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Hard Truth  By  cover art

Hard Truth

By: Nevada Barr
Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat
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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)

What listeners say about Hard Truth

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Reader was no good on this story of child abuse

Disappointed in story and especially the reader. Estes was mispronounced along with several words. Child abuse in a religious cult was the main theme.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Too Much. Over the top.

No more Nevada Barr for me. Not that I’m a fan of “cozies” but this is too violent and disturbing for me. Back to the British detective mysteries!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Book is great. Narrator? Ugh.

I can barely listen to this Pigeon series due to Barbara Rosenblat. Why in the world is she constantly smacking her lips and sucking saliva?! It almost intolerable!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A little scary!

I love the Anna Pigeon books, but after this one, gonna take a break! Anna, go home to Paul and take a sebatical! Spend a month with Molly, get some help! They seem to be getting worse. Not just a cool murder mystery with a stunning backdrop, this one had torture, serial killer, child abuse......it just went too far for me, don't think I will ever go to RMP again, and I'm from Colorado!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

save the wolf

enjoyed this one. Sadly the sick world scarred the park. fanatics get away with abuse and insane nuts are everywhere

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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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!

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The best one yet

Having discovered Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series, I’m enjoying them in order. Hard Truth was not only beautifully written, but so intense at times that I had to take breaks, even while desperate to know what was going to happen. The narration was excellent.
What a story!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Definitely scary.

Creepy, creepy, crazy, and that isn't even the actual murderer. TW for childhood sexual trauma.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

gratuituous and triggering - don't waste your time

Warning. If you've been a female victim of violence, don't listen to this book. I won't be listening to any more Nevada Barr stories. This is my 4th, and the other 3 were good reads. But no story of a strong female protagonist needs to include torture and rape of children, incest, pedophilia and polygamy, to make the case for a righteous heroine. After dragging the reader through hours of the basest of human evil, 15 minutes is spent at the end patting us on the head so we can sleep at night. What a shame. This was an opportunity for a good story. Instead it's a manipulation of trauma bonding to keep the page turning. A good author doesn't need to resort to these tactics. So gratuitous. So unnecessary. Plus, you will never be able to camp in Rocky Mountain National Park again.

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