The Other Typist

By: Suzanne Rindell

Narrated by: Gretchen Mol

A haunting debut novel set against the background of New York City in the 1920s…

Confessions are Rose Baker’s job. A typist for the New York City Police Department, she sits in judgment like a high priestess. Criminals come before her to admit their transgressions, and, with a few strokes of the keys before her, she seals their fate. But while she may hear about shootings, knifings, and crimes of passion, as soon as she leaves the room, she reverts to a dignified and proper lady. Until Odalie joins the typing pool.

As Rose quickly falls under the stylish, coquettish Odalie’s spell, she is lured into a sparkling underworld of speakeasies and jazz. And what starts as simple fascination turns into an obsession from which she may never recover.

Worth the Listen

It took about 2.5 hrs before things got going in this audiobook and even then things would drag at times throughout. It has a lot of character development as opposed to action, I think that's why it seemed to drag to me. However with that said I would recommend listening to it. The story is interesting and well written. The characters, because of the character development given to them by the author (especially the main character) really pull the story along without a lot of action. The narrator is very good. The main character is quite complex. I thought I had her figured out but she is a doozy! Have fun with this one, it is something of a mystery.

First Half is slow going, second half picks up

I didn't like the beginning of the book at all - it was a chore to continue listening to it - I skipped ahead quite a bit. I didn't like that it was mostly narration and little dialogue. I did not like the main character Rose and how goody goody and naive she was. I did however like the ending and the era it was set in.
This book would be for people that enjoy a good twist in the story - if they're willing to wait for it and be okay with it only being at the very end.
I gave it a 3 star rating because it was just okay and I would never listen to it again. I probably won't even think about it much ever again either.

Didn't see it coming

This is an evocative, fast-moving book about two women, one innocent and starry-eyed, the other hard-bitten and amoral, and the relationship they develop. We are drawn into Odalie's net with Rose, and learn about her as Rose does. Rose, however, doesn't guess whom she is dealing with until it is too late for her. I imagine that she just didn't want to face facts, and neither did I.

Gretchen Mol is a terrific reader. I'll look for more books she narrates.

Future movie

I really enjoyed the book and was surprised by the ending. I can totally see Hollywood making a movie out of it. Kept me interested all the way.

You’ve got to love an unreliable narrator

It doesn’t take long to realize the narrator sees others through her own filters. She also does not see herself as others see her. The author handles this point of view very well. The story is set during the 1920s, a time of conflicting moralities. The typists work in the police department. The plot involves more than one crime. This is a great fun read, well performed for audio.