• Gemma

  • By: Meg Tilly
  • Narrated by: Meg Tilly
  • Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (213 ratings)

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Gemma  By  cover art

Gemma

By: Meg Tilly
Narrated by: Meg Tilly
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Publisher's summary

Gemma is the story of a child abduction written from two widely divergent points of view: 12 year-old Gemma and Hazen Wook, the 36-year-old man who abducts her. Hazen is a violent pedophile, a sexual obsessive, and Tilly does not white-wash or sanitize his thoughts in any way. This book is scary and not for the faint of heart.
©2006 Meg Tilly (P)2006 Meg Tilly

Critic reviews

"Tilly achieves moments of raw beauty and genuine fierceness while sustaining the intensity of an X-rated thriller and driving this harrowing story all the way to the courtroom." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about Gemma

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

wow

I've never written a review on audible before and I've listened to countless books. I felt that I needed to on this one.

The story itself made me sick, sad and at times disgusted with myself for continuing to listen. I couldn't put it away though. It's like a car accident on the side of the road. You just have to see if somebody's ended up a bloody mess.

This book was written with a viscious, foul and truthful voice. It's painful to think of a helpless child in this type of predicament and it's sickening to hear the thoughts of the predator but I think it's a necessary story. I think there are far too many people in the world who don't realize the horrors that await children around every corner.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Disturbing but a must listen... right til the end.

Despite the fact that at times the story was downright difficult to listen to, it is sadly a clear and graphic representation of the sexual exploitation of a child. Tilly does an amazing job narrating. it's incredible how believable she makes it with her dramatic skills. The sad parts are that much more difficult but the happiness when it comes is absolutely beautiful.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

This one will stay with you.

I just finished this audiobook (in record time;) I didn't want to hear anymore, but I couldn't stop either. I have to be honest; about 2 hours into the book I thought to myself, "What kind of sick b*%$ is this?" (referencing Ms. Tilly)

Meg Tilly's writing and performance was amazing - I felt I was with her character every traumitizing and hope filled step of the way.

This book is not for the faint of heart, and I can understand the reviewer with children that couldn't finish it. This book doesn't cut close to the bone - it saws to the marrow.





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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

So you think your day was bad.

I always wondered what happened to Meg Tilly because she never showed up in People or Enquirer or blah blah blah. Then I stumbled across Gemma and was intrigued with the admonition to beware of it's brutality. Even if I hadn't googled her and found out about her writing career, I would have said that this book rings true like a crystal bell. Her kid voice is perfect. I bought every word of it. The voice of Haven slipped and he sounded a lot like Gemma. But that is a minor quibble that means nothing. The important aspect is that it doesn't look away from the minds of predator and prey. Her look into Haven's mind, especially toward the end, is too twisted not to be true. I will buy a hard copy of this book and send it to a publisher friend of mine, and that's how much I liked the book.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disturbing but if you can take it...........

I am reluctant to say I enjoyed this book thoroughly because it contains some extremely brutal imagery that only a real sicko would enjoy. However, the narration is nothing short of amazing and the story will quickly have you engulfed if you let down your guard for a few minutes and just listen. This is not "easy listening" but it will make you feel something.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Good Listen!

This is a good listen, but like the others say in these reviews, it's not for the faint of heart. The book moves at a good pace and the author/reader is incredibly dynamic. She is an actress, for those of you who haven't figured that out already, and she brings these characters to life...almost a bit too realistically at times. The only real issue I had with the reading is that Gemma (the young lady in the book) is read at a super-fast pace that can be grating and annoying; just like a REAL kid! Very few breaths are taken when she speaks as Gemma and that, coupled with the speed wore on me a bit. Otherwise, she did a phenomenal job!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing ending

As in Meg Tilly's "Singing Songs" this story leaves the reader wondering how the story ends??????????? Great listen but a very disappointing ending

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!

This book was absolutely awesome! The story itself broke my heart. This book is not for the weak. It will tear you apart. Meg Tilly voice & narration was excellent! I've listened to countless audio books on this site, but never have I heard a narrator deliver such a powerful performance.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

graphic fantastic

wow, what a story. You start wishing for redemption in any form for the broken child. The story has simple metaphores,for the complex subject matter. If you liked "The Lovey Bones" you will like this.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding audio performance

This is a very harrowing, ultimately redemptive story. But the audio performance by the author is utterly outstanding, among the best I have ever listened to.

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3 people found this helpful