Martin Misunderstood

Zany music sets the tone for this exclusive audio original by top crime writer Karin Slaughter. MARTIN MISUNDERSTOOD is the portrait of a loser, an avid fan of mysteries and mystery writers who is oblivious to murders happening nearby--until he becomes a prime suspect. Slaughter sketches larger-than-life characters using only a few ordinary, hilarious, and revealing details, and narrator Wayne Knight (Newman on "Seinfeld") gives each an energetic, gloomy, or appropriately over-the-top personality. Knight channels the 36-year-old crushingly unhappy Martin, who lives with his horror of a mother. He presents a man bossed by his underlings and taunted by his childhood friend, a man who has a turkey-wattle chin and "an unnatural talent for explicating actuarial data." A little mystery packed with lots of fun. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

June 30, 2008
Who'd have thought that the disrespect and indignities Wayne Knight suffered as Newman on the Seinfeld
series would have been just a warmup for the silly, tasteless and at times repugnant, racist and unfunny material that Slaughter has provided. The author's original audio novella focuses on murder suspect Martin Reed, an über-wimp who lives with his shrewish, nagging nightmare of a mother and who works at Southern Toilet Supply. His home life is an indication of Slaughter's originality; his occupation suggests the level of her humor. Knight, making his audio debut, gives the material his best, which is considerable. His familiar image also adds much needed dimension to Martin's flimsy construction. But the novella is so unnecessarily ugly and hopelessly lacking in either invention or humor one can only presume that the potential for Martin Misunderstood
was, well, misunderstood.

May 26, 2008
Who'd have thought that the disrespect and indignities Wayne Knight suffered as Newman on the Seinfeld series would have been just a warmup for the silly, tasteless and at times repugnant, racist and unfunny material that Slaughter has provided. The author's original audio novella focuses on murder suspect Martin Reed, an über-wimp who lives with his shrewish, nagging nightmare of a mother and who works at Southern Toilet Supply. His home life is an indication of Slaughter's originality; his occupation suggests the level of her humor. Knight, making his audio debut, gives the material his best, which is considerable. His familiar image also adds much needed dimension to Martin's flimsy construction. But the novella is so unnecessarily ugly and hopelessly lacking in either invention or humor one can only presume that the potential for Martin Misunderstood was, well, misunderstood.

Starred review from September 15, 2008
New York Times #1 best-selling author Slaughter (Faithless) unforgettably describes both major and minor characters in a few deft sentences in this audio original novella. As narrator, Wayne Knight, who played Newman on the hit show Seinfeld, is laugh-out-loud hilarious. He gives Martin, the nebbish title character, a Forest Gump-like drawl and makes Martin's motherwho croaks, spits, schemes, and yellssound like Mammy Yoakum on acid. Welcome, Wayne Knight, to the noble order of audiobook narrators soon to have a group of devoted followers ("Knighties?"); we await your next reading. All public libraries, big and small, should acquire. [Audio clip available through www.bbcaudiobooksamerica.comJoseph L. Carlson, Vandenberg Air Force Base Lib., Lompoc, CA

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