Joey Narcotic

Clever puzzle mystery

Reviewed: 07-02-24

This is a short, clever murder mystery focusing as much on how to catch the murderer as on their identity. To say anything about the plot would be to spoil it, except that I didn't realise at first that the novel is from 1958 so was briefly confused as to why train journeys in Japan would take so long - it's set six years before the first Shinkansen went into operation.

If you're a fan of Keigo Higashino this seems to have been an influence on his work, especially the Police Detective Kaga and Detective Galileo books.

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Excellent reading

Reviewed: 10-31-23

I’m often not a fan of writers reading their own work for an audiobook. Very few seem to be adequate performers. In this case, I can’t imagine anyone doing better than William Peter Blatty, who gives an emotionally engaging performance with well delineated characters. He does particularly well with Kinderman and with the demon, but really everything here is great.

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Solid hardboiled tale

Reviewed: 07-31-23

Lots of style in the prose, a likeable protagonist, an intimidating villain and a terrifying wildcard character who pops up late in the game. Great narration too.

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A lovely fantasy about childhood

Reviewed: 01-31-22

This was like being read a dark and meaningful fairytale by a favourite uncle, and it transported my 46 year old self back to childhood.

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Vampirism at Cambridge

Reviewed: 09-11-21

If Evelyn Waugh wrote a vampire novel, it might have looked a little like this. There’s no shortage of barbed wit to go along with the bloodletting and the academic setting is cynically portrayed. Unusually frank and non-judgemental discussion of homosexuality for a novel of this vintage as well.

The narrator does a great job when actually narrating, but his character voices tend to be oafish, which gets a little irritating.

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1 person found this helpful

Wonderful memoir

Reviewed: 06-04-21

If you like saucy Hollywood gossip, this is as good a memoir as you’ll ever find. Langella does play a bit “did I or don’t I?” about his gay encounters, but otherwise this is flawless and he is such a charmer with a beautiful speaking voice.

If you want an insight into the man himself or his work, you’ll find almost none of that. These are stories about other people.

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A fun retelling enhanced by a superb reading

Reviewed: 10-17-19

I was dubious about the idea of a retelling of Dracula from the Count’s point of view, but this won me over. The story is cleverly told and there are subtle hints throughout of Dracula’s flexible relationship with the truth. The prose is merely functional, but that means it blends well with excerpts from Stoker.

Robin Bloodworth’s performance really brings it to life. He gives Dracula a seductive purr, entreating the listener to believe his unlikely version of events. His slightly insulting imitations of his enemies’ voices are a highlight. For me he enhances the story rather than just reading it.

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Great book, generally good reading

Reviewed: 05-20-19

Red Dragon is a horror classic, a groundbreaking procedural, just about ground zero for the modern serial killer novel.

Alan Sklar’s performance is generally solid, but like a lot of male readers he tends to make the female characters unnecessarily whiny.

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My family's always been in meat

Reviewed: 09-12-18

This is a solid production history for one of the greatest horror movies ever made, written by the actor who played its star villain. Gunnar Hansen was a smart and capable writer, and as well as offering his own memories he has interviewed many other cast and crew members to get their thoughts (as well as John Landis, who seems to represent the movie's fan base). Hansen doesn't linger too long over any aspect of production, and unlike a lot of these sorts of books he doesn't skimp on post-production even though he obviously was not present for it.

Hansen had a pleasant speaking voice, though sometimes a little monotonous. An easy listen.

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Fun action thriller

Reviewed: 05-16-16

I thoroughly enjoy Robinson's kaiju stories, which pay tribute to the Godzilla movies while carving out their own niche. They're not deep and meaningful, but they're easy to get caught up in.

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