Walter Mosley takes a daring leap by telling the story of a 91-year-old man who makes a figurative deal with the devil, trading the last few years of his life for just a few weeks of mental clarity. Unlike most of Mosley’s young, tough African-American heroes, Ptolemy is old and infirm through most of the book. Dominic Hoffman is nothing short of brilliant in bringing Ptolemy’s story to life. With a combination of standard English and ghetto slang, he creates memorable characters—good, evil, and just plain selfish—and allows the listener to glimpse into their souls. As Neil Young said, “It’s better to burn out than to fade away,” and Ptolemy is not going to go befuddled into that dark night—not when he has unfinished business.
Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2010
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781101461815
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Escape on a thrilling adventure with Soneela Nankani and Andrew Eiden as they narrate this suspenseful romance. A year has passed since Simi Chopra, her assorted crew, and Jack Danger pulled off a lucrative diamond heist. Now, the Chicago Mafia boss is demanding that the jewels be returned, so Simi gets the team back together. Nankani delivers an expressive performance that emphasizes Simi's conflict between her passion for Jack and the mission. Her distinct character voices keep the listener fully immersed. Eiden's lively tone gives Jack a subtle flair and confidence that make him easy to forgive and to love.
Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2024
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593907467
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This is not a story about guns, but about blue pearls. Gerald Browne takes us to the Pacific Ocean and the world of pearl divers and natural gems and mixes in mystery, intrigue and suspense. Barry Bostwick portrays the characters in one voice, varying his intonation slightly for the Asian personalities. His reading style is very smooth, evidence of preparation and interest in the story. 18mm Blues is abridged well, collecting the important elements of the story. Unobtrusive music indicates the end of each side. Disappear into the mystery of the Far East and one of its most beautiful commodities.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1993
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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