Philip Ardagh's Unlikely Exploits chart the extraordinary changes in fortune of the downtrodden McNally family beginning with THE FALL OF FERGAL. The setting is an unidentified country suffering from an unexpected breakout of large holes.
The McNally children find themselves in The Dell Hotel, the venue for the final of the Tap 'n' Type typing competition, surrounded by a strange assortment of characters ranging from Twinkle-Toes Tweedy, the house detective, to Mr. Peach, a ventriloquist with a very large moustache.
With young Fergal McNally falling to his death at the very beginning, the only way for the McNallys is up . . . .
THE FALL OF FERGAL begins a new series by the always funny Ardagh. When LeFay McNally becomes a finalist in the Tap 'n' Type typing competition, she decides to take her family "to the capital" with her. Then the adventure begins because the family of four is so poor that they must sneak into LeFay's hotel room. Narrator Joe Barrett keeps listeners chuckling with a refreshing delivery that combines a melodious Irish accent with hilarious lines and asides. Also, Ardagh's delightful characters and witty word choices add a lively challenge, which Barrett brilliantly meets. The heavy and sometimes over-the-top accents are perfectly rendered--and always understandable. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
