"Great Story -- Narration a Little Off"
This is a first rate thriller. The characters are all well defined and the antagonist suitably evil. I know there will be comparisons to the Millenium series, which is a bit unfortunate because the only comparisons are the geography and genre. Just plain excellent. I had to ding it a "star" only because of the narration. The narrator has a great voice but sometimes speaks far too fast and I miss several words and his patrician accent is difficult for a born and raised Californian.
"Marvelous Mystery. Narration Nyet."
Chekov once wrote: "If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there." Baldacci follows Chekov’s advice to the letter. Every character, every plot twist (and there are many) and every adjective is a foreshadowing of things to come. And, in a sense, I just gave away the shocking ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It is by no means a perfect book, being too over the top to be considered great. But the careful crafting of a detailed and complex mystery is so good that it should keep you in giddy suspense for the most of the book, at least until Chekov’s words resonate. Now my complaints: the sound effects are, at best distracting, and at worst, mood killers. Moreover, the male and female performances just do not work for me.
"Really Enjoyed A Wild Ride"
I can't tell whether it is the fantastic performance by Hillary Huber (I would listen to her read the phone book) or the writing of Taylor Stevens. The story is delicate and the violence often and bloody. I do not like the subject matter (cult abuse of children) or the gratuitous violence and yet the book was hugely entertaining. The central character is compelling, if somewhat of a superwoman. I will read her next book as long as Hillary Huber narrates it.
"Damn I Love Connelly's Writing"
Harry is back. Connelly deals with some very difficult subjects in this book, including ones that makes my skin crawl, pederasty and child abuse in general. However, he does so in a way that is not offensive just difficult to read because of my hardly unique loathing of all things related to child abuse. If you like the character of Harry Bosch you will enjoy the novel. The story will rip you up in parts but the denouement is ultimately satisfying and his observations about the effects of child abuse are graphic and profound.
"Sorry Mr. Rollins Too Far"
I have read (and enjoyed) a number of the Sigma Force novels. Usually, I enjoy the ride and can ignore the junk science that Mr. Rollins love to throw into his novels. His formula is to take a piece of true history, mix it with some science and a lot of junk science, season it with a little lust and maiming and top it off with a good strong sprinkling of larger than life heroes. This time he just went too far. It seems as if it is more a paen to Mormonism than it is a novel. That's okay, but his own science gets in the way of the what to me was blatant proselytizing. Anyone remotely familiar with anthropology and natural history will simply turn off to his book. It was bad enough that I doubt I will read the next Rollins book. There are a lot better books that give the respect that Mormonism and every religion is due.
"Distracting Narration"
I agree with the others. The dual narration in this book is jarring and always forced. Good, not great, story hamstrung by the "actors" and the whacked out sound effects. If only for the bad recording, please do yourself a favor and skip this one. Personally, next time I see a dual narration such as this, I will pass.
"Perils of Pauline"
Okay. I was vastly disappointed. The concept and multiple plot lines seamed like a winner until the book deteriorated into – yes – the Perils of Pauline. Our poor heroine( just like Pauline in the silent movies) escapes trains, assassins, machine guns fired point blank, ex-KGB operatives and a homicidal witch – err substitute “b”. It’s high/low point is when she and her “partner” race headlong through a seven layer wedding cake (I can’t make this stuff up). This idea had such promise and failed so miserably,.
"Great Fantasy"
I have avoided fantasy for several decades. I just find most fantasy novels rather tedious and not very logical. This book is quite different and quite amazing. Sanderson has created a very believable alternative universe where 21st century America is held up to a prism of discrimination based on eye color, magic that is neither good nor bad, and the echoes of other great fantasies are obvious. If this sounds as if I am criticizing the book, I am not. I also recommend The Passage by Cronin. Both books will make you cheer and cry.
"Worth a Read or Listen"
Okay -- it does slow down in parts and it does tend to the pedantic. However, I will definitely read or listen to this author again. I learned a lot and though the mystery isn't that much of a mystery, how it is unraveled is worth the read. Give it a go!
"Don't Bother"
The story is plastic. The narration is seriously damaged by needless sound effects. In short, I wasted a credit.