Heart of a Killer

By: David Rosenfelt

Narrated by: Tadd Morgan

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In David Rosenfelt's latest thriller, Jamie Wagner must free a convicted murderer so that she can save her dying daughter - by taking her own life.

Jamie Wagner is a young lawyer who is happy to be flying under the radar at a large firm, doing background research for the partners. It's not that he isn't smart. He is. It's just that hard work, the whole legal world, isn't really his thing. Underachiever? Yes. Content? At least until the firm puts him on a case that turns his whole world upside down.

Sheryl Harrison has served four years of a 30-year sentence for killing her husband, whom she claims abused her and her daughter, Karen. The case is settled. There shouldn't be anything for Jamie to do - except Karen is sick. She has a congenital heart defect and will die without a transplant, and her rare blood type makes the chance of finding a matching donor remote. Sheryl wants to be that donor, and Jamie is in way over his head. Suicide, no matter what the motive, is illegal, and Sheryl is put on suicide watch.

Jamie's only shot at helping Sheryl and saving Karen is to reopen the murder case, prove Sheryl's innocence, and get her freed, so that she can pursue her plan on her own.

David Rosenfelt, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, is a graduate of NYU. He was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and 35 dogs. Tadd Morgan is an actor, dancer and musician holding a bachelor of arts degree in Improvisational Performance Structures from Bennington College. He has been performing in his native Seattle for the past five years.

©2012 David Rosenfelt (P)2012 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Disappointing narration

Would you ever listen to anything by David Rosenfelt again?

I look forward to the next David Rosenfelt book of the Andy Carpenter series.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

In contrast to the subtlety of a narrator like Grover Gardner, this narrator caricatures the voices of different characters in a heavyhanded and annoying manner.

Do you think Heart of a Killer needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Nope. I kept wondering what Andy Carpenter was up to while listening to the book...

Well thought out and relevant!

Rosenfelt surpassed his other works with this book! The others were entertaining, this deals with real horrific possibilities. The suicide/heart transplant angle is thought provoking. The domestic terrorist angle through hackers/computers are tragically possible. Rosenfelt dealt with both issues in an informed and intelligent manner, while maintaining an exciting story line.
The narrator does an excellent job, too.

It has a Maine flavor to it.

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

Yes, I like the way David writes and his sense of humor helps carry the book.

Any additional comments?

I hope that David goes back to his old neghborhood in his next book. But I am sure what ever David writes I will enjoy. Just some better that others..

Not Andy Carpenter

Almost as good, but not quite. Rosenfelt is still a great listen. Production needs more voices. Gardener Grover does multiple voices very well. Morgan not so well. He should do Jamie and leave the others to others.

Convaluted but fun

Would you consider the audio edition of Heart of a Killer to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version but the guy who spoke made the story come alive

What was one of the most memorable moments of Heart of a Killer?

Well it was contrived but the solution to Harvard's conundrum

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

Greatstory telling

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

It was fun but not overwhelming either way

Good Stand Alone Mystery (Not Great)

This was a fast summer listen. The plot is a bit far fetched but as usual, the author makes it seem plausible (except for the romance angle which is just plain silly). The main character is otherwise well developed and I found myself hoping there will be more books featuring him. A word of caution - if you have listened to the Andy Carpenter series, this narrator will disappoint you. His delivery is a bit off and as a result some of the humour gets lost.

Love Rosenfelt's writing

Would you listen to Heart of a Killer again? Why?

I suppose so - but a lot of time has to pass.

What other book might you compare Heart of a Killer to and why?

at first I wasn't sure about reading a non andy carpenter book but this one held up.

What aspect of Tadd Morgan’s performance would you have changed?

he started a little slow - but then I guess I got more used to his style especially after listening to the andy carpenter series with grover gardner reading.

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

just the beginning until I got used to his style.

Any additional comments?

David Rosenfelt writes good mysteries and doesn't rely on bad language to convey mood.

David Rosenfelt is amazing

His books never fail to capture the reader. They are imaginative, suspenseful, and extremely entertaining. I so appreciate that they do not contain profanity, and the characters all have a sense of humor
That never fails to cause a laugh or two.

Good story

Good twisting story. Not a fan of the narrator. Different character voices where not we’ll done.

I loved the storyline...

This book begins with an interesting ethical dilemma that is carried throughout the book. I loved the storyline and where Mr. Rosenfelt took it. There were enough twists and turns that it kept me guessing all the way through and I didn't predict the ending at all. My very minor complaint would be that the narrator tried a little too hard to differentiate all the character voices, and it wasn't always successful. This is a great summer read!