I, the Jury

By: Mickey Spillane

Narrated by: Mike Dennis

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Here's Mickey Spillane and Mike Hammer in their roughest and readiest—a double-strength shot of sex, violence, and action that is vintage Spillane all the way. It's a tough-guy mystery to please even the most bloodthirsty of fans!

©1991 Mickey Spillane. All rights reserved. (P)2015 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

read this one for what it is

Mike Hammer is the hard hitting, hard drinking private investigator who is going to find the man who murdered his best friend; then take care of him before the cops do.  Beautiful women fall at Mike like bowling pins and anyone in his way gets a fist or a bullet.  It’s New York City in the late 1940’s and if you aren’t tough, you might be dead.

It is important to put this book and its famous author in context.  It was written in 1947 and that’s a long time ago now.  Many things were different and many things sound pretty course to our modern ear.  There is a lot of bigotry, homophobia and sexism in the dialogue.  It was probably not meant to be offensive, but colloquial to give color to the scenes.  Spillane started an entire genre of hard hitting crime fiction novels that are often copied to this day.

Put that aside if you can and enjoy a deliciously cheesy novel about two dimensional characters that do impossibly reckless things.  In one scene, for example, Mike Hammer slams the heads of two men together like coconuts because they were ogling his girl.  She giggles and tells him how safe she feels in his arms.

It might have been meant to be serious when it was written, but it comes across as improbable now, and actually quite funny.  Enjoy it from a literary, historical point of view and you’ll have fun.  Take it seriously and you’ll be quite disappointed.  Too many clichés, plot holes and character flaws for that.

The story is performed by Mike Dennis who does a fine job of it.  His voice fits the rough Mike Hammer perfectly,  you can almost hear the stubble growing on his chin.  His other characters are mostly fine, distinctive enough and easily discerned from each other.

It’s almost impossible to put ourselves into the mindset of a 1940’s reader.  You will recognize so many modern detective stories in Spillane’s work.  It’s worth it just for that perspective.  Don’t get offended and read this one for what it is and you’ll have a bit of fun.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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18 of 20 people found this review helpful

Mike Dennis is perfect for this period gem.

Mike Hammer is a classic character. An old school Private Investigator who isn't PC and always gets his man. We see Mike Hammer for the first time in "I, the Jury". He continues as Mickey Spillane's muse for 21 novels with the latest "Murder Never Knocks" arriving in March 2016. Mike Dennis brings this first in the series from 1947 back to life. His voice tells the story as much as the words do. This is another great narration that few could do as well as Dennis.
Hammer's best friend from the World War 2 is murdered, a man who saved Hammer's life, and now the murder must die. Mike is willing to kill anyone who looks like a suspect and so the race against time and the police is on. Will Mike get the right man? Will he make a righteous kill, or will the police stop him. It's clear his conscious will not. A great listen for all who like the grit of old time radio with an edge.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Awesome Book, Great Writer, Amazing Narrator!!

Would you listen to I, the Jury again? Why?

Yes, great story and read in a convincing style that brought the 1950's tale alive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I, the Jury?

Hammer reenacting the scene of his friend's death in his mind as he put the pieces together to solve the crime.

What about Mike Dennis’s performance did you like?

I think he hit Mike Hammer's voice on the head, nailed it as they say.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

If you're going to commit murder, don't pick one of Mike Hammer's friends, you'll end dead real fast.

Any additional comments?

Mike Dennis did an awesome job, as good or better than Stacy Keach. Mike is a natural fit for parts like this.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The beginning of a legend

Would you listen to I, the Jury again? Why?

Yes I WILL It is like one of the top five of Hard boiled crime books of all time this is where it all started

What was one of the most memorable moments of I, the Jury?

How he deals with a death of a good friend

Which character – as performed by Mike Dennis – was your favorite?

Mike Hammer Mike Dennis really captures it

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

Yes when he figures out the real crime and who did it.

Any additional comments?

So glad to find the full text finally narrated into an audio book

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Mike Hammer slips easily into 21st century skin.

If you could sum up I, the Jury in three words, what would they be?

Vengeance is mine.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I, the Jury?

When Mike Hammer stands over the dead body of his friend and swears vengeance.

What about Mike Dennis’s performance did you like?

Uncompromising style, I felt transported back to the era. I like the way the voice gathers momentum as the story progresses, matching the action perfectly. Very exciting performance.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Hammer is judge, jury & executioner.

Any additional comments?

Although this is a classic and the ending seems to present itself from the moment Hammer finds his friend's dead body, wait for it....the ending is far more complex and presents a satisfying twist.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Exactly what I was looking for

I was looking for an old detective novel and I was lucky enough to come across this one.

WARNING: The language they use is very dated, obviously. Man! People were super racist back then. It'll make you cringe, but it's a real learning opportunity of what was like back then. Maybe a good insight into the era.

The story is great though. It really makes you think of the "who done it". The voice acting is great! I'm going to have to listen to the other stories.

Cheers

PS
She's a real blonde

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great book

great story and well read / performed. this was the first Mike Hammer book I've heard.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

“I don't give a damn about reviews... Spillane

Would you listen to I, the Jury again? Why?

The whole quote :“I don't give a damn about reviews. What I like to read are royalty checks.” ― Mickey Spillane. This isn't Spillane's best Mike Hammer. But it's still head and shoulders above the majority of other hard boiled detective efforts by others.The answer is "yes I WILL listen to 'I, the Jury' again. The narration sets up the mood of the writing. And makes listening a pleasure.

What did you like best about this story?

Spillane published in 1947. When men were ex GIs turned PIs. and women were dames with creamy skin and silky thighs ... sorry I lost my train of thought.

Anyway I like the era. One of my favorite series is by Max Allan Collins, the Matt Heller books. The 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s in Heller's book do it for me. This is a Spillane classic and fits my likes.

What about Mike Dennis’s performance did you like?

I've listened to Mike Dennis on three or four different audio book performances. He commands a great pace, with voices that aren't affected, which seem plausable. One irksome trait that drives me nuts is "breathy" narration. MIKE ISN'T BREATHY!!! A good thing. lol

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just a pleasurable one of anticipating a few hours of good entertainment. Both by Spillane and the narration by Mike Dennis.

Any additional comments?

This was a treat.Thank you for making it available for review.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Dennis nails Hammer.

Would you listen to I, the Jury again? Why?

Mike Dennis nails Mike Hammer. He bangs out the perfect cadence.

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

One of the best.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Don't waste your money like I did

What did you like best about I, the Jury? What did you like least?

I've been waiting years for an unabridged audiobook of this detective classic. The book by Spillane is as good as it gets.

What other book might you compare I, the Jury to and why?

Any "tough guy" novel.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Mike Dennis?

Somebody who has professional talent and experience. Mike Dennis sounds like a beginning acting student in college. He has no sense of what he is doing. I can't listen to this audio. His interpretation of dialogue is abysmal. Please, hire an accomplished professional to redo this audiobook. Dick Hill or somebody like that.

Did I, the Jury inspire you to do anything?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

The narrator Mike Dennis is terrible. Please redo the book with an accomplished, veteran book narrator. These Spillane classics deserve the best.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Die Hard from the '50s

What did you like most about I, the Jury?

The whole silly story

What did you like best about this story?

The cynicism has echoes in Bruce Willis

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me laugh at the wit and cry at the cruelty, but mostly just fun