Discover Most Popular Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

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Title: Paradise Lost

Author: J. A. Jance

Narrator: Debra Monk

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-05

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 92 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Back at home, Joanna's main concern is helping her daughter recover from this terrible trauma, even as she attends to the demands of a new marriage and a possible reelection campaign. But then Dora turns up dead, and instantly Joanna's concern turns to terror. For if the killer is murdering potential witnesses, Sheriff Brady's beloved daughter may be next.

Critic Reviews:

"Jance's sense of place remains strong, whether here in the beautifully rendered rural Arizona setting or in the rainy Seattle of her J.P. Beaumont mysteries." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Enjoyable

I have now read several of the Joanna Brady series, and the author continues to evolve the character nicely. I especially enjoyed the two story-lines and how she wove them together. A good story, with excellent narration and a thoroughly believable working woman main character make this a great listen.

Music between chapters:

I did not care for the "elevator music" between chapters, as opposed to simple Chapter Number Announcements. I like knowing what Chapter that I am hearing , as I listen most often at night and have been know to drift off to sleep despite a strong desire to listen. Knowing what chapter I last remember helps me discover where I should be in the story line, upon awakening. Is that about as clear as mud? Yeah? Okay then!

Better Unabridged

My husband and I truly like hearing about Joanna and her family, at home and at work. This was unavailable in the unabridged version. While we got the story, we missed the details.

Book brought to low rating due to being abridged

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

There really isn't any book that can survive the cuts made by being abridged, and this is no exception. One whole storyline was left unresolved. Chopping up the story left me frustrated and feeling that I'm missing key points.

What could J.A. Jance have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Bitch slap whoever decided that marketing only a abridged version. PLEASE

What about Debra Monks performance did you like?

Much improved over the narration in the previous few books.

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

Probably not as the closest movie theater is 2 hours away. I save those trips for movies with big special effects. But I would rent or buy the DVD.

Any additional comments?

Abridgement = BAD If I want a abridged story I'll buy a Readers Digest.

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Title: The Twelfth Card

Subtitle: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel

Author: Jeffery Deaver

Narrator: Dennis Boutsikaris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-22-05

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 689 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The Twelfth Card is a two-day cat-and-mouse chase through the streets of uptown Manhattan as quadriplegic detective Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs try to outguess Thompson Boyd, a man whose past has turned him into a killing machine as unfeeling and cunning as a wolf. Boyd is after Geneva Settle, a high school girl from Harlem, and it's up to Lincoln and Amelia to figure out why.

The motive may have to do with a term paper that Geneva is writing about her ancestor, Charles Singleton, a former slave. Charles was active in the early civil rights movement, but was arrested for theft and disgraced. Lincoln and Amelia work frantically to figure out what actually happened on that hot July night in 1868 when Charles was arrested.

Deaver's inimitable plotting keeps this story racing at a lightening-fast clip. With breathtaking twists and multiple surprises, this is Deaver's most compelling Lincoln Rhyme audiobook to date.

Critic Reviews:

"Well-written, suspenseful." (Booklist)

"Lincoln Rhyme, Deaver's popular paraplegic detective, returns in a robust thriller that demonstrates Deaver's unflagging ability to entertain." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

The Twelfth Card - Excellent

I love all of Jeffery Deaver's "Lincoln Rhymes" novels!! As soon as I am about 3/4 of the way through one I am anxiously awaiting the NEXT one to be released! I can hardly wait for them. He has a wonderful writing style that keeps you on the edge till the last minute and I just love the exhilaration. Lincoln and his merry band of cohorts are a riot, but Linc always has the last word! He is very funny, and serious at the same time. It's splendid the way Jeffery can write like that. I wish I had a quarter of his talent. Thanks Jeffery for another great book!! :)

History in a mystery.

This is an unusual story of a smart, lonely, black high school student being stalked by a killer and her past. Deaver uses real history of 19th century NYC to make a really good modern mystery.

Dennis Boustsikaris is one of my favorite narrators, but I think he struggled with the Ebonics and black accents. He doesn't get in the way of the story, however, so I rate this performance a 3.5.

I found it really entertaining!

This is only the 2nd review I've ever written, but when I read the negative comments, I just had to put in my two cents' worth. I found this a highly absorbing book to listen to. It isn't the best of his books, and I did anticipate most (but not all) of the plot twists. Even so, with my 3 hour near-daily commute, it kept me glued to my iPod each time I climbed in the car. I thought the narrator did a really nice job with the voices. For sheer entertainment, I felt this book was a really great value.

Not Deaver's Best

I'm a staunch Deaver fan, but this one just didn't have the zing of some of his previous novels. The last minute resolution left me thinking 'huh'? Did Mr. Deaver run out of time and need to finish up? I hate when that happens.

Twists and Turns Take You Through a Good Story

Deaver hits a home run with this story AND Dennis Boutsikais is a great voice actor. You will enjoy both the story and the narration.

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Title: In the Company of Cheerful Ladies

Subtitle: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrator: Lisette Lecat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-10-05

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2073 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Handling a busy caseload at The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and contending with an intruder in her home, Mma Ramotswe has plenty on her mind. So when her unfortunate past returns to haunt her, she is happy her husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, is distracted as well. It seems one of his apprentices at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors has raced off with an older, wealthy woman.

Life on the edge of the Kalahari is as humorously chaotic as ever for Mma Ramotswe and her loved ones. And there's plenty of bush tea to go around.

Critic Reviews:

"[A] consistently delightful series....Amid the hilarious scenarios and quiet revelations are luminous descriptions of Botswana, land of wide-open spaces and endless blue skies." (Publishers Weekly)

"[McCall Smith] delivers another winner, brimming with poetic descriptions of Botswana, pitch-perfect assessments of human foibles, and sensible resolutions reached over steaming cups of bush tea. By turns laugh-out-loud funny and quietly profound, these life-affirming mysteries are fine company, indeed." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Great Listen

I read the first book in this series and didn't care much for it. Then I decided to listen to the next. I really enjoyed the narrator and kept on until I have heard every book in the series. They just keep getting better. As far as I'm concerned, the narrator makes all the difference in my enjoyment of these books. She does a superb job--her accent adds so much to the books! This one is a must for all of Mma Ramotswe fans!

A delightful trip to Botswana

This was a my first experience with the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and what a delightful experience it was! Well written and expertly narrated. One of the best I've listened to and I will certainly take another trip to Botswana with them again. Just delightful!

Best in a Wonderful Series

I love all of these books, but "In the Company of Cheerful Ladies" is my favorite. Read it and you'll know why. A character like Mma Ramotswe hasn't come along for a while!

charming

This book was an enjoyable listen from beginning to end. Although I have enjoyed all of the books in this series, I wasn't as happy with the last couple. This installation though was a strong as ever and I highly recommend it. The new characters brought into the series were well developed, and fun to get to know. The book was both humerous and heart warming. And as always, Lisette Lecat does a delightful job of narration and her style is well suited for the book.

Superb Performance of a Delightful Book

As a fan of the printed series of Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency books, I was especially pleased to hear Lisette Lecat's superb narration using a variety of voices and accents. If you enjoy the subtle humor and good natured character of this series of books, you will especially like to hear them read by Ms. Lecat, who is also an accomplished Broadway playwrite.

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Title: Kill the Messenger

Author: Tami Hoag

Narrator: Scott Brick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-14-04

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 860 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Jace returns to Lenny Lowell's office only to find the cops there, the lawyer dead, and Jace himself considered the prime suspect in the savage murder. Suddenly he's on the run from both the cops and a killer, and the key to saving himself and his 10-year-old brother is the envelope he still has, which holds a message no one wants delivered: the truth.

In a city fueled by money, celebrity, and sensationalism, the murder of a bottom-feeding mouthpiece like Lenny Lowell won't make the headlines. So when detectives from the LAPD's elite robbery/homicide division show up, homicide detective Kev Parker wants to know why.

Robbery/Homicide has no reason to be looking at a dead small-time scumbag lawyer or chasing a bike messenger...unless there's something in it for them. Maybe Lenny Lowell had a connection to something big enough to be killed for. Parker begins a search for answers that will lead him to a killer, or the end of his career. Because if there's one lesson he's learned over the years, it's that in a town built on fantasy and fame, delivering the truth can be deadly.

Critic Reviews:

"Hoag's success, evidenced once again in this engaging new thriller, is the triumph of substance over style. In a genre overrun with self-conscious jargon, brooding descriptions and fragments masquerading as sentences, her clean, measured prose - full, balanced sentences delivered at a steady pace - doesn't so much create an ominous mood as draw the reader into the worlds of her characters." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

An entertaining read

Before I begin, I must admit that I have an "audio crush" on Scott Brick. I just love his narrations!!! That being said, the plot has its twists and turns, but when you, like I, may listen to as many as 3 audio books in a 10 day period, a lot of them mysteries, many times you can figure out where the author is going. If you like that, Tami leaves a bunch of clues along the way. (I personally like to groan with delight when the author has bamboozled me all the way thru, e.g Harlan Coben.)But the plot is intriguing, and her graphic descriptions of injuries will have you "aching" for the characters involved. I gave it four stars because aside from the narration, the story will not disappoint the reader. Although I did manage to figure out the basic outcome from Tami's clues, the details are always a surprise.

Difficult to

What do you get when you have an honest, well plotted story filled with people you like (and people you hate), an excellent writer and a superior narrator? You get an extraordinary audible book.

The production is crisp and Scott Brick is a pleasure to listen to. He does not intrude on the text of the book.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Entertaining Murder Mystery!

This murder mystery moves at a good clip, bouncing from one point of view to another: from the messenger on his bike trying to escape from the man who is trying to run him down in a car to the policeman, to the dispatcher, etc., etc. For me, the little boy, Tyler, is the surprise character with a very high IQ. As one reviewer said, the story is "a few miles from being exceptional" but it is a good entertaining suspense with excellent character development .... characters that you can care about and root for or to dislike. An intriguing plot with a good twist at the end.

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Title: Street of the Five Moons

Subtitle: The Second Vicky Bliss Mystery

Author: Elizabeth Peters

Narrator: Barbara Rosenblat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-24-04

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 434 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

With her unusual qualifications, a doctorate in art history and the body of a movie goddess, Vicky is well equipped for getting the information she needs from anyone, particularly the older men who typically deal in antiques. But in #37 on the Street of the Five Moons, Vicky meets a dangerously exciting young Englishman, a man whose scruples are as questionable as his intelligence is keen.

Read by Barbara Rosenblat with the acclaimed talent that has made her Elizabeth Peters' only choice to read the Vicky Bliss series, Street of the Five Moons will delight the listener with a full measure of witty repartee and memorable characters.

Members Reviews:

Much better than the first Vicky Bliss

I started on this second book in the Vicky Bliss series rather uneasy. I wasn't sure if I really didn't care for the first book, or if it was just the way it was read that made me feel so down about it.

But I do love Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series and figued I would try Vicky again with Ms. Rosenblat reading.

I am so glad I did. The story was very good, maybe even too short. I found myself just loving "John" and the ending was great.

It was FUN, it was interesting and it was READ REALLY WELL!

I recommend it to anyone who loves Elizabeth Peters. And there is enough background in it that you can just skip the first book in the series and start with this one. I wish I had done that.

:)

Mikki

Peters and Rosenblat - an unbeatable combo

I am a dyed-in-the wool Amelia Peabody fan and have listened to Barbara's narration of all of that series over and over but this series comes off almost as well. In fact, although I own all of these titles in hardcopy, I much prefer the audio version. Rosenblat "becomes" the characters. You can't go wrong with this series for pure, unadulterated fun. I hate it when each book ends. Until Rosenblatt also narrates the Jacqueline Kirby books, I guess I'll just have to listen to all of these again - and again - and again.

Now this is where the series startes to take off

Here we have the introduction of John?s character, and the beginning of the best part of the series. It is such a great listen to, and one cannot help buy want to travel to Germany afterwards. More Nancy Drew style mysteries that are repeat listens!

Love Vicky Bliss

I discovered this series several years ago and have yet to grow tired of it. The interplay between Vicky and John S. Is smart and funny. Great dialogue and story.

Educational, witty , captivating

I did not enjoy this narrator as well as the one in book one. She takes too many big breaths. Also her voice is older than the character

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Title: The Full Cupboard of Life

Subtitle: More from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrator: Lisette Lecat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-12-04

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 902 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Mma Ramotswe has been engaged to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni for quite some time, and they still have no wedding date. But she doesn't want to be too pushy, for Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has much on his mind. Mma Potokwani, who runs the orphan farm, has tricked him into performing a parachute jump to benefit charity. While Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni tries to wiggle out of his responsibility, Mma Ramotswe keeps busy investigating four men, all who wish to marry a very wealthy woman. What exactly are their intentions?

The cupboard of life is full indeed in this charming, gently funny novel that vibrantly captures the fascinating culture and landscape of Botswana.

Critic Reviews:

"Delightful series." (Booklist)

"Admirers of Alexander McCall Smith's best-selling novels about Precious Ramotswe...will not be disappointed." (The New York Times Book Review)

Members Reviews:

#1 Ladies Detective series delivers another winner

I have now listened to the first five in this series -- and eagerly await the newest one "In the Company of Cheerful Ladies." I would buy the book, but listening to this narrator, Lisette Lecat, is the only way I want to hear this series. She's that good. I look forward to driving to work just to hear the next chapter every day. Do them in order or Precious's adventures get out of sequence....!

so good

This is one of the books in the Ladies #1 Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. This is a top notch series and I believe that to truly enjoy the series, every book should be read in the order written. The characters and story line develop over time in the series and they are people you really want to get to know. The story lines and characters can be funny, disgraceful or tragic, but they are always interesting. Smith is a keen observer of people and has great talent for drawing characters and telling whopping good stories.

The reader is the same for each book in the series and she is one of the best I have ever heard. She gives consistly solid performances over the entire series. The characters remain the same from one book to the other. Her accents are extrordinarily good. If I had to choose between reading this series and listening to it read by this reader (Lisette Lecat) I would without hesitation choose the audible version. Purchase them all - they are so very good.

Delightful!

Every book in this series has made me smile and delight in all the characters. Well done! I highly recommend this book.

yet another winner

This is a fabulous series of books that are simply an enjoyable listen! No stress no strain - I have listened to several in this series this summer and I find them light and refreshing. The narrator has a pleasant voice and a wonderful accent. Nothing better than sitting back with a big mug of bush tea and enjoying a tale by Alexander McCall Smith.

Simple Wisdom

I love the books in this series. Precious Remote is a wise woman,and the gentle humor of the characters and situations makes the insights into human nature a delight to absorb.

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Title: The Murder Room

Subtitle: An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery

Author: P.D. James

Narrator: Charles Keating

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-14-03

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 579 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The Dupayne, a small private museum in London devoted to the interwar years 1919-1939, is in turmoil. As its trustees argue over whether it should be closed, one of them is brutally and mysteriously murdered. Yet even as Commander Dalgliesh and his team proceed with their investigation, a second corpse is discovered. Someone in the Dupayne is prepared to kill and kill again. Still more sinister, the murders appear to echo the notorious crimes of the past featured in one of the museum's galleries: the Murder Room.

The case is fraught with danger and complications from the outset, but for Dalgliesh the complications are unexpectedly profound. His new relationship with Emma Lavenham (introduced in the last Dalgliesh novel, Death in Holy Orders) is at a critical stage. Now, as he moves closer and closer to a solution to the puzzle, he finds himself driven further and further from commitment to the woman he loves.

The Murder Room is a story dark with the passions that lie at the heart of crime, a masterful work of mystery and psychological intricacy. It proves yet again that P.D. James fully deserves her place among the best of modern novelists.

Critic Reviews:

"The Murder Room is James' most suspenseful, atmospheric novel in years and has no shortage of surprise twists." (The New York Times Book Review)

Members Reviews:

Classic P.D. James

Cerebral! Not idle listening.

Classic James, don?t listen in the car. I missed a clue (or two) and will now, happily have to allocate some time to re listen and see where it popped up. Her characters, scenes, storyline are richly detailed and layered; her command of the language is amazing a true artist.

Charles Keating the narrator?s performance is natural and believable. Some of the audio books I have heard the performer gets in the way of the story, not the case here.

You owe it to yourself to set aside the almost fifteen hours to listen. Concentration required.

P.D. James - Word Artistry

No one can make words sound more comfortable than P.D. James. She does it once again in this especially wonderful murder mystery, introducing us to new characters as well as once again familiarizing us with the old pro - Adam Dalgliesh.

What makes this listen so enjoyable is the extraordinary competence of Charles Keating. As a reader, he is everything one would want, playing male and female characters with aplomb and expertise. He's incredibly wonderul with James' prose.

Murder Room

Classic P.D. James. The book is not for the hurried. The characters are full blood and flesh and fully developed, not mere charicatures. The story line was believable and the language was even tempered. I enjoyed the pace but some may call it slow. I would recommend it if as a rule you enjoy 20th century English classics such as S.W.Maugham or Christie.

Doesn't get better than this.

The writing is beautiful. The narration is perfect. I guess if you need your mysteries at a quicker pace...well, you wouldn't have bought P.D. James in the first place. It doesn't matter anyway. The book flies by. I only wish they had more of James to on "byte" or whatever. I "rewind" sometimes just to hear the writing.

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Title: Last Car to Elysian Fields

Author: James Lee Burke

Narrator: Mark Hammer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-03-03

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 611 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When Robicheaux, a police officer based in the somewhat quieter Louisiana town of New Iberia, learns that an old friend, Father Jimmie Dolan has been the victim of a particularly brutal assault, he returns to New Orleans to investigate, if only unofficially.

Meanwhile, back in New Iberia, three local teenage girls are killed in a drunk driving accident. Robicheaux traces the source of the liquor to one of New Iberia's "daiquiri windows," places that sell mixed drinks through drive-by windows. When the owner of the drive-through operation is brutally murdered, Robicheaux immediately suspects the grief-crazed father of the dead teen driver. But his assumption is challenged when the murder weapon turns up belonging to someone else. Tying together these disparate threads is a maniacal killer named Max Coll, a deeply haunted hit man sent to New Orleans to finish the job of father Dolan.

Critic Reviews:

"James Lee Burke is at the top of his game." (The New York Times)

"This is an outstanding entry in an excellent series" (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Kept me listening, narrator perfect for the book.

Perhaps the saddest tale of this series. Dave's wife has died; he's tempted to start drinking again, a priest trying to save the soul of a hit man moves in with Dave, Dave keeps taking wrong turns in his search for the bad guy, the "good" people have serious faults, some of the "bad" guys have redeeming virtues, and I kept listening even when I should have gone to bed. The narrator's world weary voice is dead, solid perfect as the tired-of-life but dedicated detective.

This is the best Robichaux yet.

This may be one of the best book credits I have spent. Burke's creation of the bayou country is consistently excellent. His world will draw you in with a sense of reality that is hard to find elsewhere. As Dave meanders from one clue to the next, more of the plot is revealed and the character descriptions and interactions are terrific. I don't want it to end, and I am still only half way through part 1.

Another winner.

Great, intelligent writing, good story, wonderful narration, a pure pleasure. The "hero" is an imperfect human being but someone you are a better person for spending time with. Please, please re-record the other Burke novels in an unabridged format with Mark Hammer doing the reading. I will be listening to this often over the years. Thank you, James Lee Burke, and especially thank you, Mark Hammer. What a team!

Vintage James Lee Burke

If you enjoyed earlier versions of the Dave Robicheaux series, you'll love this novel. The descriptions of south Louisiana are vivid and Burke's phraseology brings the emotions and dilemmas of his characters to life in ways the author continues to perfect. This is a novel that can easily be heard several times as you fall into the easy pace of a geographic area's culture and the rich descriptions within a multifacted plot. If you like James Lee Burke, you'll love "Last Car to Elysian Fields."

Good book, great narration, other reviews off base

First James Lee Burke novel I have listened to, and first review I have felt compelled to write after listening to almost 30 books on audible. I took a chance on this one as many of the reviews were less than positive on the story and the narration and am glad I did.

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Title: The Da Vinci Code

Author: Dan Brown

Narrator: Paul Michael

Format: Abridged

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-21-03

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3078 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. While working to solve the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci, clues visible for all to see, yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion, an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others.

In a breathless race through Paris, London, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who seems to anticipate their every move. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's ancient secret, and an explosive historical truth, will be lost forever.

As a special bonus, this audio edition includes Dan Brown's October 2005 speech at the University of New Hampshire, introduced by his father. The author discusses the research behind his groundbreaking novel and the controversy it has created. Also, listen to an exclusive interview with Akiva Goldsman, screenwriter of The Da Vinci Code.

Critic Reviews:

"In this gleefully erudite suspense novel, Mr. Brown takes the format...to blockbuster perfection." (The New York Times)

"Brown solidifies his reputation as one of the most skilled thriller writers on the planet with his best book yet, a compelling blend of history and page-turning suspense." (Library Journal)

"Many notches above the intelligent thriller; this is pure genius." (Nelson DeMille)

Members Reviews:

Not What I Expected But Good

This was a very good book. Not as good as "The Pieces of the Puzzle" by Robert Stanek AND not completely what I expected BUT very good. It is a fictional work but it does make you wonder for a moment if the book could actually be factual as opposed to fanciful. In this novel, Dan Brown begins with a murder inside the Louvre, and then goes from there to spin an exciting yarn of mystery and suspense. It's a bit long for an audiobook but it's worth it. Just make sure you get the unabridged version so you don't miss out on anything!

Needs to be unabridged

I started reading the actual book and it is excellent but I never finished it. The problem with this audiobook is that it has the best parts cut out. The book is full of very interesting historical facts. These great little tidbits help fleshout the characters and give depth to the story. I started the audiobook but knew what I was missing and didn't want the experience of a great book ruined so I had to stop. I'll pick up the actual book again when time permits. Please release an unabridged version and while your at it how about some of this authors other books.

Overall Good

Pretty straight forward thriller. The narrator is a little annoying with his fake accents...But overall enjoyable. If you like typical Grishman & Crichton novels, you'll like this.

good reader - AWFUL ACCENTS!

This is a good mystery - great time passer. The reader has a wonderful deep resonant voice, and reads well. That is until the character voices begin.

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Title: Dark Horse

Author: Tami Hoag

Narrator: Beth McDonald

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-20-02

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 547 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The wealthy world of the Palm Beach horsey set seems a long way from a cop's world in the narcotics division. A lifetime ago, undercover sheriff's detective Elena Estes worked the mean streets and back alleys, living by her wits and playing the long odds until she took one risk too many. Now Estes lives on the ragged edge of lost hope and self-hatred, hiding from the past and believing she doesn't deserve to have a future. But the past is about to come back with a vengeance, and the future is about to become a race between life and death.

A young woman is missing and her 12-year-old stepsister comes to Estes for help. No one but serious, studious Molly Seabright seems concerned about what's happened to her troubled older sister. Estes has no P.I. license, and no desire to break her self-imposed exile. But the more she learns about the people Erin Seabright was involved with, the more her long-dormant cop instincts come back to life.

One trip to the showgrounds where Erin worked as a groom, and Estes is quickly pulled to the dark side of a glamorous sport. Behind the ultra-rich facade is an ultra-ruthless world of drugs, payoffs, and dirty deals. And in that world stalks a killer who will lead Estes down a twisted trail of mayhem and murder to a final showdown that could cost her everything. A race against time and evil. A race in which Estes is the dark horse...and no one is betting on her to win.

Critic Reviews:

"A definite winner." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Horses and Murder

I loved this book! I'm an animal-lover and was fascinated by the information about dressage (the fancy footsteps that horses and their riders can do.) I've seen this done and it is so beautiful to see how the horse and rider can "dance" so gracefully. Also, I can really identify with female detectives and murder mystery stories since my own background is in law enforcement. This particular female detective/ex-cop (Elena Estes) was ridden with guilt for an on-duty mistake she made which cost her partner his life, left her with horrible scars and rendered her an outcast with her former fellow officers. She lost her friends, her job, her looks, and her self-confidence and fought suicidal thoughts as she spiraled downward. I could feel her thoughts as she faced her physical and emotional battles. Somehow a lonely, unloved and desperate little girl named Molly managed to pierce through Elena's shell and asked for help in solving the disappearance of Molly's older sister. This book is a good choice!

Terrific read -- hard to get out of the car

One of the best mysteries I've listened to in a long time. I actually -- for the first time -- got out my ear set and listened in bed -- and so spent a few very tired days. An absolutely terrific and well written book.

A good story about a tough intelligent woman.

This story centers around a tough, intelligent woman that can't come to grips with her own mistakes. The book is slow at times but engaging. While the story bogs down sometimes, the ending seemed rushed and not flowing from the previous story development. If you like women to be sweet, dependant, and stupid, you won't like this book.

Hoag has it...

I always enjoy a book that is successful in creating a strong but likeable female as the central character.