©1999 Joss Recordings; (P)2005 Tantor Media, Inc.
"Great story; not so great narrator"
I have just discovered Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey series and I love the stories. (The radio dramatizations starring Ian Carmichael, 3 of which are available on Audible, are fantastic.)
This story is no exception: Other than a fairly long 'confession' at the end (which kind of drags), this story is great, and I love the Peter Wimsey character.
Unfortunately, this narrator was terrible, at least for this story. I think a woman was probably a bad choice to begin with (the Peter Wimsey stories seem more suited to a male voice), but it was compounded by her determination to keep all the humour out. I also felt that she didn't really understand the lingo of the period, so she kept putting the stresses on the wrong syllables or words in sentences or something.
It's not the worst narration of a book I've ever heard, but it was disappointing because it really didn't do justice to the material. Unless you're a big Sayers fan, I recommend sticking to the radio dramatizations.
(Note to Audible: Would love to see some more Sayers books on here, BTW!)
Words. Lots and lots of words.
"Great story by a brilliant author, but..."
I'm very disappointed by the narration. Although her characterization of the Dowager Duchess is very good, it baffles me that a woman was chosen to narrate a book with only two female characters- and those having minimal parts. Surely (I hope!) it is not because it was written by woman. I think if Dorothy Sayers knew her beloved Lord Peter had been voiced by a woman for the sole reason that she happened to be one herself, it would boggle her brilliant mind as well as break her heart. There are SO many men (and women, for that matter!) who could have done a much better job with these colorful characters. This narrator's voice is weak and not at all suited to portraying male characters. She actually sounds pained at several points trying to maintain the vocalizations, and by the last several chapters they become muddled and differ greatly from the earlier. Read the book first!
"Confusing"
The book was time well-spent because I was driving from Ohio to Florida and it helped pass the time. I had a hard time following the story lines because they seem to jump from one case to another, and I was never really sure if one case had been solved or not. The written book was easier for me to follow.
I don't believe I finished listening to this book
The British accent left a little bit to be desire and it was a little hard to tell the different characters sometimes.
I don't think so.
Barefoot Ray
"Excellent story and narration"
The narration of this story realy comes to life with the way in which Roe Kendel handles the many characters in the tale
Lord Peter Wimsey. Almost nothing bothers him and he, in his exentric way, manages to solve what looks like a double mystery but turns out to be really one.
She handled the narration of the book in such a way that you quickly forget you're listening to a narration and get pulled in to the story.
The way in which Bunter responds to a sudden nervous attack which Lord Peter suffers while staying up too late; Just at the moment when he realizes who the murderor is.
Although the audio quality of this recording is perhaps a little fuzzy, this fact quickly fades in to the background when you really begin to loose yourself in the story. This happens quite quickly.