Wild Thing

A Novel

By: Josh Bazell

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff, Stephanie Wolfe

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

It's hard to find work as a doctor when using your real name will get you killed. So hard that when a reclusive billionaire offers Dr. Peter Brown, aka Pietro Brnwa, a job accompanying a sexy but self-destructive paleontologist on the world's worst field assignment, Brown has no real choice but to say yes. Even if it means that an army of murderers, mobsters, and international drug dealers - not to mention the occasional lake monster - are about to have a serious Pietro Brnwa problem.

Facing new and old monsters alike, Dr. Brnwa's story continues in this darkly funny and lightning-paced follow up to Josh Bazell's best-selling debut.

Also listen to the first book, Beat the Reaper.

©2012 Josh Bazell (P)2012 Hachette

Critic reviews

"[Bazell's books] are hard-boiled thrillers, written in one of the most distinctively entertaining new fictional voices I've run across in years, in any genre. There is a massive density of information in [ Wild Thing]...but Bazell wields it with wonderful lightness. Reading him is like being able to monopolize the attention of the most interesting person at a party...It's so rare that you see a really brilliant writer who is committed, 100%, in every sentence, to giving you a good time. Bazell is, and he does." (Lev Grossman, Time)

"Carl Hiaasen fans will relish Bazell's frenetic sequel to 2009's Beat the Reaper...Bazell expertly blends action, farce, and political satire, and his wide-ranging imagination bodes well for the future of the series." ( Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)

"The book is composed in Bazell's propulsive, profanity-laden style, peppering startling violence with detailed footnotes that cover subjects like tooth reinsertions and human cryogenics...Props to Bazell for not cranking out an idle retread of Beat the Reaper. A funny, unexpected journey for our hero that sets up the next installment with finesse." ( Kirkus)

A Lot Like Cotton Candy

It is a trite cliche, but comparing Wild Thing to cotton candy is very fitting: it is so tasty, it melts in your mouth, but you know its not good for you and when its gone, it has left you with nothing. I loved "Beat the Reaper" - without doubt, one of the best audio books I have listened to. I couldn't wait for the sequel. Wild Thing has some things in common - the main character, of course, but also the snappy dialog and fast pace that keeps things moving. Even though it is immediately apparent that this is the stupidest plot/story line imaginable, I dove in and thoroughly enjoyed myself - right up to the end. By the end, however, the story is so stupid and implausible, I felt like I had just eaten cotton candy again - knowing all along I would regret it.

This is a fun listen and will keep you engaged - especially if you have already listened to Beat the Reaper. If you have not listened to Beat the Reaper, do not like gratuitous violence, lots of vulgarity, or attacks on Republicans, do not listen to this book. If you still want to try it, be sure you have listened to Beat the Reaper first. Not only is it a far superior story, it will allow you to follow all of the references that pepper this story.

The narration is very good - hence the performance gets 4 stars.

Wild Thing is a Wild Ride.

What made the experience of listening to Wild Thing the most enjoyable?

The first book in this series, Beat the Reaper is one of my favorites. this is not as good, but close. I am not one who enjoys listening to the F-word over and over, and frankly this book would be shortened considerably if you took it out. That, the obsessive sexual thoughts of the main character and some rathervisious politics are the down sides to this otherwise very enjoyable. book.It is a unique story line with crazy characters.The arguments were very entertaining. and scientific discussions interesting. It is Non Stop from start to finish. I will immediatly grab any book by this author.

Any additional comments?

This book is very,loudly, viciously political. Since I am an independant, with leanings to the republican side, I was at times uncomfortable with the vitriol especially against a currently living person who may or may not deserve it.Just to top it off this author ends this book with a diatribe on how the republicans have systematicly destroyed, our environment, monetary system, corrupted world governments, and will bring about world starvation perhaps in our lifetime all for individual political gain. I did not listen to it all. I just don't believe that the bad guys are all on one side in this world. I chose to ignore all of this and enjoy an otherwise entertaining book.

Hhmmmm???

I loved the first book in this series, "Beat the Reaper" but Wild Thing is a pretty different story. I had to really force myself to continue with it when it started talking about river and lake monsters. I'm glad I pushed through because the story started to resemble more Beat the Reaper qualities. The characters were nice, the mystery was nice, the story flowed well but I wish it would have been a bit more like the other. I am still glad I listened and still love the main character. I'm really interested to hear other installments of this series. I will not say this is a sophomore fail or slump-the story is just very different from the first. I like his imagination and it seems as if he put a lot of thought and research behind this to make it as entertaining as possible.

I'm glad to have heard these.

I hope there are more to the series and that they are as good as the first two.

Disappointing after "Beat the Reaper"

I loved Beat The Reaper, but this second novel just doesn't live up. It still has hilarious moments and great characters like BTR, but the story is lame. The story's leftward leaning politics don't bother me, that's just the perspective of the character. But the use of a real celebrity as one of the characters doesn't work. The whole plot is pretty preposterous, nowhere near as compelling as the first book. I hope Josh Bazell writes another book about the doctor because he's a great character and he deserves a better novel than this one.

The narrator is great.

Every sentence is entertaining!

Where does Wild Thing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very creative and tough, the characters have it rough and no one is taking it from any one else.

Too Cute

When coaching high school athletes, it is generally helpful to advise them "not to get too cute" because they tend to screw up when they do.

The same advice, I'm afraid, is appropriate for Josh Bazell.

I liked "Beat the Reaper" a lot. It featured bold, in-your-face writing that was brilliantly read, creating a hip, cutting edge, memorable listening experience. The back story was engaging. The end was, well, it was very intense in a variety of ways, all of them good.

"Wild Thing" had the same great reader, but none of the energy. The story was a LOT too contrived (hence the "too cute" advice). The character development was a C- to Beat the Reapers solid A.

Wild Thing proved to be mild thing. The book simply fell flat.

With athletes, sometimes the extensive use of eye black results in a tough look of invincibility. Sometimes, it makes the athlete look silly.

Wild Thing brought to mind the latter.

Not a good sequel

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The first book is fresh and original and keeps you entertained. Wild Thing has great expository tangents spread through out the book, but the bizarre twists and characters in this book makes it farcical. It's not horrible, just no where near as good as Beat the Reaper. No spoilers here, but the "surprise official" was so ridiculous that it me laugh out loud at Josh Bazell. The banter is still good, and like I said the informational pieces (like the section about the Auschwitz in Beat the Reaper) were very interesting (assuming it is factual. I haven't done any fact checking). The premise of this book just isn't as good.

The performance is pretty good.

A roller-coaster ride of action!

Would you listen to Wild Thing again? Why?

After I finished listening to this audio, i decided to start from the beginning again! it's fast-moving, exciting and well-read. I do have to say the main character has racy,"junior-high" language, especially in regards to women, but it goes with the story and character. There ar twists and turns in the story line, and Sarah Palin turns up as a character! by the way, the "wild thing" is a kind of loch ness monster in One of the Great Lakes.

Who was your favorite character and why?

the main character, who is the narrator of the story, a doctor and an ex-mafia hit man! He is smart as well bold, and manages to get in and out of trouble constantly.

What does Robert Petkoff and Stephanie Wolfe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The readers were perfect for the characters, and they made the story come alive.very well read. I think the book would not have the same impact without the readers.

If you could take any character from Wild Thing out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The main character, Pietro, who also goes under an alias, since he is in the witness-protection program. (he is an ex-hit man for the mafia.) He is very smart as well as a smart-mouth, and despite the bad language, very charming!

Any additional comments?

Both the author and his main character are doctors, and frequently bring up obscure and interesting medical facts. This book is fun and and you will find it hard to turn off, even after you reach the end!

was not as good as first one

the first book was non stop thrill this one was meh could have been so much more. than last chapter from a point of view from one of the main charters is nothing be political left sout after taste now I know why there are no more audio books in the serious