Fair Warning: Booktrack Edition

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Peter Giles, Zach Villa

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Fair Warning:Booktrack Edition adds an immersive musical soundtrack to your audiobook listening experience! *

The hero of The Poet and The Scarecrow is back in this thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly. Jack McEvoy, the journalist who never backs down, tracks a serial killer who has been operating completely under the radar—until now.

Veteran reporter Jack McEvoy has taken down killers before, but when a woman he had a one-night stand with is murdered in a particularly brutal way, McEvoy realizes he might be facing a criminal mind unlike any he's ever encountered.

Jack investigates—against the warnings of the police and his own editor—and makes a shocking discovery that connects the crime to other mysterious deaths across the country. Undetected by law enforcement, a vicious killer has been hunting women, using genetic data to select and stalk his targets.

Uncovering the murkiest corners of the dark web, Jack races to find and protect the last source who can lead him to his quarry. But the killer has already chosen his next target, and he's ready to strike.

Terrifying and unputdownable, Fair Warning shows once again why "Michael Connelly has earned his place in the pantheon of great crime fiction writers" (Chicago Sun-Times).

A Kirkus Best Book of 2020

*Booktrack is an immersive format that pairs traditional audiobook narration to complementary music. The tempo and rhythm of the score are in perfect harmony with the action and characters throughout the audiobook. Gently playing in the background, the music never overpowers or distracts from the narration, so listeners can enjoy every minute. When you purchase this Booktrack edition, you receive the exact narration as the traditional audiobook available, with the addition of music throughout.

©2020 Hieronymus, Inc. (P)2022 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

"Connelly is in terrific form here, applying genre conventions to the real-life dangers inherent in the commercial marketing of genetics research."—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

"[A] fast-paced thriller, written by a master of the genre."—Christina Ianzito, AARP

"There is no better news than a new book from the great Michael Connelly... Fair Warning brings back reporter Jack McEvoy, a character I always liked every bit as Harry Bosch or Mickey Haller or Renee Ballard... Connelly [is] at the very top of his game."—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News

Another great book by Connelly

Been a fan for years and it’s nice to keep having new stuff. Keep it coming. This was an unlikely story. It has twists and turns and an authentic origin that is a warning to those who submit DNA to sites. I am a Bosch fan. The main character is not a Superman detective like Bosch or a super lawyer like his brother. I’m many ways he is a sad sack. But he is still attractive and by the end, you really have to like him. I can’t wait for the next. Also I loved the narration and sound effects.

Music not necessary

I found the added sound and music to be an annoyance rather than an enhancement.

Fair Warning – almost perfect

“Fair Warning” is an audio page turner. It’s probably one of Michael Connolly’s best stories to date -except for one fatal flaw... the dialogue and story is underscored with music and sound effects so horrendously distracting I can only compare it to fingernails, clawing down a blackboard. If the acting, and the story weren’t so incredible, I would’ve stopped early on. As I said, “this is a page turner.” However, the The producer, and director should be relegated to the trash bin for their lack of sensitivity - not only to the actors, but to the poor audience, who has to struggle through this nightmare of background clutter.

Review of Michael Connelly's Fair Warning

For years I touted THE POET as a great Michael Connelly standalone. Then, 13 years later, in 2009, came THE SCARECROW. Jack McEvoy was back. With the arrival of FAIR WARNING, we have the official Jack McEvoy series, and the end of the novel suggests that there will be more (probably with Jack and a love-interest partner).

The subject: DNA testing and the manner in which it can be abused. A lurker on the dark web known as The Shrike kills his victims as the bird does—by viciously breaking their necks. As luck would have it, Jack McEvoy once dated one of The Shrike's victims and is thus investigated by the LAPD. He is now working for a website called Fair Warning (which actually exists) that studies consumer threats and utilizes investigative journalism to warn the public. Working with a colleague at Fair Warning (and, eventually, with a former love who once worked for the FBI), Jack investigates the manner in which a discount DNA service keeps its prices low by selling samples to other labs. Once able to hack into the mother ship's records, an unscrupulous smaller service can locate genetic markers for risky sexual behaviors and sell the identities of the women possessing those markers to predators. Think of it as a dating service for monsters.

The book is enormously successful for several reasons. First and foremost, we learn something—the potential dark side of DNA labs and the scientific possibility of locating markers for particular behaviors and utilizing them for sleazy gain. Second, MC is a master at the general procedures of journalistic investigation because he was an L.A. crime reporter for years. He knows the methods and the city like the back of his hand. He plots with great skill, develops interesting characters, and nails the setting. Plus, I say again, we learn something when we read him. This is why he makes millions of dollars and earns every penny.

All his books are of high quality, so it is pointless to rank them. FAIR WARNING is certainly up to his general high standards; fans will devour it and have a great deal of difficulty putting it down and accomplishing the necessary chores and responsibilities of their lives.

Just as good the second time around!!

It’s hard to beat a Michael Connelly book. I had read it earlier and now listened to the audio book. Enjoyed both. Also found the discussion about the real Fair Warning “ interesting. Thanks.

Narrator

Hated the music it’s a distraction and unnecessary. It ruins listening to it. It’s a terrible idea.

Wow!

Lots of detail and favorite characters make this a must read, learn a little, be entertained a lot. Unfortunately, I bought the Booktrack edition. I found the added sound distracting and not additive to the story or my personal enjoyment.

Kept our interest

Good story for listening on a long road trip. Particularly like the interview at end talking about Four Warning news.

Loved that This was based on non-fiction

Knowing how little regulation governs the DNA testing companies was a REAL eye opener! Another industry that really needs oversight to keep consumers safe!

Readers opinion

Some of the reviews I read complained about to much music noise.
I heard some music,
But it was not loud or annoying.
Liked the story.