The Spire

By: Richard North Patterson

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

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

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.

Familiar

I love all Richard North Patterson novels. I enjoyed this one as well, but I preferred Patterson's earlier novel Silent Witness which feels very similar to me.

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!

interesting but ......

Interesting but ending too obvious. In fact, skipped ahead once the 'villian' became clear. Nothing realistic about the story, but the storytelling is always fast-paced.

The Spire

Good book with a good reader. Kept my interest!

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.

ok story

love the narrator. very easy to tell the characters apart. not so sure about the story, though. it was easy to guess who the killer was. not a bad story but not spectacular either.

A Good Book

I was surprised at the ending, did not expect it. I liked this book. I recommend it.

Good listen

I listen to books on my long drive to and from work. This story, if not riveting, kept my attention. Personally, I did not like the narrator as much as others. Always good to listen to samples first. This was a good mystery but not a big surprise.

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.