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A review by saareman
The Listener by Robert R. McCammon
4.0
Telepathic Talking & Listening
Review of the Audible Studios audiobook (February 27, 2018) narrated by [a:Marc Vietor|3044224|Marc Vietor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1467059308p2/3044224.jpg] released simultaneously with the Cemetary Dance Publications hardcover original.
I'd never read anything from Robert McCammon previously, but after reading a recent enthusiastic 5-star review of [b:Boy's Life|36505403|Boy's Life|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509393911l/36505403._SY75_.jpg|16685995] (1991) from GR friend Debbie Y I decided I had to check him out. Coincidentally a mid-March 2024 Audible 1/2 price sale provided this copy of The Listener shortly afterwards, so I dipped in with this shorter work.
This was a completely engaging crime story set mostly in 1934 New Orleans during the heart of the so-called "public enemies" era. The Lindbergh kidnapping (1932) and Bonnie & Clyde's rampage (ended in 1934) are reference points. A trio of small-time grifters come together to stage a double-kidnapping from a wealthy family. The villains are cold-blooded and merciless but unbeknowst to them, one of their victims has a special talent of telepathy which is connected to a similarly gifted teenage Red-Cap porter who works at the local railway station. As the porters in that era were exclusively Black-Americans this book also somewhat ties in to my recent read of Suzette Mayr's [b:The Sleeping Car Porter|61354631|The Sleeping Car Porter|Suzette Mayr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1656260378l/61354631._SY75_.jpg|96766786] (2022).
The story is harrowing enough on its own and may not have needed the supernatural connection element, but obviously some method of tracing and solving the crime was needed, so you just have to accept that sort of Stephen Kingish element to the story. I thought all of this was well done, and the narration by Marc Vietor in all voices was excellent as well.
There was an further element of peril added towards the end which did take it over the top somewhat though and a bit of a downbeat ending kept it out of 5-star territory for me. Still McCammon is terrific in atmosphere and scene setting and in the portrayal of the culprits who are chilling in the extreme (some of them more than others). I look forward to further McCammons in the future!
Trivia and Links
The foggy grey-white cover of both the English language hardcover and the audiobook editions has to be one of the dullest ever designed. Foreign language editions such as [b:Момчето, което чуваше всичко|54150049|Момчето, което чуваше всичко|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592470522l/54150049._SX50_.jpg|52610846] and [b:Słuchacz|61761160|Słuchacz|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659003878l/61761160._SY75_.jpg|52610846] and [b:Слышащий|57904400|Слышащий|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1619819060l/57904400._SX50_.jpg|52610846] did so much more.
Review of the Audible Studios audiobook (February 27, 2018) narrated by [a:Marc Vietor|3044224|Marc Vietor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1467059308p2/3044224.jpg] released simultaneously with the Cemetary Dance Publications hardcover original.
I'd never read anything from Robert McCammon previously, but after reading a recent enthusiastic 5-star review of [b:Boy's Life|36505403|Boy's Life|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509393911l/36505403._SY75_.jpg|16685995] (1991) from GR friend Debbie Y I decided I had to check him out. Coincidentally a mid-March 2024 Audible 1/2 price sale provided this copy of The Listener shortly afterwards, so I dipped in with this shorter work.
This was a completely engaging crime story set mostly in 1934 New Orleans during the heart of the so-called "public enemies" era. The Lindbergh kidnapping (1932) and Bonnie & Clyde's rampage (ended in 1934) are reference points. A trio of small-time grifters come together to stage a double-kidnapping from a wealthy family. The villains are cold-blooded and merciless but unbeknowst to them, one of their victims has a special talent of telepathy which is connected to a similarly gifted teenage Red-Cap porter who works at the local railway station. As the porters in that era were exclusively Black-Americans this book also somewhat ties in to my recent read of Suzette Mayr's [b:The Sleeping Car Porter|61354631|The Sleeping Car Porter|Suzette Mayr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1656260378l/61354631._SY75_.jpg|96766786] (2022).
The story is harrowing enough on its own and may not have needed the supernatural connection element, but obviously some method of tracing and solving the crime was needed, so you just have to accept that sort of Stephen Kingish element to the story. I thought all of this was well done, and the narration by Marc Vietor in all voices was excellent as well.
There was an further element of peril added towards the end which did take it over the top somewhat though and a bit of a downbeat ending kept it out of 5-star territory for me. Still McCammon is terrific in atmosphere and scene setting and in the portrayal of the culprits who are chilling in the extreme (some of them more than others). I look forward to further McCammons in the future!
Trivia and Links
The foggy grey-white cover of both the English language hardcover and the audiobook editions has to be one of the dullest ever designed. Foreign language editions such as [b:Момчето, което чуваше всичко|54150049|Момчето, което чуваше всичко|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592470522l/54150049._SX50_.jpg|52610846] and [b:Słuchacz|61761160|Słuchacz|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659003878l/61761160._SY75_.jpg|52610846] and [b:Слышащий|57904400|Слышащий|Robert McCammon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1619819060l/57904400._SX50_.jpg|52610846] did so much more.