Too Dead to Swing

By: Hal Glatzer

Narrated by: Susan Egan, full cast

Length: 4 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

It's 1940, and musician Katy Green finds out how tough the road can be when she joins the Ultra Belles, a female swing band on tour in California. From the moment the band kicks off the set, you're caught in the rhythm of the music, and murder on the move.

Susan Egan heads a Broadway cast in this thrilling vintage mystery with swing songs performed by Ann Hampton Callaway. Based on the novel by Hannah Dobryn.

©2000 Audio-Playwrights (P)2000 Audio-Playwrights

Critic Reviews

• Audie Award Winner

Too Dead to Swing

This book is more like an old time radio show with different players and great music. The plot was good like an old mystery series with a twist at the end.

great performance

This was so much fun to listen to! A complete cast, sound effects and some great music. The story was good and the perfomance was alot of fun. A nice change from other audio books.

Wonderful

This was lovely to listen to. The narrators voice is really pleasant, the sound effects and song spots are great. I'd love to get more in this mystery series, intriguing, funny, and great music.

Excellent Entertainment

This one was a bit of a surprise, and a very pleasant one at that:
The 1940s, a "girl band," a "girl detective," swing music, and murder! Excellent ensemble cast, reminiscent of old-time radio but with modern-time sound quality. This is one I'll listen to more than once! :)

So Much Fun

This is a really fun listen.

fun

The plot was good, the actors worth listening to if you like 40s music there's some good music there as well.

A spellbinding, well acted, mystery thriller!!

I loved the written book.... I found them on Audible & am excited with the well acted cast & sound effects (vice the usual book's sole reader).... I hope they will produce the whole Glatzer series this way... I love them, a rare treat that I recommend to everyone.

Great Fun!

This is an entertaining presentation with a troup of actors and a band too. It's story takes place just before World War II and while the mystery is a little thin, the music and presentation style takes up the slack.

What Fun!

This was such an enjoyable listen. The actors and the music were great. Especially liked that all the songs were replayed again after the book was finished. If you enjoy music of the 40's, the idea of an all-girl band, and murder mystery's, don't pass this one by - you will not be disappointed!

Be aware

If you don't mind offcolor humor and poorly disguised inuendos as well as some up front dirty talk this is your book. I was disappointed. I tried to listen to it, but just couldn't bear the gutter thought that went into it; wish I had not bought it.

Excellent old style radio play

If like me you love old style murder mystery radio plays this is definitely for you.
Filled with great characters, lots of murders and swing jazz playing in the background!

Enjoyable story but expected more music !

Whilst the story is credible and has the usual murder mystery twists etc I have to say i was a little disappointed at the lack of music considering this was supposed to be a musical mystery. It took an hour and a half before the first song was played and only three songs featured throughout the drama. The narrator was cut in a forties style which worked well but she was a little monotonous and I found myself drifting away from the story at times. Still worth my 99p special offer credit though !

Outstanding

Fantastic! The best audiobook I've listened to. Atmospheric story, historically accurate and creates a feeling of the times. The quality of the characters and production was superb. The singing from Ann Hampton Calloway was fabulous and pure, not surprising for someone who'd sung for Bill Clinton at the White House!