David Beckler
- 16
- reviews
- 4
- helpful votes
- 229
- ratings
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FIVE ESSENTIAL NOIR PICTURES! (Christmas Special 2024)
- Length: 45 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! During the festive season, your sleuths are taking a break from the usual deep dives and giving you five essential noir pictures each that they regard as ones you cannot miss. FIND US HERE: ApplePodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mean-streets-the-film-noir-podcast/id1733189837 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0mMUeJThoZk6mj0T2-BAEA Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeanStreetsPC Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth. Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great Suggestions
- By David Beckler on 01-01-25
Great Suggestions
Reviewed: 01-01-25
I was hoping for some suggestions for the festive period and the ones discussed here didn't disappoint. A reminder of a couple of favourites and a complete unknown to look into. Such a pleasure to hear the discussions between the two hosts and be inspired to act on their tips. Triciax
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Case 12. THE THIRD MAN (1949) w/ Special Guest Matthew Robinson
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1949's THE THIRD MAN, starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard, and Alida Valli FIND US HERE: ApplePodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mean-streets-the-film-noir-podcast/id1733189837 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0mMUeJThoZk6mj0T2-BAEA Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeanStreetsPC Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth. Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard
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5 out of 5 stars
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Utterly Delighted to Discover This Podcast
- By David Beckler on 09-11-24
Utterly Delighted to Discover This Podcast
Reviewed: 09-11-24
An absolute gem of a podcast for film lovers. Those interested in Film Noir will greatly enjoy being reminded of these films and hearing the hosts' perspectives on them. I also think general film lovers would get a lot out of listening to the discussions on the different elements of the films. I've listened to several episodes now and am enjoying all the pleasure of a new binge! Triciax
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Killing the Beasts
- DI Spicer, Book 1
- By: Chris Simms
- Narrated by: Dean Williamson
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 150
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 143
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Story4 out of 5 stars 143
The Commonwealth Games have come to Manchester and the city is buzzing. Caught in the commercial feeding frenzy is Tom Benwell, an advertising executive. But the pressure is getting to Tom - too many deals to make and too many lies to tell. Meanwhile, his friend DI Jon Spicer is on the fast track, showing a love for the job that borders on obsession. Then, in the aftermath of the Games, a string of brutal murders shatters the city's newfound spirit.
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3 out of 5 stars
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good story, though hard to follow
- By Simon Dawson on 16-06-24
- Killing the Beasts
- DI Spicer, Book 1
- By: Chris Simms
- Narrated by: Dean Williamson
Engrossing, enjoyable and entertaining tale
Reviewed: 24-10-24
I was thoroughly engrossed in this story from early on. Enjoyed the realistic depiction of crime and of the attitudes of those involved. The characters felt very real and all too believable. There was enough humour in the book to alleviate the more grim aspects which is also rather true to life, I feel. I'll be very happy to spend more time in the company of Spicer in future books. An added dimension was the setting of Manchester which is well used but I don't think you need to know the city to enjoy the book. The choice of narrator is excellent too. His voice and delivery really suit the story and the characters. Triciax
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Under the Cold Bright Lights
- By: Garry Disher
- Narrated by: Douglas Hansell
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 39
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 39
Detective Alan Auhl does things his own way - and gets results. He works cold cases now. Like the death of John Elphick - his daughters are still convinced he was murdered, the coroner not so sure. Or the skeleton that’s just been found under a concrete slab. Or the doctor who killed two wives and a girlfriend and left no evidence at all....
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4 out of 5 stars
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Good story
- By P.W.Ainsworth on 26-03-18
- Under the Cold Bright Lights
- By: Garry Disher
- Narrated by: Douglas Hansell
Very Satisfying Ending
Reviewed: 08-07-24
Enjoyable tale in interesting backdrop. Could spend more time in the company of the main character. Really well read by well chosen narrator. Triciax
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Snowblind
- Dark Iceland
- By: Ragnar Jónasson
- Narrated by: Thor Kristjansson
- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 559
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 503
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 504
Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors - accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik - with a past that he’s unable to leave behind.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Confusing order
- By David G. on 21-10-19
- Snowblind
- Dark Iceland
- By: Ragnar Jónasson
- Narrated by: Thor Kristjansson
Engrossing and Rewarding Listen
Reviewed: 30-07-23
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Both the writing and the narration are excellent and atmospheric. I love how the story unfolded and I found the ending very gratifying. I'll definitely be checking out more books by this author. Triciax
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Monsieur Pamplemousse and the French Solution
- By: Michael Bond
- Narrated by: Bill Wallis
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 72
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 53
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 54
From the author who brought the world Paddington Bear, comes the new book in the delightful Parisian mystery-series featuring Monsieur Pamplemousse and his canine partner, Pomme Frites. In this latest adventure, they must get to the bottom of a mystery surrounding the tarnishing of the integrity of Le Guide - France's premier hotel and restaurant guide. What they couldn't anticipate was that the case would involve a nun who is in the habit of joining the Mile High Club...
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3 out of 5 stars
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Good story but a little too slow.
- By Dunston Patterson on 23-02-23
- Monsieur Pamplemousse and the French Solution
- By: Michael Bond
- Narrated by: Bill Wallis
Very cosy crime but rather lovely
Reviewed: 24-02-23
Thoroughly enjoyed this characterful and gentle tale. For me, it's a nice antidote to the fast-paced thrillers I often read or listen to. Great for bedtime listening as it won't give you nightmares and the narration is beautiful. I miss the characters already. Triciax
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1 person found this helpful
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The Lost Man of Bombay
- The Malabar House, Book 3
- By: Vaseem Khan
- Narrated by: Maya Saroya
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 114
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 104
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 104
The monsoon has started and as Bombay grapples with rain-induced chaos, a new case arrives at Malabar House. A man has been found frozen in the foothills of the Himalayas, near the town of Dehra Dun, his face crushed. The case is handed to the unflappable Inspector Persis Wadia and the man is christened 'The Ice Man' by the national media. Who is he? How long has he been there? Why was he killed?
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4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyable mystery
- By Katherine Murphy on 28-11-22
- The Lost Man of Bombay
- The Malabar House, Book 3
- By: Vaseem Khan
- Narrated by: Maya Saroya
Definitely want more of this!
Reviewed: 17-01-23
Really liked this book. So nicely written and paced. I loved the main character and would like to follow her struggles and exploits. The small insights into India as a country as it emerges from years as a colony are really interesting and slightly heart-rending. The narration is beautiful too. TriciaXx
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Live Flesh
- By: Ruth Rendell
- Narrated by: Ian Holm
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 290
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 268
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 267
All his life, for almost as far back as he could remember, Victor had had a phobia. In prison, inevitably, he reflected on the grotesque way it had begun, about the panics and violent anger. He asked himself, too, why the child of happily married, middle-class parents should have needed to make motiveless and unreasoning attacks on women. Holed up in that house with the girl, he had not meant to pull the trigger. It was panic.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Live Flesh
- By Susan Random on 28-11-15
- Live Flesh
- By: Ruth Rendell
- Narrated by: Ian Holm
Enjoyable tale, though slightly repetitive
Reviewed: 06-01-23
An interesting take being quite so involved in the thoughts, plans and justifications of the baddie. Not in the top selection of her books but still a good listen. Really enjoyed the confident, well-paced narration and will look for other works narrated by Ian Holm.
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Far from the Tree
- Thirty Miles Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Rob Parker
- Narrated by: Warren Brown
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,194
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,056
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,046
Brendan Foley has worked to balance the responsibilities of a demanding job and a troublesome family. He’s managed to keep these two worlds separate, until the discovery of a mass grave sends them into a headlong collision. When one of the dead turns out to be a familiar face, he’s taken off the case. Iona Madison keeps everything under control. She works hard as a detective sergeant and trains harder as a boxer. But when her superior, DI Foley, is removed from the case, her certainties are tested like never before.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding!
- By Sue on 13-07-20
- Far from the Tree
- Thirty Miles Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Rob Parker
- Narrated by: Warren Brown
Went from very good to really excellent.
Reviewed: 14-12-22
What a gripping listen. It was great to find a book where the quality of the writer was so well matched by the narrator. Such a good pairing. Thoroughly enjoyed so many elements of this book and will be looking for others by the author. It's a very tense plot and the characters feel like people you might know, and largely wish to avoid. The ending is particularly brilliant. Can't really fail to please a lover of crime fiction. Triciax
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Café Leben
- By: Jo Leevers, Maria Hochsieder - Übersetzer
- Narrated by: Nora Jokhosha, Tanja Fornaro, Heike Warmuth
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Schon früh in ihrem Leben hat die 32-jährige Henrietta eine Mauer zwischen sich und der Welt errichtet. Das verhilft ihr zu einem Job, bei dem man besser nicht ständig in Tränen ausbricht: Sie soll für todkranke Menschen deren Lebensgeschichte aufschreiben. Ihre erste Klientin, die 65-jährige Krebspatientin Annie, weicht Henriettas Fragen jedoch immer wieder aus, sodass sich einfach kein klares Bild ergeben will. Um Annies Leben zu verstehen und zu erfahren, was ihrer Schwester vor 46 Jahren zugestoßen ist, muss Henrietta etwas tun, was sie noch nie zuvor getan hat.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
- By David Beckler on 20-11-22
- Café Leben
- By: Jo Leevers, Maria Hochsieder - Übersetzer
- Narrated by: Nora Jokhosha, Tanja Fornaro, Heike Warmuth
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Reviewed: 20-11-22
I loved the whole premise of it and the tales it told. It's one of those books where you so enjoy the company of the characters that you feel a bit bereft when you get to the end. The narration of this German audio version was also excellent and a pleasure to listen to. I will be looking out for future books by this author.
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