The Twenty-Year Death Series, Books 1-3 - Ariel S. Winter

Written by Ariel S. Winter
Read by Graham Halstead, Ira Rosenberg, David Zarbock
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Collection: Hard Case Crime, #108

Three complete novels that, taken together, tell a single epic story, about an author whose life is shattered when violence and tragedy consume the people closest to him. It is an ingenious and emotionally powerful debut performance from literary detective and former bookseller Ariel S. Winter, one that establishes this talented newcomer as a storyteller of the highest caliber

· The Twenty-Year Death: Malniveau Prison
· By: Ariel S. Winter
· Narrated by: Graham Halstead
· Series: Twenty-Year Death, Book 1
· Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
· Release date: 09-26-14
· Publisher: Audible Studios

1931 - The body found in the gutter in France led the police inspector to the dead man’s beautiful daughter - and to her hot-tempered American husband.

“A dead body is found lying on the ran-swept street of a small French country town, and from there spins the kind of sprawling, complex mystery which will baffle even the most brilliant, world-weary detective. …Actually from a mystery point of view I’m not entirely sure it makes sense. Logistically it does, for sure, but motivate-wise? Would people really do all this for the reasons stated? Still it’s beautifully atmospheric, has a well captured sense of place and time and is a fantastic page turner…..Obviously then it’s a measure of the quality of this pastiche that it made me want to dash out to Waterstones and pick up a Georges Simenon mystery today.”

Set in the style of Georges Simenon.

The Twenty-Year Death: The Falling Star
· By: Ariel S. Winter
· Narrated by: Ira Rosenberg
· Series: Twenty-Year Death, Book 2
· Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
· Release date: 09-26-14
· Publisher: Audible Studios

In 1941 Hollywood, a movie studio hires a down-and-out private eye to watch one of their leading ladies, an actress who thinks she’s being stalked. Is there really a mysterious man after her? After another actress is brutally slain, the detective discovers the truth, uncovering corruption deep within the studio system.

“The second novel in the Twenty Year Death trilogy takes the reader all the way to Hollywood where the American writer Rosenkrantz and his wife Clothide, who is now known as the famous actress, Chloe Rose, are ensconsed. They are not at the center of this story as in the first book. Instead, enter a hard-boiled Phillip Marlowe type private eye who is hired to watch over Chloe, who everyone thinks is some nutty dame.

This story is typical of the forties and fifties private eye novels where a PI knows everyone but operates on his own. Mobsters, studio executives, and the police all warn this private eye, Dennis Foster, off the case, but as the bodies keep turning up, Foster soldiers on, trying to figure out who is playing him for a patsy. Again, a very enjoyable private eye story taking place in Hollywood, although Winter calls it San Angeles rather than Los Angeles to allow room for literary invention.”

Written in the style of Raymond Chandler

· The Twenty-Year Death: Police at the Funeral
· By: Ariel S. Winter
· Narrated by: David Zarbock
· Series: Twenty-Year Death, Book 3
· Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
· Release date: 09-26-14
· Publisher: Audible Studios

1951 - A desperate man pursuing his last chance at redemption finds himself with blood on his hands and the police on his trail….

Returning east for the reading of his first wife’s will, a desperate man - drunk and down to his last penny - is pushed over the edge when he learns that another man is the sole beneficiary. How far will he go to get what he believes he’s due? And afterwards, will he be able to escape the long arm of the law?

“Set in 1951 and written in the style of noir master Jim Thompson, ‘Police at the Funeral’ genuinely feels like some lost Thompson tale: the small town, a man out of options, a crime and then circumstances spinning horrifically out of control. What’s more there’s the downbeat language and – most importantly of all – the anxious sweat wafting off each and every page. True, I don’t think I can remember a Thompson story where the protagonist made so many stupid decisions, and I would have preferred the ending to be more ironic, but this is an excellent story which really captures its source. In fact I think I’ve read a few actual Jim Thompson stories which were less good than this.”