Discover Popular Authors Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

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Title: Small Town

Author: Lawrence Block

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-25-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

As a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master and multiple Edgar Award winner, Block is one of the premier crime writers of the 20th century. He has written over 50 novels, and five different mystery series. A stand-alone mystery, Small Town just so happens to be one of Blocks best yet! Here, he delivers a mesmerizing thriller that wholly embraces New York, the city he knows and loves so well. Characters include a writer on the verge of a breakthrough, a charismatic ex-police commissioner on the verge of a mental collapse, a folk art dealer plumbing the depths of her own ferocious sexuality, and a quirky lawyer who prefers murder trials because theres one less witness. And in the shadows of a city reeling from the September 11th terrorist attacks, an unlikely mass murderer begins to wage a one-man war against all.

Members Reviews:

Truly repulsive content

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I found the extensive, detailed, repeated sadomasochistic content to be repulsive and abhorrent. To make matters worse, it had virtually nothing to do with the plot or story line. Each time I came to one of those passages I would skip ahead, only to find another such episode a few minutes later. This was a real shock, since I enjoyed "Hit Man" and "Hit Parade" by the same author. I'm not put off by violence, not even by gory descriptions of blood and guts, but body piercing and elaborate descriptions of sexual sadomasochism were way too much for me. Not even the superb narration by George Guidell could save this experience. If you decide to ignore this warning and buy the book anyhow, I would strongly suggest you listen to it on an empty stomach, and certainly not in your car. You may not be able to pull over quickly enough.

What could Lawrence Block have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Block is exceptionally able to weave a great story. I enjoy his work when he includes only the elements relevant to the story line or to flesh out the principal characters. The gratuitous sadomasochistic sex and body piercing didn't lend anything and I found them a real turn-off.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disgust, revulsion, nausea.

Any additional comments?

I think I've said enough.

Terrible disappointment

Nothing like what I expected. A very, very long and convoluted story with explicit sexual acts between a wealth of (idiotic) people throughout. I made myself finish it because I paid for it and this writer is supposed to be so talented. Leans too heavily on the tragedy of 9/11 and sex, which is an awful way to make money. Anti-climatic ending, though that's probably the only thing that doesn't climax. Save your money. Maybe some of his earlier stuff is better. I gave it 1 star because I like George Guidall, though why he did this I couldn't say.

2nd Listen one of favorites

2nd listen...one of my favorites....narrator wise and the story was raw and ribald truth....about the dark and sometimes humorous side of life

Book is an extremely unpleasant read!

Would you try another book from Lawrence Block and/or George Guidall?

No. Guidall always but after listening to him read this, I had to take a break, get the stink out of my brain, the foul taste out of my mouth. Try to forget I listened to him read this novel.

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Title: A Simple Act of Violence

Author: R. J. Ellory

Narrator: Kevin Kenerly

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-25-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Washington, embroiled in midterm elections, did not want to hear the truth about an unsettling series of murders. But when the newspapers reported a fourth killing, when they gave the killer a name and details of his horrendous crimes, few people could ignore it.

Detective Robert Miller is assigned to the case and rapidly uncovers a complication: the victims do not officially exist. Their personal details do not register on any known systems, and as Miller unearths ever more disturbing facts, he starts to face truths about the corrupt world he lives intruths so far removed from his own reality that he begins to fear for his life.

In the tradition of the masters of suspense, R. J. Ellory has written a shocking and tense narrative of politics and violence in the nerve center of America. As Detective Miller becomes more and more embroiled in the shifting realities of the case, the reader is irresistibly propelled through the intrigues and betrayals of Washingtons elite. This controversial and timely novel explores the notions of identity and hidden government dealings, and it is sure to stay with the reader long after the final page.

Critic Reviews:

A Simple Act of Violence is a masterful exercise in suspenseThis one will keep you up late reading, and then you wont sleep. (John Lutz, New York Times best-selling author)

Members Reviews:

Super characters, great plot twists, suspenseful!

I can't praise this book enough! Kenerly's narration was superb - hard to imagine anyone else doing it better. The tale is told with an alternating backstory - in most chapters you first get to hear what's happening with Detective Miller and his associates, then each chapter usually closes with a first-person narrative by the wanted man re his experiences in the CIA and how that steered him to this point. Is this trained assasin behind the string of killings? If so, to what extent? As for Detective Miller, he's really easy to relate to and empathize with. Every lead runs into dead ends. All sorts of forces seem at work to derail his investigation or threaten his life. The story and narration draws you in to Miller - you feel his frustration, experience his fatigue, share his regrets, feel warmth toward his landlords (a sweet Jewish couple), feel stymied by the endless roadblocks. Revelations emerge as you are ready for them; the reader feels Miller comes to each decision at the same time - and with similar thought process - as you would in the same circumstances. This is a long read, and those who like their action hot and heavy, who lack the patience required to be immersed in the story side-by-side with the characters, who want to get from A to Z without making the investment of time and conciousness required along the way, won't like this book. I bet the attention-deficit crowd you often see here in Audible reviews will scream for an abridged version. That would be really tragic. Those who stay with it to the end will be rewarded with a realistic and satisfying ending - not one where everything is blown up in a frantic Armegeddon-like climax, but one where the pieces come together and make sense, and justice is served. Last, I expect the right-wingers here to complain about the accounts herein of atrocities during the Contras war against the Sandinistas. Too bad-it's all true. As is the account of Ollie North and cocaine traffic.

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Title: The Odessa File

Author: Frederick Forsyth

Narrator: David Rintoul

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-02-11

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 55 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

The life-and-death hunt for a notorious Nazi criminal unfolds against a background of international arms deals. As the story leads to its final dramatic confrontation on a bleak winter's hill-top, the question every reader asked at the end of The Day of the Jackal will inevitably be asked again: Can this be fiction?

Members Reviews:

a bit bloated

If you could sum up The Odessa File in three words, what would they be?

surprising; overly detailed

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Odessa File?

the ending

What does David Rintoul bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

the pronunciation of the non-english names

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no, the diary entry and the war detail were too long

Any additional comments?

i enjoyed the story but it seemed( not true but seemed ) as if the Nazi war stories took up half the story. In my opinion, it was too much, too long.

Without it, the story would be nice but perhaps some people would feel it was too short.

Not all the extra layers were necessary, i think.

Great yarn

Where does The Odessa File rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Frederick Forsyth, Jack Higgens, Bernard Cornwell to name a few are 'Big Boys Own Adventure' stuff. Not too much detail to bog you down, but just enough to keep the pace flowing. A pleasant experience this audiobook.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Werewolf is so good. Got to love it when a baddy is written up so well.

What about David Rintouls performance did you like?

Excellent performance; with accents, style of speech and his consistency.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

When the past catches up with you it won't knock on the door, it may well be kicked in.

Any additional comments?

It is great to see how a major character does not necessary cause all effects but is important to events that he has no idea he is effecting. Lovely writing.

Forsyth at his best

"The Odessa File" is Frederick Forsyth at his best. It tells the tale of a journalist who - for personal reasons that are revealed at the end of the book - hunts down a former concentration camp commandant.

The book is filled with the incredible detail and planning that are the hallmark of Forsyth's books, and he creates believable and interesting characters. The audiobook version of the story adds to this through David Rintoul's truly flawless narration. He perfectly matches the mood of the text, and does a good job giving each character a 'voice.' His narration of Roschmann's rant at the end of the book is brilliant.

This book thoroughly deserves five stars, and is highly recommended. Once you've finished this one, you should try "The Day of the Jackal," another superb Forsyth book which is also narrated by Rintoul.

Classic, brilliantly narrated.

Although I'm a fan of the author (can you add more please Mr Audible), I do not give my stars easilily. However all five are well deserved. David Rintoul also does a brilliant performance and his pronoucation is good for both English and German. I recommend you buy it!

Fascinating and clever thriller

This is one of the few Frederick Forsyth novels that I havent listened to before and so was gripped by the twists and turns in the intricate plot as I had no idea what would happen next.

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Title: The Leopard: A Harry Hole Thriller, Book 8

Author: Jo Nesbo

Narrator: Sean Barrett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-10-11

Publisher: Random House Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 204 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

In the depths of winter, a killer stalks the city streets. His victims are two young women, both found with twenty-four inexplicable puncture wounds, both drowned in their own blood. The crime scenes offer no clues, the media is reaching fever pitch, and the police are running out of options. There is only one man who can help them, and he doesnt want to be found. Deeply traumatised by The Snowman investigation, which threatened the lives of those he holds most dear, Inspector Harry Hole has lost himself in the squalor of Hong Kongs opium dens. But with his father seriously ill in hospital, Harry reluctantly agrees to return to Oslo. He has no intention of working on the case, but his instinct takes over when a third victim is found brutally murdered in a city park.

The victims appear completely unconnected to one another, but its not long before Harry makes a discovery: the women all spent the night in an isolated mountain hostel. And someone is picking off the guests one by one. A heart-stopping thriller from the bestselling author of the The Snowman, The Leopard is an international phenomenon that will grip you until the final page.

Members Reviews:

Exciting and captivating

Jo Nesbo's 'The Leopard' was exceptional. An excellent story, and performance by Sean Barrett as usual. It is the first Harry Hole book I have listened too and I am going to get the entire series. It had many twists and turns in the plot which I really liked. This has been the first auidobook to cause me to feel squeamish while listening to some of the 'darker' events in the book. I loved it!!

Absolutely Fantastic

Thrillers were never my genre of choice before discovery of the Millenium series. I tended to find them too much to a formula resulting in a degree of samness

Like many I suspect, I went wandering in the literary wilderness of a world without Salender on completion of the series (and a second listen). I found Joe Nesbo on the reccommendation of a friend and have no hesitation in applying the accolade of my review title to all the ones I have read so far, The Snowman, The leopard and The Redeemer.

In many ways these stories are better even than the Milenium series, especially if you take Salender out of the mix. Holer is a great main character, sufficiently floored without being a train wreck, and the writing is tight and well drawn.

Two Ticks, two gold stars, and that most extreme of accolades awarded here in New Zealand, a chocolate fish!

If you liked The Snowman, you'll love The Leopard!

I just loved listening to this book and boy is it a long book! However, the story is captivating and thrilling from the very beginning to the end and keeps you in suspense all the time. The narrator, Sean Barrett, is fantastic and a master at emulating the different characters' voices. The very frequent references to contemporary people and concepts are witty and often extremely humourous! The writer's research in terms of the locations depicted, in this book Hong Kong, Oslo and the Congo are meticulous and vividly described - you can just imagine being there! The book's main character Harry Hole is...well, there is only one Harry Hole! I read swedish author Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy and absolutely loved it.

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Title: Brighton Rock

Author: Graham Greene

Narrator: Samuel West

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-12-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 41 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

An unabridged audio edition of Graham Greene's classic gang-war thriller. A gang war is raging through the dark underworld of Brighton. Pinkie, malign and ruthless, has killed a man. Believing he can escape retribution, he is unprepared for the courageous, life-embracing Ida Arnold, who is determined to avenge a death.... Read by Samuel West.

Members Reviews:

Chilling classic novel. Authetically read

Brighton Rock is a superbly chilling novel. The characters are incredibly well developed and despite the main character Pinkie being an manipulative, murderous psychopath, Greene still manages to make the reader entirely enthralled in what happens to him. The plot is enthralling and the writing style shows Greene's genius. Samuel West's reading is entirely in character and only increases the enjoyment of this remarkable novel.

Everyone involved at the top of their game.

This might be the best audiobook I've ever heard. It's almost certainly the best Greene (maybe tied with "The Third Man" but that wasn't his alone) and Samuel West does an incredible job with it.

One of the best writers of his time

Where does Brighton Rock rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Both the book and the performance are fantastic

Who was your favorite character and why?

Character portrayal is so convincing that you cannot put the book down. You know these people inside and out and want to read on. Rose's naivety and the complicated self-deprecating "boy" are superbly drawn.

Which character as performed by Samuel West was your favorite?

Both the boy and Rose.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

One of the best audiobooks I've ever listened to. The only reason why I put 4 stars instead of 5 for the story is that I was more interested in the writing itself, which is matchless for the way the characters are portrayed. But even if you wanted a good story, this wouldn't let you down.

I found it hard-going

What did you like best about Brighton Rock? What did you like least?

I have seen the movie but couldn't really remember it. I haven't listened to the end of this book as I lost interest. I might have another go at it one day. Perhaps I should see the movie again. It just didn't grip me. Perhaps I wasn't concentrating enough

A Real Treat

A man calling himself "Fred" Hale is about to lose his life, and he knows it. He tries to put off the inevitable murder he knows he's brought on himself by befriending Ida, a curvy broad he's just met at a bar, and asking her to tag along for the day. But the second she's got her back turned, "Fred" disappears for good. Pinkie, a young sociopath barely out of his teens is the new gang boss, and one little murder is no skin off his nose, but he wants to make sure he's got his tracks covered, so he romances Rose, a waitress and just a kid, as she'd seen "Fred" that fateful day, and the last thing Pinkie needs is a witness. Rose falls head over heels for Pinkie's rough ways, so now Pinkie must decide between committing another murder or marrying the girl.

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Title: Deja Vu

Author: Fern Michaels

Narrator: Laural Merlington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-04-11

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 221 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Thanks to a presidential pardon, the Sisterhood can put their fugitive days behind them and resume their lives in peace. Still, all the women admit that lately things are a little too calm and peaceful. Meeting up for the first time in months to celebrate Kathryns birthday in the City of Sin, no less seems like the perfect antidote.

But before they can kick up their heels something too big to pass up is dropped into their laps. The time has come to deal with Enemy #1, a/k/a Hank Jellicoe. Wanted by the FBI, the CIA, and Homeland Security for starters, President Connor herself has run out of patience with their lack of results. Only the Sisterhood, with their special blend of guts, imagination, and friends in all places are capable of pulling off the impossible of hunting down this monster and taking him out once and for all.

Members Reviews:

We are back.

Good story, brought the girls back to work-together. Wanders around, but finally gets a job done. Not as good, but keeps them going.

Wish it was longer

Long build up to short climax but I knew that with this series. I do enjoy them and can't wait for the next one.

Should content of books be rated???

A good story but I did not like the filthy language used by all the characters

very good

The sisters were at it again. They brought their respective fellows in to help out. It was fast moving. There were some interesting twists that were unexpected. A good read.

Love each book in this Fern Michael's Series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES. THESE BOOKS ARE ENTERTAINING, INFORMATIVE, WITH THE THRILLER FACTOR THAT KEEPS ME READING MORE.

What other book might you compare Deja Vu to and why?

I THINK MANY OF MARY HIGGINS CLARK'S BOOKS WOULD FIT THE COMPARISON.

Have you listened to any of Laural Merlingtons other performances before? How does this one compare?

I TRULY ONLY NOTICE NARRATOR'S WHO DO AN AWFUL JOB THIS TASK. ONE REASON I ENJOY THE SISTERHOOD BOOKS IS THAT LAURAL HAS BEEN THE NARRATOR FOR ALL OF THE BOOKS .

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

AS IN ALL THE SISTERHOOD BOOKS I AM MOVED LOYALTY OF THE"SISTERS".

Any additional comments?

ALL I CAN SAY IS FROM THE FIRST BOOK, I WAS HOOKED. I AM ALMOST THROUGH THE BOOKS WRITTEN SO I AM SPACING OUT THE LAST FEW BOOKS, HOPING THE SERIES WILL CONTINUE INDEFINITELY.

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Title: The Redeemer: A Harry Hole Thriller, Book 6

Author: Jo Nesbo

Narrator: Sean Barrett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-15-10

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 144 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

One freezing night in Oslo Christmas shoppers gather to listen to a Salvation Army street concert. An explosion cuts through the music, and a man in uniform falls to the ground, shot in the head at point-blank range.

Harry Hole and his team have little to work with: no immediate suspect, no weapon and no motive. But when the assassin discovers he has shot the wrong man, Harry Holes troubles have only just begun. After some exceptionally shrewd detective work, the team begins to close in on a suspected hit man, monitoring his credit card, false passport and the line to his employer. With no money, only six bullets and no place to stay in the bitter cold, the hit man becomes increasingly desperate. He will stop at nothing to eliminate his target. Moving at a breathless pace, The Redeemer is Jo Nesbos most gripping thriller yet.

Members Reviews:

Another Good Jo Nesbo Book

This was my third Nesbo novel and, on balance, I enjoyed it the most. The "Prince" was never quite believable to me but the action was the strength of these first reads. Redeemer is equally action packed and gets 4 stars because of a writing technique that is clever but tittitating. Chapters begin with a seeming continuation of the prior chapter only to be jolted later by discovering that Nesbo has changed character on the reader without the use of a proper noun or other identifying trait to signal the switch.

Corruption is everywhere in this book. We find corruption in the business world and the police department, which is usual, but now we find it in the Salvation Army!!! The ending expands the circle of corruption to an icon of respectability in Nesbo's world. And the shadow of corruption now appears on Harry's path. Did Harry do the right thing?

Recommended without reservation

I'm obviously behind the times, but have just discovered Jo Nesbo. Beautifully written, really well plotted and excellent character development. It's Norwegian setting and general tone make comparison with Steig Larson inevitable - not as original a series as the Millennium trilogy, but overall perhaps a better edited one ?

Sean Barrett' narration is superb. The delivery of different characters is subtle and consistent throughout the recording.

No negatives really - buy it.

Great Listen!

This book continually gathers pace as you read it., it is engrossing. Harry, the lead detective, has his own personal problems and gets you onside in no time. This is the second book I have read By Jo Nesbo and I have enjoyed both of them.

Wallender's dead, long live Harry Hole

I didn't think I could find anything as satisfying as a Kurt Wallender (Henning Menkell) novel but praise the Lord and pass the ammunition, here is Jo Nesbo with his main man, Harry Hole. What is it about Scandinavian crime - it reigns supreme. The best thing about The Redeemer is the plot twists and turns without becoming convoluted. The characters are interesting, believable and multil layered, even the minor ones. Even when you know who's done what and why, you still don't know how it will end.

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Title: The Town

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Chuck Hogan

Narrator: Donnie Wahlberg

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-24-10

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 43 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Four masked men - thieves, rivals, and friends from the tough streets of Charlestown - take on a Boston bank at gunpoint. Holding bank manager Claire Keesey hostage and cleaning out the vault were simple tasks. But career criminal Doug MacRay didnt plan on one thing: falling hard for Claire.

When he tracks her down without his mask and gun, their mutual attraction is undeniable. With a tenacious FBI agent following his every move, he imagines a life away from his gritty, dangerous work, a life centered around Claire. But before that can happen, Doug and his crew learn that there may be a way to rob Boston's venerable baseball stadium, Fenway Park. Risky yet utterly irresistible, it would be the perfect heist to end his criminal career and begin a new life. But, as it turns out, pursuing Claire may be the most dangerous act of all.

Racing to an explosive climax, The Town is a brash tale of robbery in all its forms - and an unforgettable odyssey of crime, love, ambition, and dreams.

(Previously published as Prince of Thieves)

Critic Reviews:

"A riveting, splendidly detailed thriller." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

"Stunningly crafted....the plot is swift and expertly built, the prose muscular and clean." (The Seattle Times)

"As knowledgable as James Ellrow, as sharp as Elmore Leonard, and as profound as fellow Boston scribe Dennis Lehane." (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Members Reviews:

Interesting Concept; Wooden Characters

The title says it all. The story line had promise, despite requiring the "suspension of disbelief", but I never did get any 'sense' of the characters. They were very two dimensional, in my opinion. By the end of the audiobook I stil wasn't sure what any of them looked like, and I didn't know much more about their emotional and mental outlook either.

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Title: Burn: An Anna Pigeon Mystery, Book 16

Author: Nevada Barr

Narrator: Joyce Bean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 08-03-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 446 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Anna Pigeon, a Ranger with the National Park Service, is on administrative leave from her job as she recovers from the traumas of the past couple of months while the physical wounds have healed, the emotional ones are still healing. With her new husband busy and back at work, Anna decides to go to stay with an old friend from the Park Service, Geneva, who works as a singer at the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park.

Anna isnt in town long before she crosses paths with a tenant of Genevas, a creepy guy named Jordan. She discovers what seems to be an attempt to place a curse on her a gruesomely killed pigeon marked with runic symbols and begins slowly to find traces of very dark doings in the heart of post-Katrina New Orleans. Tied up in all of this evil magic are Jordan, who is not at all what he appears to be; a fugitive mother accused of killing her husband and daughters in a fire; and faint whispers of unpleasant goings-on in the heart of the slowly recovering city.

Now it will take all of Annas skills learned in the untamed outdoors to navigate the urban jungle in which she finds herself, to uncover the threads that connect these seemingly disparate people, and to rescue the most vulnerable of creatures from the most savage of animals.

Members Reviews:

Bring other narrator back!!!!

Although I don't love the dark hole Nevada Barr seems determined to shove Anna into, I still enjoyed the latest book in the series. I agree with another reviewer who begged Barr to take Anna back into the wild. Part of the charm of her books is the scenery the non-city National parks afford (her Liberty Island book had similar issues for me). My biggest issue was the change of narrator. Joyce Bean did OK, and it sounded like she had listened to Rosenblat and was imitating her style. But Rosenblat IS the voice of Anna. I can't stand it when series like this change narrator. For those of us who listen to all the books, part of the attraction to the series is Rosenblat's voice.

Not the usual Nevada Barr

I found this book a difficult read mostly because of the story line. Well, you know what they say about expectations, right? I was expecting another whodunit where Anna Pigeon negotiates the staff and incidental characters who populate one of the national parks. Her stories are always resplendent with details of the natural setting, giving an authentic and integrative feel to the narrative.

This is another type of story altogether. Looks like Barr has abandoned the good old-fashioned linear narrative and uses a more artsy, impressionistic delivery. This seems to be in vogue, as most of the books I've read lately use this technique. While I am sure this makes great sense from the author's point of view, and certainly from an aesthetic point of view, however, it does not make for enjoyable reading, nor does it offer character development. Hard to tell what was actually going on half of the time. Just present-tense impressions and inner dialog.This might work for a painting, since it is mostly texture, but it doesn't work for me in a story.

A good but difficult read

This was a gritty, suspenseful & edgy book. I had a hard time listening to it & if the story line hadn't gripped me so completely would have turned it off.

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Title: The Good Son

Author: Michael Gruber

Narrator: Neil Shah

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-11-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 216 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Michael Gruber, a member of the elite ranks of those who can both chill the blood and challenge the mind (Denver Post), delivers a taut, multilayered, riveting novel of suspense.

Somewhere in Pakistan, Sonia Laghari and eight fellow members of a symposium on peace are being held captive by armed terrorists. Laghari, a deeply religious woman as well as a Jungian psychologist, has become the de facto leader of the kidnapped group. While her son, Theo, an ex-Delta soldier, uses his military connections to find and free the victims, Sonia Laghari tries to keep them all alive by working her way into the kidnappers psyches and interpreting their dreams. With her knowledge of their language, her familiarity with their religion, and her Jungian training, she confounds her captors with her insights and beliefs. When the kidnappers decide to kill their captives one by one, in retaliation for perceived crimes against their country, Theo races against the clock to try and save their lives.

Critic Reviews:

Superb.the brilliant character development and labyrinthine plot line, not to mention the absorbing history of modern jihadism and the U.S. war on terrorism, make this a provocative thriller that readers won't soon forget. (

Publishers Weekly)

Gruber leaves his own mark on the thriller scene. (

New York Times)

Gruber weaves the threads together masterfully while successfully exploring themes of family, duty, loyalty, cultural identity and more, without ever slowing the momentum. Smart, tense and vastly entertaining. (

Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

A very smart thriller, very well read.

My husband and I often disagree on politics, so I wasn't sure how it would be to drive across the country listening to a story about Pakistan, and about American involvement in the conflicts of the area. We both loved this book. We were captivated by the story and intellectually engaged by the ideas here. Gruber's characters make every argument imaginable for and against various political positions, violent and covert operations, and religious practices and they do so in ways that make it possible to regard even those characters with whom one disagrees as sympathetic.

The story is packed with philosophy, religion, psychology, anthropology, and political theory, yet it is not weighed down by them. All the talking works in this action thriller; in fact, it is hard to imagine the story or the character development without it. We have to hear from the characters in order not to dismiss them as "the other" when they do horrible things.

The book is read very well by Neil Shah. The cast of characters is as large as a 19th c. Russian novel so it's possible to be confused sometimes, and Shah maintains different voice tones and accents well so that you can recognize who is speaking.

Intellectual thriller!

This is an amazing book for those of you who like literary/intellectual thrillers. Gruber has a political background and his insight into the inner workings of the fundamentalist mindset feels astoundingly real. The most unforgettable character is Sonia,a woman who ran away from her Pakistani husband and posed as a Pashtun boy in order to travel to Mecca with a Sufi master. Later in life, after a family tragedy, she becomes a Jungian analyst. In the present, she is being held hostage by the Taliban.