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Math-lover Adelina

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Great Listen

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-28-24

As a huge Poirot and Tommy/Tuppence fan, I grabbed this stand-alone Agatha Christie novel while it was free with the Audible sub.
Similar to the Secret Adversary in terms of a young leading lady and of course, the standard Christie belief in love/romance, The Man in the Brown Suit took a few chapters to get into, as there are several points of view for this story, with all of the characters being new to me. However, the narrators were good and the string of classic Christie twists at the end did not disappoint!

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Good story, grating narration

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-02-24

When I picked up this title, I was afraid I'd be wasting my time on a Sherlock clone, but I was pleasantly surprised. A Wikipedia article claims that the author based Barker on real-life figures including Sir Richard Francis Burton. In fact, I wonder whether Agatha Christie was criticized early on for Poirot and Hastings being derivative of Holmes/Watson, though of course today we recognize her as a master in her own right.
LLewelyn (the "sidekick") is a likeable, relatable main character, and while he shares some similarities with Hastings, he is very much his own man.
The second book was even better, but my only complaint is the narrator. As an American, his Scottish and American accents, as well as his emphasis on certain words just rubbed me wrong.
Overall, a good book, worth the listen.

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LOVED FRY--Casebook Missing

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-18-24

63 hours of Holmes, Watson, and Fry--perhaps the most value I've gotten out of a single credit!
My favorite thing about this collection were the introductions that Stephen Fry wrote. As a fan of Sherlock TV and Cinema, but new to the writing, those introductions contextualized the stories and excited me for the next novel or collection, making both Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle more understandable and interesting. I would recommend this audiobook for the introductions alone. Fry's voices are excellent, as well.
I expected that I would take a break between each novel or collection, but I only broke once for another title once, listening to the whole thing basically all the way through.
The least interesting part of the collection was that first novel, Study in Scarlet--give Sherlock and Watson a chance if the first novel or two are a bit dry, because by the time you get to the short stories and the Hound of the Baskervilles, you won't feel that way anymore!
If I had a complaint it would be this only--where is the Casebook of Sherlock Holmes? The fact that this collection is ALMOST complete was a bit of a let down (the reason my "Overall Rating" is only 4 stars), but let me reiterate, still well worth the credit.

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Perfect

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-03-23

As a huge fan of this book throughout my whole life (childhood and adulthood), I have read this book many times, but never listened to it in audio form. Jodie Comer was lovely, good pacing and great voices. Will definitely listen again someday.

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Grungy, Heavy, Unpleasant

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-31-23

...but all of those feelings were intentional on the author's part, I believe. The story was creepy and atmospheric and held my attention. Unfortunately, the first person narrator has a lot of conversations with himself while talking to other characters, without the author delineating which was spoken and which was internal. This would be fine if I was physically reading, but was confusing for an audio experience.
The narration was solid, I would definitely listen to more from Joshua Jackson.
To sum it up, decent read if you're into the psychological, but if you don't want to hear the thoughts of monsters that find it acceptable to murder children, pass on this one.

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High Quality Narration, Story Not Entertaining

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-14-23

Since I listen to audio books mostly while commuting, the primary thing I look for from a book is to be entertained or to be encouraged to think about something from a new perspective. Frankenstein missed that mark for me.
I have enjoyed some of the Classics from the late 19th century so I figured I'd branch out and try Frankenstein. I assumed that the book would explore the theme that death gives meaning to life and was surprised to find that theme absent. Even the theme that humanity is full of monsters was fairly subtle. The book does have warning about unchecked pride and prioritizing the people in your life--a lesson seemingly lost on Frankenstein, as evident from his conversation with the captain/crew in the last chapter.
Overall, it read a bit like two self-absorbed, self pitying individuals (monsters?) chasing each other across Europe leaving destruction in their wake, with plenty of stopping for long descriptions forests, flowers, and frozen tundras.
It should be mentioned that Derek Jacobi did NOT disappoint. His pacing and voices were on point and I will be happy to listen to more titles from him in the future.

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Yes!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-14-23

My favorite among the Agatha Christie books so far. Armitage is one of my favorite readers, too.

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WOW! Well worth the listen.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-10-23

Ok. This is certainly a long book. And for modern tastes, it does get redundant from time to time. I tend to prefer short mystery stories, like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, to longer, sprawling novels. However after finding Wilkie Collins novel, The Moonstone, to be enjoyable (if somewhat redundant/predictable), I figured I'd give this a try.
Ian Holm absolutely blew me away with the detail in his narration and voices, and The Woman in White, even when I felt for a few minutes that it was starting to drag, ALWAYS had a new twist waiting.
If you liked The Moonstone, this story is superior in every way.
The Woman in White is well worth the listen.

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Worth the Longer Read!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 09-12-23

The Moonstone is well worth a listen for mystery fans. To my understanding, it is only the second detective novel to be published, inspired by authors such as Poe and Dickens. It's a longer read, but the variety of perspectives kept it interesting.
While certain aspects of the story may be viewed as "dated," the characters are layered, loveable (or hateable!), and vividly brought to life by the OUTSTANDING narrator.
For me, a narrator can absolutely save or ruin an audio book. This narrator is up among the finest I have heard on Audible, exceptional pacing with a multitude of unique accents and pitches plus real emotions/hesitations just as the chacters would have--a true voice actor.

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Good Story--Mediocre Listen

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-25-23

I have been listening to Poirot and decided to branch out in the dectective/mystery genre. After years of hearing how great The Maltese Falcon and the Thin Man (both by the author) were, I figured this would be a delight, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping.
The story is solid, but the main character felt one-dimensional. Not sure if that was the reader or the author's choice to constantly talk about his "V-shaped mouth" and smiles/grimaces.
In favor of the book, I will say the noir atmosphere really paints a picture. I liked that. In favor of the reader, he does LOTS of recognizable voices--easy to follow.
But the pacing of this was off somehow.

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