Here is the last of the three entries I have written about my favorite narrators of Books on Tape.
Lisette Lecat
Lisette Lecat was born in South Africa. This accounts for the wonderful accent she lends the characters as she narrates Alexander McCall Smith‘s the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency mystery series. Her voice has a melodious quality which brings a humanity to all of the novels’ characters. It is truly a delightful experience to listen to Lecat’s narrations.
Nadia May, Wanda McCaddon, Donada Peters
Wanda McCaddon is an audio book narrator who has won many awards. She has a tremendous ear for accents, and is able to take the audio book listener to distant locations using her incredible mastery of accents. Elizabeth George, Ruth Rendell, Agatha Christie, and Ngaio Marsh are just a few authors whose mystery books have been brought to life by May/McCaddon/Peters
Stephen Thorne
If you are an Ellis Peters audio book fan, then no doubt you have heard the wonderful work of Stephen Thorne. He has performed in television, movies, radio, and on stage, as well as his accomplished performances in well over 300 audio books.
Colin Buchanan
Actor Colin Buchanan is probably best known for his portrayal of Pascoe in the television productions of Reginald Hill‘s Dalziel & Pascoe mysteries. This Scottish graduate of the London Drama Centre has narrated several of Reginald Hill’s audio book mysteries.
Len Cariou
Tony Award winning actor Len Cariou has had a long and distinguished dramatic career in both the USA and Canada. He has appeared in movies as well as on stage. He has also garnered high praise for his audio book narrations, which include books by best-selling authors Michael Connelly and James Patterson.
Boyd Gaines
Boyd Gaines joined the television cast of “One Day at a Time” years before becoming a mystery audio book narrator. He has brought Caleb Carr‘s mysteries to life, and has also won Tony Awards, as well!
James Saxon
James Saxon is a very distinguished British actor who has also leant his talents to audio books. Ngaio Marsh, P. G. Wodehouse, and Agatha Christie are amongst the authors for whom he has narrated.
Brian Glover
Glover is memorable in Margery Allingham’ Albert Campion television productions, where he portrays Campion’s butler, Lugg. He has lent his acting skills to Reginald Hill‘s Dalziel & Pascoe mystery audio books. (I have to admit that some people find his accent a little difficult to understand…)***I just corrected this… I got my sleuths all mixed up! Thanks, Carol!
These are just several of the audio book narrators who I feel a particular allegiance to. Do any of you have favorite audio book narrators who you wouldn’t mind sharing with us?
Carol says
Brian Glover played Albert Campion’s butler, Lugg. Lord Peter Wimsey’s butler was Bunter. More than one actor played him over the years.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Good grief, you’re right, Carol! I don’t know how I managed to mess up those two very memorable sleuths…
Pat says
Two of my favorites narrators are Kate Reading and George Guidall. Kate Reading does books written by Lauren Willig, Patricia Cornwell, Carolyn Hart’s “Death on Demand” series, Stephanie Barron’s “Jane Austen Mysteries” , Jeanne Dams as well as alot of others. George Guidall does all of Lilian Jackson Braun’s “The Cat Who” series, John Dunnings books, Michael McCarrity and others. Their voices make listening a pleasure.
Mrs. Mike says
Jim Dale is a favorite of ours and Michael York is quite pleasant, too.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks Pat and Mrs. Mike for more narrators to watch for. No matter how good the book, the narrator can add to it or detract from it.
Karen Russell says
I just love Lisette Lecat’s interpretation of the Mma Ramotswe series! She’s become part of the books to me, so I’m glad you included her on your list.
Donna says
I just listened to a story narrated by Simon Prebble – he’s good for anything British – I think he did all the Dick Francis books. Barbara Rosenblat is my fav – she also narrates most (all?) Barbara Michaels’ work. I heard an interview with BR and Barbara Michaels (aka Elizabeth Peters) – and the author brings cookies to the studio to try to bribe them to let her hear her stories before they are distributed! BR is always her first pick.
Generally I avoid readings by the author now, as well as they may know their own work and their own characters, they just aren’t actors. Except one: Isaac Dinesen reading her story about presenting a lion skin to the King of Denmark (true story from her own life, can’t remember the title) – read when she was quite old at some type of public gathering, scratchy old recording, but magical.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna, that’s a wonderful Barbara Rosenblat / Barbara Michaels story, and what an endorsement for Rosenblat… to be Michaels’ first pick.
BJG says
Consider adding Katherine Kellegrin to your list. She narrates the Royal Spyness mysteries and recently won an Audie for Twelve Clues of Christmas.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
BJG, thank you for the recommendation of Katherine Kellegrin as an audio narrator.
Anne says
Eleanor Bron and Maggie Smith both have wonderful voices. I agree with you that authors are not necessarily the best readers of their own work but I think Alan Bennet is an exception. Nobody reads Alan Bennet like Alan Bennet!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, I didn’t know Maggie Smith is an audiobook narrator! For some reason, this really surprises me.
Anne says
She has narrated work by Alan Bennet – in fact he has written work specially for her e.g. “Talking Heads.” Like all actors in Britain she has done work for Radio Four and audiobooks are often published of the broadcasts. BBC radio is great for drama and that includes mysteries and crime fiction. The most famous audio narrator in Britain is the actor Martin Jarvis: at one spell you could hear him narrating something on the radio everyday, the satirists used to send him up. He’s a great Reader though.
Suzi says
Not a mystery but my all time favorite audio book: A Christmas Carol narrated by Patrick Stewart. I can listen to it any time of the year and feel like a better person by its end. He does a superb and enthusiastic job of narrating the book.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Suzi, thanks for the Patrick Stewart Christmas Carol narration tip!
Shea says
Cassandra Campbell is my favorite female reader and Simon Jones is my favorite male reader. Cassandra does a variety of audiobooks, including cozy mysteries, romance and non-fiction. Simon Jones did the amazing Bartimaeus fantasy series (by Jonathan Stroud) – plus, he was Arthur Dent in the TV series in the 80s of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
I thought Cassandra could do no wrong, but I cannot recommend her audio interpretation of Sophia Loren’s memoir. It was dreadful – I believe she was forced into a god-awful Italian accent. Sophia should have read it herself. I never finished listening to it. Other than that, Cassandra is great.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shea, I just went over to audible to see what each of them has narrated that I might recognize. She has an impressive list of authors she narrates for. Lorna Barrett, Sofie Kelly, and Jana DeLeon!
M. Hobgood says
Hugh Fraser is one of the best Agatha Christie narrators. I may have missed it on this list but I would hate for anyone else to miss out on his interpretation of Poirot.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
M., that’s definitely another great classic narration job by an excellent actor!
DebR says
One of my favorite narrators is George Guidall. He narrated “The Cat Who…” series. Wonderful voice characteristics. He hooked my daughter into audiobooks.