No Laughing Matter

An O.C.L.T. Tie-in Novel

By: Kurt M. Criscione

Narrated by: Graydon Schlichter

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

There are incidents and emergencies in the world that defy logical explanation, events that could be defined as supernatural, extraterrestrial, or simply otherworldly. Standard laws do not allow for such instances, nor are most officials or authorities trained to handle them. In recognition of these facts, an organization has been created that can handle them. Assembled by a loose international coalition, their mission is to deal with these situations using diplomacy, guile, force, and strategy as necessary. They shield the rest of the world from their own actions, and clean up the messes left in their wake. They are our protection, our guide, our sword, and our voice, all rolled into one. They are O.C.L.T.

Jon Shaw Casefile #1: Jon Shaw never believed in monsters, then he got his first case. Jacob Carpenter is a troubled teen and the police have written him off, but Shaw refuses to let the case go.

The road will lead him to horrors and a Circus of the Damned, to a Clown who can't be human. Assisted by the mysterious members of a shadowy organization known as the O.C.L.T., Shaw will confront this horror and be changed by it, forged in a crucible of pain...reborn as a Monster Hunter.

This is the second tie-in novel in the O.C.L.T. series.

©2012 Kurt Criscione (P)2013 David Wilson

Dark but enjoyable

If you could sum up No Laughing Matter in three words, what would they be?

Dark, Noir, Fantasy

What was one of the most memorable moments of No Laughing Matter?

There is a Great scene with a little kid helping the detective.

Have you listened to any of Charles Graydon Schlichter III’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. This is one of the ones I like the best so far, along with Temple of the Jaguar.

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

Very much so - I wanted to know what happened.

Any additional comments?

This is a great story, but it IS dark, and you need to go in knowing that.

Carnies, and Monsters, and Cannibal Clowns

This was an interesting story. Blended a good ol’ P.I. storyline with a paranormal monster clown story. This really reminded me of the ever-popular modern wizard stories where you have a young witty wizard fighting evil monsters the rest of the world doesn’t know exist. This was my first book in the O.C.L.T. series so I’m not sure how this ties in with the rest of the world, but definitely put those other books on my radar. Only thing I noticed is that there are other authors contributing to this series and none of them keep the same narrator, a unique approach to the O.C.L.T. world.

I enjoyed Jon Shaw’s character and even more so his mysterious helper whom seemed very similar to the classic Van Helsing. All the different monsters and carnies really made the story a lot of fun to listen to and I really enjoyed the mythology provided for the monsters Criscione created. The plotline of a P.I. chasing after a roving circus to seek out a cannibal clown combined a lot of elements from horror movies I love and was had me glued to my headphones early on.

Graydon Schlichter did a great job with the narration. I loved the character voices and accents he provided. He did a great job voicing Jon and provided the exact voice I would have imagined for that character. Schlichter really made the book that much more enjoyable and I hope to hear more from him in the future.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Utterly amazing!!

I was given this book uppon request in exchange for an honest and fair review. And, just let me say before I go any further, I want more!! I loved the narrator's performance, the storyline was a great fun ride, and I was thoroughly intrigued and entertained all the way from start to finish. I loved this one. The story took just a minute but when Mr Criscione turned on the afterburners it smoked for sure. I'm not giving a full synopsis here because Audible does a great job with that but I would say that if you like Dean Koontz with a splash oi Monster Hunter thrown in, you're going to love this one. I would love to get my hands on more books narrated by Graydon. I would also like to get more books by Kurt Criscione and also more books in the OCLT series. Thanks for letting me read and review this one, I would love more. Thanks for a fun read. Happy reading, and enjoy everybody.

amazing narrator

easily one of the best narrators I've listened to in all the years I've been a member of audible. The story itself was enjoyable and then you know, killer clowns are never bad

Good tie in to the OCLT series

Firstly, I have to say I really like Graydon Schlicter. His narration is really good. I think the story was good, but Graydon really makes the story pop. This is a good tie in to a good series.

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Only complaint is that it had to end =)

Okay, wow! Just wow! No Laughing Matter had so much of so much I am not even sure where to start, The story was incredible and delivered so many chills and moments of holding my breath. I don't want to go too much into the story because I really want everyone to experience this story without anything ruined. Kurt M. Criscione has a wonderful voice as a writer and even in moments that were truly terrifying, I found myself chuckling with our lead as he describes things in his own way. I haven't really had the fear of clowns many people talk about, but I am curious to see how I will react the next time I come across one. I imagine I may have just switched sides. Also, wonderful touch to have the detective drive the way he did, just a really touch! This was my first book in this series, and even though it is a tie in, it really can be considered a stand alone. Really well done!

Now, How did I stumble across this series, you may ask? Well, I am glad you asked. I am such a fan of Graydon Schlichter that I have been absorbing his body of work. He truly brought this fantastic novel, to a new level. His voice for the lead was genius, his accents (and there are many) are top notch and , honestly, it is really hard to believe that the voice you have been listening to and relating to this whole novel can also produce such a terrifying voice for the villains. He holds nothing back in this narration and it really shows.

I would recommend listening to this audiobook by yourself, cause I want you to be as freaked out and unsettled as I was. And who doesn't love a good old story of a detective on the case...? .

Excellent story!

I quite enjoyed this story. John is a likeable private investigator with well developed martial arts skills. He takes on his first case as a PI and runs right into the occult. Great cast of characters and the narrator did a fine job bringing them to life.

Its okay

I was given this book for free from audiobook boom and asked to leave an unbiased review for the author and narrator. Not a bad story if you like the supernatural, but I guess if you don’t you wouldn’t be looking at this book its just not my kind of supernatural. I have to admit I skipped the first few chapters. I’m all about the action and the beginning was boring to me, but necessary I guess to establish the main character. The middle and ending were pretty good though. The narrator has a pleasant voice, and made the story a production rather than just reading the book to you. I thought he did a good job with the accents, but could work on his voice changes for the various characters, but all and all I think he did a good job.