The Tales of Max Carrados

By: Ernest Bramah

Narrated by: Stephen Fry

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusive audio collection. Eleven Max Carrados stories - narrated by national treasure Stephen Fry.

Max Carrados featured in a series of mystery stories that first appeared in 1914. Carrados featured alongside Sherlock Holmes in The Strand magazine, in which they both had top billing. The character often boasted how being blind meant his other senses were heightened.

• 'The Coin of Dionysus'
• 'The Game Played in the Dark'
• 'The Holloway Road Flat Tragedy'
• 'The Curious Circumstances of the Two Left Shoes'
• 'The Secret of Headlam Height'
• 'The Mystery of the Vanished Crown'
• 'The Ingenious Mind of Mr Rigby Lacksome'
• 'The Strange Case of Cyril Bycourt'
• 'The Crime at the House in Culver Street'
• 'The Bunch of Violets'
• 'The Missing Witness Sensation'

Public Domain (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Critic reviews

"[Narrator Stephen] Fry gives Max a perfect plummy voice and has equal fun with colorful supporting characters and ne'er-do-wells. His lovely mix of realistic conversation and pacing, as well as the occasional slow wink, encourages listeners to succumb in pleasure." ( AudioFile)

Old time radio listener

Excellent mystery and adventure program. As always, Stephen Frey just adds icing on the cake.

Excellent performance

excellent performance. I did have to stay very focused to follow the story simply because of the style of writing. But it did Keep my interest and I I looked forward to each new story. However, I was disappointed that it did contain foul language, however probably much less than in today's detective stories.

Good stuff!

Stephen Fry well what can i say i would listen anything that man has read

If you love Sherlock Homes...

This book was just what I needed. Similar in style Homes, but with some different personality and character traits! Good mysteries (you may have to suspend a little of your disbelief at times, but as with others- sometimes that is what makes it fun!) Stephen Fry is fantastic and he could read a cookbook and I would enjoy it.

Fun, engaging vintage British mysteries

Stephen Fry is a fabulous narrator, and Ernst Bramah’s series of short stories starring his blind detective, Max Carrados, are very entertaining and interesting. They are a refreshing take on your classic British mystery. Apparently, Max Carrados ran concurrently with Sherlock Holmes, and is considered his only real competition. I can see why! I’m off to get all the other books I can.

Can I have another please

The book leaves you wishing for more episodes. I like that each chapter was a story with closure into itself. But at the same time they were connected to a larger narrative. The narrator’s voice and styling fit the book perfectly.

Charming Early 20th Century Stories

This collection of stories, written in the early 1900's, is charming and highly engaging IF the listener is ready to give the book undivided attention. The stories are populated with interesting characters and unusual crimes presented as rather dense logic puzzles. Once I adjusted my expectations to fit the style and time period I really enjoyed my time with the charming Max Carrados. Stephen Fry's narration is perfection in this setting.

If you are looking for a plot with lots of action, sustained character development and stories which let the reader anticipate 'who dun it', then I don't recommend this book.

BUY IT FOR STEVEN FRY, BUT KNOW IT IS WONDERFUL

Any additional comments?

The Tales of Max Carrados are eleven short stories by Ernest Bramah set in the 1900's, featuring blind detective Max Carrados. The stories are mostly interesting, some better than others, and give the reader a glimpse of the world prior to the start of World War I.

Stephen Fry does his usual superb job narrating the stories, some of which, while resolving themselves, end abruptly. I caught myself having to rewind since I thought the next story was part of the previous one because of the abrupt ending. You may find, as I did that, that the most enjoyment can be had by reading a single story at a time, taking a short break, and then returning to listen to the next story.

Intriguing!

The tales were interesting although sometimes they seemed to end rather abruptly. Some of the antics of Max Carrados were difficult to believe. I kept expecting him to be exposed as a fraud and not really blind. Some of his actions seem too fantastical to be believed. How can you tell the color of wallpaper from touch or even smell.

Of course Stephen Fry did an amazing job. My only complaint is that his American characters had such annoying voices.

Stephen Fry + great material

Any additional comments?

Stephen Fry adds to the Holmes-like hero and conundrums a stageful of character voices.