Field Grey

Where is Jeff Harding?

It is an excellent book in the Bernie Gunter series, but what happened to Jeff Harding? His American accent fitted the cynical 'film-noir-ish' character of the books. This narrator does OK, but his accent is too English (though I think he is Canadian).

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Monotonous narration.

Paul Hecht should be tried for crimes against Bernie Gunther! His drawl is so monotonous that (when one actually decipher that it is indeed Bernie who is talking), his wise cracks fall flat. A serious crime indeed. surprises me that narrators of this quality attract payment from anyone other than the institute of insomniacs. He has ruined this series for me. I fear I will have to return this book and read it myself instead.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

So disappointed. Others in this series were 5*

I am so disappointed. In the story but worst the narration and production.

I have adored the Bernie Gunther series. The dry cynical man whose off-centre morality and intelligence created a believable 3D person. The last twists in this plot were so out of character and betrayed so many previous incidents within the series. Not only did it not ring true But I dislike Bernie Gunther now.

It is not that Bernie Gunther ran out of steam but the author.

Then there was the appalling narration. Jeff Harding was a master craftsman-accents, characters and ACTING.
Paul Hecht sounded bored and monotone. From the sublime to the ridiculous.

But worst was the production standard. It sounded worse than when I used to tape The Top 40 on my old tape recorder. It sounded like the narrator was clicking his false teeth in and out at the end of every chapter or heavy breathing that made me question which genre this was.

I've spent a very happy 8 weeks with Bernie Gunther but now I don't know if I have the courage to risk further disappointment.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Bland narration ruins the experience.

What did you like most about Field Grey?

I have listened to all of the Bernie Gunther novels up to this and have enjoyed the narration of Jeff Harding who brought a Chandleresque quality to the experience. With Field Gray the best part was the anticipation of a good entertaining story.

Would you recommend Field Grey to your friends? Why or why not?

Not as currently presented.

What didn’t you like about Paul Hecht’s performance?

After Harding's narration which had superb characterisation and an almost tongue in cheek approach to what is essentially a good yarn Paul Hecht's reading is like getting a cup of insipid cocoa when you have ordered a mug of steaming Java.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Different from the early books.

I loved the earlly Bernie books more like La noir against a difficult background. This book still had some of that but brought a lots of insights to a particular time in European history. The backwards and forwards in time was hard to hold on to in an audiobook. I do love Jeff Hardings narration and struggled with the first few chapters of Pauls narration. But i now enjoy the change to a wider and deeper narratitors canvass and without the feeling that Jack Reacher is going to burst through at anytime. I enjoyed this book enough to relisten to it later in the year to get all the nuiances.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another good Bernie Gunther book, however...

I had waited in anticipation for this book, having listened to the whole series in sequence again and was rather disapointed to discover Jeff Harding wasn't narrating. Jeff Harding is Bernie Gunther.

This change equates to replacing John Thaw as Inspector Morse half way through a series.

This ruined my first listen, but on a second listen I enjoyed the story but it was soured by the change of narrator.

However if this is your first venture into the life and times of Bernie Gunther I imagine it would be a pretty good listen.

I hope Jeff Harding is reinstated for the final book.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Why change the narrator

Good story like all the books but to change the narrator after 8 books seems crazy, jeff Harding is bernie and the new narrator is so dry and drab, I recommend just buying the book and reading it yourself cause after listening to jeff hardings version you will be very disappointed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another good stollen cake slice of Bernie Gunter

Not up to the dizzying heights of the early books in the series, but still very good for fans nonetheless.

The new narrator takes a little getting used to. He's not as world weary sounding as Jeff Harding was, but the new guy grows on you.

Can't wait for the next, 'Prague Fatale', later this year.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Where is Jeff Harding

LStory up to good standard but not the same without Jeff narrating please bring Jess back

Best of the series

This was for me the best of the series in part owing to the depth of the story but also the reader. Hecht offered a subtle and nuanced reading, and with a softer (US) accent seemed more appropriate from the outset.