Born to Run

By: James Grippando

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author James Grippando is back with another innovative and action-packed thriller featuring the ever-popular Jack Swyteck.

Miami criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck guards his own family secrets as closely as anyone, and while his father's two terms as Florida's governor made some family rifts public, things are finally better between the two men. Whenever Harry Swyteck asks for Jack's help, he gets it, and suddenly he needs it more than ever before.

When Harry's friend, the vice president of the United States, goes hunting for alligators in the Everglades and winds up dead, the president positions Harry to be his new VP. Harry immediately turns to Jack to be his lawyer.

The prestige that comes from the position turns dangerous, however, when Jack finds himself caught up in the heart of a complicated cover-up that spans nearly fifty years and across the globe. Before hostages can be released, an old secret must be revealed, one that could threaten the life of the president of the United States himself.

©2008 James Grippando (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

The Black friend was unneeded satire/ comic relief

Overall ok. I thought it was going to be a self help book I had been reccomend by a similar title. Regardless, I like a good suspense/ mystery so i stuck with it. I couldn't decide if this book was a motivational read for those reaching the middle of their lives, or a young adult suspense novel that pushed semi-political issues. I'd reccomend to a friends who like the genre, or maybe not. The Author got my money, and I got a few laughs. hopefully that's enough for this life.

OK story.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if you like political thrillers. Another White House conspiracy.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Not very original ending

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Pretty well. Nice character portrayal

A bit preposterous

I'm getting the feeling that Jim Grippando is partial to hostage situations. My last listen was When Darkness Falls, which contained an interminable hostage situation in a motel room. Well, we have more of the same here, this time in the studios of a television station (this fact won't spoil the plot). On the plus side, Grippando has a very believable character in Jack Swytek. His foibles and shortcomings make him almost too believable. Unfortunately the same can't be said for a few of the other characters, most notably the Greek and, well, you'll have to discover for yourself. The story we're asked to believe is farfetched, to put it lightly. And the final unraveling of the plot at the conclusion strains credulity. With all of that said, somehow I enjoyed this book. Grippando writes well and if his imagination is in overdrive for this story, so be it.

Good mystery

This is my first Grippando novel and I liked it! It is action packed, has good characters (really likeable and really dispicable) and the difficult relationship between father and son is well portrayed. Lots of killing, suspense, romance and humor. Will read more of this guy!

Blackmail, murder and Jack Swyteck!

Born to Run is an especially good book. Audible classifies it as a legal thriller but other then the protagonist being a lawyer, there's not a whole lot of legal going on! Lots of suspense when a hired assassin, trying to save his ex wife from the men who are trying to kill him and use her as a lure.
Meanwhile the POTUS has a personal secret that could get him ousted from office. Jack Swyteck's father is being used a pawn and people are being killed if they poke too far. One of the people poking around is Jack.
I am working my way through this series and can't say enough about it.
Jonathan Davis does an excellent job narrating.
The entire series is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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Thank You.

Jonathan Davis/Grippando = Synergy

Great characters come from great writing. However, if the novel is in audio form the narration of a book is almost as important as its author. Nowhere is this more true than the Swyteck series narrated by Jonathan Davis.

I give the story only 3 stars for a 5 star experience. It’s because while I struggle with the believability of it’s premise, I find the main characters are so authentic I love every moment with them. Jack Swytech, his father Harry, best friend Theo and his girlfriend Andy’s interactions and responses in very mysterious and complicated situations are as believable as they are heroic.

You can read the publisher’s primer for the story. What it cannot tell you is how magnetic the characters really are.

Mediocre

Love Swyteck, but other stories have been better. I won't give up just yet though.

Excellent story

I am reading through the books in the series. I think this is my favorite so far. Fun twists and turns. Engaging characters that I like.

Good story, but ....

The more I listen to audiobooks, the more I think that there are some books that just don't lend themselves to being read out loud. I think this book falls into that category. It was a unique plot and exciting to the end. However, when it was read out loud, the dramatic prose got even more dramatic and at times made me cringe hearing it. I think that having a narrator trying to give voices to these characters who are already a bit over the top on the written page was just too much. Personally, I think I would have enjoyed this particular book more if I were just reading it on a long airline flight.

Your Past Will Always Catch Up With You

Good 2 for 1 credit sale. I love Narrator Jonathan Davis, so when l can get romance or mysteries, l buy. Don’t miss Sandra Brown, Mean Streak, my all time fave of his performances.
This author is not an automatic download for me,and if he changed narrators, l would not buy his work. This is a good entertaining series of characters , not so much a big fast paced red herring novel. Mr Davis is Jack and Theo,and the rest of the cast of characters developed, hence the buy.
This is good not great entertainment as the Greek can get on your nerves a bit!
If you are a fan of Mr Davis!, get this read. If you are starting out on this series, read out of order by reviewers high marks as they are spot on.
Were my comments of help?