The Thirty-Nine Steps

Starred review from February 22, 2010
A full cast delivers a gripping performance of John Buchan's classic tale of espionage and intrigue. When Richard Hannay discovers a dead body in his apartment, he's dragged into a dark and dangerous world of global politics, secret societies, and undercover agents. Accused of murder and with the fate of the British fleet resting in his hands, Hannay must elude the police and
foreign spies, decode a cryptic notebook, and convince the enigmatic Sir Walter Bullivant to believe his incredible tale. David Robb dazzles as Hannay, delivering a gritty, nuanced performance of a man living a nightmare, and with the addition of dramatic music and a host of pitch-perfect sound effects, this audiobook is highly enjoyable and highly recommended.

When he's speaking as protagonist Richard Hannay, David Thorn does a fine job. He captures the tension, focus, and self-doubt of a man accidentally caught up in a spy caper. During these sections, it's easy to understand how this became a classic Hitchcock thriller and it's a pleasure to listen to. It's this narrative voice that sustains listeners through a plot that's a bit too clever and melodramatic to believe in--Thorn makes us cares about Hannay and the England that produced him. However, when he shifts accents, the results are uneven. Those close to an English accent, such as Scots, are adequate, but his Kentucky accent is so far off it detracts markedly from the listening experience. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine