Guys Read: The Old, Dead Nuisance

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the idea of a 29-minute audiobook at first—how much impact could it *really* have? But *The Old, Dead Nuisance* proved me wrong in the best way. Anderson’s writing is so economical it’s almost cruel; every sentence does double duty, setting up jokes *and* dread. The dynamic between the two psychics is electric: the older one’s jaded patter (‘*The dead are just like the living—annoying*’) clashes perfectly with the kid’s desperate need to believe in *something*. When the house starts fighting back, the shift from farce to genuine unease is seamless. I actually gasped at one reveal, which is rare for me in any format, let alone a short story. Now, the narration: Bronson Pinchot is *the* reason to listen to this. His performance is so vivid you’ll swear you’re watching a stage play. The way he voices the house’s ‘responses’—half whisper, half static—sent a chill down my spine, and his timing on the comedic lines is impeccable. My only critique? The ending feels *slightly* rushed, like Anderson had one more beat of escalation in him but hit the word limit. And while the sound design is minimal (just a few creaks and whispers), I wished for a touch more atmospheric layering to heighten the haunted-house vibe. Still, these are quibbles. For a sub-30-minute listen, this packs more personality and punch than most audiobooks three times its length. If you’ve got a commute, a chore, or a kid who ‘doesn’t like books,’ this is your secret weapon.