The Last Coin

By: James P. Blaylock

Narrated by: Christopher Ragland

Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Two thousand years ago there lived a man who sold some valuable information for a fee of 30 silver coins. His name was Judas Iscariot, and he is no longer with us. The coins, however, still exist - and still hold an elusive power over all who claim them. Like Andrew, whose attempts at innkeeping bring in stranger business than he ever expected. And Aunt Naomi, whose most-prized family heirloom is a silver spoon - with a curiously ancient-looking engraving.

And especially old Mr Pennyman, who is only five silver coins short of immortality... Jules Pennyman is on a mission - a quest for the 30 pieces of silver of Judas Iscariot. Other novels by this author include The Digging Leviathan, Land of Dreams, and Homunculus, the latter winning him the Philip K. Dick Award.

©1988 James P. Blaylock (P)2014 Audible Studios

Mispronounced

Hampered by mispronunciations, this performance leaves something to be desired. Coupled with a thoroughly unlikable main character, there's little redeeming value.

Read this if you love Fawlty Towers

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.

Andrew and Rose Vanbergen have recently purchased a California inn which they are fixing up and getting ready for guests. They live in the inn along with aging Aunt Naomi, her numerous cats, and her companion, Mrs. Gummage. The Vanbergens have only one real guest so far — the mysterious Pepto-drinking Mr. Pennyman.

Andrew has grand plans for the inn. Unfortunately, he’s also a bit of a slacker and he’s always managing to find excuses for doing anything but the actual work that needs to get done. While his good-natured and industrious wife is cleaning or sewing linens, he’s daydreaming about a gourmet kitchen and purchasing luxury items that aren’t really necessary. (He fancies himself an epicure).

Andrew also tends to have crazy ideas that sometimes border on delusional. Sometimes he acts on these. He knows he’s being silly and that it upsets his wife, so he’s in the habit of being secretive and lying to hide his ridiculous notions and activities. This often gets him in trouble because he ends up lying to cover up his lies. Oh, what a tangled web he weaves! It doesn’t help that his new friend, Pickett, tends to see conspiracies everywhere. When Andrew and Pickett notice Mr. Pennyman’s strange behavior, they decide that Pennyman has some dastardly plan and, in their bumbling way, they start to investigate.

But the truth is even stranger and scarier than Andrew suspects! Mr. Pennyman is at the inn because he’s trying to find the last of Judas Iscariot’s cursed pieces of silver and he knows the last few coins are somewhere on that California coast. If he finds them, the entire Earth is doomed! Inadvertently saving the world will require a series of hilarious misadventures involving a spoon, a carp, smuggled breakfast cereal, a pot of jambalaya, a fake advice column, prank letters, a car chase, several murders, a treasure hunt on the beach, a dangerous Chinese restaurant, and a huge cast of strangely behaving animals.

I loved The Last Coin. More than anything, it reminded me of my favorite British comedy, Fawlty Towers. Andrew is Basil Fawlty, the innkeeper who’s played by John Cleese. If you’ve seen that hilarious show, you know that Mr. Fawlty, who thinks he’s more sophisticated than he really is, just can’t help but hate most of his guests. He’s also nosy, eavesdropping and sneaking around and spying on his guests. He lies to his wife about silly things so she won’t know what he’s up to. Andrew Vanbergen is exactly like that, without the British accent. Some readers will despise Andrew, and I have to admit that he’s a bit overdone in parts (especially in the middle of the book, which drags a bit), but anyone who loves Basil Fawlty is sure to enjoy The Last Coin just for the characters and humor. Add in the cool premise of Judas Iscariot’s cursed silver coins and Blaylock’s delightful prose and you’ve got an extremely entertaining story that’s bizarre, amusing, clever, exciting, and unpredictable.

Christopher Ragland’s narration of Audible’s version was excellent. His voice and tone are perfect and he gets the humor exactly right. I highly recommend The Last Coin on audio. It’s one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.

Note: The Last Coin is the first of Blaylock’s books about Christian holy relics, but each book stands alone.

A favorite

One of my top 10 favorite novels. I've read/listened to probably a dozen times. Hilarious. Blaylock at his best!!

A Very Slow Story

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

No I would not - there was so much padding in the story and it was slow placed I think the most patient of people would be tested

A definite don't read

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Nothing, the story was tedious in the extreme.

What was most disappointing about James P. Blaylock’s story?

The book had been reviewed as being the best by this author. I will never bother with him again, the story was extremely slow paced with little of interest to sustain the reader and little character development.

What didn’t you like about Christopher Ragland’s performance?

The narrator was in fact quite good, unfortunately his material was poor.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It had some humour but this was not always successfully carried off.

Any additional comments?

I only carried on listening because I hate to leave a book unfinished but it was very hard going. I wish now that I had returned and exchanged it immediately.

Dull, Dull, Dull

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No, it was slow and dull and over complicated. Had potential but it didn't come out. I would never of stuck to reading it.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Boring, and relief it was over

Did Christopher Ragland do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

O it was confusing especially as all characters had weird names

Could you see The Last Coin being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No way

Tortuous offering

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

The authors family

What could James P. Blaylock have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not write it

Which scene did you most enjoy?

None

What character would you cut from The Last Coin?

All of them

Any additional comments?

The most bazar book that I have listened to/read. I suffered along for a few hours waiting for it to come to life but it didn't. Well read though by Christopher Ragland though.

blaylock magic

great to be reunited with this one-read it as a teen, enjoyed it again this time round. impossible hats and unlikely excuses, top story and fairly unobtrusive delivery by the reader.

A very disappointing tead

The first chapter captivated me.
The rest of the book was without color and the secondary chatters were very weak.
I struggled to finish and I wondered why I struggled with this in the failed hope of at least an eye opening ending.
life is too short ,find something else.

Absolutely Dreadful

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

I don't think anyone would enjoy this book unless they have the patience of a saint and are happy enough with the most mediocre of storylines and dreadful narration.

What was most disappointing about James P. Blaylock’s story?

The narration, the storyline - awful, awful, awful - so bad I named it thrice.

Would you be willing to try another one of Christopher Ragland’s performances?

No - not at all and if I could return this one for a refund I would definitely do so.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Last Coin?

If I cut out as much of the it as was necessary - there would be no book left.

Any additional comments?

I gave this book an hour and the only reason I gave it that long was because I was listening to it in my car whilst driving and couldn't change to something else (I'm new to the iPod). I can't seem to return it now that my membership has expired, but I know I will never, ever try to listen to this book again, so a bit of a waste of my money really.