The Big Fix

Jack Bergin #2

by John Mankiewicz, Audible Originals (publisher)

Jon Hamm returns as intrepid private eye Jack Bergin in this thrilling, hard-boiled Audible Original series. Set against the backdrop of the real-life battle to bring the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles, Bergin investigates a brutal murder at the request of an old flame (Ana de la Reguera), and uncovers a deadly conspiracy to forcefully evict a Mexican-American community. Created by writer/executive producer John Mankiewicz, directed by Aaron Lipstadt and featuring a star-studded cast, including Erin Moriarty, Omar Epps, and Alia Shawkat, The Big A Jack Bergin Mystery is a gritty and winding tale that delivers both meaning and mayhem with a solid punch.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Detective

5 pages, Audiobook

First published April 24, 2025

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I only listen to this book because Taylor Zakhar Perez voices one of the characters? Yes
Did it turn out to be a pretty good story as well? Also yes!

[☮Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK listen with a full cast of characters, starring John Hamm. He was the best part. Otherwise, presenting it like an old fashioned radio programme -- very little narration, lots of conversations -- is not my favorite way to go.

[Steven Kaht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun simple quick read

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terrible book, reminiscent of 50s radio mystery. Decent mystery.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the quick wit of noir the classic Hammet “so do you know who shot him?’ “Yes, someone with a gun.’ Those line are rampant in this story. It was a quick fun read for anyone who enjoyed the men were men and the bad guys are the bad guys tales, both drop one liners that are classic noir style. I will read the next one.

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder with a young Mexican man accused of the crime. The Brooklyn Dodgers on the verge of moving West to Los Angeles. A minority community being displaced to facilitate a new stadium. This is the background as Jack Bergin, voiced by John Hamm, begins to dig into the murder. Now a private eye, since leaving the FBI, Bergin must get to the truth.

Listens like an old time detective show. Multiple actors voicing the characters. An easy listen, coming in at four and a half hours. Jon Hamm has the perfect voice for Bergin.

Well worth the listen. Good follow up to the first in the series, The Big Fix.

[Sarah Edman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - great special effects on the Audible but just too many characters to follow

[Lisa]

What a fun performance. I enjoyed the voice actors. The old school film noir vibe mixed with the historical setting and reality about gentrification was the right mix for my entertainment. It wasn’t meant to be a traditional novel, so I didn’t expect it to be. Fun to listen to—not necessarily full of surprises, but solid characters (if stock).

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just so hyped up that I think I just expected too much of it. It was okay, but it wasn’t spectacular. The full cast was phenomenal though. I wish more of the audios I listen to were full cast. I completely understand why they aren’t.

[Sammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still not a fan of full cast...

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but not spectacular. Good use of multiple narrators in this made for Audible 1950s detective thriller. Was hoping for more LA Dodger interweaving. Also didn't get a true 50s era vibe from this listen.

[Cory Hawksbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast talking high pants LA Confidential style detective yarn. I liked that there was a little baseball history thrown in for good measure. Not sure if I would continue to read this series, though.

[Alisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to this because of Jon Hamm, who did a stellar job. Also because I dig Raymond Chandler. But. The production and writing was histrionic, inauthentic to 1957 norms, and filled with Hollywood tropes.

Basically, if you need junk to listen to while on the treadmill, consider it.

[Capt. Hornblower Of His Majesty’s Navy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Big Fix
A Jack Bergin Mystery
By Ben Mankiewicz

Overview 📝
From Google AI:
Neo-noir is a film genre that takes the visual style and themes of classic film noir (1940s and 1950s) and adapts them for a modern audience. It's often characterized by a cynical, sometimes graphic depiction of crime, violence, and flawed characters, often set in urban environments. Neo-noir films may also feature visual elements like low-key lighting, dark shadows, and a sense of paranoia or unease.

This is an “Audible Original” Neo-Noir Audiobook in an episodic or podcast format. It is the follow up to its first iteration “The Big Lie” which introduces the main character, Jack Bergin, played by notable screen actor Jon Hamm. The story opens with a druggie turned police informant being thrown down a stairwell at a prominent LA hotel and events kickoff from there.

The Good 😊
1. Superb soundscaping. It could’ve been a movie I was listening to for all I knew.
2. Loved the voice acting. Jon Hamm especially. His scratching, deep voice really gets that Neo-Noir vibe.
3. Lots of suspects. Multiple sub plots. Lots of twists and turns. Quite a bit of unraveling by the last episode.

The Meh 🤢
1. The murder at the beginning set certain bigger events in motion but the victim himself was someone of very little consequence. Kind of wish there was more of a story behind him.
2. Lala felt more like a sister or a motherly figure than a cousin to Diego. As a cousin, it felt weird that she was trying so hard to get him off the hook. Maybe Hispanic culture is different though.
3. Ag Walker’s untrustworthiness from the first Jack Bergin production went on and on. Those who haven’t listened to it yet, like me, will be clueless for a long time. Not until episode 7 was her burning Jack made clearer.
4. The obligatory lighting up the cigarette per episode felt contrived.

Final Thoughts 🤔
I love a good neo-noir mystery. But when a story copies too many things from another story, I start to get agitated, even if the production value was well done (which it is). Many plot elements are the same as the 1997 Neo-Noir film “LA Confidential” with Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kevin Spacey et al.

1. Jack Bergin = mash up between Kevin Spacey’s Jack Vincennes and Guy Pearce’s Ed Exley.
2. Like in LA Confidential, a sensationalist news reporter Agatha “Ag/Aggie” Walker will do whatever it takes for a story (compare to Danny DeVito’s Sid Hudgens).
3. Like in LA Confidential, a City Councilman has a shady past with a homosexual bent.
4. Like in LA Confidential, a “forbidden love affair” occurs with Charlie & Diego (compare to Bud White & “Veronica Lake”).
5. Like in LA Confidential, a minority figure is framed for the main murder conspiracy.
6. Like in LA Confidential, this story involves trying to steal some of Micky Cohen’s power and influence.
7. Like in LA Confidential, the Bad Guy Mastermind is someone who should be on the side of the Good Guys.

Complicating the problem of plagiarizing parts of another production, the morals of the story fall way short and are utterly uninspiring. After all the dust settles from the ending, what’s left are 2 “zero sum games” between 1) Charlie and Diego; and 2) The Solano Canyon community. See spoilers below if interested.

Having said that, all the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed. And there is a happy ending of sorts.

Performance: 5 Stars
Story: 2 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars ⭐️


Spoilers: 🍅
1. Charles Franklin’s lawyer, Sam Sawyer, is the evil criminal mastermind. Influenced by Leo Conway’s grand hotel resort scheme next to the Dodgers Stadium, Sawyer is behind the Solano Canyon Real Estate deals, Diego’s wrongful arrest, Diego’s subsequent plea deal, and the attempted Mickey Cohen blackmail.
2. The Franklin-Conway real estate empire is put into jeopardy by a frivolous heiress (Charlie) who has an affair with a poor, young Mexican trumpet player (Diego Garza).
3. Instead of Charlie recanting her transgressions, her mom (Barbara “Babe” Franklin) kills Leo for physically lashing out at his frivolous wife, Charlie, once Leo finds out that Charlie is having an affair with Diego.
4. So when Diego finally gets out of jail, Charlie and Diego live happily ever after, right? Riiiight? That’s a big fat no. Charlie realizes that it would never work between them and they go their separate ways. Huh?????
5. Meanwhile, the Solano Canyon homeowner crisis is temporarily subverted when Jack figures out that Sawyer is behind everything, but in the epilogue the neighborhoods are cleared out anyway (which is apparently where the “inspired by true events” comes from) for the new Dodger stadium and surrounding amenities.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A fun little romp featuring hard-boiled detective Jack Bergin, written in the vein of Dashiell Hammett. The audio production was excellent, with so much ice clinking and lighter striking that it made me want a drink and a cigarette and I don't even smoke! The story was sort of convoluted, with a lot of twists and turns, that made it difficult to follow in an audio format.
Jack, a former FBI agent, is now a PI and is asked by his former lover, Lala, to help get her cousin, Diego, out of jail for a murder that he didn't commit. That is just the tip of a very corrupt iceberg that involves the mob, shady property developers and the Dodgers baseball team. Diego has an alibi for the time of the murder but he won't use it because his lover, Charlie, is married to hot shot property developer, Leo, and is daughter to millionaire Franklin. But Charlie also asks Jack for help getting Diego out of jail, using any means necessary besides her testimony. Jack refuses but when he follows her to give her back the retainer that she left, he walks into a murder scene where Leo is found shot to death on the floor. Charlie goes on the run and Franklin hires Jack to find her and catch the killer before the police arrest Charlie. When Jack catches up to Charlie, she tells him that her husband was pulling a shady deal to buy up property near Chavez Ravine, the new home of the Dodgers, in order to build a resort hotel and restaurants to support the tourism that the baseball team will draw in. But Franklin wouldn't go along with the scheme because he knew that his son-in-law was up to his next in debt with the mob and Charlie has the books that she stole to prove it. So did the mob kill Leo? They certainly want to get their hands on the crooked books before the police do so they hire Jack to get them. Jack has to do a delicate dance to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. There were a lot of moving parts and side plots but in the end he figures out that Charlie's mom killed Leo because he was beating her daughter. She was never a suspect because she is reliant on an iron lung due to polio but apparently she can be out of it for long enough to drive from her house to kill Leo. Diego is released when Jack provides evidence that a studio exec was responsible and Diego was framed. And the property near Chavez Ravine, where Lala and her family live, is saved from the bulldozers. Along the way, Jack helps a female reporter by giving her an exclusive scoop so that she can move up from the society beat.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Audible Original podcast of a story set in the fifties, LA, featuring a detective, Jack Bergin, voiced by Jon Hamm, somewhat in the manner of Dashiell Hammett. The point is the rich and corrupt and what they will do to the poor to get what they want. Jack is asked by his former lover, Lala, to help get her brother Diego out of jail. What emerges is the politically corrupt background of how the Brooklyn Dodgers found a home in LA. If Hammett is being in part honored here it is the Hammett of Red Harvest--with its serious focus on political corruption--more than the screwball Thin Man books or The Maltese Falcon.

How, in short, does a place emerge for the Dodgers to make a home in LA? By displacing/stealing/razing homes from MexicanAmericans in the Chavez Ravine area. It starts with the city's decision to take the team, some way, somehow. Then you need politicos and shady real estate developers and the mob creating shell corporations and so on, rezoning a residential area to make it commercial, and after initially offering residents a fast deal on the homes they had but there. Then strong arm tactics, because, you know, we gotta have a baseball team! Pronto! America's favorite pastime! The all American game!

Note: You will not find any of this information on Walter O'Malley's site or on the MLB site. You don't want uncomfortable racist history to get in the way of a feel-good tale! (Though to their credit, the MLB and Cooperstown does a good job of admitting its disgraceful racist past with all the Jackie Robinson's predecessors denied a place in the Bigs, and their separate but unequal Negro Leagues. That I learned of Satchel Paige and others when I was in elementary school is kind of surprising, in retrospect).

The story is pretty solid, with some good dialogue, fast pace. I like Hamm as Bergin. Feels like an okay re-creation of a fifties radio crime drama, with greater attention to/respect for ethnicity (telling the truth about the racism in it).

[Yavor Vlaskov · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am much happier with the direction the most this one has taken; there is an actual noir feel to it, and there is an actual mystery to talk about. The story is distinctly more ambitious and all the characters are in general more interesting, feeling like contributing pieces rather than just looping around to just being a barrier to the plot progressing, like Jack's wife was in the first book, her "plot device" status being limited to being a door stopper device. As you can see, I am still salty about that, way to waste a voice actor.

That being said, the voice acting is what I feel may be the issue in this one. I mentioned all the characters being interesting - yes, true, and also apparently high-profile enough to warrant an extreme amount of "screen time". Once again, the Jack Bergin book has distinctly less of him than the cumulative amount of everyone else. Sure, you got a nice roster of actors over there and you want to flash them at us, but if it comes at the expense of plot pacing, it definitely ruins the experience, it's almost like a bunch of showreels to serve as an ad for their skillset. The story itself, while better and fitting the theme, is far from being remotely ambitious. I could recommend this one as at least being a fitting to the genre it seemed to promote, and that puts it a notch above the previous one, but I still find myself hard-pressed to think of a reason to choose it over plenty other audiodramas for anyone who is not a die-hard fan of the voice actors.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I was looking for a quick audio pick for a car ride and, as always, turned to an Audible Original--I'm a huge fan of their in-house productions. They often feel like you're listening to a full-on movie or stage play, complete with rich sound design, music, and immersive storytelling.

“The Big Fix” features private eye Jack Bergin, hired to investigate a murder in the Chavez Ravine. The story blends mystery with historical fiction, drawing on the real-life events of the early 1950s, when Los Angeles began forcibly removing Mexican American families from the Chavez Ravine. While these evictions were framed as part of a public housing project, the homes were never built—eventually, the land was sold to the Dodgers and became the site of Dodger Stadium.

But the real standout here? The production quality. The sound design is pure 1950s noir—moody, atmospheric, and cinematic. At just under 4.5 hours, it’s a tight, punchy listen that flies by, thanks in large part to a stellar voice cast. Jon Hamm shines as Jack Bergin, joined by an impressive lineup: Jeanne Tripplehorn, John Slattery, Erin Moriarty, Omar Epps, Sosie Bacon, Alia Shawkat, Ana de la Reguera, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and more—over 20 narrators in total.

A fun, entertaining listen that’s perfect for fans of audio dramas, noir mysteries, or L.A. history.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun listen, because it’s done like an old radio show. There are multiple narrators and great sound effects. I truly enjoyed that aspect. I didn’t realize that The Big Fix was the second in the series until I began to write this review. And while I will go back and listen to the first one, The Big Lie, it wasn’t at all necessary to enjoy The Big Fix.

The characters: This story has quite a few characters, but it is easy to keep track of who is who. In this radio show format, you don’t get the characters’ back stories, but their personalities and values are evident in the dialogue and actions. Most of the characters are likable, some merely interesting, and of course the bad guys are not likable - as it should be.

The plot: It’s delightfully twisty, and we follow Jack as he unravels all the knots to get at the truth.

The writing: Top notch! To create such an intricate plot, and yet avoid confusion speaks to the talent of these writers.

The narrators: Everyone did an amazing job. It was interesting to hear voices I recognized from television: John Hamm, because he is in everything lately, and Omar Epps from House. I do not recognize the other names, but I will look forward to hearing more from them.

Will I continue to follow this series? You bet!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Big Fix is a classic noir presented as a radio program. This is both good and bad. The voice acting was stellar throughout. John Hamm as the voice of a private dick is optimal. Unfortunately, the foley work while good, can be a bit jarring if listening to the audiobook via headphones.

I went back and forth on the plot. Without giving too much away, there are plenty of twists and interesting connections between the interwoven mysteries. The focus on a land grab connected to the moving of the Dodgers from Brooklyn to LA and the POC community that is affected by it is a new take. Unfortunately, it is a new take on a very old tale. Anyone who is versed in noir books or cinema will be overly familiar with the caniving wealthy and duplicitous land development in California. The final twist was a good one, but I’m not sure if it was established enough in the preceding events.

All in all a good attempt and a nice, quick listen for mystery fans.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of the real-life battle to bring the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles, Bergin investigates a brutal murder at the request of an old flame (Ana de la Reguera), and uncovers a deadly conspiracy to forcefully evict a Mexican-American community. Created by writer/executive producer John Mankiewicz, directed by Aaron Lipstadt and featuring a star-studded cast, including Erin Moriarty, Omar Epps, and Alia Shawkat, The Big A Jack Bergin Mystery is a gritty and winding tale that delivers both meaning and mayhem with a solid punch.

I love these throw back audio books...like listening to a radio back in the day, with all the sound effects and lots of voices. These are fun to listen to and the stories are interesting. The sound effects are the best part for me, hearing the match strike, the door close, the creaky seat or the car chugging to start...I like it!

[Jonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was produced like an old-time radio dramatization with sound effects throughout the entire story. This did not work for me. The noises were often too loud and interfered with the story itself. That's why I could not give the performance 5 stars although Hamm gave a great performance. 5+ stars for him.

I did not like how the story started with the reporter typing and talking. The way she was interjected in the story was disruptive to the flow in several places. Babe wasn't a believable character for me. The names of real people were dropped in the story like they should be known to the listener, but I had to google several of them. The research did enlighten me on some of the history surrounding the Dodgers move to LA.

Overall, I liked the plot so 4 stars. I'm glad it was free, though.

[Carson Solaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I would have reviewed this I think three stars if it was not for how well done the audio piece is, like a 1930s radio drama. Loved the ambiance they set as well as the dialogue scenes and character actors. This was such a fun read to listen to like 2 or three Stella’s deep on the beach.

It is VERY obvious who the killer is like as soon as they introduce them. Knowing the major plot points of similar dramas you will immediately understand it can only be them, however it doesn’t make it any less fun knowing that.

I reread and looked at sparknotes to figure out the b-plot of why the canyon houses were being bought up and still don’t understand, the book really just like does not write that part well.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the "podcast” The Big Fix on Audible and felt it was 5 stars overall, historically accurate with a timely message about culture, society and prejudice as well as government gone radical. Not so much this one! This picked up supposedly 4 years after the Big Lie which would place it late 50s or early 60s, yet I got the impression they were talking more about the early 70s. This was a good story, just not a great one, little redeeming social value just a copycat of 1940-1950s radio serials dramas. The performance was not as dynamic, the characters seemed flatter. I just wasn't impressed.

[Jim Tritten · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this book, not read. The inability to visualize what is going on that does not come out as dialogue works in written form, but not in this book's audio form. The characters' voices are not sufficiently different that the listener cannot tell who is speaking or thinking without a dialogue tag. For some reason, the producer thought that a nifty melody and book introduction had to be repeated at the beginning of each chapter. The plot is sufficiently complicated that I finally gave up trying to figure out if this was one long story or multiple short stories that kind of related. Audio version is not recommended - the book may work just fine, but I am not going to read it.

[James Tritten · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this book, not read. The inability to visualize what is going on that does not come out as dialogue works in written form, but not in this book's audio form. The characters' voices are not sufficiently different that the listener cannot tell who is speaking or thinking without a dialogue tag. For some reason, the producer thought that a nifty melody and book introduction had to be repeated at the beginning of each chapter. The plot is sufficiently complicated that I finally gave up trying to figure out if this was one long story or multiple short stories that kind of related. Audio version is not recommended - the book may work just fine, but I am not going to read it.

[Rodica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m in a reading slump. Can’t finish anything I already started, pick up books and leave them open. So, the fact I was actually able to get this completed feels like an accomplishment.

Noir-ish murder mystery in the vein of LA Confidential. The story itself is not original or groundbreaking, but the set of characters and the very well executed production, reminding me of a good old radio theatre production, made up for whatever was missing in plot. Apparently, this is the second installment, I might give than one a try. 3.5* rounded down. Free on Audible Plus.

[Oli Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

#thebigfix a #jackbergin #mystery I preferred this sequel to the original. The original was about a rather obscure moment of old Hollywood history and the fbi investigating communist propaganda in Hollywood. This sequel is good old fashioned Los Angeles private detective investigating a murder, shady land deals and the construction of #dodgerstadium featuring #mickeycohen and Johnny stompinato. Fantastic stuff. Giving audio vibes of la noire, James ellroy and Chinatown. Hope there is another one like this.

[Marios · Rating 4 out of 5]

While perhaps not hitting the same high notes as its predecessor, The Big Fix still offers a compelling return to the gritty world of Jack Bergin. This second installment maintains a strong atmosphere and features the sharp dialogue we've come to expect, pulling the listener into a complex web of mystery and intrigue. The writing and performances are solid throughout, ensuring a captivating experience even if the narrative pace occasionally shifts. It’s a worthwhile continuation for fans of the series...

[Georgiacyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

IMHO, this "book," which is an amalgamation of podcast episodes, fails as a book. This was more like listening to a movie. The setting descriptions were minimal at best. Because of this I never transported to the time and place where the characters were, which is generally easily achieved by a book with semi-decent writing. Additionally, without the context of the timeframe, much of the book comes across as inappropriate for the current times. This was a waste a strong cast.