Reviews

The Tales of Max Carrados by Ernest Bramah

trevormay's review against another edition

2.0

Imagine if Sherlock Holmes was blind and only took on really boring cases.

mick_travel's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

scarletine6's review against another edition

3.0

I think if it were not the indubitable Stephen Fry narrating this audio book I would have given up before the end. These short stories were originally printed in The Strand Magazine along side Sherlock Holmes stories, beginning in 1914, and were just as popular as Holmes at the time. However, whereas Holmes has endured, Carrados has not. The short stories themselves were 'choppy', and just as a clue had been discovered, we were suddenly rushed to the end of the story and whodunnit. The whole 'blind Detective' thing was not written convincingly, in my opinion. Carrados read newspapers and saw things that he would not if he were truly blind and there was always doubt in my mind as to if he was really just faking his affliction.
I did enjoy Stephen Fry's narration, but apart from that, I would rather choose Holmes.

venetiana's review

i got this recently and was looking forward to it, but i can't be listening to a narrator who says transphobic nonsense.

nithin_shankar's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

claudia_is_reading's review against another edition

3.0

Max Carrados is an amateur detective with powers of deduction similar to those of Holmes but what sets him apart is that he is blind.

I'm pretty sure that he is, at least in part, the inspiration for 1964's Daredevil comics and the TV show Longstreet in the 70s.

The stories themselves are entertaining althought, to be honest, they feel a bit dated.

Fry's narration, though... that is simply outstanding. Really, he deserve the 'National Treasure' moniker. I will listen to any and every thing he narrates, no question asked.

butnotmuchmore's review

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No

3.5

laurenokill's review

challenging mysterious slow-paced

1.5

beesleybob's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

boipoka's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This is a collection of short stories, starring the blind detective, Max Carrados. The stories actually felt quite similar to the Holmes stories - the same "brilliant investigator" making leaps of logic no one else can, a dash of paranormal, and the endings which never seem to involve a court of law, or even the police force. But, Carrados just isn't as eccentric and charismatic as Holmes is - and the lack of a Dr. Watson was sorely felt. Maybe it's just that I didn't read this in my credulous childhood, but the solutions just didn't feel particularly mind blowing or even plausible. It was a fine background listen, but I don't think I'll seek out more of Max Carrados.