Listen to Most Popular Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

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Title: Mirror Image

Author: Dennis Palumbo

Narrator: William Hughes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-12-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Mirror Image, a complex, erotic novel of suspense, is the first in a series of mysteries featuring Dr. Daniel Rinaldi, a psychologist who consults with the Pittsburgh Police. His specialty is treating victims of violent crime, those whove survived an armed robbery or kidnapping but whose traumatic experience still haunts them.

Kevin Merrick, a college student and victim of an armed assault, is one of these people. A fragile, troubled kid desperate for a role model and a sense of identity, Kevin has begun dressing like Rinaldi, acting like him, mirroring his appearance. Before Daniel has a chance to work this through with his patient, he finds Kevin brutally murdered. Stunned, he and the police suspect that he, not Kevin, had been the intended target.

Feeling responsible, Rinaldi is determined to help find the killer, whos begun leaving death threats for the psychologist. His journey takes him through a labyrinth of friends and colleagues, any one of whom may be the killer. It also includes an affair with a beautiful, free-spirited assistant district attorney with secrets of her own. And when Kevins identity as the estranged son of a Bill Gates-like biotech giant is revealed, the investigation of his murder turns into a national story, even as another person turns up dead.

A Poisoned Pen Press Mystery.

Critic Reviews:

Palumbo infuses his fast-moving, suspenseful story with fascinating texture, interesting characters, and the twists, turns, and surprises of a mind-bending mystery. Very impressive. (Stephen J. Cannell, New York Times bestselling author)

A deviously plotted thriller with lots of shocks and surprises you wont see coming. (Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author)

Members Reviews:

Interesting Lead Character

Where does Mirror Image rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

A little better than average.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot had many twists, and the fact that the lead character was not a rock-em-sock-em heroic action figure made it more interesting.

What aspect of William Hughess performance would you have changed?

The voice was a bit too monotone.

Any additional comments?

There are few books set in Pittsburgh, so it was interesting to hear about the various neighborhoods.

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Title: The Lion

Author: Nelson DeMille

Narrator: Scott Brick

Format: Abridged

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-08-10

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 57 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

John Corey, former NYPD Homicide detective and special agent for the Anti-Terrorist Task Force, is back on the trail of Asad Khalil, the notorious Libyan terrorist known as The Lion. Corey and his partner, agent Kate Mayfield, tracked Khalil across the U.S. after his threats to wipe out the U.S. in a horrific wave of terrorism. But after methodically eliminating his victims one by one, Khalil disappeared without a trace. Now, years later, Khalil has returned to America to take care of unfinished business. The Lion is a killing machine on a mission of revenge, and John Corey will not stop until he rids the earth of this tyrant once and for all.

Members Reviews:

The Lion - A Fantastic Story & Narrator

What made the experience of listening to The Lion the most enjoyable?

It is definitely a page turner. I love John Corey's humor and wit. He keeps your interested peaked at all times. It was hard for me to stop listening and I almost did a continuous marathon until I finished. I read The Panther first, which was my first experience with Nelson DeMille. In The Panther story The Lion is mentioned several times and as soon as I finished the Panther, I purchased the 2 Lion Audio books. Since then I have listened to more audio's bt Nelson, most of which were narrated by Scott Brick, who is the very best!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

As in most of the DeMille novels regarding John Corey, it seems that he gets into many situations where you cannot guess how he is ever going to get out. All of DeMille's novels make you spell bound and are very hard to put down.

Have you listened to any of Scott Bricks other performances before? How does this one compare?

The Lion compares equally in my mind with the Panther and even The Gold Coast which is also excellent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found myself laughing outloud at some of the things that John Corey said and did.

Any additional comments?

I sent an email to Nelson DeMille, begging him to write more John Corey novels. This series is by far my favorite.

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Title: Bank Shot

Subtitle: A Dortmunder Novel

Author: Donald E. Westlake

Narrator: Jeff Woodman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 170 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

With the help of an unusual set of cronies, bank robber John Dortmunder puts a set of wheels under a trailer that just happens to be the temporary site of the Capitalists' & Immigrants' Trust and hauls it away. But when the safe won't open and the cops get close, Dortmunder realizes he's got to find a place to ditch the "bank".

Critic Reviews:

All-Time Top 100 Mysteries (Mystery Writers of America).

Members Reviews:

great story - well narrated!!!

Happy I discovered Donald Westlake. I love Thomas Perry's capers such as 'Metzger's Dog' (except his Jane Whitefield stories), this is similar! Great fun to listen to and well narrated by Jeff Woodman who I sometimes find a bit whiney (e.g. Chris Grabenstein stories). Don't miss out!

Another terrific Dortmunder novel, well read

I've been an enthusiastic fan of Westlake's Dortmunder books for decades, and was very pleased to discover that someone had the sense to get readers that do them justice. In "Bank Shot," Jeff Woodman does an excellent job; his voices and tone are perfect for the book.

If you're not familiar with Dortmunder, you really should be: Westlake pretty much invented the comic caper novel with the gloomy John Dortmunder (the first was "The Hot Rock," also an excellent audiobook) and his group of somewhat misfit pals. The extraordinarily quirky situations they get into are invariably entertaining, and the curve balls Fate throws at Dortmunder have, on occasion, actually helped me see the comic side of my own misfortunes...not that mine are nearly as entertaining as Dortmunder's!

The only people I would not recommend this & other Dortmunder books to are those who absolutely hate to laugh.

Bank on the Run

What did you love best about Bank Shot?

The outrageous idea of steeling a bank. Fresh idea.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kelp, unbelievable character. Too ditsy to be true. Merch's mom is a hoot.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Woodmans other performances before? How does this one compare?

Only the Dortmunder books. The characters are coming along quite well.

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

HAVE BANK WILL TRAVEL!!!

Any additional comments?

Not to long a book definitely a one day listen and truly hysterical. This group is a dense as a bag of nail. I found myself talking to myself saying your on the phone to long they can trace, or your giving them enough information so they can find out who you are. Funny, Funny, Funny.

Fun Crime Caper

This was a fun and light crime caper. Parts were quite funny and I enjoyed the premise of a thief stealing a whole bank rather than just breaking into the safe. It was a unique twist on the bank robbery theme. The characters were exactly that - characters! They all have unique skills and attitudes that they bring to the caper. Although this was the second in the series, this is the first one I read and I did not find it hard to pick up who everyone was. I haven't decided yet if I want to delve into the entire series, or just leave it at this one.

Fun read. Excellent performance.

A classic Dortmunder yarn.

Good characters. Lots of snags in the caper. Great dialogue. Nobody bleeds.

A perfect road-trip novel.

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Title: Money to Burn

Subtitle: A Novel of Suspense

Author: James Grippando

Narrator: Jonathan Davis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-10

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 178 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

In this timely stand-alone thriller ripped from the headlines, New York Times best-selling author James Grippando, whom the Wall Street Journal calls a writer to watch, explores a world in which the destruction of financial institutions and the people who run them can occur in a matter of hours-perhaps even minutes.

At 31, Michael Cantella is a rising star at Wall Streets premier investment bank, Saxton Silvers. Everything is going according to plan until Ivy Layton, the love of his life, vanishes on their honeymoon in the Bahamas. Fast-forward four years. Its the eve of his 35th birthday, and Michael is still on track: successful career, beautiful new wife, piles of money. Reveling in his good fortune, Michael logs in to his computer, enters his password, and pulls up his biggest investment account: Zero balance. He tries another, and another. All of them zero. Someone has wiped him out. His only clue is a new e-mail message: Just as planned. xo xo.

With these three words Michaels life as he knows it is liquidated, along with his investment portfolio. Saxton Silvers is suddenly on the brink of bankruptcy, and hes the leading suspect in its ruin. Michael is left alone, framed, and facing divorce, with undercover FBI agents afoot, spyware on his computer, and mysterious e-mails from a JBU. Embroiled in corporate espionage, hes desperate to clear his name and realizes that several signs point to his first wife, Ivy, as a key player. But what if Ivy has come back from the dead, only to visit on Michael a fate worse than death?

With echoes of The Firm, James Grippandos newest thriller takes readers to the inner circle of Wall Street, illustrating the very real dangers of what Warren Buffett called financial weapons of mass destruction."

Editorial Reviews:

When Michael Cantella, superstar investment banker, becomes the victim of identity theft, it sets in motion a series of events that ultimately exposes shady dealings in the world of high finance and brings it crumbling down. Narrator Jonathan Davis delivers a performance that is full of tense excitement that complements the story's fast-paced action. Characters come to life through subtle changes in Davis's voice. A weakness is that long pauses at the close of chapters bring one out of the moment. However, Grippando's action-packed story and Davis's consistent narration quickly re-engage the listener.

Members Reviews:

Home run James!

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

I would highly recommend this book! I kept me spellbound from beginning to end. I couldn't wait to get in my car to see what would happen next.

What other book might you compare Money to Burn to and why?

I might compare it to "The Partner" by John Grisham It had that "cat and mouse" thing going.

Which character as performed by Jonathan Davis was your favorite?

I always hear Jack Swytek's voice when I hear Jonathan Davis so I guess in this book I like Andy

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

When you think you have nothing to lose.....

Any additional comments?

I think this book was different than other James Grippando books. I LOVED it. He just keeps me interested ALWAYS. Another home run!

Good listen from beginning to the end!

What did you love best about Money to Burn?

I don't love anything about a book. I like it and this is a good one.

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Title: The 13th Hour

Subtitle: A Thriller

Author: Richard Doetsch

Narrator: Dennis Boutsikaris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-29-09

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 69 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Nick Quinn is being held in jail, accused of the murder of his beloved wife, Julia. He knows she's dead; he saw her bloody corpse, shot in the head at point-blank range. The police tell him they found the murder weapon with his fingerprints on it in the trunk of his car. Nick is confused, grief-stricken -- and completely innocent.

At 9 p.m. on July 28, a gray-haired gentleman visits Nick in the police interrogation room and asks him a simple question: "If you could get out of here, if you could save her, would you?" He hands Nick a golden talisman that allows Nick to go back in time, one hour at a time, for a total of twelve hours. With each hour that Nick travels back, he finds more clues to the identity of Julia's real killer, but he also discovers that his actions in the past may have unexpected repercussions in the future.

In his race against time to save the woman he loves most in the world, Nick will find that friends become enemies, old loyalties are tested, and Julia's murder is part of a larger scheme that has its roots in greed and vengeance. Nick has the ability to save Julia, the chance to put his own world in balance, but he is venturing down a precarious route. If he hasn't set things right by the thirteenth hour, his desperate attempts to save Julia's life may lead to a far greater catastrophe than he could have ever imagined.

A surprising and utterly original thriller, The 13th Hour is pure page-turning suspense -- full of double crosses, cliffhangers, and shocking revelations.

Members Reviews:

So So

Fun thriller but not the best writing or pacing. The main hero and his wife are very cutout, simplistic, and "perfect". The story involves traveling back in time a hour at a time. The flaw with this is that (like on the TV show 24) more things often happen in a hour than is possible.

The story is kinda fun but it doesn't hold you or make you care about what happens next to the extent a thriller should. The reader also seemed a bit dull but this may have had more to do with the material he had to work with.

Not a bad choice if you can find anything else.

quite enjoyed this one!

quite enjoyed this one! Very good story, and very good narration. Will look for more by this author.

Absolute perfection

A thrill from beginning to end- almost painfully suspenseful - worth paying attention throughout. Goodness does triumph !

Kept us on the edge of our seats!

This was a great story, it kept us on the edge of our seats. It was great for passing the time on a long trip.

Time travel greatness!

I am a sucker for time travel stories and this one did not disappoint. It has a fantastic premise which is excellently executed. The mystery unfolds like petals from a flower as each step in Nick's time travel unravels another part of the explanation for the days events, including the death of his wife.

I also enjoyed the discussions of the repercussions on future events of the decisions and actions we take.

The reader is great and fits the style and feeling of the story very well.

Fantastic idea pleasingly implemented!

(Note: Ignore comparisons of this book to "The Time Traveler's Wife," which is a book I hated.)

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Title: Ice

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Linda Howard

Narrator: Fred Sanders

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-10-09

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 170 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Gabriel McQueen has only just arrived home on holiday leave from the service when his county-sheriff father sends him back out again with new marching orders. A brewing ice storm, and a distant neighbor who's fallen out of contact, have the local lawman concerned. So he enlists Gabriel to make the long haul to the middle of nowhere, and make sure Lolly Helton is safe and sound. It's a trip the younger McQueen would rather not make, given the bitter winter weather - and the icy conditions that have always existed between him and Lolly.

But there's no talking back when your dad is the town's top cop. And there's no turning back when night falls just as Gabriel arrives - and discovers that the weather outside isn't the only thing that's frightful. Spotting strangers in Lolly's home - one of them packing a weapon - is all it takes to kick Gabriel into combat mode. And his stealth training is all he needs to extract Lolly from the house without alerting her captors. But when the escape is discovered, the heat - and the hunt - are on. And the winter woods are nowhere to be once the ice storm touches down, dropping trees, blocking roads, and trapping the fleeing pair in the freezing dark.

Members Reviews:

Felt Cheated

I love and have most of Linda Howard's books/audio's, but this one is my first big disappointment. I regretted the loss of my credit. Was this her first book? I didn't expect sooooo much of the crime. I figured we'd get the crime for a couple of chapters and then the "getting to know each other again" for the rest of the story. No romance to speak of...maybe because it was so short? I just finished Kiss Me While I Sleep. Now, that was a 5 star audio.

It was ok - my first audio book

I think the only problem I had was it was about the New England area and the reader was not, so he was trying to use a weird accent (which I don't think we really have). Maybe next time have someone from New England do the reading. LOL

But the story was good. It kept you listening.

Okay . . . .

A little too predictable for me. I can't put my finger on why I didn't click with this book; I just didn't.

Over Before it Ever Got Started

I wish I could find something positive to say about this title. I guess the premise was nice, which is why I purchased it. But the delivery is not there at all. The book seems to end before anything has really happened. The "bad guys" aren't scary at all. They are a couple of bumbling drug addicts who are easily defeated. The romance comes out of left field and is so forced it is unbearable. We are supposed to accept things like the fact that while fearing for her life, the only thing Lolly can focus on is Gabriel's rock-hard abs (eye-roll). This book was my first read/listen of Linda Howard's, and if her other books are similar, it will be my last. To make matters worse, the narration was awful. All action was delivered with the same monotone emotion...whether it was a character strolling down the street or running for their lives. It was almost as though the book was being read by one of those automatic voice to speech programs! I was in the mood for a wintery thriller with a bit of romance thrown in, and this book failed on all levels.

great

It started a little slow, but after about half a chapter, it was really great, it kept my interest, was scary and romantic.

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Title: Deep Waters

Author: Kate Charles

Narrator: Nicolette McKenzie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-14-09

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

The bereaved parents, celebrity couple Jodee and Chazz, live in curate Callie Anson's parish, and Callie becomes involved with the funeral arrangements in the spite of the disapproval of the vicar. Detective Inspector Neville Stewart is called away from his honeymoon to investigate the case, with disastrous personal results, and journalist Lilith Noone's professional future is put on the line.

Meanwhile, for police family liaison officer Mark Lombardi, the death of baby Muffin is eclipsed by another fatality, much closer to home. He finds himself in an impossible position, torn between loyalty to his family and a growing love for Callie.

Members Reviews:

Hard to pause this book

Don't make my mistake: I began the book on the last day of the month and could not turn it off. Just when I needed to do many other routine tasks, the book took over my life.

I thoroughly enjoyed it; I'll catch up with the work later.

But I come to this book with special privilege. I am an Episcopalian and I take no interest in celebrity culture. It was especially enjoyable to watch an episcopal cleric not be suckered into celebrity glorification. Kate Charles peoples this book with an engaging variety of persons.

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Title: Fear the Worst

Author: Linwood Barclay

Narrator: Buck Schirner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-09

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 214 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

As he retraces Sydney's steps, searching for clues to her secret life, Tim discovers that the suburban Connecticut town he always thought of as perfectly ordinary has a darker side. But what he doesn't know is just how dark. Because while he's out searching for his daughter, questioning everyone who might have known her, someone is watching him.

For Tim isn't the only one who'll do anything to find Syd. Whatever trouble she's in, there's a lot more on the way...and it's following in Tim's footsteps. The closer Tim comes to the truth, the closer he comes to every parent's worst nightmare...and the kind of evil only a parent's love has a chance in hell of stopping.

Members Reviews:

WOW!

I couldn't put my iPad down. I finally fell asleep listening at 3am and picked it back up as soon as I woke. I listened to the entire book in less then 18 hours. It was full of suspence and an ending I would have never guessed. This book was an excellent read. I'm a big Harlan Coban fan and if Linwood Barclay's other books are this great. I found another favorite author. If you like a good mystery with a semi happy ending you've found it.... you will love it.

A Lot of Fun - Barclay Does It Again

I really enjoy Barclay books, and this one is no exception. The story developed throughout the book, never going through boring patches like some suspense books tend to do. I was glued to this one. The characters were well developed, and Barclay knows how to inject humor without making the story silly. If you've enjoyed his other books, you won't be disappointed with this one. Now it's back to waiting for his next book.

loved everything until the last minute

Linwood Barclay has a good knack for creating characters, and his writing (and Buck Schirner's narration) do bring them to life. It's a good story, complicated enough to be interesting but straightforward enough to be understandable and I loved it all......until the final sentence in the last minute. Still, in spite of the ending, it was an enjoyable listen adn well worth the time and money. I'm sure it won't be my last book of his.

Fear the worst, Expect the Best

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

With out a doubt. This was such a good book, well written and fast paced.

What did you like best about this story?

Linwood Barclay did a great job. His style of writing is very reminiscent of Harlan Coban. He writes about "real" people with "normal" lives that all of the sudden get turned up side down. Life and death situations that are entertaining and very believable.

What does Buck Schirner bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Buck Schirner's voice was perfect for this book. I like him so much I looked for other books that he has narrated.

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

I do not want to spoil this for anyone but the end was moving and a little heartbreaking.

Loved the main character

Any additional comments?

Poor guy...Just a car salesman dealing with a teenage, slight rebel of a daughter who comes to spend the summer with him and vanishes. It follows his search for his daughter and you do not know who is friend and who is foe with the introduction of each character. Barclay can do no wrong.

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Title: Ivory

Author: Tony Park

Narrator: Mark Davis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-09

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 324 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

Alex Tremain is a pirate in trouble. The two women in his life - one of them his financial adviser, the other his diesel mechanic - have left him. He's facing a mounting tide of debts and his crew of modern-day buccaneers, a multi-national band of ex-military cut-throats, is getting restless. They don't all share his dream of going legit, but what Alex really wants is to re-open the five-star resort hotel which once belonged to his Portuguese mother and English father on the Island of Dreams, off the coast of Mozambique. A chance raid on a wildlife smuggling ship sets the Chinese triads after him and, to add to his woes, corporate lawyer Jane Humphries lands, literally, in his lap. Another woman is the last thing Captain Tremain needs right now - especially one whose lover is a ruthless shipping magnate backed up by a deadly bunch of contract killers.

Meanwhile Jane finds herself torn between the crooked but charming pirate and her coolly calculating millionaire boss, George Penfold. Both are passionate, and both are dangerous. What Alex really needs is one last big heist - something valuable enough to fulfil his dreams and set him and his men up for life. When the South African government makes a controversial decision to reinstitute the culling of elephants in its national parks, Alex finds the answer to his dilemma - three tonnes of ivory.

Editorial Reviews:

Using coastal Mozambique as its picturesque backdrop, Tony Park fuses heart-stopping action and adventure with steamy romance in his wildly imaginative crowd-pleaser that chronicles the exploits of Alex Tremain and his band of modern-day pirates as they square off against Chinese triads, ivory smugglers, and international shipping magnates in their dogged pursuit of one last "big score".

Mark Davis authentic Australian twang and vivacious performance effortlessly capture the epic scope and cinematic quality of Parks irresistibly fun, pulpy adventure.

Members Reviews:

well worth the listen

Any additional comments?

Tony Park has got what it takes to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through to the end. This is the second book I have listened to by this author and look forward to another becoming available soon. My only criticism would be the narrator. Mark Davis was superb in every way but one. Much of the story is set in Southern Africa and many of the names of the people and places are Afrikaans based and are pronounced a certain way. It would have made the story perfect if the narrator pronounced the names correctly.

Why?

Why ruin a wonderful book about Africa with filthy sex remarks and scenes. It would have been a great book with out the filth. For that reason I do not recommend it.

Good Book, well read - worth a listen

If you could sum up Ivory in three words, what would they be?

I expected some similarity with one of the Wilbur Smith Novels, but this one was refreshingly different.

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Title: Diamondhead

Author: Patrick Robinson

Narrator: Charles Leggett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-26-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 314 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

When Navy SEAL Mack Bedford's fellow officers are brutally killed by Iraqi insurgents using a cruel, new anti-tank Diamondhead missile, Mack avenges their murders by gunning down the then-unarmed attackers, ultimately getting himself court-martialed and kicked out of the Navy. To make matters worse, Mack then learns that the Diamondhead missiles were sold illegally by French industrialist and infamous politician Henri Foche. Mack believes Foche will become the next French President, and fears that his election will result in the cancellation of all navy-ship purchases from the United States, and thus protect French interests in the Diamondhead. End result: doom for Mack's hometown shipbuilding yard and the spread of international terrorism.

©2009 Patrick Robinson; (P)2009 BBC Audio

Members Reviews:

A Disastrous Departure of Style and Genre

I have read or listened to all ten of the Robinsons novels in the Arnold Morgan series. The last To the Death was a horrible close to the ten. I am sad to say that the first of the Mack Bedford series is even worse something I never thought possible. One of the most interesting parts of Robinsons novels was his humanization of the obstacle character. He forced you to get to know the bad guy and at some level sympathize; and then when the bad guy would slither away and ultimately get killed -- I was conflicted. Sure I wanted the bad guy to get what was coming, but there was still emotion there. The stories were complex, with many characters. So many characters that you sometimes needed to take notes and they resurfaced like old friends throughout the novels.

All of these reason for loving his works gone. Diamondhead is a flat story with very little thrill and thin non-existent conflict. I couldnt connect with the plot and the main character never seemed to be in any bodily danger and just cut through challenges; by the three quarter mark I was begging for it to be over. There were no auxiliary characters of note, certainly none that I want to hear from ever again and the mission just made no sense and just doesn't tie my mental model of a Navy Seal. More laughable, the French bad guy Andre Fosch, was about as impotent bad guy as you can conjure even his wife was flat and her backstory added nothing, was unresolved, and a yawner.

The narrator, Charles Leggett did not succeed in bringing any interest to the story. His voice was monotone, uninspiring and undifferentiated.

Maybe Ill read the next just to see if Robinson got off on the wrong foot; but this is strike two Robinson. It will take me six months to recover from this poorly conceived and sloppily executed work of uninteresting fiction before I'll consider reading the next installment. If you had been a fan of Robinson, like me, skip this book and try the next maybe it will be better; but I am not counting on it. All in all a disaster.

Is this the same author as the one who wrote Kilo Class...?

The submarine books were great to read. This one is full of holes, incorrect facts, weak and stupid women and clearly the author had little to no knowledge of weaponry, tactics or hand to hand combat techniques. The scene with the three stooges deaths (eye poke, ear grab and head shake to break necks) was moronic but funny (don't think it was supposed to be funny).