tay is not your usual detective

well read, descriptive ,and a Jake Needham book 100% five stars for audio books thanks

5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Process information, engage brain and detect

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have sent several emails to friends and family about all of Jake Needham's work. I tell them to read the books and listen at the same time.

What other book might you compare The Ambassador's Wife to and why?

I prefer to let a book stand on it's own merit. If it is too much like other books, then what's the point? I love original work and thought processes. Jake gives us an exotic location, with all its warts, and not only do we learn something, we get entertained as well.

Which character – as performed by Steve Marvel – was your favorite?

Inspector Samuel Tay seems a timid man, who smokes like a chimney, eats too much and can be very cantankerous but he goes through the facts of the case in a unique way. I adore this character as he cares about discovering every aspect of the crime committed. I want more Tay.

Any additional comments?

Don't be afraid to buy this book. I have read twice and also bought this audio. Enjoy the story. You can visualize the location, feel the heat and walk in Inspector Tay's shoes as he solves the case. BUY all his books and audios, you will not be sorry, THIS IS A CHARACTER WHO IS REAL, a police procedural, and what steps must be taken to actually solve a crime.

5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Outstanding on so many levels

I've been to Singapore so the location originally drew me to the book. This is a complex thriller that dips into ethics and moral issues from the first chapter. Made it much more interesting than some run of the mill mystery, and kept me off center considering the underlying social, political, international intelligence issues as much as the plot. Loved the lead character Inspector Tay, subtle, refreshingly humane and moral. The story took a bit to wind up but the background means something so don't doze. I thought this book was outstanding. Loved the narrator. He helped me picture the international nature and cultural mix of characters. Definitely left me wanting to read/hear the next book in the series.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

The Real Thing

Where does The Ambassador's Wife rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'd say this is one of the best audio books I've ever listened to. Not only is Jake Needham's storytelling, fascinating, but Steve Martel does an amazing job of voicing the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I've attended a crime scene or two in my time, and the narrative of the scene in the beginning of Ambassadors Wife transported me into this one. It's almost like Mr. Needham has been in one or two himself. Very well done.

Any additional comments?

I've really enjoyed The Ambassadors Wife and The Umbrella Man by Jake Needham. His descriptions of the locations are so detailed and colourful, you really can feel yourself there, with all of the sights and sounds and dark undercurrent. Just the right amount of humour and drama in these stories to make for great listening (and reading). Looking forward to attending more crime scenes with Inspector Samuel Tay.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

AMAZING INSPECTOR TAY

Where does The Ambassador's Wife rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the audio books I have listened to ( I am 59 years old don't ask me to count)none have charmed me as much as The Ambassadors Wife, perhaps excepting "The Umbrella Man" by the same author. I was a little apprehensive about the narration, given as we are to hear our favourite characters in the voices we ourselves conduct in our heads.I am flabbergasted now but admit that Mr Marvel's rendition of the Inspector is now absolutely written into my consciousness. I can't imagine anyone else replacing him.It was an absolute delight to rediscover the novel through a listening experience .Great God I didn't even have to turn a page - mmm tap the screen.

What other book might you compare The Ambassador's Wife to and why?

"The Umbrella Man" by Jake Needham, also read by Steve Marvel is my favourite

Have you listened to any of Steve Marvel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Fabulous. Cannot imagine anyone else. For me Steve Marvels voice and that of Inspector Tay will forever be ONE.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh and it then it made me laugh again and I also felt a great empathy with the character, which should be odd as I am not from Singapore, have never lived there, am not an Inspector or otherwise associated with a police force. I am from Scotland, but I do smoke.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Engrossing

Plot twists abound! Forget what you think you know. Not your typical detective. Not a predictable plot. Very well written with a great narrator.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

It's a good listen

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ambassador's Wife to be better than the print version?

about the same.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ambassador's Wife?

When Tay meets Cally Parks.

What about Steve Marvel’s performance did you like?

It was consistently even and easy to understand, characterization was equally excellent

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

A Fresh Perspective

What made the experience of listening to The Ambassador's Wife the most enjoyable?

The change of voice from the one I'd grown accustomed to in my head reading Jake's other novels. I'm a fast reader and and Jake's pacing is masterful. But the audio version forced me to slow down, but in doing so tempered my impatience and helped me see Jake's writing in a different way. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
I changed the listening speed to 1.5 and it was just prefect.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ambassador's Wife?

I loved it when the OC says he's counting on Tang to solve a gruesome murder. Tang promises he'll do his best. "Do better than that. Just f&*%ing fix it."
Sorry your best isn't good enough Tang, deal with it.

What about Steve Marvel’s performance did you like?

Clarity. He seems to enjoy language, a taste he shares with Jake. He has a way of changing his voice just enough to create distinctions in characters and accents without sounding like he's trying to be Frank Gorshin (I'm dating myself).

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Jake's books don't 'move you' in a sentimental way. They move you to explore and take action, to see, as Joan Didion wrote, "the tidal bore on the Amazon." I want to pack up an Olivetti typewriter and head off to parts unknown and return with a novel, a broken heart and a bad liver.

Any additional comments?

Jake Needham is a raconteur of royal order. His sense of humor is understated but evident. His ability to take the you back to the scene, the locals, the old buildings, the way things used to or ought to be, is truthful, almost melancholy, always genuine. It's not like listening to someone pine for better days that probably weren't better; what Jake does is make you wish you could have been a part of it and you are envious of his experience.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Not what I'd hoped for

This is (I think the first book) in a series I have not read before. I don't know--others might like it much better than I do. Reading the blurb about it--I was sure it was going to be really exciting. It has all the ingredients--intrigue, murder, exotic orient setting, Inspector Tay--who (as he is described and as he behaves in the book) is the best part of the book.

Yet, I'm about 4 hours into the book, and have felt nothing but boredom. Not sure how that is--can't fault the narration, but even with all the pieces that should be making this a truly fascinating story, I'm not fascinated--I'm having trouble even keeping my attention on the book. I think the story is just so stretched out, that I keep waiting for something new and interesting to occur, but there is just so much filler that it's a long wait.

Guess I'm going to just cut my losses on this one. I think it's kind of cheating to write a review without finishing a whole book. I understand that some books take this long to get set up. But this has not seemed like the establishment of the basics--it just drags. I'm sorry. Bought it during this great sale going on, and now I pretty much wish I hadn't. HOPEFULLY other people will love this book. But I don't.

9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Page turner mystery, thriller, spy

Literally, a bit of tongue in cheek humor, and a page turner mystery in the orient. If you like spooks, police procedure, a slightly flawed hero, and a precise who done it, read The Ambassador's wife.