This animal-driven noir features a standout performance.
This SF noir audiobook about a raccoon private investigator features a remarkable narration by John Pirhalla. Skotch, a genetically engineered raccoon and freelance private investigator, is offered a huge sum to find a missing mouse, with no clues as to its importance. But several animal factions are also looking for the mouse, and Skotch faces threats from many different quarters. Pirhalla’s narration easily differentiates a variety of animal gang leaders, henchmen, and more, each with their own cadence and accent. He adjusts his pacing precisely, intensifying the high-action scenes and settling into a more leisurely delivery when delving into sections of rich worldbuilding.
This animal-driven noir features a standout performance.Pub Date: June 23, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 50 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250446121
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. In the third book of the original trilogy, Dan Lazar handles the material adequately. He uses his limited range of voices nicely, if sometimes amusingly--he sometimes sounds like a foreigner attempting to mimic American accents. Varying pitch and pacing make for a lively narration, and his reading of a precocious young woman, who is ultimately an important figure, is delightful. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Hearing Lazar repeatedly mispronounce a word that the text itself explains how to pronounce is very frustrating. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. McKeever reads rapidly, but he also manages to identify individuals, if minimally, and the main characters are voiced consistently. His voice for the aging professor, in fact, is quite charming. Narrative passages are read competently with appropriate emotional expression. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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