From Publishers Weekly
When first hearing William Dufris, as the cowboy/writer Otto Amlingmeyer, narrate Hokensmith's second mystery, listeners might initially think they are hearing a children's book. Not because of the content, but because of the downright goofy caricature of this Dr. Watson of the old West (to his brother Gustav's Holmes.) Dufris's over-the-top playing of Otto (aka Big Red) is initially jarring. However, within an hour, what seemed a distraction becomes a strength. In fact, Big Red soon endears himself to the listener as he recounts the tale of his illiterate would-be Sherlock Holmes big brother. It is no surprise that hyperbolic characterizations are natural to Dufris. Astute listeners may recognize his voice as TV's Bob the Builder. His colorful characters are all a bit cartoonish and that ends up being part of the charm of this package. His women are breathy, his Asians are Chan-like, and his newsboy is a hopped-up Jimmy Olsen. Hockensmith's material and Dufris's thespian silliness are a perfect complement to one another: its Watson and Holmes, meet Martin and Lewis.
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From AudioFile
Its MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS in the Old West. The continuing saga of Otto Big Red and Gustav Old Red Amlingmeyer (Holmes on the Range) is a genuine knee-slapper. When the brothers are hired to guard the Southern Pacific Railroad from the train-robbing Give-em-Hell Boys, Gustav, an ardent admirer of Sherlock Holmes, begins deducifying, with Otto providing the muscle, along with sarcastic observations. William Dufris gives an engaging performance of the likable cowpokes and the unruly assortment of scoundrels and neer-do-wells that surround them. His attitude is pitch-perfect to the period as are his renderings of a drunken ex-lawman, a beautiful woman, a rail-riding bum with pretensions, a Chinese doctor, a Negro porter, and many more eccentrics. Dufris brings flamboyance, charm, and hilarity to Hockensmiths wild, wild Western. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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edition.
