The Tales of Max Carrados

By: Ernest Bramah

Narrated by: Stephen Fry

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusive audio collection. Eleven Max Carrados stories - narrated by national treasure Stephen Fry.

Max Carrados featured in a series of mystery stories that first appeared in 1914. Carrados featured alongside Sherlock Holmes in The Strand magazine, in which they both had top billing. The character often boasted how being blind meant his other senses were heightened.

• 'The Coin of Dionysus'
• 'The Game Played in the Dark'
• 'The Holloway Road Flat Tragedy'
• 'The Curious Circumstances of the Two Left Shoes'
• 'The Secret of Headlam Height'
• 'The Mystery of the Vanished Crown'
• 'The Ingenious Mind of Mr Rigby Lacksome'
• 'The Strange Case of Cyril Bycourt'
• 'The Crime at the House in Culver Street'
• 'The Bunch of Violets'
• 'The Missing Witness Sensation'

Public Domain (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Critic reviews

"[Narrator Stephen] Fry gives Max a perfect plummy voice and has equal fun with colorful supporting characters and ne'er-do-wells. His lovely mix of realistic conversation and pacing, as well as the occasional slow wink, encourages listeners to succumb in pleasure." ( AudioFile)

Charming Early 20th Century Stories

This collection of stories, written in the early 1900's, is charming and highly engaging IF the listener is ready to give the book undivided attention. The stories are populated with interesting characters and unusual crimes presented as rather dense logic puzzles. Once I adjusted my expectations to fit the style and time period I really enjoyed my time with the charming Max Carrados. Stephen Fry's narration is perfection in this setting.

If you are looking for a plot with lots of action, sustained character development and stories which let the reader anticipate 'who dun it', then I don't recommend this book.

Intriguing!

The tales were interesting although sometimes they seemed to end rather abruptly. Some of the antics of Max Carrados were difficult to believe. I kept expecting him to be exposed as a fraud and not really blind. Some of his actions seem too fantastical to be believed. How can you tell the color of wallpaper from touch or even smell.

Of course Stephen Fry did an amazing job. My only complaint is that his American characters had such annoying voices.

BUY IT FOR STEVEN FRY, BUT KNOW IT IS WONDERFUL

Any additional comments?

The Tales of Max Carrados are eleven short stories by Ernest Bramah set in the 1900's, featuring blind detective Max Carrados. The stories are mostly interesting, some better than others, and give the reader a glimpse of the world prior to the start of World War I.

Stephen Fry does his usual superb job narrating the stories, some of which, while resolving themselves, end abruptly. I caught myself having to rewind since I thought the next story was part of the previous one because of the abrupt ending. You may find, as I did that, that the most enjoyment can be had by reading a single story at a time, taking a short break, and then returning to listen to the next story.

Stephen Fry + great material

Any additional comments?

Stephen Fry adds to the Holmes-like hero and conundrums a stageful of character voices.

Old Fashioned Sleuth Story

Stephen Fry is the perfect voice for this old fashioned mystery series.
Fairly entertaining story.

Narration

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

The writer, yes, not the performer.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not really.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

It was all him and very little Bramah or Carrados.

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

Not really

Any additional comments?

The problem with most “celebrity” narrators, is that they induce so much drama into a performance to the extent of obscuring the very work they are narrating. In this particular instance, it was almost all Stephen Frey and very littlle Ernest Bramah or Max Carrados. Couldn’t complete this, half way, I had to call it quits.

What a delight

Blindness hasn’t slowed down Mr Carrados, in life or sleuthing. A delightful stack of adventures.

Great listen with Stephen Fry

One of my favorite narrators is ideal voice(s) match for this series. I enjoyed the author's style quite a bit.

A blind Sherlock Holmes.

Written and set in the 1910s. Carrados has amazing abilities even though he is blind. Interesting, but sometimes the narrative plods or meanders, as is often the case with British writing from that period. if you like the original Sherlock Holmes stories, you will probably enjoy these as well.

Witty and Entertaining

A very witty and entertaining account of the adventures of Max Carrados who always extracts himself from impossible situations using superior deduction. As expected, Stephen Fry's narration is excellent, with many different characters beautifully portrayed.