A Nail Through The Heart

A Poke Rafferty Thriller

By: Timothy Hallinan

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Poke Rafferty was writing offbeat travel guides for the young and terminally bored when Bangkok stole his heart. Now the American expat is assembling a new family with Rose, the former go-go dancer he wants to marry, and Miaow, the tiny, streetwise urchin he wants to adopt.

But trouble in the guise of good intentions comes calling just when everything is beginning to work out. Poke agrees to take in Superman, Miaow's troubled and terrifying friend from the gutter. Then he agrees to help locate a distraught Aussie woman's missing uncle and accepts a generous payment to find a blackmailing thief. No longer gliding carelessly across the surface of a culture he doesn't really understand, suddenly Poke is plodding through dark and unfamiliar terrain - and everything and everyone he loves is in terrible danger.

©2007 Timothy Hallinan (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Don't miss your chance to read [ A Nail Through the Heart ] before it starts winning all its awards.... every page shimmers with life and light. Hallinan's is a writer's writer, and this is great stuff!" (John Lescroart)

Transported back to Thailand

I spent 7 months in Bangkok in 1967. Spent a few late nights at the Na Na hotel. Spent the remainder of my year up north at NKP.

A well written R-rated story

Would you try another book from Timothy Hallinan and/or Victor Bevine?

Probably by Timothy and certainly for Victor.

What was most disappointing about Timothy Hallinan’s story?

I was hoping for an interesting story since I live in Bangkok and while it is a well written story, the details of the child pornography thread to the story has more detail than I really wanted to know. Being forewarned about this content would have influenced my decision to purchase and listen to the story. The fact that this story line is a powerful depressant shows Mr Hallinan's writing skills, it's just a shame these skills are being used to convey an unsavory storyline in more detail than was really necessary to move the story along.

What about Victor Bevine’s performance did you like?

A good, clear easy to listen to voice. Excellent performance.

Did A Nail Through The Heart inspire you to do anything?

Turn it off every so often.

Any additional comments?

No.

Couldn't finish this

Writing's not bad, but what's taken for granted here is completely unacceptable. Child rape and sexual slavery is a given in this culture, and this story tries to balance it out by praising the wonderful manners people tend to have. Give me the rude and crude any day, as long as they manage to refrain from raping children. Although the hero is committed to helping as many victims as wander into his life, no one's outraged, except the children themselves, who are fierce, smart and (sadly) unbelievable.

Waterfall of Words, Paucity of Plot

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I can't imagine who would enjoy this.

What could Timothy Hallinan have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Get to the story and stop distracting the reader with verbal gymnastics.

Would you be willing to try another one of Victor Bevine’s performances?

Yes. No real problem with him.

Any additional comments?

I feel a bit misled by Audible. This book was recommended to me by Audible because I read many (all right, all) of James Lee Burke's books and loved them. This author is nothing like JL Burke. I think I am going to "return" the book.

too gruesome

The story was full of people torturing children. Too gruesome for my taste. I couldn't finish it.

Wasted Credit

What disappointed you about A Nail Through The Heart?

The author, in my opinion, completely failed to recreate Bangkok or its residents. All the small details that bring a foreign land alive are missing. Neither the physical nor the social/cultural world of Thailand is developed.
The plot dragged to little purpose.

What was most disappointing about Timothy Hallinan’s story?

All of it

Have you listened to any of Victor Bevine’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom, irritation, disappointment.