Vikon

Don't start with Field Gray, save it for after you have listened to the preceding volumes in the "Bernie Gunther" detective series. Kerr's creation is an engaging, wryly comic, and morally challenging character. Paul Hecht's reading deeply and unobtrusively captures the spirit of Gunther, as well as the many adversaries Kerr pits against him in this expansive, complex, but eminently clear political detective story, steeped in a history no one should have the pleasure of forgetting about. Field Gray is as much a warning as it is a retelling about the depths of inhumanity in which humanity can so easily lose itself.

The only reason I hesitate to call this THE best Bosch ever is that I do not want to diminish all the previous wonderful volumes. Nevertheless, this book is the best Bosch in a long time. Although Connelly's style remains direct and unadorned, the subtlety with which he develops his characters' thoughts and feelings resonates throughout the story, increasing its depth as the plot continues to ravel and finally unravel in a thoroughly satisfying denouement. For those of us who have read all the Bosch novels, The Drop is a moving continuation of a man's life, a man whose purpose and ethic remain steadfast in a changing world. Bosch's relationship to his daughter, so central to 9 Dragons, takes a more symbolic role in the present novel, allowing the relationship to mature in some ways, but also allowing Bosch to regain the kind of independence that characterized his more youthful investigations. That said, The Drop is also a reflection on aging, on the kinds of questions we men of Bosch's age are asking ourselves in the later years of our professional lives, whether we still have "the edge". With this book, Connelly proves he still does have it, and it's sharper than ever, technically and creatively. As always, Cariou masterfully complements Connelly; this great actor still has "the edge" too.

This book is beautifully written account of a president we never should have lost. The history is expertly told by introducing the reader to the personalities of the people that lived at the time and held great power over the direction of our nation, not only politically, but socially, scientifically, and overall medically.

The story is heart-breaking in its depiction of a heroic man, not heroic for what he accomplished in his time as a politician, but for the strength and spirit of life he brought to the long journey toward his own death.

The performance was absolutely first rate. The reader faultlessly creates the voices of each character with such convincing narration that the listener feels as though they are meeting the people, not listening to a reader.

The most interesting part of this audiobook is the first 5 minutes, in which the author's son tells the story of his father's quest to write and publish this book. Unfortunately, the narrator of the actual book made it a classic bore. After the first hour or two, I finally gave up. It just failed to capture my imagination the way an audiobook usually does. Too bad there are no used audiobook shops. I would trade this one in immediately.

If you love reading/listening to Michael Connelly's books, this one will not dissappoint you. I think Giles casts McAvoy a little too young, after all it's been 12 years since the Poet, so it's a bit hard to believe this guy is as tough as he needs to be to go against the criminals. By the middle, I thought this is the best since Chasing the Dime, my personal favorite. But in the end, it doesn't hold up to that standard. Still, listening to the VERY end makes this top notch.