Listen to New Releases Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Repair to Her Grave

Author: Sarah Graves

Narrator: Lindsay Ellison

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 58 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Jacobia Tiptree and her teenage son are used to their Eastport, Maine, home attracting more than its share of houseguests. This year Jake is hoping the plaster dust will keep them away while she finally gets her gem of a fixer-upper into shape - from doorknobs and chandeliers to ghostly phenomena. But when the charming and mysterious Jonathan Raines appears on her doorstep and then just as suddenly disappears, remodeling the house becomes the least of Jake's problems.

Could Jonathan's disappearance have something to do with his quest for a cursed violin that local legend says was hidden by a long-ago owner of Jake's house before he too vanished without a trace? Jake needs to strip Eastport's past of its idyllic veneer before a killer paints her very dead indeed!

Members Reviews:

This is a great read!!!

This is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. Like Jacobia I was stumped as to the identity of the villain. I loved the family dynamics between Jacobia, Wade, and her ex husband. The narrator has a perfect accent for the region. She brings the story to life. I have read the previous three books and plan to read the next book as well. As long as Sarah Graves writes like this, I will read the entire series.

Enjoyable series

Would you listen to Repair to Her Grave again? Why?

I would, have listened to most of it twice already. Good book.

Have you listened to any of Lindsay Ellisons other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, the other books she has read in this series,

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Charming Quirks of Others

Subtitle: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel, Book 7

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrator: Davina Porter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-12-10

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 290 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

In this latest and most felicitous addition to the Isabel Dalhousie series, our inquisitive heroine comes to see that there are very few of us who are not flawed... herself included.

Isabel has been asked for her help in a rather tricky situation: A successor is being sought for the headmaster at a local boys school. The board has three final candidates but has received an anonymous letter alleging that one of them has a very serious skeleton in the closet. Could Isabel discreetly look into it? And so she does. What she discovers about all the candidates is surprising, but what she discovers about herself and about Jamie, the father of her young son, turns out to be equally revealing.

Isabels investigation will have her exploring issues of ambition, as well as of charity, forgiveness, and humility, as she moves nearer and nearer to some of the most hidden precincts of the heart.

Here is Isabel Dalhousie at her beguiling best: intelligent, insightful, and with a unique understanding of the quirks of human nature.

Critic Reviews:

McCall Smith has created a world where humor is gentle, suffering is acknowledged but not foregrounded, and efforts to do good are usually rewarded. Its a wonderful place to visit, even if we dont get to live there. (Washington Post)

Members Reviews:

Love it

I don't really know which of the Alexander McCall Smith series I love most, but I love Isabel Dalhousie, Jamie, and Mr Fox. By now they are old friends, and we enjoy Isabel's thoughts and curiosity and moral quandaries. I also like feeling like we see into another culture. Perhaps those people could exist anywhere, but they fit perfectly where they are. I am so happy that Alexander McCall Smith is able write so prolifically. I enjoy each book as it comes out and have to wait just a little time until the next one arrives. This book is delightful.

Charming Quirks

Davina Porter does a great job narrating this series. When I listen to this series I feel as if I have dropped in for tea with my good friend Isabel. I love the wondering of her mind into various philosophical topics. Can not wait for the next book.

A gentle read

Another gentle story with old friends. Love the philosophical and situational ethics asides as much as the actual story line. I also LOVE Davina Porter. As usual, she does an excellent job bringing Scotland alive for me.

Typical A. M. Smith (that's good!)

I much enjoy Smith's writing, particularly his ability to convey the sense of a place. In this book there seems to be a great deal more reflecting on ethics and the thoughts of the protagonist, Isabel; so much so that the internal thought-wanderings got distracting in places. Still, a good "read. "

MaCall Smith is genius

Would you consider the audio edition of The Charming Quirks of Others to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version yet.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Charming Quirks of Others?

When Isabel entertains doubts about Jamie's fidelity and jumps to horrible conclusions.

What about Davina Porters performance did you like?

Her easy switch between characters and accents.

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

Isabel's inner life is so absorbing and nuanced. So human.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: All the Pretty Girls

Subtitle: Taylor Jackson Series #1

Author: J. T. Ellison

Narrator: Joyce Bean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-23-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 301 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When a local girl falls prey to a sadistic serial killer, Nashville homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her lover, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, find themselves in a joint investigation pursuing a vicious murderer.

The Southern Strangler is slaughtering his way through the Southeast, leaving a gruesome memento at each crime scene the prior victims severed hand.

Ambitious TV reporter Whitney Connolly is certain the Southern Strangler is her ticket out of Nashville; shes got a scoop that could break the case. She has no idea how close to this story she really is or what it will cost her.

As the killer spirals out of control, everyone involved must face a horrible truth that the purest evil is born of private lies.

Members Reviews:

First in a new(to me) series-and great

JT Ellison was a new author to me when I picked up the third or fourth book of this series-not realizing it was a series.

I knew about an hour into that book that there must have been previous books and went in search before I finished that book.

"All The Pretty Girls" is a good solid start to the Taylor Jackson, cop series.

Ellison finds a solid story arc and follows it to the end, remaining focused on the actual plot without all the extra stuff. Theres some sex but not as much as JD Robb's Eve Dallas, nor does Jackson have the hangups Dallas does..shes a much more believable woman cop.

Others have mentioned Joyce Beans poor southern accents..I'm sure that must be agonizing to those in the south and I understand each state has its own version of the classic Southern Drawl....but I'm in Oregon and for me, a bad southern accent is no more discernible than a Mexican accent is from a Guatemalan one. Were pretty homogenized up here. Texas sounds the same as Alabama as Tennessee to me.

Speaking of Joyce Bean-what a great choice as narrator. She does nicely though theres not a lot of variety in her mens voices still. she's a great narrator and one I'll look for in other works.

Very enjoyable light fiction, good for listening at night before sleep..not terribly scary so far at least.

Take a chance on Taylor Jackson..you just might enjoy this book.

Distracting subplot and uninteresting characters

Not sure why this author felt the need to insert a subplot about a Rainman killer into this story. Quite frankly I had some difficulty differentiating between the Rainman and the Strangler, especially when my listens were short and spread out. The romance between Taylor and Baldwin added little or nothing to the story and their relationship gave us little worth remembering. As the book approached its conclusion, there was little left for the listener to figure out. The Strangler's motivation was a stretch and I just don't think this story was very believable, even for fiction. I would have liked to see better character development and improved story telling.

Couldn't get past the reader's performance

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I was really excited to read/listen to this series based on the reviews. However, this may have to be a series that I will have to actually read. I couldn't really focus on the story because the reader's narration was a bit robotic and really didn't change her voice that much for different characters.

What could J. T.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Deception: An Alex Delaware Novel

Author: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrator: John Rubinstein

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-30-10

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 727 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Masterly storytelling and expert insight into the darkest of human compulsions make number-one New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels as compelling as they are addictive. And just when you think he has taken his spellbinding tales of mystery and psychological suspense to the limit, withDeception he takes a bold leap into terrifying and uncharted new territory.

Her name is Elise Freeman, and her chilling cry for help to whoever may be listening comes too late to save her. On a DVD found near her lifeless body, the emotionally and physically battered woman chronicles a year-and-a-half-long ordeal of monstrous abuse at the hands of three sadistic tormentors. But even more shocking than the lurid details is the revelation that the offenders, like their victim, are teachers at one of L.A.s most prestigious prep schools. With Elise now dead by uncertain means, homicide detective Milo Sturgis is assigned to probe the hallowed halls of Windsor Prep Academy. And if ever he could use Dr. Alex Delaware's psychological prowess, its now.

From the get-go, this case promises to be an uphill climb for truth and a down and dirty fight for justice. Allegations of rape, assault, and possibly murder at this esteemed institution renowned for molding Ivy Leaguers make for a social and political time bombespecially given that one of the students has connections high up in City Hall. As the scandal-conscious elite of L.A. close ranks around Windsor Prep, Alex and Milo must penetrate the citadel of wealth and scholarship to expose the hidden anguish, dirty secrets, and deadly sins festering among societys manor-born. But power and position are not easily surrendered, for that's when the best and the brightest turn brutal and ugly. Searching for predators among the privileged, Alex and Milo may well be walking into a highly polished death trap.

Members Reviews:

Really disappointed

I really like the series but this one was very predictable and I wish I never would have downloaded it.

Not great, but I liked it.

The plot is quite inventive and interesting. The characters are easy to follow and transparent. The action moves swiftly in an uncomplicated way, and all "clues" are eventually explained and rationalized. Nicely read. I was in the mood for sheer entertainment and didn't want to think too much. This book satisfied me, but it is not memorable.

Same old...

Nothing new here. And the suspects "lick their lips" and "blink" all the time, which is just annoying.

Should be called the Milo Sturgis series

I'm not sure why they call this the Alex Delaware Series. It would be like calling the Hound of the Baskervilles an installment in the Dr. Watson series. That minor criticism aside, this was an average book that had some interesting characters and good dose of sarcasm and humor, courtesy of Milo Sturgis. Sturgis and Delaware seem to have a knack for deducing mysteries out of thin air but hearing them discuss various theories as to whodunit and why makes for a good story. This is one of those books that will hold your interest for its entire length because it is about the right length. But I will probably call it quits after my second listen in the Delaware series.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Never Look Away

Author: Linwood Barclay

Narrator: Jeffrey Cummings

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-16-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 188 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A warm summer Saturday. An amusement park. David Harwood is glad to be spending some quality time with his wife, Jan, and their four-year-old son. But what begins as a pleasant family outing turns into a nightmare after an inexplicable disappearance. A frantic search only leads to an even more shocking and harrowing turn of events.

Until this terrifying moment, David Harwood is just a small-town reporter in need of a break. Then he gets a lead that just might be the answer to his prayers: a potential scandal involving a controversial development project for the outskirts of this picturesque upstate New York town. Its a hot-button issue, but strangely, Davids editors keep shooting it down. Why?

That's a question no longer at the top of Davids list. Now the only thing he cares about is restoring his family. Desperate for any clue, David dives into his own investigationand into a web of lies and deceit. For with every new piece of evidence he uncovers, David finds more questionsand moves ever closer to a shattering truth.

Critic Reviews:

"A terrifically fast-paced suspense story." (The Washington Post)

Members Reviews:

Not bad but not his best

Any additional comments?

I recently have been listening to all of Linwood Barclay's books on Audible. I have loved all of them - except this one. I liked it a lot. It was a decent mystery but it didn't keep me as gripped as the rest of his books. All in all enjoyable. If you like mysteries and haven't listened to Barclay yet, definitely put his books in your library. I especially liked that they aren't all the same detective, characters, etc. You can start with any of them and finish with any of them.

Great suspense novel with intertwined plots...

Overall, a well-developed story which keeps you engaged and wanting more. However, the ending is anticlimactic and not quite believable. It feels like the author was in a rush to the finish line and could not develop a suitable plot twist; instead, taking a poorly chosen shortcut.

Great narration and well defined character voices.

With all of that said...It is a good audio book; definitely worth the money and time.

Good listen.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes - it is great for a lazy listen or a beach read, as are most of Barclay's books.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would not.

What about Jeffrey Cummingss performance did you like?

He was perfectly cast for this story and did a great job with his characterizations.

Was Never Look Away worth the listening time?

Yes - it is loaded with twists and turns (some a bit predicable perhaps) that keep you interested and is great light reading or listening.

Any additional comments?

Very satisfied with this audio book.

Mr. Snuffleupagus meets Linwood Barclay!

The book is good but I wanted to quit listening at least 10x's. The narrator was the worst at voices except his own which was nice. The narrator's voices ranged from Mr. Snuffleupagus, Barney, & a limited range for females. My 7 yr old has better voices for his Marvel books.

The storyline was decent and I actually do like the author's writing style. The characters are believable and make you laugh out loud.

I have listened to other books by this author and the narrators of those books are better by far.

Another great one!

Great story and performance.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Free Fall

Subtitle: An Elvis Cole - Joe Pike Novel, Book 4

Author: Robert Crais

Narrator: James Daniels

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-16-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 60 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Elvis Cole is just a detective who can't say no, especially to a girl in a terrible fix. And Jennifer Sheridan qualifies: Her fiance, Mark Thurman, is a decorated LA cop with an elite plainclothes unit, but Jennifer's sure he's in trouble - the kind of serious trouble that only Elvis Cole can help him out of.

Five minutes after his new client leaves his office, Elvis and his partner, the enigmatic Joe Pike, are hip-deep in a deadly situation as they plummet into a world of South Central gangs, corrupt cops, and conspiracies of silence. And before the case is through, every cop in the LAPD will be gunning for a pair of escaped armed-and-dangerous killers - Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

Critic Reviews:

"An engaging performance by James Daniels keeps things moving. Daniels provides even the least interesting characters with inner lives by the subtlest change in his tone. With equal touches of irony and insight, he makes Elvis and Joe a great way to spend an evening." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Elvis is back - the detective that is

James Daniel must have read book 1 and 2, he get's elvis and Pike. This is a Elvis Pike story with intrigue, suspense and a lot of fun. If you're looking at the series, read 1, 2 skip 3 and read this one next.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: U Is for Undertow

Author: Sue Grafton

Narrator: Judy Kaye

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-09

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 59 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

It's April, 1988, a month before Kinsey Millhone's 38th birthday, and she's alone in her office doing paperwork when a young man arrives unannounced. He has a preppy air about him and looks as if he'd be carded if he tried to buy booze, but Michael Sutton is 27, an unemployed college dropout. Twenty-one years earlier, a four-year-old girl disappeared. A recent reference to her kidnapping has triggered a flood of memories. Sutton now believes he stumbled on her lonely burial when he was six years old. He wants Kinsey's help in locating the child's remains and finding the men who killed her. It's a long shot but he's willing to pay cash up front, and Kinsey agrees to give him one day. As her investigation unfolds, she discovers Michael Sutton has an uneasy relationship with the truth. In essence, he's the boy who cried wolf. Is his current story true or simply one more in a long line of fabrications?

Grafton moves the narrative between the 80s and the 60s, changing points of view, building multiple subplots, and creating memorable characters. Gradually, we see how they all connect. But at the beating center of the novel is Kinsey Millhone, sharp-tongued, observant, a loner-"a heroine," said The New York Times Book Review, "with foibles you can laugh at and faults you can forgive."

Members Reviews:

Sue Grafton Always Delivers!

What made the experience of listening to U Is for Undertow the most enjoyable?

I was able to drive and leave the reading to Judy Kaye - great job.

What other book might you compare U Is for Undertow to and why?

Well, I could compare this to all of Sue Grafton's alphabet series books, but that might be too obvious.

Any additional comments?

I love all of Sue Grafton's books - her style of writing suits me. I enjoyed having the company of the audio book as I traveled by myself for a very long drive.

Great

As always Sue Grafton pulls you in and keeps you reading. Good plot, great characters. And I love Judy Kaye as a reader. She makes Kinsey's character come alive!

Fairly consistent - which is no thrill

Although it contains the usual researched details and depth of character development I did not like the timeline dives. Also the indication of the story line is that the main character is being given more depth by adding history. Yet, in "real time" not much changes, for instance the neighbor should be over 100 by now and I would have preferred the story reflect societal changes and those of her of aging process. On the presentation I did not like that all the young men sounded feminine on purpose. I still enjoyed the story but not as much as I would have liked. I enjoyed it more for old times sake (a familiar character) than the excitement of the new story.

Always enjoy-should have bought unabridged though!

I enjoy all the Sue Grafton stories, but I could kick myself for accidentally ordering "abridged" when I prefer "unabridged" for all her stories.... Like getting the sampler when I meant to order a full meal!

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Chance

Subtitle: A Spenser Novel

Author: Robert B. Parker

Narrator: Burt Reynolds

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-25-09

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 111 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

From the throne room of crime lords to the Vegas strip, from two-bit wiseguys with a genius for dangerous liasions to gangster's molls in jeopardy, from larceny to homicide, Spenser and Hawk soon discover that what's at stake in this game is not an ardent groom and her blushing bride, but control of gangland Boston. Against the bright lights and seamy side streets of Las Vegas, they find themselves dead center in a circus of violence whose shadowy ringmaster is all too familiar.

Members Reviews:

story good - reader bad

This is a good story with a lot of action and mystery. Hawk and Susan are in the story, and that is alway a plus for me; however, the presentation is not at all good. Burt Reynolds does NOT do a good Spencer voice and the accents he uses for his other characters are just over the top. He also does NOT to a good Hawk. I really had a hard time listening to this audiobook - it was a chore to listen all the way through. The only reason it got a "2" instead of a "1" from me is because Robert Parker did his usual good writing job. Too bad Burt Reynolds ruined it.

Parker as always, Narration a horror!

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

Hire a different narrator. I read the hardback version of this book and was looking forward to listening to the audio version. I did not expect to be chronically irritated and distracted by Reynolds' phlegmy, gutteral, whiny versions of the voices...to the point that I removed my earplugs every time Jesse Ventura began to speak. Also, he mispronounced simple words in the text. What a shame. This is a terrific story that was ruined by a totally inept narrator.

What other book might you compare Chance to and why?

None.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Burt Reynolds was a charming actor, and I've heard him read one other Parker book. In the other novel, his voice didn't flummox me with its grating, unrealistic tone. In CHANCE the narration was so distracting that it was impossible to ignore its poor quality to listen to the story. It sounded as though he needed to clear his throat or nose. In addition, I resent the mispronunciation of words over and over again. Very unprofessional.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Chance?

I would edit every scene in which Shirley Ventura appears. The scene between Spenser and Shirley in a restaurant was overly long and painful to read, and her drunken, loutish behavior didn't contribute to the story.

Good book, laughable performance...

I STILL enjoyed the book...Parker is a master at this sort of thing, and, like all Spenser novels, the book itself is a pleasure.

Burt Reynolds? That's more complicated. On the plus side, his voice has the sort of gravitas required to make a crime novel into a successful audiobook. Then there's the minus side; Reynolds continually, destroys the meaning of sentences by not understanding the syntax. He pronounces "moot", as in "it's a moot point", as "mute". All of this sort of stuff is annoying, especially in someone who is ostensibly an actor....but the voices are the worst...any blue collar character is invested with an accent that sounds straight from Alabama or Mississippi, which would be fine, except for the fact that the book is set in Boston.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Stone Cold

Subtitle: Jesse Stone, Book 4

Author: Robert B. Parker

Narrator: Robert Forster

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-25-09

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 232 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

In Stone Cold, Police Chief Jesse Stone has a problem - actually, two problems - dead bodies turning up, and no clues. A man takes his dog out for a run on the beach, only to be discovered hour later with two holes in his chest. A woman drives her Volvo to the mall to do some grocery shopping, never makes it back to her house and is found dead.

Investigating a serial killer in an affluent suburban town is difficult, and with the added pressures from the town selectmen and media, the heat is turned up on Jesse. The harder these outside forces push against him, the more Jesse retreats into himself, convinced - despite all the odds - that it's up to him alone to stop the killing.

Critic Reviews:

"Told in third-person prose that's a model of economy, with sharp action sequences, deep yet unobtrusive character exploration...this is prime Parker, testament to why he was named a Grand Master at the 2002 Edgar Awards." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

a lot of foul language

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

Although the story is very good, i did not enjoy this book because of the language

better than the tv version

This book was done as a made for tv movie and has run several times. I love the movie, but the book is much better!

not so impressed

Ususally I love Robert B Parker books, but found this one very disappointing...sorry, but this one was not worth a whole credit...a flop.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

With 9 out of 10 sentences ending in "SAID", it's too disconcerting to listen to. Poor writing.

A great introduction to a new (to me) character

I've been a big fan of the late Robert B. Parker's Spenser for many years, and read about half of the those books in audio form. They are always very good, and occasionally great. I had never read a Jesse Stone novel until I came across this short one in a recent Audible Sale, and seeing that it was read by my hometown hero, Robert Forster, I couldn't resist.

The book was great, and I look forward to seeking out the rest of the novels in this series, especially if they are read by Forster. I know his thick Raaachester accent irritates some who aren't used to it, but his characterizations and smooth demeanor are dead-on for this type of book. Great fun!

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Promised Land

Author: Robert B. Parker

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-14-09

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 186 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Spenser is good at finding things. But this time he has a client out on Cape Cod who is in over his head. Harvey Shepard has lost his pretty wife - and a very pretty quarter million bucks in real estate. Now a loan shark is putting on the bite.

Spenser finds himself doing a slow burn in the Cape Cod sun. The wife has turned up as a hot suspect in a case of murder one...the in-hock hubby has 24 hours before the mob makes him dead...and suddenly Spenser is in so deep that the only way out is so risky it makes dying look like a sure thing.

Critic Reviews:

"Spenser is a tough as they come and spiked with a touch of real class." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

Spencer is my hero!

This book was good, but not the best of the series. This is fairly early in the series (book number 4) and the Susan/Spencer relationship is just developing to "I love you". There is an interesting foreshadowing of Pearl the Wonder Dog (but Pearl has not yet come into the series story line). Susan is still a guidance counselor at a school. Susan meets Hawk for the first time. Hawk and Spencer have not yet developed the totally loyal and easy friendship that I enjoy so much in the later books of the series, but it is interesting to hear them get started. The client (a man) in this book is not drawn as someone that I can get attached to - neither is his wife. I really did not care about either of them (or their children) even though they were the central point to the story. However, I am so committed to Spencer, Hawk and Susan that it is enough for me for their characters to be in the story line. The plot is interesting and reader is very good. If you love the Spencer series as I do, you will not be disappointed in Promised Land.

Intro To Hawk

Spenser has a new client and it means a summer on Cape Cod but as he seeks to locate Harvey Shepard's wife Pam he realizes that there is far more going on than a missing wife. He has no trouble finding Pam Shepard who is living with a couple of feminists, his confrontation with one of the ladies (Jane, the other is Rose, the theoretician of the group) is classic Spenser. Harv isn't doing all that well himself, he borrowed money from the wrong man (King Powers) and an ex-fighter named Hawk that Spenser knows has been sent by Powers to collect what Harvey owes. In the meantime Pam and her group get involved in a serious crime and those of us who know Spenser know what he'll Have to do. This is a good example of the early Spenser novels; though it isn't in the same league as Early Autumn, Looking For Rachel Wallace, or his initial Spenser mystery The Godwulf Manuscript it's an excellent read and a good listen the same as most of his books, especially his early works

My least favourite

I will still carry on with the series as I like Spencer and Parkers style. These are books that I just like to listen to if I need something light. I did not like the characters and felt that the story was a bit disjointed, and forced. But this has not put me off overall and I will continue with the series.

Spencer does evolve!

I do not read the Spencer books in order. So when I read this book some things fell into place...his relationship with Suzan for one and how his relationship with Hawk was cultivated!

It was good. I chuckled periodically.

I like the way Spenser talks and thinks.

This was my first Parker book. Its number 4 in the Spenser series.