Slow Burn

By: Conrad Jones

Narrated by: Paul Holbrook

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Slow Burn is the second book in the best selling Alec Ramsay series, following The Child Taker, Slow Burn, Criminally Insane, Frozen Betrayal.

©2010 Conrad Jones (P)2014 Conrad Jones

Worst reader imaginable

Any additional comments?

I have listened to 2759 Audible books, and this is one of the most poorly cast narrators I have heard. Could Audible not find a British reader to do this book?

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Horrible performance that drags down the story.

Why oh why would the producers choose someone with a weird American accent to read this English detective novel? Why would they choose someone who pauses after every third or fourth word, whether or not a pause is necessary? I just got through with the first two books in this series, read and wonderfully performed by the marvelous Julia Farhat, only to be brought up short by this substandard rendition. I can't even realistically rate the story because I'm so put off by the narrator(s); if the story itself as good as the previous two, then it deserves more than the 3 stars I'm giving it, but I can't honestly give it any more than that because I don't think I'll be able to stand to listen to the whole thing. Also, I should mention that Julia Farhat performs all the roles herself - men, women, and all nationalities - with entertaining versatility. This version has an additional narrator voicing the female parts and while she imparts more emotion to the roles than the male narrator/reader, her voice is rather shrill and piercing, so not at all enjoyable. I was looking forward to continuing with this series but I'll have to pass on any books that are read by these narrators.

the worst narrator ever

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

as ever Conrad jones book is a page turner

What didn’t you like about Paul Holbrook’s performance?

despite being set in England the narrator has a very strong American accent and it becomes difficult to remember it is set in the north west. his dialogue emphasises in all the wrong places and his pronunciation is very annoying. at times his attempts at Asian accents sounds as though he is doing a cartoon speak over. there are also a number of mistakes where he starts to read and then back tracks. what a mess absolutely terrible

Could you see Slow Burn being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

yes

Any additional comments?

at the start of this book it was tempting to return this but I know how good Conrad jones is and continued to listen/ I will remember this book not only for the great story but the worst narrator ever

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story but the wrong narrators

This is another good Alec Ramsay story. Conrad Jones has developed a strong character and great stories. Sadly, whoever chose the narrator, both Paul Holbrook and the female occasional voice, forgot to rationalise that an American (these two anyway) cannot replicate accents from NW England. Furthermore, neither can alter their voices convincingly for different characters and results are very odd. Such a shame, because the narration detracts from an interesting and clever story. I’m not certain I’ll get others in this series because of the use of the same narrator.