DECODED

Narrator Ryan Gesell's delivery limits the potential of this contemporary thriller, one of China's bestselling novels. His use of an accent to portray a Chinese character interferes with the listener's experience of the story. Furthermore, over-enunciation and a pedantic pace prevent the narrative from gaining the necessary momentum. Gesell's deliberate, measured delivery may be an interpretation of Chinese characters and society. However, the effect is of long, wandering sentences during which listeners may find their minds wandering. Lacking narrative drive, the audiobook may not accurately capture the vividness of the novel itself. M.R. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]