Welcome to our archive of December 2000 audiobook reviews. A good
audiobook is very much like the old time radio programs (which are fun to download) because they put on a stage
performance entirely with sound. We can't get enough of them, and now they're available on both cassette and CD, and
many websites now allow you to download audiobooks (as well as e-books) for iPods and other MP3 players. Whether you like to
call it a book on tape, an audiobook, or even a podcast, we present our audiobook reviews for your enjoyment.
Let's begin with Buster's letter to his American friends in which he tells us about how famous he has become in Britain. All he did, he tells us, is defend himself against an aggressive royal goose at Buckingham Palace. The press has been hounding him, so his has put his paw to paper to tell his side of the story. It is, as he says, a "heartwarming" story wherein he tells a lot the secret things that occur between a pet and his human.
Well worth a listen for the lighthearted listener.
Casey Jordan is an attorney. Her former teacher Eric Lipton has been accused in the brutal murder of one of his young students. The professor is caught on his way to the airport with incriminating evidence in his possession. He expects that Casey can work her magic in the courtroom and inject enough doubt in the mind of the jury to save him. This is a dream case for Casey but soon she has to decide whether to uphold her legal oath to protect her client or to join forces with an obsessed father who demands justice. More bodies turn up and Casey realizes that she could be next. Lots of suspense and danger here.
Straub who wrote GHOST STORY among other scary tales gives us one of the most unsettling story collections to hear. "Bunny in Good Bread" takes us into the mind of a small boy to show us how a serial killer is created. "Hunger" is a tale told to us by the ghost of a murderer where we are shown that life on earth is beautiful but which is only really appreciated by the dead. "Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff" is a black comedy of revenge. Mrs. Asch is the fearless guide who takes us into an unknown country in the feature story, "Ashputtle."
Ron McClarty is a familiar face from films and Broadway. He takes us through these Straub tales in just the correct voice form.
Leonard opens this story in Africa where we meet Father Terry Dunn. He is the only priest for miles around.. He resides in Rwanda and is a survivor of a terrible massacre. There were 47 bodies in the aftermath of the attack which occurred during the service in his church and Father Dunn was forced to watch the slaughter from his pulpet. We learn that the truth is that he may not really be a priest but has been playing that roll for a while. He decides to take revenge on the murderers and shoots them all down in a bar. Then he leaves Africa in a hurry.
When he is back at home in Detroit he meets Debbie Dewey who has just gotten out of jail. Debbie is now trying to make it as a stand-up comic. The combine to raise a lot of money. This is a pair to meet and an adventure to follow.
Gerard Logan is a glassblower of some fame. His good friend Martin Stukely is a jockey and invites Gerard to watch him race. Martin dies from a fall during the race. He has left a videotape for Logan, which is promptly stolen along with every videotape that Gerald and at the same time all the tape that Martin's widow owns are stolen also.
It's a grand mystery with all the usual skill of Francis' writing. This author entices the readers into a different world to experience and learn about horses, races and this time a lot about the art of glassblowing. The characters are always regular guys who get caught in the middle of some tragedy or murder. This time Gerard Logan is just a bloke who owns a small shop where he employs three helpers who are in training in the glassblowing business. It's Christmas time and Gerard is really busy making and selling gimcracks to sell the tourists who invade the town. Fortunately, Gerard is bright enough to figure out some of the mystery. Unfortunately, he is beaten up severely along the way.
In the end, it all is explained and it was a particularly convoluted mystery. One to enjoy.
Be sure to visit us again next month when we'll
review more great audiobooks! Our
audiobook reviews are written by our Editor, Richard L. Trethewey.
Rainbo Electronic Reviews' audiobook reviews are published monthly. Back issues of our
reviews are available from the Rainbo Reviews Backissues Archive.
We're proud to announce that the reviews archive is now searchable by category so you can find audiobooks (or audio books) we've reviewed in the past.
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