Eclipse

By: Richard North Patterson

Narrated by: Peter Francis James

Length: 14 hrs

Publisher's summary

Bestselling author Richard North Patterson's Eclipse tells the spellbinding story of an American lawyer who takes on a nearly impossible case—the defense of an African freedom fighter against his corrupt government's charge of murder.

Damon Pierce's life has just reached a defining moment: a gifted California lawyer, he's being divorced by his wife and his work often seems soulless. Then he receives a frantic e-mail from Marissa Brand Okari—a woman he loved years ago—and decides to risk everything to respond to her plea for help.

Marissa's husband, Bobby Okari, is the charismatic leader of a freedom movement in the volatile west African nation of Luandia, which is being torn apart by the world's craving for its vast supply of oil. Bobby's outspoken opposition to the exploitation of his homeland by PetroGlobal—a giant American oil company with close ties to Luandia's brutal government—has enraged General Savior Karama, the country's autocratic ruler. After Bobby leads a protest rally during a full eclipse of the sun, everyone in his home village is massacred by government troops. And now Bobby has been arrested and charged with the murder of three PetroGlobal workers. Still drawn to Marissa, Pierce agrees to defend Bobby, hoping to save both Bobby and Marissa from almost certain death. But the lethal politics of Luandia may cost Pierce his life instead.

Culminating in a dramatic show trial and a desperate race against time, Eclipse combines a thrilling narrative with a vivid look at the human cost of the global lust for oil. Here is Richard North Patterson at his compelling best, confirming his place as our most provocative author of popular fiction.

©2009 Richard North Patterson (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Peter Francis James's powerful characterization of the oppressed Luandian population – rich in oil reserves but experiencing ecological disasters – is especially believable…Patterson fans are in for a treat with James's powerful performance, and the nightmare atmosphere the duo creates will live long in listeners' memories” —AudioFile Magazine

“Peter Francis James takes command of the material, offering up realistic African dialects that chillingly convey the hostage's terror and the ruthlessness of his captors. James's vocal ability creates a stirring experience that is at once personal and emotional while entertaining and theatrical, making for a truly rousing performance.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Wonderfully performed by Peter Francis James with perfectly rendered accents galore… [ECLIPSE is] a wild ride through vile human behavior, abject greed and disdain for justice that carries a profound message from the heart of darkness.” —BookPage

Another Insightful Story from Patterson

This starts as a mystery novel. It is a tense drama that keeps you guessing who is on which side. This is the audio version of a page turner. Rather than just listening in my spare time, I made time to listen to this book. I addition to delivering a stirring drama, Patterson introduces issues to stir the hearts of anyone with a conscience.

Too Much!

An atheist lawyer in a biracial extra-marital relationship coming to the rescue of the "noble savage" corrupted by the white man's evil oil. Please.....If they had a PC meter, this one would be off the chart. A good author wasting his talent on a political polemic. Michael Crichton's successor.

All talk and no action

This wasn't a bad book at all.. but it's a lot of talking and not much action. The story is good and it kept my interest but I felt a little like I was in school. Glad I paid 6.95 and not a whole credit.

This one is worth the work and time

Patterson tends to write stories with complicated story lines. He allows you to truly get to know the characters, giving you background material and information that, at the time of reading, may not seem relevant. But then everything starts coming together and you find yourself in a book you cannot put down.

This book was worth the work at the front end. I rarely give a 5-star rating but this book deserves it. You will find yourself longer on the tread mill or sitting in your car in the driveway, wanting to hear more of the story.

An emotional rollercoaster

A great read. Lots of details that required the listener to give the story line their full concentration.

Good book- slow start but a good read as it goes

This is a good and exciting book. The beginning setup is a little boring but neccesary. The names take a while to get used to. I enjoyed the read as entertaining and educational. The ending is not a ideal ending but a more realistic ending.

excelente-

Very well writen and researched. Another eye opener as to how oil companies behave and act in underdeveloped countries.

too much minutiae

The moral if the story was good but slightly biased. The story drug along in places because of too much detail.

Excellent...a must read

This book tells a largely untold story with sensitivity, honesty, and skill. The author is true to his purpose in raising awareness of controversial issues while weaving a plot that is intriguing and real with many unexpected twists and turns. Similarly, the characters are complex but artfully portrayed. I thoroughly enjoyed this work - not only because of its thought-provoking content but also because of the literary artistry. I think this is one of his best books yet.

Exhile again

Very similar to Exhile. The American lawyer who fell in love with a woman he knew briefly, who left him for a man from a dangerous culture that may end up getting them all killed.

I liked Exhile a lot. And I have studied Africa so was glad to see it get some treatment. But the books are far too similar and I think Exhile is probably more complex and interesting.