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Reviewed by Olga Markova for Readers' Favorite
Following Jimmy Valentine is a full-cast audio musical by talented Jeff Flaster that reinvents A Retrieved Reformation, a short story by O. Henry. It is 2nd February 1922. Jimmy Valentine, a jewel thief, is released from prison. He vows to go straight, but with the spike of robberies following his release, Detective Jennifer Price hopes to catch Jimmy. He goes into hiding in the small town of Elmore, adopts a new identity, and opens a shoe shop. He also falls in love with Annabel Adams, a banker’s daughter. But when Annabel’s mother accidentally locks herself in her bank’s vault and will suffocate unless rescued within one hour, Jimmy faces a dilemma of his lifetime. Will he save Annabel’s mother at the price of exposing his true identity and going back to prison?
What a marvelous treat of a musical in the guise of an audiobook! I could not get enough of it! I listened to Following Jimmy Valentine twice already, and I am sure I will listen to it again. This dramatization of O. Henry’s short story by Jeff Flaster was fabulous. I loved how brief narration passages interlaced with songs that continued the story. I was curious whether the storyline would copy the original and discovered amusing, delightful departures from O. Henry's story. I particularly liked the female detective, as it highlights the modern feminist trend. I also appreciated deeper insights than the original story offered into the thoughts and feelings of the characters. But most of all, I liked how Jimmy’s reflection highlighted his new identity.
The audio production deserves special praise. The two hours the audiobook lasted were true bliss for me, a fan of both O. Henry’s classical legacy and musicals. The songs were breathtakingly terrific, offering an atmospheric blend of classical music, jazz, and rock. The stellar cast delightfully brought all characters to life and left me with no dull moments. Everything in this audio production, from the sound effects to theatrical improvisations, music, and lyrics, was simply marvelous. I highly recommend this fantastic audiobook to fans of musicals. Open-minded fans of O. Henry will also enjoy this reinvention.
