Executive Privilege

By: Phillip Margolin

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Includes a teaser excerpt from Capitol Murder, the third book in the Washington Trilogy!

The first book in Phillip Margolin’s New York Times best-selling Washington Trilogy, a powerful tale of murder that snakes its way through Washington, D.C.'s halls of power, leading straight to the White House and the most powerful office on earth.

When private detective Dana Cutler is hired by an attorney with powerful political connections, the assignment seems simple enough: follow a pretty college student named Charlotte Walsh and report on where she goes and whom she sees. But then the unexpected happens. One night, Cutler follows Walsh to a secret meeting with Christopher Farrington, the president of the United States. The following morning, Walsh's dead body shows up and Cutler has to run for her life.

In Oregon, Brad Miller, a junior associate in a huge law firm is working on the appeal of a convicted serial killer. Clarence Little, now on death row, claims he was framed for the murder of a teenager who, at the time of her death, worked for the then governor, Christopher Farrington. Suddenly, a small-time private eye and a fledgling lawyer find themselves in possession of evidence that suggests that someone in the White House is a murderer. Their only problem? Staying alive long enough to prove it.

Executive Privilege, with its nonstop action, unforgettable characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, proves once again that Phillip Margolin—whose work has been hailed as "frighteningly plausible" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) and "twisted and brilliant" (Chicago Tribune)—belongs in the top echelon of thriller writers.

©2008 Phillip Margolin (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Absurdly Engaging!

The plot demands full-on belief suspension. Phillip Margolin's got big ones to even start this preposterous Washington mystery… I mean preposterous in the "Oh come on, nobody's ever going to believe that..." sense. None of the characters are deeper than a child's plastic wading pool. And yet.. yet… This thing's fun. It's a snarky political action-adventure puzzle with pieces that a craftsman's carved to click into place.

REEELY importantly he manages to avoid any right or left ideological preaching. It's almost worth reading this book just to see how a Washington mystery can still do that.That's almost fool-hardy impudent for a writer, but I think I told you that Margolin's got big ones.

Oh and the women here are made of more muscular metal than the brittle guys, but again the yins spoon nicely into whatever yangs are provided. If you want to just drop into an escape tunnel for a while, listen to Jonathan Davis's imaginings of this; plot, these people, and feel, well, if not privileged, at least like you spent your money okay.

Couldn't stop listening to it!

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

This is a book with great characters and a clever plot. I have a new favorite author.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Brad Miller is a great hero- honest, principled, and gets into the most amazing predicaments.

What does Jonathan Davis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love his voice and the way he interprets the characters voices.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

When I finished it, I immediately bought the other 2 in the trilogy. It was very suspenseful and I wanted to know more about Brad and Dana Cutler.

Good fun - story 4, reader 2

The female detective, the young lawyer and several other characters are key to the story, but the various FBI and Secret Service officers blend quickly into anonymous types. The story is sometimes predictable but with an engaging sense of humor about it all. No sex, but a rather graphic description of several disturbing murders.

However, this book has one of the worst narrators and poorest productions I've ever heard. The narrator's most annoying habit is trying to establish excitement by simply reading LOUDLY.

A nice Presidential crisis story, not that we've ever had such a thing in real life. Not for everyone, but entertaining.

Good book!

Well worth the time and effort, this book has intriguing characters and a fast-paced storyline. I will be watching for more from this author.

Very Interestin

A book you won't want to stop listening to, as a matter of fact, I listened to it all day until it was over, you won't be disappointed, be sure to get it...

Terrible!

I listen to many mysteries and suspense novels but I really disliked this one. Characters were unpredictable - changing their behavior and motives from one chapter to the next, then back again. Writing is lackluster and unbelievable. Some characters are painfully stupid and hard to put up with. Narrator is poor, his pauses are far too long. Do yourself a favor and check out something by Laura Lippman or Michael Connelly.

Trombone1

The dialogue was so terrible that I quit half way through. Try anything by Harlan Coben or John Sandford-- you won't be able to go back.

Executive Privilege

nothing exciting. no fantasy, but chasing the temporary favor in the market. It does not worth hearing

Implausible, ridiculous plot.

I expect more of Margin and have enjoyed other books he’s written. The main character in this one, a lawyer, makes decisions absolutely no one with a brain cell would make!
The narration was very good but the story stinks!

Sophomoric in Every Way

The moderately appealing plot couldn't help save this story. The narrator read as if the characters were high school kids, with overly long pauses and voices that made the characters sound like juveniles instead of the smart, sophisticated lawyers they would need to be to uncover a complex plot. Every cliche of this genre was employed in this novel including a romance that also read like it was out of a high school tryst and dialogue such as "my gun is bigger than yours."