Following Jimmy Valentine

Based on "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry

De: Jeff Flaster

Narrado por: Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, David Hunter, Celinde Schoenmaker, Jacqui Dankworth, George Blagden, Alison Arnopp, Simon Shorten

A full-cast audiobook musical told entirely through story and song.

Notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine (Hadley Fraser: “Phantom of the Opera”, “City of Angels”) swears he's going straight this time. But Jimmy has baggage that won't fit in his suitcase of burglar's tools. Soon after his release from prison, he's back to his old habits.

Disillusioned New Orleans detective Jen Price (Kerry Ellis: “Wicked”) wants to catch Jimmy Valentine—and feel like a hero again. But Jimmy isn't the villain she'd hoped he'd be. While hiding in a small town, Jimmy falls in love with Annabel Adams (Celinde Schoenmaker: “Guys and Dolls”). For the first time, Valentine dares to believe in a new life.

But is it too late?

Starring:
Hadley Fraser as Jimmy Valentine
Kerry Ellis as Jen Price
David Hunter as Reflection
Celinde Schoenmaker as Annabel Adams
Jacqui Dankworth as Collette Adams
George Blagden as Emil LaRue
Alison Arnopp, Simon Shorten, and David Beck as additional roles

Creative Team:
Director – David Beck
Producer – Sarah Golding, Wireless Theatre
Casting – Fiona Thraille and Sarah Golding
Broadcast Assisting – Liis Miik and Teresa Milewski
Music Director and Orchestrations – Patrick Stockbridge
Musicians – Patrick Stockbridge, Jamie Stockbridge, Abigail Jackson, Miranda Lewis-Brown
Sound Design – Ross Burman
Recorded at Jukebox Studios with Steven Kobong

©2025 melodic.com (P)2025 melodic.com

Reseñas de la Crítica

"What a marvelous treat of a musical in the guise of an audiobook! I could not get enough of it! I listened to Following Jimmy Valentine twice already, and I am sure I will listen to it again... The songs were breathtakingly terrific, offering an atmospheric blend of classical music, jazz, and rock. The stellar cast delightfully brought all characters to life and left me with no dull moments."
— Olga Markova, Readers’ Favorite

"The characters were a delight, the songs were catchy enough to where I still have them in my head."
— Goodreads reviewer

Like A Radio Play From Days Of Old

I enjoyed this audiobook a lot, and the second time I heard it, it was even better. I've listened to hours of old radio shows on cassettes, and this audiobook reminded me of those shows. and since it was a musical that was just the cherry on top. I liked the different musical styles which made the story more layered. I appreciated the artists performances: Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, David Hunter, Celinde Schoenmaker, George Blagden, Jacqui Dankworth, Alison Arnopp, and Simon Shorten. I would like to see more of these types of media. I was gifted a copy of this audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

Following Jimmy Valentine

I went into Following Jimmy Valentine not really knowing what to expect. I spotted the O. Henry credit and before this I honestly thought O. Henry was just a candy bar. Turns out it is that too, so I guess classic literature isn’t my strong suit! So I came to this adaptation pretty fresh, knowing only that it was a redemption style story for the main character.

The whole thing leans hard into original songs and stage show flair. The numbers follow the style where characters sing about what they are doing or what they’re feeling, be it stitching shoes or wrestling with their conscience. That classic musical vibe where feelings turn straight into lyrics. If you enjoy that style, the production commits to it with confidence. The sound effects give it a dramatisation feel rather than a traditional audiobook, and most of the time it works fine in that lane.

Jimmy Valentine’s inner voice pops up now and then, like his conscience checking in. It adds colour, although that conscience has less faith in him than he does. It creates a nice tension even if the story does not always dig as deep as I expected.

Since I do not know the original short story, I can only assume this follows the usual arc of a man going straight and trying to outrun his past. Here it felt a bit undercooked for me. The redemption angle never quite settles in. I kept thinking it might land more fully on an actual stage, where songs and glances could fill the gaps. In audio, some of the beats felt a little light.

The cast itself is solid. Everyone delivers what is needed, and no one feels miscast. The production is clean, the music sits well in the mix, and the whole thing has an easy clarity that helped me stay with it. The musical approach has its charm, though it also keeps things predictable, since songs tend to spell out what characters want or feel in that moment.

Overall, Following Jimmy Valentine is pleasant enough as a musical short story with a theatrical spirit. It did not leave a huge mark on me, but I can see the appeal for listeners who enjoy ensemble audio pieces with original music and a gentle throwback tone. I am curious to read the original O. Henry story just to see how closely this sticks to it, because I suspect the bones of the tale might land differently on the page than they do in this sung version.

Original Musical-Worth It

Having had a stint in my life running a community theater, I know musicals.
And I love musicals.

So I was really excited to receive this musical as part of Ear Candy Promos. Going in, I didn’t know much about it. I knew it was adapted from a short story, and having seen a few “new” musicals over the years, my expectations weren’t anywhere close to Broadway-level spectacle.

But the moment the show opened—with real musicians playing original music—my ears perked up.

I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting… but it certainly wasn’t this.

First, the original music caught me off guard—because
1. it fit the time period and genre beautifully,
2. several of the songs were genuinely catchy, and
3. the voices were exceptional.

From the leads to the supporting cast, these performers impressed me at every turn. They are clearly professionals—well-trained, with great tone—and you could understand every single word they sang. Sometimes pronunciation gets overshadowed by belting in musical theater… not with these singers.

Everything about this production impressed me. I found myself wishing I could see the stage version—imagining the sets, lighting, costumes, and movement. I would have loved a few production photos to go along with the audio, just to help visualize what I was picturing in my head.

The length was quick—just over two hours—and the whole show was paced great. The music stayed with me, and more than once I caught myself humming along.

If you enjoy original music or musical storytelling, this is absolutely one to check out.

Extremely entertaining and immersive

Following Jimmy Valentine by Jeff Flaster is an inventive audiobook musical that blends dialogue and original songs into a full-cast performance that’s completely delightful and highly entertaining! My wife, Alina, and I listened to it together, and as a couple who travel from Oslo to London almost every year to enjoy West End shows, we loved every second of it. The audio production captures the energy of live theatre while working perfectly as an audiobook.

The story follows Jimmy Valentine, a reformed thief trying to leave his old life behind, and the people he meets along the way. The narrative is delivered through the performances of the cast, with songs and dialogue flowing naturally from one scene to the next. The music blends classical, jazz, and rock influences, and the listener can easily use their imagination to see everything happening in their mind’s eye, making it all feel like a live performance.

The cast includes Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, Celinde Schoenmaker, David Hunter, George Blagden, and Jacqui Dankworth. Their performances are engaging throughout the play, with each actor bringing a distinct voice and presence to the story. The ensemble works together seamlessly, keeping the pacing natural and the transitions between dialogue and song smooth and natural. Moments of humor, tension, and reflection are delivered with subtlety, and the energy of a show on stage carries through from start to finish.

This audiobook is a rare example of theatre captured successfully in audio form. It draws listeners in with strong performances, clear writing, and music that enhances and raises the level of immersion.

Fans of musicals and theatre who enjoy full-cast performances will find it rewarding and enjoyable. My wife and I would have gladly paid full price to experience this on the West End, and we recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and immersive listening experience!

Delightful change of pace, excellent performances

This audiobook was a change from the same old, same old and so much fun to listen to. Based on O. Henry’s "A Retrieved Reformation" short story and performed by an exceptionally talented full musical cast, Jeff Flaster’s book, music and lyrics will transport you through your earbuds to a Broadway-style theater.

The story is about taking the long way to redemption. Jimmy Valentine is a career criminal, a safe-cracker, and when he’s pardoned and released from prison early he doesn’t have much success going straight and is soon putting his suitcase of burglar’s tools to use again. Hunted by a detective who needs to make a big arrest to feel good again, both she and Jimmy are surprised when he falls in love and actually does try to go straight. Will he succeed? Is there any circumstance where he could be forced to use his old skills, and even more frightening, is there any circumstance under which Detective Price wouldn’t move in for the kill?

The story has the flavor of O. Henry and the performance will put you in mind of Damon Runyon, Guys and Dolls, or West Side Story. Snappy dialogue, intriguing characters, loud, boisterous musical numbers. The musical production is flawless and performers Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, David Hunter, Celinde Schoenmaker and others have strong, clear voices, perfect pitch, tone and pace and delightful, entertaining delivery.

I have attended musical theater and listened to soundtracks, but for some reason it never really occurred to me to listen to the entire performance. Following Jimmy Valentine has convinced me; I will change that in the future. I received an advance listening copy of Following Jimmy Valentine from Home Cooked Books and Ear Candy Promos. What an enjoyable, satisfying listening experience. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.