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  • Attack and Decay

  • Vinyl Detective, Book 6
  • By: Andrew Cartmel
  • Narrated by: Finlay Robertson
  • Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (365 ratings)
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Attack and Decay cover art

Attack and Decay

By: Andrew Cartmel
Narrated by: Finlay Robertson
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Summary

The Vinyl Detective plunges into the world of death metal in his sixth adventure. Expect laughs, LPs, cats and the return of fan favourites, Nevada, Tinkler, Stinky Stanmer and more.

The Vinyl Detective goes Scandi noir in his sixth adventure. Disfigured corpse. Check. Grotesque snowman. Check. Headless animals. Check. But in fact the killer is taking their cue not from Scandi noir fiction but another popular Scandinavian export—death metal.

©2022 Andrew Cartmel (P)2022 W F Howes

What listeners say about Attack and Decay

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

All very disappointing

Sadly, music plays little part in this latest instalment, merely serving as an excuse to roll out lame goth/rock cliches.
The book could also do with a good edit as the story doesn’t really start until chapter 16 (almost half way through).
Their trip to Sweden involves copious swearing (for no apparent reason), numerous references to Scandi Noir books, and lots of smug jokes about sex workers and lesbians.
It’s unsubtle, disjointed and a huge disappointment after all the previous clever, witty adventures.

In addition, the narrator hams it up even more than usual, over-enunciating and speaking really slowly (slightly less annoying at x1.15).
And again, Persephone is NOT pronounced Percy-phone. Sigh.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

another enjoyable adventure

I'm a big fan of the series and this instalment does not disappoint, although it is perhaps becoming slightly formulaic. But if it works why not. I was disappointed with the narration Finlay Robertson has done a great job so far on this series but his reading is often annoyingly very slow. I listened to the book on a slightly increased speed which helped.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Formulaic, but primarily ruined by the narration

The Vinyl Detective series has always been one of those Audible listens where I automatically buy the next title as it comes out. This is definitely the last one I'll be getting, however, and I doubt I'll re-listen to many of the others after this.

The formula getting very tedious, with too many one-dimensional "quirky" characters, too much "amusing" dialogue that really isn't, too much barely disguised sexism... and that's not even to mention the incredibly annoying Tinkler, about whom I could write much but can't be bothered.

Warning: Spoilers below

This one also made me wonder whether Mr Cartmel actually visited Sweden at any point during the writing process. I'm a Brit living in Sweden and there were several things about the description that didn't work for me. Nor did the characters of the two Rods, who are a weird combination of incorrect first names (it's Röd, pronounced Rerd, meaning red, and no Swede would say this as Rod) with surnames that in Swedish both mean "herring". So they were red herrings? In what way?

This was just one of the threads that was started but left unresolved, along with the whole crow business, why the accountant in the top hat was hanging around, the mystery of why the record buyer (I've forgotten his name - see my previous comment about too many characters) wanted *both* pressings, and why the audiophile one wasn't good.

But the thing that really killed it for me this time was the narration. I totally get that Swedish is a bit weird and hard to pronounce, but you'd think the narrator might have asked a Swede how to do it. Then again, he clearly doesn't know that Persephone doesn't rhyme with telephone. And if not knowing how to pronounce the name of a Greek goddess in 2022 is perfectly understandable, the really unforgivable thing is that HE GETS THE WORDS WRONG REPEATEDLY! For instance, "Vattentorn" is "Vattenhorn" the first few times it comes up, and then intermittently through the rest of the book, "Barbro" is often "Barbara", and - and I really can't get over this - Tinkler becomes not only Tingler but also another version (again, forgotten what, but let's say Twinkler).

So after five previous books in the series, the narrator is unable to get one of the main characters' names right? Maybe it's time to get a new narrator. Or just to start a new series in which every cat-loving, audio/bibliophile, zany character is called Rod.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not for those easily shocked!

As with all of the series, a good story well written, and well performed. One thing did surprise though. The language has become a lot more adult than earlier books, and at times did seem a little gratuitous (I no prude, but I did find it a little excessive. Just saying 😕)

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The Weakest So Far

This seems the weakest Vinyl Detective so far with a very long period of exposition before the story started, and is it just me or is Tinkler becoming so much of an irritating caricature that he is starting to interfere negatively with the story? This time all of the characters seem thinner and less well drawn and many of the characters who enter specially for this story line come across as almost two dimensional.
Having said that it could just be the narration which is truly awful! I've had issues with Finlay Robertson's timing and pronunciation throughout the previous books in this series but this time it has been so intrusive that I very nearly gave up half way through. He probably suffered by comparison as I came to this after a full listen through of the Rivers of London series read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith who is probably the best narrator I have so far come across (Andy Serkis included ... just) but even so I shall not buy any more Vinyl Detective if Finlay Robertson is narrating.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another good addition to series

Enjoyable romp (in several senses)
I agree with previous review about the slightly hesitant narration and wondered if he had a purpose which was lost on me.
Looking forward to the next one.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another absolutely excellent Vinyl Detective!!

I’d waited to listen to this while I was moving house as I wanted something to have while I had no internet that I’d enjoy and I’ve consumed it in a day!! For me it just gets better and better and I’m thirsting for another one. I love to listen to these books as the narrator is fantastic for this. He brings everyone alive- especially Tinkler, who was on top form in this one. My only disappointment is I’ve finished too fast and now haven’t got another new vinyl detective novel to listen to until Andrew writes some more. Side note… it’s totally got me into vinyl as well!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

really rather good

basically a parody of a well known Agatha Christie novel with a death metal Scandinavian twist. best thing I have listened to this year

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

Another fantastic book in the Vinyl Detective series. Fabulous characters that are so familiar to me now. Clever plot and very funny too. The narrator does a great job - really bringing the characters to life. Would highly recommend the whole series

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Won't be buying Vinyl Detective any more

I like the early Vinyl Detective books in the series but found the previous book (5) pretty poor, however was willing t give the next book chance. Sadly it does not appear to have improved, in fact quite the reverse. It seems to be a vehicle for the stupid behaviour and statements of Jordan Tinkler in the absence of a substantive plot - why is Tinkler in Sweden anyway? I rarely return books but this is going back, so whether the last part gets any better, I can't say - and frankly don't care.

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