Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Millionaire Baby
- Author: Anna Katherine Green
- Narrator: Dawn Larsen
- Length: 07:31:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2011
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense
- ISBN13: SABFAB9780812
The first strains of Dawn Larsen’s narration transported me back to that sweltering summer in New Orleans when I stumbled upon a crumbling bookstore in the French Quarter. The proprietor – a woman with eyes that had seen too much – handed me a first edition Green novel saying, ‘She invented the rules your modern mysteries still follow.’ How right she was.
Listening to ‘Millionaire Baby,’ I was immediately struck by how Green’s 1905 mystery feels both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly original. The disappearance of little Gwendolen Ocumpaugh unfolds like a Persian rug being slowly unrolled – intricate patterns revealing themselves gradually, each thread pulling you deeper into the weave of New York’s high society and its dark underbelly.
Dawn Larsen’s narration deserves particular praise. Her performance reminded me of those Oaxacan storytelling nights – she understands the power of silence, letting tension build in the spaces between words. Her character voices, especially for the distraught mother, carry authentic emotional weight without veering into melodrama. When describing the Hudson River estate where much of the action occurs, her cadence slows, allowing Green’s atmospheric descriptions to land like summer rain on parched earth.
The mystery itself is a fascinating time capsule of early detective fiction. Green’s pioneering use of psychological clues (years before Freud became fashionable) and her focus on domestic spaces as crime scenes feels revolutionary when viewed through a historical lens. The social commentary about wealth and child-rearing practices of the era adds surprising depth – I found myself pausing the narration frequently to reflect on how little some aspects of human nature have changed.
That said, modern listeners should adjust their expectations. The pacing follows the deliberate rhythm of its era – this isn’t a bingeable thriller but rather a literary stroll through mystery’s origins. Some plot twists that would have shocked Edwardian readers may feel predictable to contemporary mystery fans, though Green still delivers a final revelation that made me gasp aloud during my evening walk along the Seine.
For those who enjoy classic detective fiction, this audiobook offers a fascinating bridge between Wilkie Collins’ sensation novels and the Golden Age mysteries of Christie and Sayers. Green’s female characters particularly stand out – her amateur sleuths and observant housekeepers feel like ancestors to Marple and Wimsey’s most interesting side characters.
The audio production itself is clean and consistent, though the LibriVox recording lacks some of the polish of commercial audiobooks. Occasional background noises only added to the charm for me – they reminded me of listening to old radio plays during cross-country train journeys. At just under 8 hours, it’s the perfect length for a weekend immersion or daily commute companion.
As I write this from a Lisbon café, the echoes of Green’s New York still linger in my mind like the aftertaste of good port wine. If you’re ready to time-travel to mystery’s formative years, this free audiobook offers both literary archaeology and genuine suspense. Just be warned – you might find yourself, as I did, suddenly craving a cup of Earl Grey and a good magnifying glass. Happy listening, fellow detectives. – Marcus
Marcus Rivera
