Frames

By: Loren D. Estleman

Narrated by: William Dufris

Enter Valentino, a mild-mannered UCLA film archivist, who buys a decrepit movie palace and uncovers a skeleton in the secret Prohibition basement. He then makes a second discovery: long-lost, priceless, reels of film: Erich von Stroheim's infamous Greed. The LAPD wants to take the reels as evidence, jeopardizing the precious old film. If Valentino wants to save his find, he has only one choice: solve the murder within 72 hours with the help of his mentor, the noted film scholar Broadhead, and Fanta, a feisty if slightly flaky young law student.

Between a budding romance with a beautiful forensics investigator and visions of Von Stroheim's ghost, Valentino's madcap race to save the flick is as fast and frenetic as a classic screwball comedy.

©2008 Loren D. Estleman (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Old movies, new love, old crime.

Would you consider the audio edition of Frames to be better than the print version?

Yes, as I love the way William Dufris read each character so well.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I was never tense, but I did want to know who had committed the crime and why. It's very intelligent and quite funny.

Which character – as performed by William Dufris – was your favorite?

The mentor is wonderful. And the secretary is priceless!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No single moment comes to mind, but the story as a whole touched me deeply. I will listen to it again very soon.

Any additional comments?

I am keeping watch to see when any new books come out from Loren D. Estleman. And I have a growing library read by William Dufris.

I recommend both "Alone" and "Frames". They are satisfying stories, well-read and I laughed out loud many times.

Disappointing

I'm a big Estleman fan, but this one is not worth your time. It's a Scooby Doo/Hardy Boys plot, unworthy of him.