Fran Murphy

James Patterson writes so many books...more in a year than some authors in a lifetime. I find them a guilty pleasure. But this one just seemed so predictable. Maybe it is time to start writing less and creating more! I found this a hack job and so for now I will be listening to Patterson less and enjoying it more.

What has happened to our "hero" Harry Hole? Never a matinee idol, a current description of Harry is starting to sound like an introduction to a monster. A towering 6'4"' Harry's face now has more scars than a plastic surgery ward.
And when I first started listening in on the Hole saga, there was humorous cultural commentary woven throughout the unfolding story. Lately following Harry is a dark, sometimes tedious, journey into the worst of human nature with no comic relief.
Harry is constantly physically attacked, piling on more scar tissue as he goes. You can just imagine Nesbo wreaking his revenge on his signature character and defining a love - hate relationship.
And at the end of this book, you may wonder if we have seen the last of our old pal Harry. Certainly, it seems, any chance he ever had of personal happiness is doomed. I don't know if I will tune into his next chapter.
Jo Nesbo, lighten up and show your guy Harry a little love!

The Comparisons between "Belmont" the more advantaged and successful fictional town and the more downbeat lifestyles of "Fishtown" were a good method of explaining how our country is growing more divided.

Burns is a great narrator and helps make the content easy to absorb. What is most upsetting about the America Murray portrays is that it is a natural evolution of the things we have always valued, like the role of education in pulling Americans apart.

having the lives we always wanted is tearing America apart

Alas to truly understand this book you probably should be consulting a hard copy. There are lots of statistics which are hard to keep in your mind as the narration moves along. Murray's theories are interesting and there does not seem to be a political bias behind them because he is a libertarian.I didn't think I would agree with the premises in this book but it is hard to disagree with the two Americas and how we got here that Murray reveals.

Solid comprehensive timely

Hayes skillfully reviews the unraveling of every major institution in the recent past.

His description of the Catholic Church's handling of pedophile priests over decades was especially revealing.

It's how we got here.

Hayes narrates his book well. And while the book outlines the current state of our lives, I wish there were more solutions for our future were offered. Maybe that is his next book!

The use of two narrators - both of whom did an excellent job - made the book more enjoyable.

I cant really compare it to any other book I have read or listened to recently. If I had to describe it I might call it a marriage version of War and Peace.

Julia and Kirby were great voices...they gave the characters personalities that were at times very identifiable and at other times totally repellant. They brought the book to life for me and I am sure all the other listeners.

The book was very compelling. It kept you wanting to listen to more to see how it would all work out.

My biggest complaint about the book was its ending, which of course is the hardest part of bringing together any set of plot lines. Maybe the ending was more realistic but I would have preferred something more in keeping with the twists that constantly unraveled in the story itself.

These were great short stories about one of my favorite fictional detectives. Very enjoyable. I can't wait til the next Harry Bosch book comes out. I also recommend The Drop.

I didnt expect to like this book ... bought it mostly to find out what the fuss was all about since it was a runaway best seller.

And I thought I couldn't get any more insight into the civil rights struggle, but I was wrong.

I found the story and the tone very evocative of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.

The characters were memorable and there was plenty of dramatic tension.

I recommend it to anyone who likes a good story.

I am usually a big fan of Ms. Brennan but honestly NASCAR was not a topic that appealed to me and there was just enough of it in there to be a drag [pun intended].
Also very little Ryan in this book...barely a mention! I missed him even if Tempe didnt.
It all took place in Charlotte when usually Tempe has some Montreal story woven into the plot.
I will probably buy the next Reichs title but maybe the TV show is getting all the good stories.

I must admit I haven't finished the book yet, but I am in part two. I found the premise fascinating but after awhile, one internet caper and scam starts sounding just like the next one. Kevin Mitnick fooled some pretty impressive people and corporations but much of the book feels repetitous...with the same MO's and outcomes time after time.
Wanted to like it more...not sure I will ever finish it!

I have to admit I have no idea what all the financial transactions mean but I do know what they add up to...Enron was cannibalizng itself so that a few greedy guys could cash in big time.
Now they're in jail. It's nice to know somebody is accountable in this society besides minorities and the powerless.
I wonder how the author knows Jeff Skilling pinched the bridge of his nose before speaking on any given weekday but he must have some great sources. Listening to the book you can figure out who.
Ken Lay comes across like a man in a coma - too busy glad handing the Bushies to figure out his kingdom is crumbling from the top down.
Skilling plays Hamlet with a keen sense of retribution. He seems to be able to read the handwriting on the wall but not the duplicity of the barely human heart of guys like Andy Fastow.
It is a fascinating tale. If you didn't know it really happened you would think the author was making it all up.
I was going to give it only 4 stars, but I can't wait to get to part 2 so who am I kidding?