True Tales from the Life of a New York City Cop

Osborne shares stories from his 20 years as a N.Y.C. police offer. Each one contains some measure of danger, hilarity, and ridiculousness, usually ending with a heart-warming message. Osborne’s pieces, which were largely adopted from his unscripted performances for the popular radio show the Moth, work quite well when narrated, especially with Osborne breathing life into them. He knows all the right places to put emphasis, pause, move quickly, and slow down. His deep and raspy voice pulls in listeners and keeps them engaged throughout the production. His thick N.Y.C. accent adds flavor and authenticity to the narration, enhancing it in a way that the book could never achieve. It’s hard to imagine that a professional narrator could do better. A Doubleday hardcover. (Apr.)