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THE COLD, COLD GROUND
Adrian McKinty...No question, THE COLD, COLD GROUND is an exciting launch for what is sure to be an anticipated crime series. Great detective stories are built on three key elements—setting, story, and protagonist—and this one deploys each one magnificently. The setting—Northern Ireland in 1981, during the hunger strikes—is portrayed with frightening detail. The clever story evolves slowly as plot points are pinned to cultural biases that transcend “The Troubles”—for example, homosexuality and unwed motherhood. Police detective Sean Duffy wins us over chapter by chapter with his tenacity, his swaggering, witty dialogue, and his record collection—he spins The Velvet Underground when in need of a lift. The audiobook exceeds all expectations because of narrator Gerard Doyle. His storytelling is understated, and his dialect work is remarkable. This is the ninth collaboration between author and narrator, and this team totally rocks. R.W.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award
AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2012]
21 comments:
McKinty "totally rocks"! Brilliant, well done and well deserved. I gave my sister-in-law the audiobook for Falling Glass, forgetting she'd read the book. Interestingly, she said knowing the plot didn't detract from the enjoyment of Doyle's delivery. It hadn't really occurred to me that there might be a separate experience to be had.
Yay! Great!!
(I had to look up "chuffed.")
David
Sometimes audiobooks ruin you for the real thing. Its very difficult for me to read any of those Patrick OBrian novels without Patrick Tull's voice lulling me into the story.
Speedskater
Its a tricky word is chuffed.
"I was well chuffed" is a common expression in the north of England/British Isles meaning pleased or happy.
However "taking it up the chuff" means something completely different.
That's fantastic. I love how the reviewer loses his or her reasoned critic's voice there at the end a little and just has to say "totally rocks."
Just adding that for those who have never heard it read, like me, there is a small audio sample here.
It's much better than the narration in my head, but I might have to stick to that for awhile as it is pretty different.
Seana
I've talked to Ger on many occasions. His provenance is quite interesting. He's English but has Irish parents and cousins and he lives on Long Island, so he's well placed to do English, Irish and American accents.
I'm going to have to try and throw him in the next book by having a hitman "with a pronounced Johannesberg accent" or something.
Well, you're the one who was complaining about those late night punctilious phone calls, but sure, go ahead.
Seana
He is very punctilious but thats a good thing, right?
I am certainly not as high maintenance as some of his authors. I shall name no names...
It's an excellent thing, I'm just saying consider what you might be letting yourself in for.
None of us out here know whether you are high maintenance or not. I expect it will all come out in the unauthorized biography.
I agree with the review. Congrats!
Congratulations to you both. I've not heard any of the recordings, but your books seem to lend themselves to that medium, given the accents and some of the language used. Off to listen to the sample now.
Pleased for ya - and for getting my copy of Falling Glass.
I'm so happy for you as I always am when you and your "voice" get the accolades you deserve. I was describing your writing to a friend, and I believe the word I used was bewitching-how you put us right in the scene.
Congratulations again! Keep 'em coming.
Stevie
Thank you!
Dana
I think all books can be turned into talking books if you get the right narrator. Even that chart heavy Pinker book about violence got recorded in the end.
Kate
Thank you.
Lil
I dont think it works for all my titles but The Cold Cold Ground I think is pretty atmospheric.
Rich
I'm working on book 2 as we speak.
Another accent that might flummox him is that spoken by the wife of a crime writer I've run into at conventions. She's English, and I asked another English member of our party one evening what kind of an accent it was.
"It's part Irish, part Glasgow, part Geordie, and part something else."
That might have been after she said at dinner: "I couldn't sound posh even if I tried."
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
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