the killer.

Full of tricky plot twists and over-the-top schemes, Whodunnit? Murder in Mystery Manner is riveting required listening for mystery fans. Listeners are treated to an edge-of-their-seat thriller as they participate in solving the crime. It's Clue meets Ten Little Indians.

Anthony E. Zuiker is the creator and executive producer of the CSI franchise, which includes CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY. His mystery reality show, Whodunnit?, is his first foray into unscripted television. He lives in Los Angeles with his three children and his wife, Michelle.

Whodunnit is performed by the show's host/butler, accomplished narrator Gildart Jackson.

©2013 Anthony Zuiker (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

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What listeners say about Whodunnit?: Murder in Mystery Manor

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bring me More!!!

I had see a little of the TV show. Not liking it at all but these books are fantastic. I love the narrators voice. I would pay for these free books no problem!! Bring me some more!!!!!!!!!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Kinda Like "Ten Little Indians" -- Not for kids

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The author says at the beginning that people like to solve the crime along with the detective in the story. That, however, requires some clues to be dropped along the way. Some red herrings are expected, but not like thoughts described in the mind of the murderer that lead you to believe that he/she is truly sympathetic to the victims. Even assuming that the murderer is a sociopath, this is not quite fair play by the author. This may be acceptable for a TV script in which resolution is expected in an hour, but it doesn't play very well in a book.

The book also comes through like a remake of the movies "Clue" and "Murder by Death". The main difference lies in some truly ingenious albeit lurid and contrived murder methods.

I would NOT change the narrator -- he's great!

If you’ve listened to books by Anthony Zuiker before, how does this one compare?

N/A

Which scene was your favorite?

The resolution, which was left truly up in the air till the end, although how the murderer came to be able to afford the setup is truly mysterious.

Did Free: Whodunnit? inspire you to do anything?

Not particularly -- my background obviated the need to check the technologies in the murder methods, most of which I figured out before the textbook solution was revealed.

Any additional comments?

How can one complain about a free book? Not a waste of time, but I suspect that Zuiker, who showed some ingenuity in the murder methods, can do better by applying it to the plot as a whole. (He showed more in CSI in my opinion.)

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not All Too Suspenseful for Me

Would you try another book from Anthony Zuiker and/or Gildart Jackson?

I'm not sure I'd give Anthony Zuiker another shot. I thought the writing was ok but the book did not really draw me in as many other writers in this genre. For me, there are many more options out there that I'd spend a credit on first. I've listened to 3 or 4 narrations by Gildart Jackson and I can say that I would enjoy to hear him more. I think he handles fictional stories with a variety of characters very well.

What was most disappointing about Anthony Zuiker’s story?

I thought the characters were not believable. For me, I get drawn into a suspenseful story when I can buy into how the characters react in their circumstance. The characters here did not have much substance to them and I found myself not really caring about any of them.

What about Gildart Jackson’s performance did you like?

I enjoy Gildart Jackson's narrations. He did a good job varying his voice for the different characters to the point that I could tell who was who without their name having to be spoken.

Was Free: Whodunnit? worth the listening time?

For a free book I'd say it was worth it. The story is not too bad and it goes by quickly although I did let myself get distracted which usually means I got bored at times and stepped away from listening for a bit.

Any additional comments?

It's free so give it a shot!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

NOT a who dunnit

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

It's a "how done it" - not a who dunnit ; the who turns out to be completely irrelevant. What this story is missing - is a story. Fine for people who don't like characters, plot or even good sense in their audiobooks.I want the time I wasted on this audiobook BACK! Anthony Zuiker should have his writers card revoked.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Nothing by the people who brought me this aural fecal matter.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Gildart Jackson?

Poor man, he must need the work. There's no other reason he'd stoop to reading such pure drivel.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes, it ended (but not soon enough)

Any additional comments?

None that you can post.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Silly book. Compelling reader.

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

This book was offered for free and was a decent time passer - listened to in the background. I really would not recommend anyone to buy it.

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

The premise promised a modern take on Agatha Christie, and so I looked forward to what that would be. However, nothing held together, characters were not developed or interesting, the murders were mechanical tricks, and there was no rhyme nor reason for the killing of the particular characters, or explanation for the motivation of the killer... Also many inconsistencies would lead a careful listener astray (and not in a slight of hand way - rather in a sloppy author way.)

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

I have not listened to this reader before, but he was the only good thing about the audiobook. They say that even the phone book can sound interesting if read by a consummate actor. Jackson has a rich welcoming voice that is easy to listen to. However, I would recommend he spends some time with an accent coach the next time he wants to try for American accents. He just did not get them - and they were kind of ridiculous. HOWEVER the wonderful timbre of his voice lead me to forgive this lapse - which could be egregious in someone less compelling.

Could you see Free: Whodunnit? being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Probably. It is about the level of most current movies. I would not attend.

Any additional comments?

Said it all.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sucked in!

So easily sucked in! Enjoyed trying to figure it all out along with the characters. Definitely should write more! And free so pretty sweet!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun

I liked this book. It wasn't the best book ever, but it was nice, light, and easy to read. Its one of those books you can just sit back and listen without getting too wrapped up in it.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

worth exactly what it cost

Would you try another book from Anthony Zuiker and/or Gildart Jackson?

Heaven protect us from more by this team.


What do you think your next listen will be?

Far from the tree

Would you listen to another book narrated by Gildart Jackson?

This book spoils him for me forever

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Free: Whodunnit??

everything

Any additional comments?

I'm quitting at chapter 3, but already it makes no sense. We are told the gate is electrified to kill and the murderer has trapped everyone. No way to communicate with the outside world. Yet 10 limos come and go and the butler forgets he can enlist them for help.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Clue meets Freddy Krüger

It's all about that narration . He made the story come to life like a movie. I loved intrigue but found the plots disturbing. A bit too much gore for a who done it mystery. only Hercule Pirote would be the winner here. Or would he?

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

An OK story With a completely unsatisfactory ending

The murders in the story are over engineered and therefore not terribly believable. The ending is completely unsatisfactory in that the murderer is revealed but we have no sense at all of Why these extreme acts of violence were committed in the first place - thus there is no closure.

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