The Strange Case

by Derek Kolstad (Creator), Mitali Jahagirdar (Writer), Laurie Kirwan-Ashman, (Writer)

One doctor. One assassin. One and the same.

From the creator of John Wick comes a thrilling modern-day reimagining of the classic story of Jekyll and Hyde from Audible Originals. Buckle up and prepare for a tale of split personas, secret organisations, and international assassinations in this action-packed drama featuring cutting-edge 3D sound design.

Dr. Jekyll (Vanessa Kirby) is an elite international specialist in energy systems, working closely with her handler Louis (David Oyelowo) in a career that takes her across the globe to politically volatile territories such as Iran and North Korea. But when an arms dealer accuses her of having killed his family, Dr. Jekyll begins to question details of her life, who Louis really is, and whether her strange recurring dream has a greater meaning. She enlists the help of psychologist Sigrun (Sofie Gråbøl), and together they delve into Dr. Jekyll’s darker other side, a brutal assassin named… Hyde.

Starring Vanessa Kirby, David Oyelowo, Sofie Gråbøl with an original score by Brittany Allen.

Created by Derek Kolstad.

Written by Derek Kolstad, Mitali Jahagirdar, Laurie Kirwan-Ashman, Nick Luddington and Fallon O'Dowd.

Directed by John Scott Dryden.

Also starring: Jordan Adene, Clare Cage, Matteo Caporusso, Gunnar Cauthery, Mikhael Deville, Jason Done, Siahra Edmondson, Reda Elazouar, Dolya Gavanski, Walles Hamonde, David Holt, Rob Jarvis, Akie Kotabe, Laurel Lefkow, Coco Lefkow-Green, Anton Lesser, Orla Mcdonagh, Nick Nevern, Billy Rilot, Kerry Shale and Meghan Soh.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Science Fiction, Suspense

Audiobook

Published July 25, 2024

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a modern retelling of the classic novel Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It's free through Audible. Duration is 4 hours and 9 minutes.

Production: 5 ⭐️
Narration: 5 ⭐️
Story: 5 ⭐️

It's clever and engaging. Loved it!

[Kacy❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting.

Narration was top notch. Well done.

[Peaceful · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years, I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks and found that a narrator's performance can either elevate or diminish the experience. "The Strange Case" by Derek Kolstad is undoubtedly one of the best-dramatized performances I've ever encountered. From the first word, I was captivated, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, filled with surprises, and left me wanting more even after it ended. This audiobook is exceptional, and I'll watch for more from this creator. Bravo!

[Perm Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my personal 5 star rating system because I’m too lazy to write a review for every book.

5 stars -> OMFG. I couldn’t stop listening. I was engaged from beginning to end. The story & narrator was amazing. I 100% recommend this book & author. I was able to clearly follow each and every character.

4 stars -> It was pretty good. I would’ve rated 5 stars, But either the ending was lacking, I struggled to keep up with characters, or the story didn’t keep me fully engaged. The narrator was pretty good as well. I’m on the fence about recommending this book, It could go either way.

3 Stars -> It was boring at times & I missed chunks of the story. I most likely struggled to keep up with character developments. The only way I would recommend this book is if it was part of a series. The narrator was most likely average or just couldn’t fix a mediocre book.

2 Stars -> It was pretty horrible. I used it as background noise because I hadn’t had a chance to search for another book. The book either had a bad narrator, The character development was non existent, or the story was hot garbage. I would not recommend this book.

1 Star -> The absolute only reason I listened to this book was because i had no time to search for another one & I needed background noise. It was 1 step up from listening to the radio. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my worst enemy. Everything about this book was terrible. This is only recommended for people on death row and have absolutely nothing else to read.

[Amy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this was actually so good.

[M.G. Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting modern twist on a classic tale in the form of a spy thriller. Great cast too! Well worth a listen.

[cloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 it's kinda meh for me, i'm sure the original is much better

[Chub Nub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! Was expecting a low class act but dang man, I’m addicted! I need more!

[KatiEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want a sequel like yesterday!! Review to come✌🏼

[Miss Cecile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this modern day version of Jeckel and Hyde and the twist. I liked the perspective of them talking to a therapist and her becoming involved in the story. The twists were unexpected and the thrills just kept coming, the action keeping the story face paced.

I feel like you will appreciate this more if you've read the original story but you don't need it to enjoy it.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is free with Audible membership.

This is an "immersive listening" experience, suggest wearing head phones to maximize the voice and audio effects. i.e., this not the traditional audio book format.

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars. Listened to this on Audible 🎧

This retelling of Jekyll and Hyde (but with female protagonists) had potential, but unfortunately, it fell short of offering anything truly new or engaging. While the concept initially intrigued me, the execution felt flat, with very little to distinguish it from other adaptations.

As a fan of Dolby Atmos audiobooks, I typically appreciate immersive sound design; however, the use of sound effects in this production was often overwhelming and misplaced. There’s no need for constant effects, and at times, the audio became more distracting than enhancing, especially when listening with headphones. Multiple LOUD car crash noises were not needed.

That being said, the voice actors performed admirably, doing their best to bring life to the characters and dialogue. Unfortunately, their efforts couldn’t salvage the lackluster narrative and weak dialogue. I was relieved that this was a shorter listen, as it would have likely been a DNF had it been any longer!

[Tango · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audio drama is a modern version of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde and I found most of it pretty entertaining. What brought it down from 4 to 3 stars for me is that this is another audio drama that forgets that without visuals and any narrative, the listener gets lost sometimes. And, this was my experience in at least five instances during this short tale. Imagine reading a play with no stage direction and the dialog is not labeled for who is speaking. Much of the story is dialog and the performers had relatively distinctive voices (although I did confuse the two women Doctors a couple of times when they were just addressed as Doctor) so that helped, but the big action scenes were as confusing as they always are in these dramas. (One person's "ugh" or "oof" sounds pretty much like another person's - you just can't tell who is getting hit or who is losing the fight.) Why do I keep picking these audio dramas up? Because they are free on Audible and I keep hoping someday someone will get it and produce these in a way that is not confusing. At least this one did not have a bunch of loud background sounds or crazy music and the conversations could be understood. The four narrators were OK, but not exceptional.

[Shan Tan-Ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this in one day, it kept surprising me with the directions it went in. The early episodes definitely kept the slow-burn horror feel of the original - but thankfully the main reveal doesn’t take too long, since everyone already knows what it will be, and we move onto all sorts of action and emotional shenanigans.

The whole plot, as fun as it is, would fall flat if not for the compelling central character - or characters. Kirby does an incredible job of making both personalities immediately recognisable on audio. The moment where we first meet Hyde was where the show really took off for me - up till that point we think we understand the angel vs demon dynamic, but suddenly we meet Hyde and it turns out she’s… (minor spoiler) fun, and charismatic, even if violent and evil, and hey maybe we don’t actually want to suppress her? This interpretation really digs into the idea that humans can’t be divided neatly into darkness and light, but that emotion and impulse control play a big part too in how fulfilling our lives wind up.

Mystery, action, revenge, friendship and explorations of the inner psyche - the strange case has it all!

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun fast-paced thriller that drags you all over the globe. I enjoyed this take on the Jekyll and Hyde characters (especially Hyde), though we didn't really have enough time amid all the action to get too emotionally attached to anyone. I also felt a little disoriented sometimes; I strongly prefer audio dramas to more traditional audiobook narration, but it has to be written well, and this one didn't put much thought into making sure the listener could follow everything that was happening. There were several times that I got a bit lost and was only told what happened later, or even was left to infer a bit. If done more carefully and allowed to breathe a little more, this could have been excellent, but even as is, it was a fun way to pass a few hours.

[Vlad G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool concepts, interesting retelling and adaptation, and a great application of changes to a familiar story to most readers who are familiar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The voice acting is great with Vanessa Kirby, David Oyelowo, Sofie Gråbøl doing fantastic jobs with their characters. Definitely recommend giving a chance and a listen!

It somehow manages to make the split between Jekyll and Hyde even more terrifying due to how it came to be in this particular case. I'd love to read more stories developing the concepts introduced in 'The Strange Case'.

Top knotch mystery, 5 stab injuries out of 5!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Strange Case is the modern day equivalent of a radio drama. It takes the basic concept of the Jekyll and Hyde story and adds some interesting twists. Here the creature is not the result of experimentation done by the doctor, but done on the doctor. Hyde is not a sociopathic murderer (well…) but a trained government assassin.

The story is told in chapters and is an easy one day listen. The cast does an excellent job bringing the characters to life, but at times the foley work is a bit loud and hard to follow. The concept of the mind house which one personality is forced to retreat to when the other takes control is fascinating and I wish a bit more had been done with this.

All in all, the book does a good job with the limited time it is given.

[Aziz Alkattan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed The Strange Case on Audible—it’s obviously inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but it takes the story in a totally different, more introspective direction that really worked for me. The voice acting was excellent—nuanced, emotional, and helped build this eerie, off-kilter atmosphere. It’s not a retelling, more like a meditation on identity, memory, and control, and I appreciated how original it felt despite the familiar reference point. Definitely worth a listen if you like dark, character-driven stories with a bit of a psychological edge.

[Abizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a freebie from Amazon. A full cast production of a modernist retelling of the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde story, which I can't remember ever reading and I only sort of know from the general idea that everyone has about these stories - but Wikipedia is one's friend in these circumstances.

The story was Meh - Split personality, hyper trained government assassin, etc.

Most of the points were for production and the voice acting.

[Cierra Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone with someone close to me with Multiple Personality Disorder, I always find myself drawn to stories that portray it. I've experienced it numerous times throughout my life, and I can't help but be drawn to stories that show the different sides. The story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde will always be interesting to me. I loved that this story involved a woman in place of the typical man. That's what pulled me in.

I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this book. It was exhilarating. I never knew where the story was going to lead me next. Honestly, I kept finding myself leaning more towards Hyde. Poor girl just wanted to live a little. I can't blame her, she was kept hidden away and used for someone else's own good. The bits of freedoms she was given was a gift.

Psychological thrillers are always fun because you never know if the world is going to flip on its axis. In this case it did. I never knew where the story was going to lead me. I LOVE THAT.

This ending made me think that it wasn't done. That more may be coming after it. I sure hope so. I'm curious where this was going to take them. With so much left un-answered, I can't wait to hear where else they go. There was so many different twists, I won't give them away because you have to experience it yourself.

This was amazing. Just listen to it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting experiment on audio storytelling, although I felt that some elements were only there to shoehorn in the Dolby Atmos surround audio design (“Oh, I’m just going to take my bike outside and let the wheels crush the fresh snow!”)

The story was an interesting twist on a classic tale for the John Wick fans such as myself, and what can I say about the narration? Vanessa Kirby could read through the phone book, and I’d still find it mesmerizing and Audie worthy.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was superb Audible Original production of the classic tale with a different twist. Very modern and sinister. Cast was fantastic. Combined elements of a thriller and a psychological case. Very well done. Cast and production are superb. Hopefully there is another so we can find out what happened! One of the best thrillers I've listened to in a while.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable thriller. Wonderful voice acting. Thanks to Audible for making this available during my trial.

I had read whatever the proper title of Jekyll & Hyde is … but I don’t recall what - other than the split personality - this adaptation retained of the original.

But it did - especially the end - put me in mind of an old TV series, “The Pretender”.

[Keena B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book (free Audible Original). Great story but to listen to it is like listening to a movie - background noise, flowing conversation, action scenes… - so it’s sometimes hard to follow who is talking or what is happening, since there isn’t a visual to go along with the story. However, the story is very intriguing and entertaining. I enjoyed it.

[Aidin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short listen , it’s definitely worth the time . It’s a modernized retelling of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hide and if you haven’t read that one , give this a try; just curb your expectations and enthusiasm . The voice actors are amazing and the quality of overall book is superior .
Plus , if it’s a free listen if you have an active membership of audible .

[Malik Glossop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cool concept, move like a TV show than a book, and sounds better than Graphic Audio as there's no over the top background music or sound effects.

The story starts interesting but it doesn't have as satisfying of an ending as I'd of liked after the time investment.

[Saurabh Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise, and very exciting character build up, but at the end of the day it left me wanting more. I was hoping for a modern day adaptation of Mr. Jackal and Hyde meet Jason Bourne. But in the end it didn't shine either way.

[Ryan Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content Warnings: Adult themes, Violence, Death, Self-harm, Strong language

This fun and dramatized story twists the classic theme of Jekyll and Hyde into a modern setting of intrigue.

The strong characters and themes of this story made it worth the listen.

[Sonoroussun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great spin on the original. Loved to hear the characters and atmosphere on audible. It ended in its own unique way hinting that more could come but it also brought a close to the plot of this story so it was a great listen for me.

[CharlieJLZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very immersive listening - I love these types of audiobooks for when I'm drawing. I call them 'Movie Books' as its like watching a film but not missing key moments on a screen. Narration was one of the best I've heard. A very interesting retelling