Cathedral

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 19 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

An Irish-American police officer and a British intelligence officer face off against a dangerous terrorist who's holding people hostage in Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

St. Patrick's Day, New York City. Everyone is celebrating, but everyone is in for the shock of his life. Born into the heat and hatred of the Northern Ireland conflict, IRA man Brian Flynn has masterminded a brilliant terrorist act: the seizure of Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Among his hostages: the woman Brian Flynn once loved, a former terrorist turned peace activist. Among his enemies: an Irish-American police lieutenant fighting against a traitor inside his own ranks and a shadowy British intelligence officer pursuing his own cynical, bloody plan. The cops face a booby-trapped, perfectly laid-out killing zone inside the church. The hostages face death. Flynn faces his own demons, in an electrifying duel of nerves, honor, and betrayal.

©1981 Nelson Demille (P)2009 Hachette

Critic reviews

"A home-run thriller." ( Chicago Tribune)

Would have been 4 stars from another author

I realize this is an earlier work, but I have read or listened to almost all of his books. With another narrator I might not have even finished it. Just never grabbed me!

Cathedral is a nail biter!

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

So far I have to say this is one of the better Nelson DeMille books I have read. I am an over the road truck driver who drives nights, this book kept me going! I did not want to even pause it to stop for a break!

Scott Brick does a great job narrating this book. I feel like he brings the characters alive!

Good, solid thriller ... classic DeMille

Like his "Babylon," the story centers around a single event and its characters. It's a very intense story and the characters have a lot of layers. I would have given it five stars if the characters were more believable. I found it hard to wrap my brain around their motivations. Total craziness makes it easier, I guess, to create a fantastic plot, but I found some of the characters unbelievable, even nonsensical. Even so, it's a good thriller, tight and gripping. Not as good as some of this author's other books, but definitely worth reading. Scott Brick is, as always, a very fine narrator.

Another great DeMille Book

Mr. DeMille story-telling ability really drew me into this book, and I was sad when I finished. I love the history and description he provides with each book. I wish he would write sequels with some of the main characters in his books. Scott Brick again did an amazing job with the Irish accents in this book and changing voices with ease!

Outstanding early DeMille stand alone novel

Published in 1981 Cathedral was not Nelson DeMille first novel but it is the first that began his rise to stardom as an author of suspense thrillers. On St.Patrick's Day in New York City IRA leader Bryan Flynn, seizes St Patrick's Cathedral, takes many hostages, and booby traps the church with explosives. As the police and others seek to recapture the building without killing the hostages and destroying the building the suspense builds and builds. In this 2009 audio version of the novel Scott Brick narrates to perfection. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Exciting but a little drawn out

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

Liked the story line, characters

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

Exciting plot, so real

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Shiela malogne

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

St. Patrick's attack

Any additional comments?

A little drawn out, but still exciting

Don’t waste your money!

I usually love Nelson DeMille books, but this book was just boring!
Have you ever heard of a “triforium”- we’ll don’t worry- it’s some architectural part of a cathedral and DeMille mentions this word so many times I was past agitation, and on to cynical amusement! Like don’t these books get read by editors? Isn’t there a synonym for “triforium”? The reader was good, but the same story in half the time could have been palatable. I say save your credit for a different book!

Scary

This novel reminds me of the novel that Tom Clancy released in 1987 called "Patriot Games"! The notion that a foreign terrorist group would hold operations inside the United States was previously "impossible" to the American psyche.

An interesting and entertaining read

It is worth the time and cost. I didn’t have enough words so I am adding this sentence.

Sor far my least favorite Demille book.

It kind of just starts. i never connected with any one character, and the book was over half through before I cared what the hell was going on. very odd story telling for Demille this time...at least for me.