Topper by Thorne Smith; Unabridged MP3 Audio Book; Narrator Barrett Whitener

It all begins when Cosmo Topper, a law-abiding, mild-mannered bank manager, decides to buy a secondhand car, only to find it haunted by the ghosts of its previous owner, the reckless, feckless, frivolous couple who met their untimely demise when the car careened into an oak tree. The capricious ghosts, George and Marion Kerby, make it their mission to rescue Topper from his drab life. With their ectoplasmic reappearances and whimsically insane actions designed to disturb the inhibited banker’s staid life, they leave Topper, and most else everyone, in a whirlwind of discomfiture and delight. Smith’s hilarious ribald comedy was the basis for a Cary Grant movie and hit television show.

"[Thorne Smith] created the modern American ghost. A ghost with style and wit. A ghost that haunts us still."—New York Times

“Barrett Whitener successfully brings the varied characters to life, from petulant and whiny Topper to sophisticated Marion. Whitener carefully paints the desolate landscape of Topper's life, while hinting at the sensuality of Marion, and the sexual tension between the two. This is a delightful, thought-provoking read.”—AudioFile

Thorne Smith, a master of urbane wit and sophisticated repartee, was the author of nine novels, including The Night Life of the Gods, Topper Takes a Trip, and The Stray Lamb. He was born in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1892 and died in 1934.

Barrett Whitener has won half a dozen coveted AudioFile Earphones Awards for his audiobook narration. His audiography includes A Reporter's Life by Walter Cronkite, Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose, and Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.