Birds of Prey

A Novel of Suspense

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: Cotter Smith

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

The Statfire Breeze steams its way north toward the Gulf of Alaska, buffeted by crisp sea winds blowing down from the Arctic. Those on board are seeking peace, relaxation, adventure, escape. But there is no escape here in this place of unspoiled natural majesty. Because terror strolls the decks even in the brilliant light of day...and death is a conspicuous, unwelcome passenger. And a former Seattle policeman, a damaged homicide detective who has come to heal from fresh, stinging wounds, will find that the grim ghosts pursuing him were not left behind...as a pleasure cruise gone horribly wrong carries him inexorably into lethal, ever-darkening waters.

©2001 J.A. Jance (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"A great mini-vacation." (Publishers Weekly)
"Birds of Prey is as much a tale of human frailty as it is a page-turning mystery." (Tampa Tribune)

Good, but needed more

Too short, did not have enough intrigue, ebb and flow. As always Gene Engene did a great job telling the story.

Different Narrator

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes.

What three words best describe Cotter Smith’s performance?

It was seriously lacking in performance. I couldn't tell the different characters apart. I don't know why they changed narrators but this one did a terrible job!

Was Birds of Prey worth the listening time?

I'm not sure. I was listening and following along with the Kindle book. But when I bought the audio I didn't realize it was abridged. So, I had to keep stopping the audio to read the parts that were missing. The audio was missing a very large part of the book. A lot it were the types of things I have come to enjoy about the J.P. Beaumont books.

Any additional comments?

If you're going to butcher the book then why bother doing the audio! It left me wanting my money back! I'll continue reading the books but I don't know about the audio part, even if it is available as immersion reading.

Where's gene

The story was sorely lacking and not your typical jp Beaumont series if you have listen to the previous audiobooks with gene you missed that characteristic he brings to the story

Great book!

Another great JP Beaumont book. I do wish it had been available in the unabridged version though. I love the new narrator. Gene Engene had always gotten on my nerves although after listening to so many books with him narrating, it was difficult, at first, to distinguish between the characters voices. I guess I had gotten used to him after all!

Reasonably good...but not overly complex

Where does Birds of Prey rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was interesting to listen to, and J.P. Beaumont is on his new "retirement" tract. Unfortunately, it was very short (abridged is the only format available). However, it does a reasonable extension of some of the key characters from the J.P. Beaumont earlier series. There are a few oversimplified twists and quirks. If you enjoyed the previous books in the Beaumont series, this fits in well with the flow of those stories and J.P. takes on some good schemes about how to investigate crimes committed in an isolated situation where no one can really remove themselves from the investigation that J.P. is undertaking, and where no new person can be found responsible for the interesting actions that take place in the main story.

A narration in monotone

There are so many questions. Why did they change narrators so far into the series? Why did all the characters have the same tone, lack of inflection, and voice? Was the story that dull, or did the narration create that impression?

Narrator change

I have really enjoyed Beaumont books until this one, when the narrator was changed. He is not as good as gene engene. Story was inf, but it really annoys me when the narrator changes and then future books do the same. I can't understand why it is not understood that the narrator is critical to the enjoyment of a book.

New narrator

This is another great book by J A Jance; however, we did prefer the previous books narrator-Gene Engene.

Entertaining

I listen to at least one book a month and this was a great book. The narrator was great and the quick humor fun.

It's Abridged!

Would you listen to Birds of Prey again? Why?

I seldom read a book twice but I might in this case. Why? Well, what do birds have to do with anything? I'm wondering if the title refers to something not included in the abridged version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The default answer as to the favorite character must, I suppose, be JP Beaumont. The only character who stood out as a separate voice in the narration was his new Grandfather-In-Law.

Any additional comments?

I think the setting is a great way to change our perception of JP Beaumont as a cop, to JP Beaumont as a private investigator. The change in narrators was jarring at first. The new voice seems flat in comparison with Gene Engene, but the second time I came back to the story I found myself going with the flow.