A Family Business

By: Ken Englade

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

For more than 60 years, Southern Californians entrusted the bodies of their loved ones to the Sconce family's Lamb Funeral Home. But the heirs to the fourth-generation funeral empire betrayed that trust with a series of gruesome crimes against the dead. Featured on ABC-TV's Nightline.

©1992 Ken Englade (P)2014 Audible Inc.

grim, odd, compelling

Would you try another book from Ken Englade and/or Stephen Hoye?

I don't think I would, in fact. I think that the facts of this case were what saved this book and made it worth listening to. The narrative and the narrator both actually distracted me pretty badly. Too theatrical, something to be tolerated, rather than adding quality to the work.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Family Business?

The facts of the case. I won't spoil it.

Did Stephen Hoye do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Not really, but then, there aren't many characters in this book- it's very authorial voice. So the fact that he didn't isn't a slight on him, just a reflection of the fact he didn't need to.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

If it were a documentary, absolutely. Fictionalized? Nope, never, too schlocky.

Any additional comments?

A great true crime book without any horrifying sexual violence, which is a really niche space in the genre. I wish there were a way to search for that, specifically.

The narrator is like nails on a chalkboard!

Would you try another book from Ken Englade and/or Stephen Hoye?

Yes, but it must have a different narrator.His voice is more suited for an announcer.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was okay but should be updated because of recent events.

Would you be willing to try another one of Stephen Hoye’s performances?

No, not at all, I suffered through this one.

Do you think A Family Business needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes, much more has happened.

Mediocre Crime

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would eliminate the last half of the book, which is mundane court proceedings.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Very decent reader, great pace, no complaints.

Could you see A Family Business being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I could see this being a great 48 hours, short and sweet.

Did not care for narrator!

Interesting story but got too bogged down in courtroom legalese and lost my interest toward the end. The Scones got off way too easily, esp. David! What an evil bastard!

Poppin' Chops . . .

I must just be a creepy person, because I LOVED this book. Hahahaa. The story of the infamous Lamb Family funeral home, and its shady mortuary business, which was the McDonalds of the crematorium world! Cramming in and stuffing as many as 30+ bodies into the retort at one time, which were *supposed* to be for a single corpse. Breaking limbs and fire-poking with a 2 x 4 to squeeze in just ONE more! Chimneys billowing clouds of black smoke, and nonstop stanky fumes throughout the neighborhood! Every day! Or should I say every night . . . as they were pretending it was a ceramic studio. Ha!

And thats AFTER they harvested every single body - right down to the gold teeth. Yup. And there's even more sneaky stuff! Like threatening the competition. Murder. This book is filled with ALL the nitty gritty details, and how they got away with everything for so long. It does go into the court proceedings as well, but if you are into the whole story, then you WILL want to hear how they all faired at trial, who was charged, and what they did or didnt get away with. You'll be surprised.

I enjoyed the narrator too, and will totally listen to this one again. Yesssss.