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Once a Crooked Man: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
A deliciously quirky crime novel from David McCallum, the beloved actor know for his portrayal of Illya Kuryakin on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS. Crime pays. And pays well. Sal, Max and Enzo Bruschetti have proved this over a lifetime of nefarious activity that they have kept hidden from law enforcement. Nowhere in any file, on any computer is there a record of anything illegal from which they have profited. But Max has a problem. His body is getting old and his doctor has told him to take it easy. Max has decided that the time has come for the family to retire. But when young actor Harry Murphy overhears the Bruschetti brothers planning changes to their organization, including the murder of a man in London who knows t0o much, the Bruschetti's plans begin to unravel. After Harry makes the well-intentioned if egregious mistake of trying to warn the Bruchetti's intended victim he finds himself alone in a foreign country, on the wrong side of the law, with a suitcase full of cash and a dangerous man on his trail. And while his good looks, charm and cheerful persistence may prove assets in the turbulent events that follow, none of Harry's past roles have prepared him for what happens next. A turns tense and funny, Once a Crooked Man is infused with the infectious charm that has made David McCallum one of television's longest running, most-beloved stars.
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“To hear a terrific book brilliantly performed by the author is one of life’s huge pleasures..He’s fabulous. Really, listen to him do a simple thing like chuckle winningly. Go on, you try it. His velvety voice is a wonderful instrument, and he uses it to purr, to alarm, to make you laugh while he remains quietly deadpan as he follows his Candide-like actor-hero Harry Murphy through a baroque series of toils and dangers he got into because he was trying to save a stranger’s life. Only an actor could have written this deliciously entertaining story, and no one could have performed it better. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Quotes
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“Crackling, darkly comic.”
— Parade -
“Pretty danged good…This is crime as light comedy, with a broad cast of characters…It’s a three-card monte as to who winds up where with what and whom.”
— Washington Post -
“Darkly comedic…Hijinks ensue—including a shootout, car chases, and mistaken identity. Plus, of course, a sexy British agent.”
— New York Post -
“Highly entertaining…McCallum respects the genres’ tenets, supplying the right amount of intrigue, violence, and sex for a well-plotted, action-packed tale.”
— Associated Press -
“McCallum’s debut starts with clichés that evolve into an entertaining novel. There are surprises galore and no question is left unanswered. He paints New York City and London with a vivid brush. Harry’s portrayal of a somewhat successful bit actor is among the best in the book.”
— RT Book Reviews -
“This good-natured debut gives the reader as good a time as it has plainly afforded its author.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
"If listening is your preference, you'll be happy to know the audio book is narrated by the author, whose facility with accents, intonations and vocal styles is so convincing you'll swear there are several readers at the mike.
— Fran Wood, NJ.com -
McCallum is effective when giving voice to his creations, going American for the Manhattanites, upper-class Brit for Villiers and his wife, adding a bit of a Russian growl for Ivan, and a brash, sexy cockney for Lizzie.
— Publishers Weekly -
To hear a terrific book brilliantly performed by the author is one of life's huge pleasures. [David McCallum's] velvety voice is a wonderful instrument, and he uses it to purr, to alarm, to make you laugh while he remains quietly deadpan as he follows his Candide-like actor-hero Harry Murphy through a baroque series of toils and dangers he got into because he was trying to save a stranger's life. Only an actor could have written this deliciously entertaining story, and no one could have performed it better. Standing O.
— AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award Winner
Awards
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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About David McCallum
David McCallum is a Scottish-born actor of television, film, and stage. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made a dozen movies in the United Kingdom before his critically acclaimed work in Billy Budd brought him more attention. For his many years in television, he is best known for his role as Illya Kuryakin in the series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which ran from 1964 to 1968, and his present role as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard in the series NCIS. His stage credits include three Broadway plays, for which he earned a nomination for a Drama Desk Award for his role in The Philanthropist. His film work includes the 1963 release of The Great Escape and nominations for several awards. He has provided voice work for television, cinema, and video games. His audiobook narration includes a dozen books, through which he earned AudioFile Earphones Awards and two Audie Awards.