Following Jimmy Valentine cover art

Following Jimmy Valentine

Based on "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry

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About this listen

A full-cast audiobook musical told entirely through story and song.

Notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine (Hadley Fraser: “Phantom of the Opera”, “City of Angels”) swears he's going straight this time. But Jimmy has baggage that won't fit in his suitcase of burglar's tools. Soon after his release from prison, he's back to his old habits.

Disillusioned New Orleans detective Jen Price (Kerry Ellis: “Wicked”) wants to catch Jimmy Valentine—and feel like a hero again. But Jimmy isn't the villain she'd hoped he'd be. While hiding in a small town, Jimmy falls in love with Annabel Adams (Celinde Schoenmaker: “Guys and Dolls”). For the first time, Valentine dares to believe in a new life.

But is it too late?

Starring:
Hadley Fraser as Jimmy Valentine
Kerry Ellis as Jen Price
David Hunter as Reflection
Celinde Schoenmaker as Annabel Adams
Jacqui Dankworth as Collette Adams
George Blagden as Emil LaRue
Alison Arnopp, Simon Shorten, and David Beck as additional roles

Creative Team:
Director – David Beck
Producer – Sarah Golding, Wireless Theatre
Casting – Fiona Thraille and Sarah Golding
Broadcast Assisting – Liis Miik and Teresa Milewski
Music Director and Orchestrations – Patrick Stockbridge
Musicians – Patrick Stockbridge, Jamie Stockbridge, Abigail Jackson, Miranda Lewis-Brown
Sound Design – Ross Burman
Recorded at Jukebox Studios with Steven Kobong

©2025 melodic.com (P)2025 melodic.com Cosy Mystery New Orleans Thief

Critic reviews

"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... 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."
— Olga Markova, Readers’ Favorite
All stars
Most relevant

Listener received this title free

Now this is something I am not used to listening to! A radio show, packed with drama and music, bringing me back to a time I can only imagine. Sitting in front of the radio and listening to Jimmy Valentine's story would have been an afternoon with the family! Jeff Flaster created a story that is complete entertainment. Jimmy has just been released from jail and we get to go along with him as he begins to acclimate back into civilian life. Not only is it difficult, but the characters he meets along the way all are on their own journeys trying to make it through life. Each one with a story and a song. This is exciting and fun. Not my usual listen, but a nice change of pace.

A full cast narration adds to this gem. Their emotional tugs and fabulous singing voices bring the story alive. It's a total experience.

Fabulous and Fun!

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Listener received this title free

I would actually call Following Jimmy Valentine by Jeff Flaster an audio play rather than an audiobook. It felt a little like listening to a radio show or musical. It was a really unique presentation that felt like attending a performance. For the most part they did a really good job of describing the setting so that you could understand scene changes and follow the story without being able to see it. The story itself is about whether it's possible for a criminal to reform, so it's very much a story about personal development rather than action.

The actors did a great job performing the scenes which included a lot of musical numbers. It was a full cast recording that seemed just like listening to a show. The production was done very well to change from scene to scene.

I received a copy of the audiobook at my request, and the opinions here are my own.

Audio experience

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Listener received this title free

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️

*Musical production recording *

By: Jeff Flaster

Following Jimmy Valentine is one of the coolest experiences I have ever gotten to listen to. This is a musical theater performance in your ears. You get to hear the orchestra, sound effects, and including the stage sounds. It was like being in the audience of a musical theatre show without visually seeing it. I absolutely loved this. Following Jimmy Valentine is about a serial thief who gets released from jail. He says he is finally ready for the straight and narrow, normal life. He is done with a life of crime. Along the way he meets a woman. This was an amazing experience.

The full cast including Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, David Hunter, Celinde Schoenmaker, Jacqui Dankworth, George Blagden, Alison Arnopp, and Simon Shorten did an incredible job performing this production.

Following Jimmy Valentine

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