Commander Speaks
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Commander Speaks
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Narrated by:
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Virtual Voice
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By:
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Jody Jaffe
This title uses virtual voice narration
About this listen
Commander, a German show jumper recently imported to the U.S. for a successful mystery writer, won’t stop biting his new owner. She hires an animal communicator to talk to Commander to find out why he’s biting. That's an easy fix. Not so easy to fix are the crimes Commander is witnessing at his barn, crimes that he insists be stopped immediately.
This unlikely trio -- the horse, the animal communicator and the mystery writer -- sets out to solve the murder of one of America's most despicable horse trainers, who has an eye for underage girls, and save a groom wrongly accused of drugging a horse.
"Commander Speaks" is mostly a funny look at this world. How could a book starring a talking horse with large opinions and an even bigger heart be anything but humorous? However, the humor stops when Commander and his crew take a hard look at predatory behavior in equine sports and horse abuse. Both of which also happen all too often.
Praise for "Commander Speaks":
“A brilliant novel! A wonderful steeplechase of a plot, utterly real characters and a voice that is distinctively Jody Jaffe. That combo is a surefire winner! I read ‘Commander Speaks’ in one sitting, and I guarantee you will too!"
— Jeffery Deaver, author of the Colter Shaw novels, the basis for CBS’s “Tracker”
“Think Mr. Ed meets Agatha Christie. ‘Commander Speaks’ is a funny who-done-it straight from the horse’s mouth.”
—David Handler, Edgar Award-winning author of the Stewart Hoag mysteries
“Move over, Mr. Ed! ‘Commander Speaks’ is a delightful mix: murder mystery, romance and an insightful and authoritative portrayal of the sometimes cutthroat world of horse shows. At the center is a talking horse whose talents extend from jumping to eavesdropping. Commander is loyal, finicky and endlessly analytical as he tries to make sense of the humans surrounding him. With her engaging style and large dollops of humor, Jaffe gives her readers a ride they won’t forget.”
—Len Kruger, author of “Bad Questions,” the 2023 winner of the Washington Writers’ Publishing House Fiction Award
Praise for Jaffe's other mysteries:
“Jaffe…amusingly satirizes both the newspaper business and the horsey set without slowing her galloping plot by a single stride.”
—People Magazine, Page-Turner of the Week
“Entertaining…Surprising and satisfying.
—Los Angeles Times
“Delightful…I hope Natalie Gold doesn't wait too long before jumping back into the suspense-story saddle again.”
—Washington Post Book World
“Former Charlotte Observer staff writer, Jody Jaffe, knows words and horses. It makes sense her first mystery novel (‘Horse of a Different Killer’) would be about the equine world and move at a full gallop. She scorches the ground.”
—The Virginian-Pilot
“Relax and enjoy Nattie's ingratiating complaints about everything from the dearth of good men on the show-jumping circuit to the problems of being Jewish during a Dixie Yuletide.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Jaffe gallops into the winner's circle…”
— Publishers Weekly starred review
“A tight, no-way-to-put-it down whodunit that’ll keep you guessing, gasping, and chuckling to the end.”
—Lexington Herald-Leader
“Shades of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Silver Blaze!…Bright, lively, self-consciously a Philadelphia yenta, [Nattie is] a most appealing guide."
—Kirkus Reviews
That said- the AI reader was trash and hard to understand (Ms A was often called misisuh and many other words constantly butchered).
Great story
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Jaffe pulls no punches with her summary of SafeSport, the fall of the 'greats' because of SafeSport, 'I Stand with George', and bringing in WeRidetogether. These are cataclymic shifts that have taken place over the last 8 years or so, and are still happening. I live in the PNW, and the Oregon suspensions have hit close to home, and have been talk of many a local stable. The situation with Madison and her family could so easily happen (and likely has) - the ripple effects on the family members tend to move outward with little comment, unfortunately.
In many ways, this book reminds me of the issues in Horse Gone Silent by Shane Leyard, or, especially of Margaret Fletchers "Gallop Girl - A Fall from Grace at 40 Miles Per Hour". Jaffe presents a realistic view of the H/J world - good, bad, funny, ugly (very ugly), and the fact that light is finally shining on the dark side.
The only drawback in this production was the use of a virtual Voice narrator. Many of the words and infections were not correct, although it was better than I thought it would be. But I have to say, it reminded me of the videos that were going around about 20 years ago with South Park type annimation and computer voices spoofing the horse world. Like the one about a rider wanting to buy a horse to go to the Olympics, but had only ridden twice. But I digress.
May the light continue to shine, and Jody Jaffe - You go girl! This NEEDED to be written.
Dead on look at the H/J World!
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