M. Pennell

It's been a while since I listened to a book and felt moved enough to write a review but this is one of the best this year. The premise is outlandish but it really works, the writing is beautiful. This story has everything in it - humor, friends, family, love and death. Within the first 5 minutes you are hooked on this story and will have a hard time turning it off. The narration and production of this book is excellent.

I've only listened to McKinty's books, never "read" them and it makes me wonder - would I enjoy them as much without Gerard Doyle's reading and interpretation? I don't know but they are all one helluva good listen, oops, including "Fifty Grand" which was definitely not read by Doyle!

Good storytelling, great character development and fast pace make this a credit worthy listen. Best quote from a younger thug before beating the crap out of older thug - "You are Jay Leno and I am Conan O'Brian". I laughed like hell over that line though it will date the novel terribly in about 5 more years. Highly recommend any of this author's books.

I know when you read the blurb for this book you may think "ewww, not for me". This story is told in flashbacks as Annie talks to her therapist, so the story come out is small doses and mixes with the present time and her trouble with rejoining "real" life. Her family and friends all have opinions on how she should be handling things (don't they always?). I know this sounds like a depressing book but it isn't and Annie's cynical outlook about her past & future is humorous and down to earth, she just tells it like it is.

Angela Dawe's narration is spot on and really enhanced my enjoyment of the story, she doesn't talk too slow and handles male voices well.

The story has some twists and what seems like a simple abduction, isn't. I'm still thinking about the plot and story a few days after finishing it ... which I take as the measure of good author.

If you read the other 2 books (like me) and decided to go back to the beginning to "catch up", don't! The other books in this series are unabridged, for whatever reason this one is abridged and badly. The story hop, skips and jumps with seemingly little reason. I swear this recording even starts in the middle of a sentence! I'm going to get the book out of the library, I'm sure it's a fine book - just don't waste a credit on this pitiful abridgement!

It's hard to explain the premise of this book - but what a wonderful story! I was completely drawn in within the first few minutes and could not stop listening. This book is wonderfully read, the story moves along nicely and certainly makes you wonder about "life & death". I highly recommend this book even if (like me) you're not a big fantasy/science fiction fan.