Hard Truth

By: Nevada Barr

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Nevada Barr continues her award-winning Anna Pigeon series with this riveting mystery that features the puzzling plot twists, deft characterizations, and sparkling dialogue that have become Barr's trademarks, and which her ever-growing fan base can't get enough of.

Anna and Sheriff Paul Davidson are married only three days before Anna moves from Mississippi to Colorado. Her mettle is immediately tested as the new district ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park. Three young girls have gone missing, and when only two return a month later, wearing filthy undergarments and bearing deep psychological scars, the signs point to a mysterious religious organization that guards its secrets closely. As a palpable sense of evil casts its shadow over the park, Anna puts her life on the line to discover the truth behind the disappearances.

©2005 Nevada Barr (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Noted for her precise plotting and atmospheric descriptions of nature, Barr again proves her skill in putting believable characters in peril against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery." (Publishers Weekly)

Barr is the best

Her books are consistently well written, engaging, even gripping. But, be warned - this one gets very, very dark. Unusually dark for Barr. It can be nightmare material for some.

Driveway moment - couldn't leave the car...

Nevada Barr is a favorite, for sure. I race to read each new release! Both Barr and Ranger Pigeon have grown over the dozen or so books in the series, and it has been a pleasure to watch. The descriptions in Hard Truth took me right to the park, where I could almost smell the pine and feel the rain. This is the first audio Barr I've done. There's a profound difference between reading description and hearing it. Barr is transporting! I do miss following along with the maps that are usually in the front of the books, but maps of ROMO are readily available on the 'net.

This is a disturbing book, what with the abuse of children and animals, and the evil of a cult. But it's a good read, and more than once kept me in the car in the driveway to hear "just a few minutes more."

if you like complex heroines and great killers...

If you could sum up Hard Truth in three words, what would they be?

complicated, funny, gritty

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Truth?

Anything about Heath's inner monologue...so funny.

What about Barbara Rosenblat’s performance did you like?

She does sarcasm and voices brilliantly.

Couldn’t put it down

Another excellent Anna Pigeon story. Highly emotional. Wonderful characters, lots of twists and turns throughout the story, SUSPENSE.

One of the best

Again, I let stupid reviews keep me from getting this for too long. I was worried this was a complete change for Barr with graphic child violence. Its not graphic, certainly much less than what you can get on regular TV. The writing is superb, this is one of her best!

The book is good, but the reader isn't!

I love the Nevada Barr series, but I find it so annoying when the reader has to constantly swallow and make "wet noises" as is mentioned in a previous review. This was the same reader of the book, Blood Lure, so you'd think I would have been forewarned. I'm not going to get any more books with this reader, no matter how good the book is.

full of twists & turns

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Truth?

There were many memorable moments in the book but when Heath, in her wheel chair, was struggling alone down the dirt road in the dark, I did not relax until that part was over. Several parts in the book are "hold your breath" tense.

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

She makes the story real with her voice variations and the emotion she conveys with her reading.

Any additional comments?

It is a good story. I only gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because I have listened to all of the Anna Pigeon series and though this one was very good, it was not one of my favorites.

always live to read Nevada Barr novels

Balances a good story with verbal pictures of a rangers life and discussion about environmental issues

Whew!

Though I figured out early on what was going on, it was still left me holding my breath and hurrying to read to the end. I love this series!

Disturbing but gripping

Phew, this was hard to listen to, but I couldn’t stop myself. A disturbing theme; it made me cringe, it was deeply uncomfortable at times, but as usual, sensitively handled. Another gripping book in a fantastic series.