Radio plays are a new format of entertainment for me, even though they are far from being a new medium of storytelling. When I found out that my local library has the first 7 series of the Inspector McLevy Mysteries available as downloadable audiobooks, I figured now was a good time to dip into radio plays. Radio plays do make for a different - and quite enjoyable - style of story telling. Gone are the descriptive details one is so used to seeing in written books. The market place is 'experienced' by the background noises provided and I admit that it is more exciting to hear a rock being thrown through a glass window than it is to read about it happening. The character personalities shine through. McLevy's brusk manner, sharp temper and lack of patience is brought front and center, as is the bristling personality conflicts between McLevy and his superior Lieutenant Roach and the more laid back personality of his country raised constable, Mulholland.

Inspired by the real-life memoirs of a Victorian police inspector in Scotland, James McLevy, the stories provide a lot of period specific information around the socio-economic situation of 1860's Edinburgh, relations with England, the criminal justice system of the time period - where sheriffs handed down judgements, not judges - as well as the divisions of the classes within society and even some religious aspects. I found it fascinating - and disgusting - how solving the theft of a joint of meat from the kitchen of a prominent member of society was to take precedent over solving the murder of a prostitute and how vigilantism lead by a religious leader - which lead to property damage - was so difficult for the police to quell. What I really love about the stories - besides the great banter between McLevy and Mulholland and McLevy and the mistress of the fancy house of ill-repute, Jean Brash - is that each story is only approximately 40 minutes in length, making them easy to dip in and out of if between books or in my case, when a current audiobook read is missing some of its files.

I have already downloaded series 2 and look forward to more adventures walking the beat in 1860's Edinburgh. ( )