Two Old Men and a Baby

Or, How Hendrik and Evert Get Themselves into a Jam

By: Hendrik Groen, Hester Velmans - translator

Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith

Nine years before the events of the number-one international best seller The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old, Hendrik and his best friend, Evert, embark on a madcap adventure - with an unexpected guest.

Hendrik Groen and Evert Duiker, faithful friends in good and bad times, are well over 70, and their lives have quieted down. They see each other once a week to play chess, have a drink, and grab a bite to eat while reflecting on life.

But one day, their peace is rudely disturbed when Evert shows up on Hendrik's doorstep with a surprise in the form of an unexpected little guest. He had spotted a stroller with a baby in it - unattended for just a minute - and, in a moment of utter madness, decided to take it for a walk. Hilarious, right? Not to Hendrik, who can barely believe his friend's stupidity.

After Evert regains recovers from his momentary lapse of sanity, the two 70-year-olds resolve to return their charge to its parents - hopefully without being noticed. But the quiet neighborhood is now swarmed by bumbling police officers, and they realize that getting rid of their accidental foster child will be more difficult than expected....

©2021 Hendrik Groen and Hester Velmans (P)2021 Grand Central Publishing

Excellent story!

I love this story. The narrator was superb and the story was quite entertaining. How I adore these two characters and hope there are more Adventures to come. It's refreshing to read a story about a couple of octogenarians. Stories of people this age are hard to come by.

So much fun!

I loved the first 2 H.G. books and this one was just as much fun to read! I loved the story, what a great comedy of errors! I loved getting to hang out with a slightly younger Hendrik and Evert and hope there are more books to come...3 is just not enough, I want more! ❤

Not as good as the author’s first two stories.

First, I have to admit that I somehow missed the fact that this story, though the latest to be published, is actually a prequel to Groen’s first two marvelous books. Until I realized that fact, I was vaguely uncomfortable while listening. I kept getting the feeling that Two Old Men and a Baby was out of sequence. I was unsure, since it had been two years since I listened to On The Bright Side. Once I reoriented myself to this book’s place in the timeline, I enjoyed it more—but not nearly as much as its predecessors. This latest book benefits from the author’s dry humor and affection for his characters. But the plot seems ridiculous, starting with the manner of acquisition of the baby and from further departures from believability as the story progresses. Also, I am no fan of prequels. I thought the narrator’s performance was very good, though. While I would happily re-listen to the first two books in this series, I won’t need a second trip through Two Old Men and a Baby.

A fun and entertaining story

I disliked that a baby was taken, but totally enjoyed the exploits the elderly gentlemen undertook to return that baby. Highly recommended!

Entertaining and clever humor! Listened with total engagement!

Love this narrator!!! And enjoyed the author’s humor very much. Will look for more works from both.

OK but too drawn out.

The book The secret diary of Henry Groen was 5 times better than this story. Couldn't wait for it to end.

a fun listen

I have listened to a another book in the series and I knew what to expect, and it delivered again. A fun listening an absolutely brilliant narration.

Awesome! Hendrik and Evert Ride Again!

I love the hilarious antics of these two old men! More please! What a great sense of humor.

Awful idea

A serious issue treated lightly. Hate this kind of attempt at humor. I didn't want to finish it.