• The Sound and the Furry

  • By: Spencer Quinn
  • Narrated by: Jim Frangione
  • Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (875 ratings)

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The Sound and the Furry  By  cover art

The Sound and the Furry

By: Spencer Quinn
Narrated by: Jim Frangione
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Publisher's summary

When Chet and Bernie happen upon a prison work crew that includes Frenchie Boutette, an old criminal pal they sent up the river, getting a new case is the last thing they expect. But Frenchie, who comes from an old Louisiana family full of black sheep, needs help finding his one law-abiding relative, his brother Ralph, a reclusive inventor who has gone missing with his houseboat. Though he's tempted to take another job (with a big payday) in Alaska, Bernie decides to set course for the bayous of Louisiana, a trip that will introduce Chet to a world of sights, smells, and tastes that are like nothing he's ever encountered. Out in bayou country, Chet and Bernie meet the no-good Boutette family and their ancient enemies, the maybe-even-worse Robideaus, and at first it seems as if Ralph's disappearance is connected to a dispute over a load of stolen shrimp. But when Chet uncovers a buried clue, the investigation heads in a dangerous new direction involving the oil business and an impending environmental catastrophe. The more Chet and Bernie discover about Ralph, the more treacherous the job becomes, and soon they're fighting not only Big Oil, but also shadowy black ops figures, a violent biker gang from back home, and Iko- a legendary bayou gator with a seemingly insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, deep under the Gulf, the pressure just keeps building.

With top-notch suspense, humor, and genuine insight into the ways our canine companions think and behave-all set against a rollicking new Louisiana backdrop. The Sound and the Furry will make you howl in delight.

©2013 Spencer Quinn (P)2013 Recorded Books

Featured Article: The Best Cozy Mysteries to Keep You Warm This Holiday Season


We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best cozy mystery audiobooks to help brighten up your winter listening. Here you'll find contemporary and historical cozies, classic whodunits and ingenious heist stories. While varying in tone, plot, and setting, these picks all share an irresistible holiday atmosphere. You'll find snowstorms galore, bakeries full of tasty holiday treats, glittering get-togethers, and picturesque English villages decked out in their holiday finest.

What listeners say about The Sound and the Furry

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    5 out of 5 stars
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It's all good

What made the experience of listening to The Sound and the Furry the most enjoyable?

Chet's voice, in the sense of the author's "voice" is lovable. The story is a page turner and the balance of suspense and comedy is perfect. Quinn has a terrific way of telling you one thing through his narrator, but showing you quite another. The characters are not just boring beautiful people types that so much popular fiction is littered with. They have depth and humor -- even if the humor is goofy. Quinn is a master story teller, has got his dialogue down, does something innovative with the Sam Spade genre, and Jim Frangione has the voice and intonation that you just KNOW Chet has.

In this story, Chet and Bernie leave Arizona for Louisiana. The one thing that struck me as not quite perfect is that I don't think Frangione had the Louisiana accents right, but maybe he wasn't supposed to.

What did you like best about this story?

Chet's voice.

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

I've only heard him read Chet's stories and they are all top notch.

If you could rename The Sound and the Furry, what would you call it?

This would be sacrilege. Don't even think it.

Any additional comments?

Chet's puppy needs to come into play in the next book. I know he's peripheral now, but bring him to the forefront.

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9 people found this helpful

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

A Fresh Perspective on a PI Mystery

Would you listen to The Sound and the Furry again? Why?

Have you ever wondered what your dog’s version of your life would be? This mystery of a missing person and the entanglement of the oil industry with the shrimping industry is told through the eyes of Chet, a “hundred pounder plus” police-trained German shepherd who belongs to Bernie Little, P.I. Chet is smart, playful and ever hungry, just as is my dog. Chet sees himself a full partner to Bernie and The Little Detective Agency located in AZ.

This particular mystery takes the pair to Bayou country, LA looking for the reclusive, inventor brother of one of the pair’s old criminals, Frenchie Boutette. A load of shrimp was “heisted” and in the course of tracking this down, Bernie is hit on the head twice and shot in arm, while Chet is dumped in the bayou tangled in a fish net to drown. Fighting hard, he loosens himself from the grip of the net just enough to breathe and swim – all night long with no land in sight. An amazing fight between the heroic dog and a huge crock ensues at dawn before Chet finds safety from a one-eyed manly woman who returns him to Bernie.

The dog’s perspective is humorous and credible. He is totally devoted to pleasing Bernie and utilizing his police training to keep them both safe while dealing with criminal slugs who have no value for life. The dog describes what he sees and perceives with uncanny brilliance and child-like innocence; just enough to help us figure out who may be around the next corner. Sometimes Chet startles himself with a profound thought, he can’t be relied on to decide colors (at least, that’s what Bernie says) and he can’t count past two, but his ability to smell helps the listener pick up the scent even before Bernie does.
If you like mysteries, the twist of this dog’s perspective will make you listen long past your allotted time frame. It is a must have!

Jim Frangione is the best narrator! He has several voices and used varied dialects and pacing. He is a master at differentiating the characters for the listener.

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6 people found this helpful

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

Best in the Series

This might be my favorite book in the series. The story plot moves just a bit faster, and the humor is outstanding! Frangione is the perfect narrator for this series--hope that he continues recording them.

I've been recommending these books to all my dog-owning friends. Quinn's style is just a bit reminiscent of Donald Westlake (a fabulous writer who will be long remembered). Even the secondary characters are interesting and just a bit complex.

If you haven't read the series, I suggest you start with the first one--the inside jokes are much funnier when you've read the earlier works. However, this particular book really does stand on its own.

Can't wait for the next book in this series!!

As Chet the Jet would say, "That Spencer Quinn...just when you think he's done amazing you...he does it again!!"

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3 people found this helpful

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

Chet and Bernie in a new setting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend anyone listen to the whole series. Even if you are not a dog lover to start with, you will fall in love with Chet. The way he interprets the world is refreshing and often hilarious.

What did you like best about this story?

Chet in a totally new environment, with water, boats and alligators.

Which scene was your favorite?

As usual Chet becomes separated from Bernie at one point and I was glued to the headphones waiting to hear how it would turn out.

If you could rename The Sound and the Furry, what would you call it?

Let the Bone Temps Roll - since story is in New Orleans area but of course Bon Temps would have to be changed to Bone for Chet.

Any additional comments?

Jim Frangione makes this series unforgettable. I never even considered reading it on paper after I heard him narrate the first book.

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3 people found this helpful

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

saturation point

I've listened to a lot of these, and the novelty has worn off. I think the reason for sending the duo further field is to rekindle some of that fun, but although I enjoyed this far more complex mystery than many of the other books have, most of the delivery has grown pretty stale . . . the point of view of a dog, once the potential for insight and humor has proven to be as limited as one would expect, relies on a kind of tolerance of old jokes, like listening to a favorite uncle growing old and running out of new ways to say the same thing.

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

Chet the Jet, in the game!

LOVE Chet and Bernie! This one does not disappoint and takes you away from the desert to the bayou where Chet gets to experience all kinds of new smells!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So Much Fun

These just keep getting better, and the narrator is perfect. I always enjoy a Chet and Bernie story - just when you think Spencer Quinn and Jim Frangione are done amazing you...they amaze you again. Highly recommended light reading!

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

Chet=read!

This is the 6th book in the series. Not counting the short stories. I enjoy listening just to hear it from Chet's point of view. I would listen to any of Quinn's books as he has a talent for understanding dogs.

I can't seem to pin point my reasoning for the 3 star story. Perhaps there wasn't enough "mystery" or maybe I think Quinn can and has done a lot better.

Either way its worth the credit for me as Chet's views just make me smile.



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

Chet is my hero!

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Chet, bound and weighted down by a fishing net, swims for his life the long night through, only to face - won't say what he faces, too much of a spoiler, but the whole sequence was so touching and thrilling that I made my husband listen to it out of context. I think it's my favorite scene so far in the series.

Any additional comments?

Wish I could be as completely in the moment, joyfully alive, positive, self-assured, deeply loving, ferociously brave and utterly loyal as Chet is. Every one of these books makes me want to try to be a better, happier dog - uh, person. And also makes me laugh my tail off.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Chet and Bernie are back!

If you could sum up The Sound and the Furry in three words, what would they be?

Dog's-Eye-View Mystery

What other book might you compare The Sound and the Furry to and why?

Spencer Quinn's other Chet and Bernie mysteries

What does Jim Frangione bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jim Frangione does the perfect voice for Chet! Definitely brings the doggie high-jinks to life ("A lot of barking started up in the room. Oh, was that me?"

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it was a fun listen

Any additional comments?

This is a great series! If you are looking for a mystery story to make your day go by faster, from a unique perspective (especially if you're a dog person) this book won't disappoint.

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