Customer Reviews

Too Dead To Swing

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a mystery buff, I found the identity of the murderer in TOO DEAD TO SWING way too easy to figure out, but boy, did I have fun listening to this audiobook anyway! This is a real "audio play," performed by a full cast and including sound effects and even original musical numbers. Broadway actress Susan Egan, the voice of heroine/narrator Katy Green, is a delight, and the '40s setting is nicely evoked. While I enjoy regular audiobooks read by one person, I wish there were more full-cast productions like this one -- the only similar mystery audio plays I've been able to find are a couple of Ross MacDonald's books (SLEEPING BEAUTY and THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE). Books on tape have become a huge market and it would be nice to see publishers try something different than the usual one-reader approach. Bravo to Hal Glatzer and Audio Playwrights for daring to break the mold with this excellent production.

Too Dead To Swing is a superbly written and murder mystery by Hannah Dobryn and set in 1940. Hal Glatzer has splendidly adapted Dobryn's novel as an audio-play complete with a brilliant cast, music, and sound effects. Katy Green is a musician who joins an all-girl swing band on tour through the United States. The problem is that members of the band are being injured and killed under the most puzzling of circumstances. Susan Egan heads a multiple performer Broadway cast in a vintage "whodunnit" that is wonderfully enhanced with original swing music performed by Ann Hampton Callaway. Too Dead To Swing is a 6 hour, four cassette, flawless production that is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library audiobook collections.

This audio play features original swing music and a talented cast. The pruduction quality is quite high and the listener really gets a feel of what was life like in the 1940's. It was a pleasure to listen to and I am looking forward to listening to it again. the story is a murder mystery which takes place while a female band tours the west coast. the actors used really brought each character to life and gave that character depth and a unique personality. There are also three original songs performed throughout the play and I have to confess are quite nice and romantic. If you like audiobooks and especially theatre of the mind this is a must to add to your collection.
This audiobook contains 4 cassettes and is about six hours long. The packaging also contains large print and braile labeling so this makes a perfect gift for someone who is visually impaired. It is the first time I have seen such thoughtfulness go into a comercially produced audiobook. Highly recommended

What an amazingly delicious book! Who'd have thought that you could have an audio book with songs, many characters and a great mystery to solve. I loved hearing it---it just took you back to that time and place---the era of all-woman bands, touring by rail, the bickering, the wit---AND the murders! The cast is great---top Broadway all the way. And the songs should be played on the radio today, that's how good they are. My favorite is "Walkin' on Eggshells"; I can't get it out of my mind. My highest rating.

Katy Green an accomplished violinist and sax player joins the Ultra Belles, an all girl swing band touring California in 1940, and they start dropping dead around her. The multi voice audio play narration comes across more like a soap opera. The retro to 1940 is interesting, and I enjoyed Manny the Brit talent agent who can spin a story with the best of them. But the lame whodunit murders and too little music for a musical killed my interest.

It gets worse! Wait 'til you find out who the murder is. Better yet, don't bother. Take a pass on this one.