Night Film

A Novel

By: Marisha Pessl

Narrated by: Jake Weber

Length: 23 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Brilliant, haunting, breathtakingly suspenseful, Night Film is a superb literary thriller by the New York Times best-selling author of the "blockbuster debut" (People) Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

On a damp October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive, cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova - a man who hasn’t been seen in public for more than 30 years.

For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova’s dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself.

Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova’s eerie, hypnotic world.

The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time he might lose even more.

Night Film, the gorgeously written, spellbinding new novel by the dazzlingly inventive Marisha Pessl, will hold you in suspense to the final minute.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Marisha Pessl (P)2013 Random House Audio

Pray Santa Clause is NOT coming to town

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the narration was excellent. In the beginning I was skeptical as I usually prefer (or thought I did) men over women nattaters. She did an amazing job with keeping each charactor in play and it was easy to identify who was who

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, it had a way of going around and around but never bore or loose me

Which scene was your favorite?

When the phone calls started

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was actually upset when the main character was nasty to the women on he other side of the bridge. Without spoiling I will leave it at that but you will know who I mean. The end of the relationship was sad too!

Any additional comments?

A must read! A very dark but fantasy like tale. Offers suspense, happy-sad anger and all the supernatural criteria I need but done in a unique and excellent way. Refreshing!!

Potential

I feel like this story had great potential. But for me the ending was a huge letdown. I wanted more. I wanted to understand more. The narrator was perfection. He did a wonderful job and I would highly recommend listening to other books he's narrated. If he has.

Excellent Witty Suspense

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this book. The book is an intelligent witty thriller. Why did Ashley Cordova commit suicide? What secrets does her family hold? What is the truth behind her father's notorious films? With humor and horror, Marisha Pessi lets her tale unfold. The books main characters, an unlikely trio allied to find the truth of Ashley's suicide, traverse a dark landscape littered with witchcraft, dangerous films, curses, cancers, and secrets.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nora, the coat check girl and would be actress, gives the story its heart.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene is when our chief detective and investigative reporter makes a journey through Cordova's films via the warehouse and green house on the palatial estate of the filmmaker. It's a nightmare journey. Did it really happen? Draw your own conclusions.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Hopper's revelations about a drowning at a camp for troubled youth.

Mesmerising

I would find myself getting so lost in this story that I had to turn it off while driving in heavy traffic, because I became so transfixed. Such a unique story. Difficult to describe. The only fault I have with the audio book is that it is missing so many illustrations from the physical book. If I had it to do over again I would have read the book first and listened to it second. Great story.

Fascinating

This book had me captivated from beginning to end, very well written!! Looking forward to more books by this author.

The ending was too boring

This was a great story with great narration . All the details were thought out and brought the story to life. There is mystery and mystique leading the reader down a dark and twisting path . You believe the whole time that there is a dark ending around the death of one of the characters. At the end all the twists and turns are explained in simple explanation that leaves you disappointed and wanting more. I really wanted the author to use the path she lead us on to the imaginative place it was going. This book could have been so much more.
Overall a good listen and I would consider it a page turner but with a disappointing end full of lack luster.

Creepy Supernatural Noir

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Buy it. Pessl and Webber take the reader/listener on meandering trail of a plot. Scott, the protagonist and narrator can't trust anyone, but neither can you. The narrator is a disgraced journalist, after all. He may be imaging his allegations against the Kubrick-Polanski-Romero-inspired Stanislas Cordova. He's a horror film director who is as available to the public as the late J. D. Salinger. Ashley, the enigmatic (to make an understatement) daughter of Cordova and apparent suicide victim who sets the story in motion is cloaked in as much mystery as her father. Along with the intricately crafted mystery and the vocal performance of Jake Weber, you also get bonus material. Pessl went so far as to create mock newspaper articles, social media pages for Ashley, police reports, and online forums dedicated to the work of Stanislas Cordova. Audible offers them in the form of downloadable PDF files.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Night Film?
When the supernatural element breeches the boundary of mere superstition and begins to affect Scott's daughter.

What about Jake Weber’s performance did you like?
He captured the tone of the book. It is a somber, borderline paranoid story told by a narrator who has become obsessed with the man who represents the ruination of his career. Whether or not his suspicion is justified, the narrator is obsessed, and Weber captures that in his performance. His various character voices are decent also.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It creeped me out, which is pretty much what I want out of every novel I read for pleasure.

Any additional comments?
Its a lengthy book that will keep you enthralled for every hour you listen. The bonus material is just cool. It's worth the money.

Not what I expected!

This story was long but well written. There were a few chapters that I wasn’t sure I was going to make it…mainly in the beginning! The chapters consisted of long lists that were quite unnerving! Once past them, the story truly held my interest. I thought the narrator was amazing. His voice was very easy to listen to and follow! I liked the ending and how everything came together! Great listen and I would recommend this book!

So Intriguing

I knew nothing about this author or this book before listening. The story was so engaging. I thought the narrator was perfect for this. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Psychologically Mind Bending

The story is so intricate and amazing that I listened nonstop. The author’s combination of reality and fiction absolutely makes you fall into the narrative.
Jake Weber is a wonderful voice actor and inflection is spot on. Great read that I absolutely recommend.