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A review by nglofile
Crashed by Timothy Hallinan
2.0
The mystery genre is stuffed with investigators who don't exactly play by the rules, so why not take that two steps further and make the hero an actual criminal? This is the premise of the Junior Bender series, and I have to admit that it has its charms.
This particular story has quite a bit to say about celebrity culture and the dismal outlook for child actors as they age. Bender is a great character. He's no Robin Hood, an altruistic burglar who is only looking to redistribute wealth. He's invested in personal gain, but let's just say that he sometimes uses his powers for the good of someone other than himself or his family. His schemes can be entertaining, we admire his style, and there's a healthy dose of humor or levity -- especially when it involves a comeuppance for a less heart-of-gold-style character.
audiobook note: Peter Berkrot plays well the resignation peppered with sparks of animation. Good match for this character, and the notes of genuine concern about the well-beings of others are warmly enacted without counteracting any persona as developed earlier.
This particular story has quite a bit to say about celebrity culture and the dismal outlook for child actors as they age. Bender is a great character. He's no Robin Hood, an altruistic burglar who is only looking to redistribute wealth. He's invested in personal gain, but let's just say that he sometimes uses his powers for the good of someone other than himself or his family. His schemes can be entertaining, we admire his style, and there's a healthy dose of humor or levity -- especially when it involves a comeuppance for a less heart-of-gold-style character.
audiobook note: Peter Berkrot plays well the resignation peppered with sparks of animation. Good match for this character, and the notes of genuine concern about the well-beings of others are warmly enacted without counteracting any persona as developed earlier.