The Screaming Mimi Audiobook By Fredric Brown cover art

The Screaming Mimi

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The Screaming Mimi

By: Fredric Brown
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
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This beloved, larger-than-life thriller from Edgar Award - winning author Fredric Brown stars Bill Sweeney, an ace reporter with an otherworldly drinking problem who gets mixed up with a naked woman as the latter is trying to avoid becoming the fourth victim of a local serial killer - "the Ripper". Rousing himself from his drunken stupor in order to aid the woman, Bill sets out on the killer's trail. As he puts questions and answers together, he finds himself face-to-face with madness and death.

In this wild ride from a renowned author, you'll visit an insane asylum, meet a bum named "God", and discover the little statue that ties everything together.

©1949 Fredric Brown (P)2014 Blackstone Audio Crime Fiction Mystery
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Brown was a first rate storyteller and this book about a Chicago ripper and a hungover newspaperman is a classic. It's still one of my favorites.

Classic Macabre Mystery

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If you could sum up The Screaming Mimi in three words, what would they be?

A. Total. Hoot.

What did you like best about this story?

The noir, the Raymond Chandler dialogue, it's a classic.

What does Stefan Rudnicki bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

What doesn't he bring. He nails the noir, the tongue-in-cheek. Everything. And that pure velvet/gravaelly voice. Swoon.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Well, his conversations with "God" moved me to hysterics.

Any additional comments?

I had never heard of this author, but a friend recommended the narrator, and it was a good choice. I love mysteries of all kinds; and though this dipped into sci-fi, it was great fun. I've always loved the Chandlers, and Bogart, and this falls into that category. There's a lot of dated word use which might offend (like calling someone a "drunk") but it's historically accurate for that time period.

Great Noir! Great Listen!

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This is a quality noir mystery by Fredric Brown, whose writing has never let me down. I fell for his science fiction novels and short stories when I was in my teens and I'm now enjoying his mysteries. The book feels somewhat dated (it may even offend those with particularly contemporary sensibilities) and it's alcohol-soaked protagonist might seem a tad cliched now but for me, these qualities add to the novel's period charms. It's a grim but entertaining read which I throughly enjoyed (and recommend).

In addition to a well-paced plot and a very memorable ending, Brown does a nice job of evoking the book's Chicago setting. As a Chicagoan, I appreciated that.

As always, Stefan Rudnicki does a superb job.

Classic Noir

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This is another great story by Fredric Brown. I wish he had written more of these type of stories. The added feature is the reading by Stefen Rodnicki.

Great story that includes what Chicago was in the 40’s

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