The Beach House

By: James Patterson, Peter de Jonge

Narrated by: Gil Bellows

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

Jack Mullen is in law school in New York City when the news comes that his brother, Peter, has drowned in the ocean off East Hampton. Jack knows his brother practically grew up in the water, and that this couldn't be an accident. Someone must have wanted his brother dead.

But the police say otherwise. As Jack tries to uncover details of his brother's last night, he confronts a maddening barricade of lawyers, police, and paid protectors who separate the wealthy summer residents from local workers like Peter. Motivated by a hundred forms of grief, Jack rallies his hometown friends to help him find the truth of Peter's death - no matter how rich or corrupt the people who stand in their way.

Jack's relentless crusade puts him into a head-on collision with one of the most powerful and ruthless men in New York, a man who wipes out resistance with a snap of his fingers. As it unfolds that his brother was involved with some of the richest women and men in America - in ways Jack never imagined - his dream of justice fades. Only if he can somehow beat the rich at their own game will he be able to avenge his brother.

©2002 SueJack Inc., All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Time Warner AudioBooks, a Division of the AOL Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"A slick, vastly enjoyable thriller." (Publishers Weekly)

Prefer Patterson’s solo works-and without bad music

I love Patterson when he’s at his best - in a courtroom, solving a mystery, seeking justice. This ain’t that. I find books he “co-authors” often leave me wondering why I tried them. This was a bit better than some but the audio version is just bad. Narrator didn’t do male or female voices well and the suspenseful musical notes between chapters is so irritating and distracting I almost quit listening.

I’ll stick to classic Patterson on his own from now on and hopefully I won’t be disappointed like I was with this one.

Thumbs up

Loved it. moved right along kept me guessing right to the very end. must read

Great book, except toilet flushing sounds

This is by far my favorite of Patterson's books, probably because I've gotten tired of all of his stories being about cops and their investigations. This was more like Patterson meets Grisham, though I thought the "justice broadcast" was a little farfetched, and the final consequences to Mack, Pauline and Jack a little unlikely.

The reading was very well done, though, I just didn't like the sound effects between chapters... ostensibly supposed to be waves crashing but sounded like someone flushing the toilet.

Makes you believe

Authur makes you believe in the unbelievable.

Couldn't Put It Down!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Beach House to be better than the print version?

YES! Just comes alive!!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Beach House?

When Jack found the pictures of Peter and the "others". WOW. Whoda thought?

Which character – as performed by Gil Bellows – was your favorite?

While I love Jack's tone and sensitive sides, I have to say the uncle's character did it for me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have listened to it all in one sitting; HOWEVER, I would battle not listening all day so that I could have that bedtime guilty pleasure.

Any additional comments?

Never murder mysteries could be so much fun

very good read

I enjoyed the book thoroughly and am looking for others by Patterson. I also liked the narrator. I am in the middle of the book now and have not figured it out yet. I find that I usually guess the endings and am happy not to have done so here.

Detective Genre

Normally, I don't care for detective/mystery books but this was a good one. The performance was top-notch!

Outstanding

Exciting all the way to the end! One of his best books and they just keep coming

Great Read!

I have read this book in Soft Cover and then listened to the Audio. I was impressed and would recommend it highly.

Good Enough

If you're looking for a good 'law mystery' go for Grisham...But if you're tired of always being in the court room this one is a nice change of pace - especially if you live in New York and you have ever been to or go to the Hamptons!