Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  A Very Genre Christmas 

AUTHOR:  Kim Fielding

NARRATOR:  Greg Tremblay

PUBLISHER:  Tin Box Press

LENGTH:  3 hours and 9 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  December 2, 2021

BLURB:

Very little is merry in a private dick’s world.

Private detective Nick Bozic works the mean streets of 1950s Portland, Oregon, shadowing unfaithful spouses and nabbing thieving employees. He may be lonely, but at least he’s not crooked. Despite the festive season, Christmas simply means less dough in his pocket.

With the holiday only a few days away, a regular client drops a new case on him: Yet another being has come through the Rift and needs help finding his way home. Maybe Evindal the elf will help Nick find something, too – a bit of cheer and magic amid the usual brew of corruption and betrayal.

REVIEW:

In December 1954, Nick Bozi is a PI who besides finding cheating spouse and theives, provides a service to the city retrieving and returning those creatures and beings who someone manage to enter the city through the Rift.  These run the gamut of monsters, queens and in this latest case, an elf.  Nick’s job is to help them find their way home.

Evindal is a delightful happy soul.  He likes Nick, but Nick tells him he can’t show that here.  So they keep their affection in the shadows.  But Evindal loves to help people and while they are looking for a way to get him home, he makes things better for a lot of folks.  He also rescues Nick when another case goes bad fast.  During Nick’s recovery, they grow closer.  And closer.  And closest.  Then Christmas arrives and it’s time for Evindal to return home 🙁  What will Nick do??

Well this was just a delight!  I love the narration here – especially the contrast between Nick and Evindal.  I totally was sucked into the world weary life of Nick and the happy outlook of Evindal.   Then there is Nick assistant, Carmilla – who is not what she appears to be either 😉  Nick’s past has been less that ideal.  He’s not grown up with a family and his time in the service provided both good times and bad.  I read a review of the new revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and the lovely Sorry-Grateful is what I’m reminded of when I think about it.  On the other hand, Evindal loves his life in the North Pole, working on toys in the workshop with his family and friends.  Their backgrounds couldn’t be more different.  But Evindal sees something in Nick that Nick hasn’t really looked at in himself.  It’s beautiful how Evindal convinces Nick that he has more to offer and talents that really shine.  While they grow closer, it’s obvious that Evindal is actually very wise 😉  And of course he really cares about Nick and works to convince Nick that he’s worth loving.  The way the story works out is just perfect and I really enjoyed every second of this audio.  One of my favorite Greg Tremblay interpretations and I think if you love Christmas, opposite attract love stories, some fun fantasy elements and a happy ending, you will really love this.  This audio is truly a performance rather than a “narration” and Evindal is a treasure.  Happy and highly recommended.

RATING: 

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