Compulsion

By: Meyer Levin

Narrated by: Chris O'Brien

The basis of the award-winning film starring Orson Welles, Compulsion gives a shocking fictionalized account of the Leopold-Loeb murder case - in which two young graduates of the University of Chicago kidnapped and killed a child for the intellectual challenge.

©1956 Meyer Levin (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A Horrible Crime

I found this book by Meyra Levin to be well-timed. Murder of a young 14 year old boy was a case back in 1924. Mistral even decided to write this book in 1956 two years before they let one of the authors of the murder. the murderer was supposed to get two terms 4life.

Narration was great

Chris O’Brien did a fantastic job, especially with the courtroom scenes of the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney. A straight reading would have been a bit boring, but Mr. O’Brien conveyed the emotions of each party exceptionally well.

More Than Amazing

I have known about this book for decades but just got to it. I have been intrigued with the Leopold and Loeb case since my school days and I am so glad I listened. Not only is this incredibly well written but the narration is as good as it gets. The summation of the lawyers at the trial could be the most emotional piece of writing and narrating I have experienced in a novel.

Did anyone listen to this prior to release?

What would have made Compulsion better?

A keen-eared editor/proof reader ("proof listener?").

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I couldn't rate the story itself as I had to stop about 45 minutes into the book. Within those first 45 minutes the narrator repeated his last line on 3 different occasions (that I could catch); twice using the same tone as before, and once changing it. It really sounds more like a first draft of an audiobook prior to any serious editing than a polished production. I'm returning it. Willing to give it another shot if they ever touch this version up.