Chasing the Dime: Booktrack Edition

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

The messages waiting for Henry Pierce when he plugs in his new telephone clearly aren't intended for him:
" Where is Lilly? This is her number. It's on the site."

Pierce has just been thrown out by his girlfriend and moved into a new apartment, and the company he founded is headed into the most critical phase of fund-raising. He's been "chasing the dime" - doing all it takes to come out first in a technological battle whose victor will make millions. But he can't get the messages for a woman named Lilly out of his head:
"Uh, yes, hello, my name is Frank. I'm at the Peninsula. Room six-twelve. So give me a call when you can."

Something is wrong. Pierce probes, investigates, and then tumbles through a hole, leaving behind a life driven by work to track down and help a woman he has never met.

The world he enters is one of escorts, Web sites, sex, and secret passions. The beautiful Lilly is an object of desire to thousands. To Pierce, she becomes the key that might fix a broken life. But in pursuing Lilly, Pierce has entered a landscape where his success and expertise mean nothing. He is a mark, an outsider, and soon he is also the victim of astonishing violence, the chief suspect in a murder case, and fighting for his life against forces he can barely discern.

©2002 Hieronymus, Inc., All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Time Warner AudioBooks, a Division of the AOL Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"A grabber from the beginning...utterly compelling." (Booklist)
"It's the rare reader who will be able to finger the villain behind all the mayhem." (Publishers Weekly)
"Connelly takes what could have been a typical suspense thriller and turns it into something exceptional through nonstop action and surprising twists." (Library Journal)

I liked it

I’m always trying to think ahead on the “who done it” and this one I guessed wrong. I like that!

Started slow, but definitely worth the wait.

Some of the science/technical stuff was tedious, and a bit hard to follow, but really interesting. The narrator started off a little slow as well. But the story was actually really interesting and I wanted to hear what happened and where it was going. It kept me interested through to the end… I had questions at some point about why in the world people were so willing to leave fingerprints on things, but the author wrapped it up in a completely different way that was relevant and interesting through to the end.
Definitely a great book and well written and I’m glad I listened to this one!

A Chemist can’t stay out of trouble?

I like the way the book started off with the wrong number assigned to the chemist. BUT bc he’s a Chemist, I cannot believe he’d do things like leave his finger prints on everything, handle the victim’s perfume, lie to the police, not follow his lawyer’s advice, lie that he brought his gf Nicole into the lab, BRING Nicole into his sacred lab…. He’s too smart a guy to make these mistakes that totally contradict basic things he almost surely learned as he studied Chemistry. He’s smart enough to formed his own company the.man he’s smart enough to resist actions that would tear it down. Lastly, nearly getting killed would end all attempts to solve the mystery and would certainly give the police enough evidence to pursue the attempted murderers as the suspects. AND the lady had been reported missing by her Mother LONG before the Chemist revived this lady’s phone number.

Nobody Could Be That Stupid That Many Times!

This book was recommended to me by a good friend. He was highly complimentary and I've liked most of the Harry Bosch novels so I thought I'd give it a try. The main character in the story makes SO many stupid moves that I started getting so frustrated with him that I couldn't listen to the book for more than 20 minutes without pounding my steering wheel and screaming "NO, You idiot! Don't do that!!" The plot is good, the story is good, the narration is excellent. I give it three stars just for that. If you can handle a character that continually makes idiotic, self destructive decisions then get this book, you won't be disappointed.

A very different Michael Connelly novel!

Most Audible listeners are aware of Connelly's Harry Bosch series as well as the more recent Mickey Haller series which overlaps the Bosch series. Many are also aware of the Terry McCaleb series and the Jack McEvoy series. Chasing the Dime, released in 2002, has scientist Henry Pierce as the protagonist. This is a very different Michael Connelly novel that his fans will either love or hate. I love the book!

A different kind of Connelly book

What made the experience of listening to Chasing the Dime the most enjoyable?

in first part of the story, I thought the main character, Henry, was the "bad guy, but my view changed. A tangled, but interesting story.

What did you like best about this story?

The way it led the reader through the story. I kept changing my view of Henry.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Davis – was your favorite?

He shows the reader about Henry's life and relationships in the present and also gives information about his past, that lends some understanding to his actions. During all of this his life is unraveling in dangerous ways. This made for an interesting story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nothing!, Great narrator!

5 stars

This book was a quick listen! I couldn't turn it off, it was amazing!

the dime

A bit. slow once the premise was established. The characters were developed but the police were a bit weak.

Michael, how could you?

I was screaming at this character throughout! Usually, your characters are much more savvy and street smart. This guy, while a high IQ, kept putting his foot in it! Actually, I couldn’t quit listening. Good one!

Great Story

This story kept my interest all the way through. I couldn't wait to listen to the finish. I recommend it to anyone.