Father Gilbert Mysteries Investigations of Another Kind (Radio Theatre) [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Paul McCusker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2001

Value priced!

When Louis Gilbert turned in his detective's badge to become an Anglican priest, he thought his days of solving difficult mysteries were over. Now, as the vicar of an ancient church in a small English village, Gilbert finds himself at the center of one strange mystery after another. Recorded in London with some of England's finest actors, these original audio dramas capture the imagination. Three episodes include "A Soul in Torment," "Where the Heart Is," and "Dead Air."

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with BILLY BUDD and THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.]--American religious organizations have long embraced radio drama as a vehicle for their messages. Now comes Focus on the Family, syndicating a variety of plays to religious stations on the low end of the FM dial, and now offering them on CD. Produced overseas, these are professional handsome offerings, with didacticism nearly invisible. Father Gilbert, a Scotland Yard detective turned Anglican minister, fights crime like any other shamus, only his perpetrators lurk in the bowels of hell. In DEAD AIR, while appearing on a "chat show," Gilbert receives a chilling phone call that appears connected to a set of murders. It turns out that he is the intended victim, his soul coveted by demons. It's a bit like PBS's "Mystery" series with a soupçon of FAUST. THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE and BILLY BUDD are faithful and endearing versions of C.S. Lewis and Melville, respectively. The former, first published in 1950, derives from Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, a series of sophisticated children's allegorical fantasies set in the mythical kingdom of Narnia. The author was a scholar as well as a writer and religious apologist. The latter presents the often dramatized allegory of good, evil, and self-sacrifice on the high seas of human destiny. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Tyndale Entertainment; Unabridged edition (April 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561799173
• ISBN-13: 978-1561799176
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,208,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul has been writing since he was 10, starting on a typewriter he got for Christmas. Since then, he's published plays, sketch collections, songs and novels. Not to mention his 20 years of work on the popular children's audio program "Adventures in Odyssey," and its companion series "Radio Theatre." He won a Peabody Award for his drama "Bonhoeffer," and an Audie Award for his "Life of Jesus" epic. He has dramatized CS Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" and more recently "The Screwtape Letters." His novels include "The Mill House," "Epiphany" and his latest, "TSI: The Gabon Virus" with Dr. Walt Larimore. Paul lives in Colorado Springs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Faith-based mysteries shine, and falter, July 16, 2001

By 

Matthew Gladney (Champaign-Urbana, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Father Gilbert Mysteries (Radio Theatre) (Audio Cassette)

'Father Gilbert Mysteries' is a three episode collection of newly-produced British radio dramas. The main focus of the series is to provide an entertainment outlet for religious expression. The show is produced by a company called 'Focus on the Family Radio Theatre', whose main goal is to showcase interesting tales with a religious message. The 'Father Gilbert Mysteries' does so. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I am a huge fan of radio productions (both old and new), and so when I saw this new set of mysteries at the local bookstore, and read the teaser on the back, I just had to give it a whirl. Though it has its faults, it *did* leave me wanting more - surely the sign of a good production?

The genesis of the series is that Father Gilbert was once a detective for New Scotland Yard, but a particularly vile case made him reconsider things, and so he became a priest. He now resides in a cozy little English village, but trouble still seems to have no problem finding him. I will give a brief synopsis of each episode, giving you a better idea of what to expect of the series. But, be quite aware that this is a program steeped in Christian ethics, so keep that in mind. It is handled well for the most part, though it sometimes hinders the storyline.

The first episode is: 'A Soul In Torment'. A young man comes to see Father Gilbert as the priest is moving in to his new vicarage. It comes across as though the man has commited murder (or will do so in the near future). The curious priest calls upon his policeman friend to help unravel the strange situation surrounding the mysterious visitor, and the game is afoot, so to speak. This is the weakest story, as the religious aspect isn't handled well, and causes the mystery to not really be a mystery (if that makes any sense).

Program two is called: 'Where the Heart Is', and is the most solid of the lot. It involves a missing chalice that is supposedly housed on the church property where Father Gilbert resides, and the nefarious people who will do anything to get it. The story is plotted well, and some of the scenes (especially those which take place in a crypt), are pretty suspenseful.

The final show is: 'Dead Air'. It explains a lot about why Father Gilbert left the police force, as the villian from the vile crime which made him resign returns to wreak more havoc. We only hear the villian over the phone, and he calls himself "Legion", after a demon in the Bible. His voice is eerie, and it is in *this* story that the religious overtones really help make the story frightening (in a good way). The ending is especially scary, as Gilbert must finally confront Legion, and we are left wondering *what* the villian really was.

As with most British radio programs, the production is top-notch, with great acting, well-done sound effects, and (mostly good) stories. If you can make it past the mess of 'A Soul In Torment', then you'll see what an intriguing series this really is. Christianity and mysteries are no strangers to one another, and one must admire 'Father Gilbert Mysteries' for striving to blend the two in the most pleasant way possible.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Fashioned Radio Drama, October 22, 2003

By 

"lacurto" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Father Gilbert Mysteries (Radio Theatre) (Audio Cassette)

My only problem with the Father Gilbert Mysteries is that there aren't more of them. I own this set on CD and think they are wonderful. The stories are involving and the characters solidly done with nice little touches throughout. My personal favorite of the three stories on this CD is Where the Heart Is followed closely by Dead Air. The stories are first rate but not particularly suspenseful or scary for that matter but they are extremely well done. The only exception might be Dead Air which did give me a little shiver when I first heard it and has my eleven year old completely terrorized (in that shivery way kids enjoy) The stories are remarkably clean and appropriate for the entire family (again Dead Air is probably not for children younger than 10) I just wish Focus on the Family would put out more of the Father Gilbert Mysteries!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the Best, May 22, 2004

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Father Gilbert Mysteries Investigations of Another Kind (Radio Theatre) (Audio CD)

This is the best audio in dramatized formed I have heard. Of course, the themes are religious, but anyone can benefit from them. The quality of the production is incredible. I recommend all of the Father Gilbert 1, 2, 3 (the last one can be ordered through focus on the family [fotf.org]-it's awesome as well) I would suggest you buy ALL OF FOCUS ON THE FAMILY RADIO THEATER (most of them are classic stories). I have! You will not be disappointed.