Beverly Babarovich

I'm amazed- and not in a good way. The story was mediocre and plodding. Harry Bosch has taken a wimpy turn. Other characters were shallow and in some cases unlikable (Maddy- the whiny daughter). The story plodded (redundant, I know, but the best adjective that applies) until the last couple of hours when some action started. Even then we're supposed to believe Bosch would stoop to forcing a made-under-duress confession that was so blatantly inadmissible that I wondered at the stupidity of the idea. In previous books, Connelly has shown us Harry's flaws but he was, at least, believable.. I didn't LIKE Harry much throughout this book. I kept waiting to get that previous admiration back but it didn't happen.

The narration? The narration was just plain droning. McConnohie read it in a bored (and boring) monotone. I always suspect there's always some background drama (change of publisher, narrator wants a raise, etc.) when a series changes narrators. To their credit, Hill, Cariou and Giles each 'performed' their respective narrations- McConnohie simply read this book aloud. It didn't work.

I pre-ordered The Black Box because after 17 great Harry Bosch books, I was positive # 18 would continue the tradition of excellence. I started reading it five minutes after it was released. Had they been available,I would have been shocked to see the current reviews- but after reading it I have to concur.

Will I read # 19? Oh yes, absolutely. I'll give Bosch a chance to redeem himself in my eyes. In fact, over this long, gray, WA state winter, I'll go back to book one and read them all again. I want to like Harry again.

As a fan of the mystery/suspense genre I've read the entire Alex McKnight series and have enjoyed each novel. I was really looking forward to this outing but I was just plain disappointed.

I'm not even sure i can say what was missing. I'm not a literary critic but I know what I like and it just wasn't there this time.There was none of the edge of your seat suspense or the early hook that grabbed your interest that was so characteristic of Hamilton's previous McKnight novels. The characters didnt seem as likeable as before. Alex was.... boring. I actually found myself wondering "Are we there yet?" End it already... and when it did (finally!) conclude, it was with a whimper and a feeble attempt at a surprise twist that fell flat.

I'm hoping the next book is better. I like Mr. Hamilton and his Alex McKnight but in retrospect I wish I'd saved this credit for something else.

As an avid Charlie Castillo fan, I couldn't wait to get my hands (ears?) on this new book. Another reviewer called it ragged and I have to agree. The authors' styles didn't mesh very well... and whoever was in charge of crafting the ending-- well, I hope he does a better job on the next one. Even with a sequel in mind, too many loose ends stayed unravelled to call this book enjoyable. Sure, it left me wanting more- but not in a good way... much like dropping the last, best bite of your jelly donut on the floor. The good news: narrator-extraordinaire, Dick Hill NEVER disappoints.

I am a rabid Reacher fan and was SO looking forward to The Affair. I've still got 3 hours of listening left but so far I'm a little disappointed. It's as though Mr. Child is just phoning it in. I can't quite put my finger on what's missing. It's not the same high quality, edge-of-your-seat story that we've seen in all the previous Reacher books (all of which I've listened to twice). I keep waiting for.... more... but more what, I can't say.

I DO know I wasn't waiting for more sexuality- even as mildly graphic as it was. Where did THAT come from? Did the publisher say "C'mon Lee, you need to sex it up!" I've thought of Reacher as a private guy and now he's describing his sexual events to me. Too much information, Jack! I guess I was expecting a military type affair, (requiring Class A uniform) rather than one conducted (entirely out of uniform) beside the railroad tracks at midnight. (was that a spoiler?) sorry.

The fact that everyone is raising hell with the casting of Cruise as Reacher should tell Mr. Child -and his publishers- that the previous 15 books strongly established Reacher in the readers' minds as the epitome of the strong, silent type ("I said nothing") and we can't easily accept or adjust to radical changes in his physical appearance or personality.

Having said that, I'll listen to the end with the hope that I'll be pleasantly surprised and will have to eat my words.

As for Dick Hill... I'd listen to him read the back of a cereal box. He's simply the best narrator out there, period...and I'd be willing to bet the farm that NO ONE thinks of Tom Cruise when they hear Dick Hill's voice.

What a disappointment this was. Instead of guiding the reader (listener) through well thought out clues & action, the plot is resolved by a detective's narration in the last 45 minutes of the book. Had I known I could have fast-forwarded & saved having to (force myself to) listen to several plodding, convoluted hours. I'm a Jack Reacher/ Harry Bosch/JP Beaumont fan so maybe I set the bar too high. The characters were well drawn but that was all I found enjoyable. To be fair, I'll try one more of Kellerman's books but I'll get it from the local library. I won't risk wasting another credit