Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Secret House
- Author: Edgar Wallace
- Narrator: Don W. Jenkins
- Length: 05:49:39
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2017
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Detective Stories
- ISBN13: SABLIB9785991
Let’s break this down: Edgar Wallace’s “Secret House” isn’t just a time capsule from 1917 – it’s a masterclass in suspense that feels eerily contemporary when experienced through Don W. Jenkins’ narration. The moment that veiled ‘editor’ first speaks through Jenkins’ perfectly modulated tones, I was transported back to my grad school days analyzing early 20th century media at MIT, except now I’m curled up with noise-canceling headphones, appreciating how this audio format reveals layers my younger self missed in print.
The cultural impact here is fascinating. Wallace essentially created the blueprint for modern psychological thrillers – that moment when the foreigner arrives at the publication office? It’s the 1917 equivalent of a Netflix cold open designed to hook you in three minutes flat. Jenkins’ narration amplifies this with deliberate pacing that lets each revelation land like a hammer blow. His vocal choices for T.B. Smith (all clipped British efficiency) versus the more fluid cadences of the mysterious foreigner create an audio landscape where deception becomes tactile.
Here’s what makes this interesting for digital natives: the blackmail plotline resonates differently in our age of data breaches and social media extortion. Listening to Jenkins voice the line ‘Nothing is as it seems,’ I flashed back to my viral BookTok thread about “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, where we discussed how audio performances can make historical fiction feel urgently relevant. The way Jenkins lingers on certain words – ‘veil,’ ‘shot,’ ‘secret’ – transforms Wallace’s prose into something almost synesthetic.
The audio experience shines in the murder scene outside Farrington’s residence. Where the text might have you skimming, Jenkins’ staccato delivery of the gunshots (‘Two men. Two bullets. One door.’) forces you to sit with each horrific detail. It reminded me of my experiment comparing “Project Hail Mary” formats – sometimes sound design (even in minimalist productions like this) unlocks emotional dimensions that text alone can’t access.
Now for some real talk: Wallace’s portrayal of the ‘foreigner’ shows its age, and Jenkins doesn’t fully transcend those limitations. But here’s the cultural analysis angle – listening to this in 2024 becomes its own meta-commentary on how thrillers have evolved their treatment of ‘otherness.’ The audiobook format makes you sit with these uncomfortable moments rather than breeze past them.
For mystery lovers, this is essential listening not just as historical artifact but as living entertainment. Jenkins’ performance finds surprising nuance in Wallace’s breakneck plotting – the way he subtly alters his voice when characters lie creates an immersive ‘spot the deception’ game. It’s like an Edwardian “Among Us” with better tailoring.
If you’re new to classic thrillers, start here before diving into Doyle or Christie. Wallace’s relentless pace (2.5 twists per chapter!) combined with Jenkins’ crisp delivery makes this possibly the most accessible gateway to early 20th century mystery fiction. And at this LibriVox price point (free!), it’s a zero-risk way to discover why Wallace sold more books than Agatha Christie in the 1920s.
Keep those earbuds charged and your suspicions sharper – until next time, fellow narrative detectives!
Sophie Bennett
