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The Spire  By  cover art

The Spire

By: Richard North Patterson
Narrated by: Holter Graham
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Publisher's summary

Both a razor-sharp thriller and a poignant love story, this twisting tale of psychological suspense is Patterson's most compelling novel in years

Mark Darrow grew up in a small Ohio town with no real advantages beyond his intelligence and athletic ability. But thanks to the intervention of Lionel Farr—a professor at Caldwell, the local college—Darrow became an excellent student and, later, a superb trial lawyer. Now Farr asks his still-youthful protégé for a life-altering favor. An embezzlement scandal has threatened Caldwell's very existence—would Darrow consider becoming its new president?

Darrow accepts, but returning to his alma mater opens old wounds. Sixteen years ago, on the night of his greatest triumph as Caldwell's star quarterback, he discovered the body of a black female student named Angela Hall at the base of the Spire, the bell tower that dominates the leafy campus. His best friend, Steve Tillman, was charged with Angela's murder and ultimately sent to prison for life. But now, even as Darrow begins the daunting task of leading Caldwell, he discovers that the case against his friend left crucial questions unanswered. Despite his new obligations—and his deepening attachment to Farr's beautiful though troubled daughter—Darrow begins his own inquiry into the murder. Soon he becomes convinced that Angela's killer is still at large, but only when another mysterious death occurs does he understand that his own life is at risk.

©2009 Richard North Patterson (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Holter Graham does wonderful things with the voices in this story of racism, sexual sadism, and justice delayed...Patterson and Graham make this first-class listening.” —AudioFile

“An enthralling saga that captivates the reader from the beginning to end, highly recommended.” —The Midwest Book Review

“Performed by Holter Graham, it's edge of your seat all the way.” —BookPage

What listeners say about The Spire

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Performance
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Story
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

For an author as accomplished as Richard North Patterson, this was unbelievably disappointing. In contrast to the complex and intrictate plots and characters of his early novels, this is like kindergarten. This was a whodunit, whose culprit was obvious from the beginning and for whom the journey to discovery wasn't all that interesting. I listened to the end in the hope that there would be something unexpected, but it was not to be. All that transpired was a series of expository conversations that reveal the identity of the perpetrator. If you've ever heard the expression that someone has "phoned in" their comments, meaning that they barely engaged and were unconcerned with the merits of their contribution, such would be an accurate portrayal of "The Spire". It could have been written in a weekend. I liked this author years ago, but I think he's grown lazy. This is not worth reading or listening to. Unless you're on an island with no other altenative. And even then, consider taking a swim.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book!

I truly enjoyed this book! It was just fast enough to keep me interested. Most times I find myself drifting from the speaker but not this time. The reader's voice was perfect for this book. Very enjoyable!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable listen on a road trip

I had not read Richard North Patterson before but enjoyed the suspense of The Spire. Listened to it during a long road-trip and found myself listening to it in the evenings as well.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

The Spire reaches no heights

Dreadfully boring. Juvenile dialog, nothing happens. Don't bother.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Mediocre - a disappointment

At this point there are two other reviews. One is 5 stars and the other 1 star. I'll go half way between. This was an OK mystery but certainly not riveting or a page turner. I figured out the who dunit less than half way through the book. It was more of a narrative than a good mystery. If I were stuck on an island, I would read it for something to do. It certainly wasn't up to his (R N Patterson) standards.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Completely predictable but good diversion

Can't think of the last time I predicted almost the entire plot of a book by the end of the prologue. A few twists I hadn't anticipated. It was still a very good listen for a solo summer driving trip -- never a dull moment, even if I could see most of them coming!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

keep on listening

Even though I guessed the ending, I found myself looking for opportunities to listen to the book right up until the end.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    out of 5 stars

Held my interest

A good mystery; well-developed story.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Spire

This is by far one of Richard North Patterson's best books. I enjoyed it to the end.

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2 people found this helpful

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

A Little Slow for Me!

I'm on the fence with this book. I like Richard North Patterson books. But I thought this book was a bit slow. It's about a murder that took place in the spire years earlier. And an innocent man is in jail. Darrow becomes an excellent attorney. He used to be friends with the man who's in jail now for the murder of the girl, who was found in the spire. Something about the murder bothers Darrow, so he gets help to open the case up again. So the story begins almost 1/3 way into the book.
I have no complaints about the narrator, he did a good job.

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1 person found this helpful