No Orchids for Miss Blandish

By: James Hadley Chase

Narrated by: Jeff Harding

Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

No Orchids for Miss Blandish was crime author James Hadley Chase’s first novel, and an experiment in adapting American hard-boiled crime fiction by a British author. Inspired by James Cain and The Postman Always Rings Twice, it worked so well that it launched the former salesman’s writing career. He went on to write over eighty novels sold worldwide with a huge American, Asian and European following.

Exciting, hard-hitting and gruesome by turn, Jeff Harding’s thrilling narration injects new energy to this fast-paced crime classic. Written in 1939, the book also inspired an essay on the mood of post-War Britain by George Orwell, Raffles and Miss Blandish (1944), noting the enthusiasm for violent, bloody fiction. No Orchids for Miss Blandish delivers on both counts. American heiress Miss Blandish is kidnapped by a gang of inept criminals trying their hand at big-time crime, whose plans are foiled when a rival mob, led by the sadist Slim Grisson, set their sights on the glamorous million-dollar hostage. Meanwhile, Private Detective Dave Fenner is hired to rescue her. Fenner is no stranger to the criminal underworld. If corruption and violence are necessary, Fenner will do what it takes to get the job done. Behind the scenes, Slim becomes obsessed with his hostage, lashing out at anyone who attempts to wrestle Miss Blandish from his charge. When Fenner makes his move, Slim won’t give her up without a fight.

©2011 CSA Word (P)2011 CSA Word

Served With Too Much Ham

Chase's great noir-ish crime novel gets a mediocre treatment here.

Jeff Harding's narrative voice is fine (despite some strange pronunciations, like DYE-van, STALAG-tites and "rum" for "room"), but -- and I'm not sure if it was the Director or Harding's choice - the colloquialisms of 1939 crime writing communicate the hard-boiled period sufficiently without the character voice readings sounding variously like Edward G. Robinson, The Dead End Kids or Ma Kettle.

This corny presentation serves to do the one thing you never want in an audiobook - provide a distraction from a great genre story.

Can't recommend this one.

No place for Thugs in modern society

What made the experience of listening to No Orchids for Miss Blandish the most enjoyable?

The voice Of the reader just kept me hooked on.The story is wonderfully written in a way that non other Hadley Chase could do it. I wish the book never ended.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Slim was my favorite character. He is ruthlessly efficient, mean and consistent in his quest for evil. Just the perfect bad Guy you would love to see in a crime thriller.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Harding – was your favorite?

DOC.He has that demeanour about him, voicewise that lets you wondering What the Hell an educated man should be doing with a gang. His character is so real to reflect life situations Of the good Guy gone bad, and Jeff Harding does a good voice Job with Doc's character.

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

I smiled.

Any additional comments?

Waiting to see the movie version soon

Exceptional noir gangster novel

When small time crooks try for the big time and meet the big sharks it’s all going to go wrong. An excellently paced and atmospheric novel with the perfect narrator.

A gripping story, perfectly read.

Similar in style to an Elmore Leonard novel, this is a crisply written noir story. The reader captures the right spirit of the work.

narration was really bad for this book

the narration was pretty bad. waste of a credit. i usually like James Hadley chase novels and the narration ruined it for me

Another great Hadley Chase Story!

I love this book! James Hadley Chase has never failed me! I definitely recommend this book!

excellent to listen to

James Hadley Chase novels were a great hit when I was younger. irresistible story in audio.