Ken

Writing is intelligent and witty. Enjoyed every minute of this reading. More than just a good story--anyone feeling the pinch of today's economy will relate to the protagonist's plight.

Steve Hamiliton has written some terrific books, but this isn't one of them. Listen to the Alex McNight Series and you won't be dissapointed. I can't say the same about Lock Artist--the story seemed trite and contrived.

A crime novel without suspense, characters that range from dull to duller, and writing that is completely uninspired. I could only take about 3 hours before finally giving up on this story.

I usually enjoy readings by Scott Brick, but this book left me yawning--poorly written with a ridiculous plot. My advice: skip this one.

I also found this audiobook disappointing, but not for the same reason mentioned by previous reviews. I didn't mind the narrator, in fact I thought he spoke with a cadence that was interesting and helped create a lanquid, sultry image of the south that I think the author meant to portray. For me the story was simply uninteresting--it lacked the drama and suspense I look for in this genre. I listened to the entire audiobook, but unfortunately I found myself relieved when the story was finally finished.

For the most part I enjoyed this novel. The narration is excellent and the story is intriguing. This is a lengthy tale written in rich detail. For me there was a little too much detail, and at times the story moved forward at a ponderous pace. If you're looking for a fast paced mystery/thriller with gripping suspense this isn't the book for you. However, with patience the listener is rewarded with a contemplative story of family, love, loyality, betrayal, revenge,and redemption wrapped in a setting of 19th century foggy London and replete with bibliophile references to classic literature. This is the first audiobook I've listen to that I think would probably be better in an abridged version.

The author provides interesting details about the Mardi gras and a portrait of New Orleans that seems authentic, however, the story lacked the suspense and tension that is essential for any good mystery novel. Character development seemed superficial and most of the personalities portrayed were not very likable. By the middle of the novel I didn't really care what happened next.